Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 11,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 12, 2010
Denver, Col.-based Furniture Row wants to build a 70,000-square-foot store in Belgate, a mixed-use development in Charlotte, N.C., the Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday.
Belgate also includes Swedish home furnishings retail giant Ikea, which opened a store there early in 2009.
While Furniture Row has an outlet center in Charlotte, the Belgate location would be its first full-service store in North and South Carolina.
January 11,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 12, 2010
Indianapolis-based Kittle's Furniture has promoted John Durkott from chief executive officer to vice chairman of the board. Eric Easter, previously president and chief operating officer, has been promoted to CEO.
"We have experienced incredible growth since repositioning and re-merchandising our Kittles Stores last summer, so the timing is perfect to make this transition now at the beginning of 2010," Jim Kittle Jr., owner and chairman of Kittles board. While his title will remain the same, Kittle will be less involved in day-to-day operations, focusing on real estate, vendor relationships and general oversight.
Durkott, who has more than 36 years' service at Kittle's, will provide the benefit of his experience to new CEO Easter, provide financial oversight, serve on Kittles board of directors and executive committee, and continue to represent the company in the community.
Easter, who rejoined Kittle's in June of 2009, had more than 10 year's experience with Kittle's when he left in 2003 to join Thomasville Furniture Inc. as executive vice president. With more than 30 years experience in the furniture industry, Easter assumes full responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the company.
"I am so fortunate to have the counsel of both Jim and John as the Kittle's team works together to continue the phenomenal growth we have been experiencing, Easter said.
"We are very fortunate to be in position to make this transition, which will only strengthen our operations and position Kittles Furniture for continuing growth and a profitable future," Kittle said.
Kittle's Furniture is a top 100 Furniture Retailer in the United States, operating 14 stores in Indiana and Ohio.
January 11,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 12, 2010
Ross Levin has joined Turning House Furniture, Bassett, Va., as vice president and chief marketing officer, a new position at the vertically integrated company, which reclaims and restores old wood for use in furniture with classic designs.
Levin, who reports to Chairman and CEO Spencer Morten III, will oversee sales, marketing and merchandising for Turning House.
"As we move out of the launch phase, we need a leader who is strong in sales and marketing, is a good communicator, and is equally passionate about telling the Turning House story as we seek to be good stewards of the earth," Morten said. "When he first learned of our furniture, he quickly recognized the beauty of vintage wood and the historic value of preserving the stories of once proud buildings and companies. Ross is the total package with industry experience in retail, merchandising, sales management and marketing."
Levin began his furniture career in his father's Ethan Allen stores before owning and operating three Workbench Furniture stores for 15 years. Most recently, Levin served as a national accounts manager for Tvilum-Scanbirk/d-Scan, an international furniture manufacturer.
"When I walked into the showroom, I immediately could relate to the upscale target market and understood the consumer appeal and prestige associated with owning furniture made of solid American wood with a substantiated heritage," Levin said. "This is wood from a tree that started to sprout when Christopher Columbus discovered America. How cool is that to buy furniture that is a piece of documented American history? No one else can do this.
"As we build our sales team and open new markets, we can genuinely say that the beauty of Turning House Furniture is more than skin deep. The history held within the vintage woods will be forever preserved while also saving our landfills and our forests. This truly is beautiful furniture with a soul."
Turning House is a vertically integrated organization. Sister company, Turning House Millworks, located in Landis, N.C., provides the wood for Turning House Furniture by deconstructing old, abandoned buildings destined for landfills. The rare and sometimes extinct wood is given new life as furniture, flooring, cabinets and other building products. As a member of the U.S. Green Buildings Council, the custom order millworks offers full documentation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits on all reclaimed lumber products. For more information, click
here.
January 11,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 12, 2010
WithIt has named its 2010 Board of Directors, which includes the appointment of Stephanie Lowder, president and creative director for Rare Bird Creative, as president of the home and furnishings industries women's leadership network.
"WithIt is a brain trust, a learning space, and a growth engine for individuals and companies," Lowder said. "Those who make their living by connecting people tell us that WithIt may be the best network in the home and furnishings industries. And, this year, we are launching a campaign to expand our service to additional sectors."
The WithIt 2010 Board of Directors includes the following:
* Executive committee officers: Mary Frye, chairman of the board of governors, and president of Home Furnishings Independents Assn.; Liz OBrien, chairman, and sales representative for Ekornes, Star International, Carter Furniture & Creative Accents; Stephanie Lowder, president, and president/creative director at Rare Bird Creative; Jana Platina Phipps, vice president/president elect, and owner of Home Couture Collective/Classical Elements; Mary Leigh Wallace, vice president, and vice president of RLF Communications; Debbie Beers, secretary, and vice president of consumer insights at Furniture Brands International; and Kira Staggers, Treasurer, and manager of audit services at Smith Leonard PLLC.
* Vice presidents/committee chairs: Mary Eitel, Marketing committee, and president of MKE Communications Inc.; Julie Smith Vincenti, Media, and president of Nine Muses Media LLC; Lorri Kelley, Mentoring, and vice president of sales at Palliser; Cathy Smith, Education, and director of design and merchandising at De Leo Textiles; Maybelline Te, Networking, and creative director at Snug Furniture LLC; Cindy Williams, Membership, and vice president of retail strategy at Info Retail; and Cameron Cook, Scholarship Foundation, and public relations manager at Four Hands.
* Vice presidents at large, representing industry niches: Beverly Kastel, Casegoods/Upholstery, and vice president of marketing at Ekornes; Karen Olson,Showrooms/Buildings, and vice president of marketing at Merchandise Mart Properties Inc.; Libby Langdon, Suppliers, and president of Libby Interiors Inc.; and Shelley Parlin, Retail, and chief operating officer at PROFITsystems.
* Regional vice presidents: Heather Brown, Atlanta/Southeast, and marketing/communications manager at Bluefish Home; Alexia Rouquette, Florida, and marketing/public relations manager at Twin Star International/Classical Flame; Kathleen Holterman, Virginias/Carolinas, and showroom/designer sales manager at French Heritage; Joan Franken, Chicago/Midwest, and owner of Concepts & Designs; Catherine Smoak, International, and owner/creative director, Jigsaw Solutions.
Founded in 1997, WithIt recognizes, connects and supports women who have achieved top leadership. It mentors, teaches and encourages those who aspire to leadership.
Visit
here for information about all national and regional WithIt events. Contact
director@withit.org for membership, leadership, and sponsorship opportunities.
January 11,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 12, 2010
Founded in 1950 by Arthur Houde in Laurier-Station, Quebec, case goods manufacturer A.P. Industries is celebrating 60 years of business this year.
Along with a cocktail celebration at the AP showroom at Toronto market, AP launched a new contemporary bedroom, Blue Note.
AP also has launched a new
Web site with a fresh, clean design, rich contents and a lot of photos, to help consumers start their buying process. Multiple search options are available: category, SKU, collection, name of item and dimensions. Features such as construction descriptions, dimensions, finishes, handles options and more are also online.
Customers also can find dealers that sell A.P. furniture and a buying guide with important factors to consider before getting a new bedroom. In a few months, promotion and blog sections will be added.