Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on January 25, 2010
Ashley Furniture HomeStores will expand its Las Vegas operation with a new location in a former Levitz store, the Las Vegas Sun reported Sunday.
Ashley licensee Michael Jedlowski acquired the 102,000-square-foot building near downtown. The store should open by the end of the year. The site includes a warehouse currently being used to support two other Ashley stores in the area.
Jedlowski said he expects to open the store in the second half of 2010 because the $1.5 million renovation will take time. The retail portion will measure about 72,000 square feet, he said.
Jedlowski operates 14 Ashley stores in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno and Salt Lake City outlets.
In addition, Ashley's Galleria-area store will relocate to 45,000-square-foot building at Sunset Road and Stephanie Street.
January 24,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on January 25, 2010
Artisan House, a Burbank, Calif.-based accessories vendor, will donate 10 percent of its Maison & Objet (Paris) January market sales to the Order of Malta, American Association Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund.
The American Association supports three major missions in Haiti that are in desperate need of funds to provide emergency relief and medical assistance and to buy food for starving children, mothers and fathers, and elderly Haitians in the wake of the recent earthquake there.
The three missions in Haiti associated with the Order of Malta American Association include the Haitian Health Foundation; Hope for Haiti, which is organizing airlifts and busloads of critical food and medical supplies; and Hôpital Sacré Coeur, a triage connected to Operation Hope. Each of these organizations will guarantee that 100 percent of the monies will go toward emergency relief for those in need.
Donations will be made on orders written at market only and will be paid to the relief fund upon Artisan's receipt of payment from customers. There is no maximum limit to Artisan's donations. Customers will receive e-mail confirmation of donation payments from Artisan House.
Artisan House has permanent showrooms are located in High Point (IHFC-D208) and Las Vegas (WMC-A300). Artisan House has also exhibited at the Tokyo Furniture Market; Interiors Birmingham; Atlanta Gift Market; New York Art Expo Show; ASEAN Furniture Show in Singapore; Furnitex in Melbourne, Australia; and Interiors UAE in Dubai.
January 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on January 22, 2010
Four former Charleston, S.C., firefighters have sued Sofa Super Store and several of its vendors for emotional and physical injuries sustained in the store fire that killed nine other firemen in 2007, the Post and Courier reported Friday.
Relatives of eight of nine firefighters killed in the blaze also have filed lawsuits.
The latest lawsuits name Sofa Super Store, the Goldstein Family Limited Partnership, Feltmann and Associates Inc., Miller Concrete, Conklin Company, Dupont Performance Elastomers LLC, Albany Industries Inc., Best Chairs Inc., Hughes Furniture Industries Inc., Motion-Eaze Recliners, Overnight Sofa Corp., Primo International, Pembrook Chair Corp. and Robinson & Robinson Furniture, doing business as Sofa Trend and Leather Trend.
The lawsuits claim illegal store additions violated building codes, and blame the store and its owner for allegedly installing highly flammable roofing and ceiling products and storing highly flammable furniture and other materials without "reasonable fire suppression systems," such as sprinklers.
The lawsuits also allege that the furniture makers named in the lawsuits didn't warn consumers about fire dangers associated with their products.
January 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Rugs on January 22, 2010
Azra Home Furnishings will debut its brand in North America at the Feb. 1-5 Las Vegas Market, where it also will introduce a new hand-knotted rug. Azra's World Market Center showroom is WMC-C599-79.
The company, whose U.S. headquarters are in Hagerstown, Md., has been crafting high-end hand-knotted rugs in Pakistan for more than 40 years and has an established retailer base in Europe and South America.
The new collection, created specifically for the North American market, totals 50 rug styles incorporating a mix of traditional, transitional, and contemporary designs in current color palettes. The assortment includes all standard rug sizes. Approximate retail prices range from $3,000 to $6,000.
"We are excited about launching our beautiful new line of rugs in Las Vegas, and introducing Azras quality, style, and value to the American market," said Mike Sausman, vice president of sales and marketing.
The company also will show its their collection at the April High Point Market.
Azra Home Furnishings has a special order program for rug customization. The company also has hired a national sales force to manage all sales and customer-service related issues, but is still looking for representation in additional territories.
January 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Closings on January 22, 2010
Furniture Sellers Home Furnishings, Ottowa, Ill., has announced the store will close after 13 years in business.
A going-out-of-business-sale began Thursday with reductions of up to 75 percent on all items from vendors including Lane, Ashley, Englander, American, Home Elegance and others.
"The decision to close the store has been a difficult one," said Owner Richard Orlandi. "We are a part of the history in Ottawa and we have loved being a part of so many families' lives. There comes a time to move on, given the current economic conditions; while we can still offer our customers the quality merchandise and service we're known for."
He added that Furniture Sellers will honor all existing warranties and service agreements.