Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on January 25, 2010
Former Lane Venture President Arthur Thompson has joined the board of directors of Boca Raton, Fla.-based high-end outdoor furniture retailer Carls Patio Inc.
Thompson, who served as Laneventure president for 20-plus years, recently received the International Casual Furniture Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
"The opportunity to draw upon his wealth of experience and knowledge of our industry is invaluable," Carls Patio President Gary Ecoff said of Thompson. "Art's expertise in branding, marketing, and product adds significant depth to our organization. The fact that he is a great guy and his DNA is well suited for our group is just a bonus."
"From its inception I have been deeply impressed with the Carl's organization; the merchandising, the presentation, and most importantly, the people," Thompson said. I am delighted to become a part of their exciting future. said Mr. Thompson.
Carls Patio has 12 stores selling high-end outdoor furniture in Florida and six in California. Carls Patio most recently acquired the three-store Frellen's chain in the San Francisco Bay area.
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on January 25, 2010
Case goods vendor A.R.T. Furniture has launched a split direct container program from China. The new program enables retailers to order a minimum of 500 cubes and realize reduced shipping costs direct from A.R.T.'s dedicated warehouse in China.
Current direct container customers already have the option of mixing up to five collections in a full container. The new Split Direct Container program also provides this benefit as retailers make choices from A.R.T.'s 18 collections.
Zenith Global Logistics will handle the freight from A.R.T's China warehouse through one of three quick-ship zones in California, Texas and North Carolina, from where product is delivered directly to the retailers designated warehouse. With an ongoing flow of orders being processed through three zones, retailers can expect a lead time of six to eight weeks for delivery.
Retailers receive a quoted fixed rate that includes ocean and land freight delivered direct to their warehouse.
"The Split Direct Container program is designed to offer flexibility, convenience and true savings while minimizing the inventory investment," said Bill Sibbick, A.R.T.'s vice president of sales and marketing.
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on January 25, 2010
HomeFurnishings.com the National Home Furnishings Association's new consumer Web portal, will take center stage in the Retailer Resource Center, WMC-B1630, during next week's Las Vegas Market in the RCC's "Launch Pad."
The Western Home Furnishings Association and NHFA use the The Launch Pad to showcase and innovative new products.
HomeFurnishings.com is designed to engage consumers with meaningful lifestyle content and drive them to NHFA member retailer microsites for store information and additional motivators to turn their browsing interest into sales for participating NHFA member retailers.
HomeFurnishings.com aims to increase consumer confidence and loyalty in purchasing furniture; grow retailer credibility with the consumer; lift participating retailers furniture sales; provide more efficient use of advertising dollars through a national media campaign; and create new leads and market differentiation.
Im addition to the Launch Pad, buyers also will have access to a wide array of vendors displaying their products and services in two RRC locations, B-1630 and C-512. Company experts from the advertising and marketing, financial, consulting, design, technology, training and warehouse distribution sectors will be on hand for market week.
RCC complimentary services include a daily buyers' breakfast, Internet Café, coffee bar and the new WINEdown networking event.
"Both locations of the Retailer Resource Center showcase great business partners for the home furnishings retailer," said WHFA Executive Director Sharron Bradley. "Each location has new vendors showing the latest products for home furnishings businesses. Market attendees will also be able relax and enjoy assortment of services in the RRC that have been created to make their time at Market a more pleasant experience."
For a complete listing of business services providers that will be showing at the Retailer Resource Center, visit www.WHFA.org.
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on January 25, 2010
Slumberland, Little Canada, Minn., will open a store in Springfield, Ill., the first weekend in February, The State Journal-Register reported Sunday.
The new store, Slumberland's sixth in Illinois, is the former home of Lee's Furniture.
"This will be store number 120 for us," Michael Larson, director of franchise development for Slumberland, said in the report.
Lee's Home Furnishings closed at the end of December.
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on January 25, 2010
Bob's Discount Furniture, Manchester, Conn., will open a distribution center in Perryman, Md., near Baltimore, by July, the Baltimore Business Journal reported Friday.
Bob's signed a lease for 672,000 square feet in the MidAtlantic Distribution Center to support expansion with new stores in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Bob's opened the New York market with stores in Yonkers and Poughkeepsie last year.