Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
May 17,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 18, 2010
Furniture retail promoter Planned Furniture Promotions Inc., Enfield, Conn, has launched completely redesigned business to business Web site for furniture retailers.
The new site, developed by The Lively Merchant, is interactive, easy to navigate, provides tools to help retailers analyze their business, and answers questions retailers might have about high impact sales promotions.
One tool lets users click on an icon to listen to 11 recordings of former clients of Planned Furniture Promotions offering details about their experience during and after their high-impact event. More recordings are in the works
"We caught most of these folks completely off guard," said PFP Senior Vice President Roy Hester. "We called and asked them to tell their story, in their own words, unrehearsed and from the heart."
An interactive Business Health Check helps retailers determine if they need Planned Furniture Promotions' services.
"There are a series of simple questions with check box answers," said Burt Homonoff, also senior vice president. "The questions allow a retailer to self-diagnose his or her operation, and it's all anonymous."
Planned Furniture Promotions also has added scanned copies of original letters of recommendation from prior clients.
"We have literally hundreds of letters and testimonials that we could have posted," said Tom Liddell, vice president of sales and marketing. "We chose a few that show a cross section of the many retailers that weve served."
The site has biographies of founders Gene Rosenberg and Paul Cohen partnered, and a question-and-answer section. A video section will be added in the near future.
PFP also is developing a separate secure portal that will generate detailed information to its clients. These live event tracking reports will be e-mailed or faxed to clients automatically to better allow them to monitor all aspects of the sale promotion events being conducted by Planned Furniture Promotions on their behalf.
May 17,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 18, 2010
Natura World is offering a treatment to its mattresses that will prevent bed bugs, dust mites and other allergens from contaminating the product.
Beginning June 1, the all of the company's products will be
treated with Natural Silver Technology to create an anti-bacterial barrier on the mattresses.
"While our latex mattresses are naturally resistant to microbes, some mattresses are natural breeding grounds for microbesand this is another level of protection our customers are telling us they want," said Ralph Rossdeutscher, president and CEO of Natura World. "Last year we introduced Natural Silver Technology in our NaturaProtect line of mattress protectors and pillowcases and adding it directly to mattress covers is another way to protect our customers from the health risks of microbes in the mattressnaturally.
Natural Silver Technology, an antimicrobial, natural silver-based solution, is used in medical dressings to speed healing. This colorless, odorless solution applied to the fabric is hypoallergenic, non-toxic and a helps prevent bacteria. Its also bacteriostatic, which means that not only does it eliminate microbes on contact, among them candida (yeast), e.coli, avian flu, listeria, salmonella, even the highly antibiotic resistant MRSA, it also inhibits future growth.
Since I founded Natura World Inc in 1994 with my father and wife, we have been focused on providing natural sleep solutions that improve health and well-being," Rossdeutscher said. "Wherever possible, we use what nature offers freelyand silver is the perfect blending of an age old solution with modern technology."
May 17,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Acquisition on May 18, 2010
Austin, Texas-based
Four Hands has acquired
Bluefish Home.
The acquisition marks Four Hands' second brand purchase in the last 90 days. The import company bought lighting company
Architects & Heroes in March.
Marietta, Ga.-based Bluefish announced during the April
High Point Market that
it was shuttering its operations. For 11 years, the company has been an international player, offering hand-finished furniture crafted by artisans in Honduras.
Four Hands will be moving forward with three of the existing Bluefish collectionsMetro, Copenhagen, and Primativa.
Bluefish Home is the fourth brand expansion for Four Hands since April 2009. In additional to Architects & Heroes, the company launched bina from renown eco-conscious designer Thomas Bina in October as well as the Boulevard brand of designer custom and in-stock upholstery in April 2009. Four Hands continues to offer its distinct brand of lifestyle home furnishings and is exclusive North American distributor of
Old Java and Esquire Home, a partnership with
Esquire magazine. We are excited about adding Bluefish and its key furniture collections to our growing family of brands under the Four Hands corporate umbrella," said Matthew Briggs, Four Hands president and CEO. "Rupal (Mamtami) has created a brand and quality of furniture that is well respected throughout our industry and with retailers. Bluefish fits into our strategic growth plan for 2010, and were pleased to welcome their customers to Four Hands."
Briggs said Four Hands will continue working with the Bluefish factory in Honduras to manufacture furniture. However, distribution will move from High Point to the Four Hands corporate headquarters in Austin. The Four Hands Bluefish brand will make its introduction at the
Atlanta market, July 14-21 and at t
he Las Vegas Market, Aug. 2-6.
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May 16,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on May 17, 2010
Billy Curtright has been named director of sales, furniture and specialty sleep for
Human Touch.
In his position, Curtright is responsible for expanding Human Touch's sales and dealer opportunities throughout the furniture and specialty sleep markets. He reports to Andrew Cohen, president of Human Touch.
"We are extremely excited to have Billy on our team," Cohen said. "The retail landscape in the furniture industry is rapidly changing, and thus retailers are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to present products on their sales floors. Therefore, in the weeks and months ahead, Billy's expertise in this ever-changing industry will help us to create new and effective approaches for selling and marketing our products in furniture and specialty sleep stores throughout the U.S."
Curtright has more 18 years of sales management and marketing experience in the furniture business, having served in previous positions, such as national sales manager for
Standard Furniture Co., president of Drakeford Furniture and most recently, account executive for
Ekornes.
A graduate of
the University of Alabama, Curtright has also worked with
RoomChoices and
Master Design Furniture during his career.
"This position is a perfect fit for me and my background," Curtright said. "Originall starting in case goods earlier in my career, both imported and domestic, my interest and passion has really migrated toward products focused on health, wellness, comfort and relaxation. The Human Touch product assortment covers all of that. I'm looking forward to working with the accounts and sales representatives throughout North America to help them grow their business in our specialized category."
May 16,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on May 17, 2010
L. Phillip "Phil" Humann has been elected non-executive chairman of
Haverty Furniture Cos.
(NYSE: HVT and HVT.A), succeeding Clarence "Clancy" Ridley who retired from the post.
Ridley has been elected chairman emeritus for the board.
Humann has been on Havertys' board since 1992 and as a member of the executive committee since 1995. Prior to his election as chairman, he was a member of the compensation committee and has previously served on the audit committee. Humann was chairman of the board of
SunTrust Banks, a position he held for 10 years. He retired in April 2009 and currently is presiding director of
Equifax and director of
Coca-Cola Enterprises.
"I am honored to serve as chairman of a company with such a long history of integrity and success," Humann said. "We appreciate Clancy's dedication to Havertys and many years of service as a director and chairman."
In addition, Havertys announced the promotions of Allan DeNiro, Jenny Parker, Janet Taylor and Randall Davis.
DeNiro has been named senior vice president, chief people officer. He joined the company in 2004 as vice president, human resources and was named chief people officer in 2005. He has more than 20 years of experience in all areas of human capital development including strategy and organizational design, recruiting, training, labor relations and mentorship.
Parker has been named senior vice president, finance, secretary and treasurer. Parker was senior manager for
KPMG with more than 12 years experience when she joined Havertys in 1994. She has served as a financial officer since 1994 and was promoted to vice president, finance in 1996. Parker assumed the roles of secretary in 1997 and treasurer in 1998.
Taylor was promoted to senior vice president, general counsel. Taylor served as a partner from 2000 to 2005 in the corporate department at the Atlanta office of
King & Spalding. She also gained experience as assistant general counsel for a medical services corporation. Taylor joined Havertys in 2005 as vice president, law and was promoted to vice president and general counsel in 2006.
Randall "Randy" Davis was promoted to vice president, corporate controller. He joined Havertys as assistant controller in 2006 and was promoted to corporate controller in 2008. Davis is a certified public accountant and his prior experience includes more than three years in public accounting and more than five years in the private sector.
"We are pleased to promote these senior officers and dedicated professionals that serve in key positions in the human capital, finance and compliance, legal, and accounting areas of our business, functions critical to Havertys' success," said Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer.
May 16,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Rugs on May 17, 2010
Monica Battles has been named regional vice president for the West for
Sphinx by Oriental Weavers. In her new position, Battles is responsible for 11 states spanning Arizona to Montana, all states on the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.
With more than 15 years of retail and industry experience, Battles comes to Sphinx from
Nourison where she was most recently the account manager for five states in the Northwest and British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Prior to joining Nourison, Battles was a regional manager for MLC Flooring and moved up the ranks at
Carpet Exchange from sales associate to regional manager.
"We are pleased to have Monica on board leading the West region," said Pat Muschamp, vice president of sales of Oriental Weavers, U.S.A. Her proven success as an account manager and her retail management experience will be a tremendous asset to our organization and to the continued growth of our Western region."
May 16,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on May 17, 2010
The National Retail Federation reported last week that April retail industry sales excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted over March and 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
April retail sales released last by the U.S. Commerce Department, which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants, increased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted over March and 9.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
"The slow road to recovery is turning into a sprint as retailers experienced a nice bounce in April," said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matt Shay. "But maintaining this sales momentum will be challenging. Until our economy begins to create jobs and reduce unemployment, the breadth and sustainability of this recovery remains uncertain."
"Spring shopping and seasonal weather helped boost sales last month," said Rosalind Wells, chief economist for NRF. "Spending on discretionary items had fallen by the wayside these last few years and we are encouraged to see consumers dipping into that pot once again."
Building material and garden equipment stores saw the biggest improvement with sales increasing 6.9 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 14.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Health and personal care stores sales increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted from last month and 3.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Clothing and clothing accessory store sales decreased 1.0 percent seasonally adjusted from March but increased 5.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Electronics and appliance store sales decreased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and increased 4.4 percent unadjusted from last year.