Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 11, 2010
Art Van Furniture, Warren, Mich., is teaming up with cast members from the long running daytime drama "Days of our Lives" and local NBC affiliate WDIV Channel 4 to help Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries-Genesis House III.
Truckloads of furniture including 50 mattress sets, bed frames, night stands and dressers will arrive next week at the Genesis House III compliments of Art Van Furniture.
To celebrate this campaign and draw attention to the cause, "Days of Our Lives" cast members Shawn Christian (Dr. Daniel Jonas) and Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe Lane) will make personal appearances at four Art Van Furniture stores for autographs and photos on Jan. 16 (noon-1 p.m. at the Warren store; 3-4 p.m. at the Taylor store); and Jan. 17 (12 noon-1 p.m. at the Lakeside store; and 3-4 p.m. at the Novi store). Directions and details can be found at
www.artvan.com.
Guests also can enter to win a trip for two to Los Angeles for a special tour of the set of "Days of Our Lives." The trip will be awarded to a winner who enters now through Jan. 18, either in-store at any Art Van location, or on the Web site.
Donations of toiletries and cleaning supplies also are being accepted at all Metro Detroit area Art Van Furniture stores through Jan. 18. Donation items needed include travel sized shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, soap and washcloths, as well as laundry and dish soap.
"These donations will benefit the lives of hundreds of homeless women and children," said Art Van Elslander, chairman and founder of Art Van Furniture. "Providing a few of the comforts of home--even just the little things--can make a big difference."
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries' Genesis House III provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, treatment and case management services to women and children in need.
January 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 8, 2010
Haverty Furniture Cos. (NYSE: HVT and HVT.A) posted sales of $162.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 ended Dec. 31, a 0.4 percent increase from sales of $161.8 million in the same quarter last year.
Same-store sales for the quarter climbed 2 percent.
Sales for the 12-month period totaled $588.3 million, a 14.9 percent decreased compared to $691.1 million for the 12 months in 2008. Comparable-store sales for the 12 months dropped 14.2 percent.
"We are pleased to return to positive comparable store sales territory for our fourth quarter," said Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive office. "Total written sales during the quarter were up 1.4 percent. Gross profit margins have held up well even in this promotional selling environment. We are off to a good start in 2010 after a successful New Year's sale and look forward to top line improvements for this year as we celebrate Havertys' 125th year in the retail furniture business."
Havertys has 121 showrooms in 17 states in the Southern and Midwestern U.S.
January 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 8, 2010
Ethan Allen (NYSE:ETH), Danbury, Conn., has teamed up again with HGTV as primary furnisher for the 2010 HGTV Dream Home in Sandia Park, N.M.
"We're extremely proud of our longstanding relationship with HGTV, and to have been selected as the primary furnisher of the HGTV Dream Home for the fourth consecutive year is truly a testament to the diversity of our products and to the breadth of our custom capabilities," said Nora Murphy, Ethan Allen's executive vice president of style and advertising.
Modern Style Meets Mountain Views was the theme for this year's HGTV Dream Home. The single-story, 3,900-square-foot home has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a home office, a home theater, a gourmet kitchen with a walk-through pantry, an outdoor dining area with a fireplace and grill, a three-car garage, and a separate guest casita with a playhouse for children.
January 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 8, 2010
Magniflex, an Italian manufacturer of environmentally-friendly sleep products, will make its Canadian Home Furnishings Market debut Saturday. The Toronto show runs through Tuesday.
Representatives from the company's Canadian, U.S. and global sales teams will be on hand at Magniflex's corner showroom, space 5600 in Hall 5.
"We are committed to serving markets throughout Canada and showing at the Toronto market is the right next move as we broaden our dealer base," said Magniflex Global Sales Director Marco Magni. "With the current economic climate, we believe that companies offering great value and competitive prices will not only survive, but thrive. As a global brand, Magniflex has advantages over other producers because, in other parts of the world, markets are growing and that gives us a fair amount of strength that we leverage for our Canadian dealers."
Magniflex is broadening its Canadian distribution after a successful "beta" launch last year at retailers in Toronto and Montreal.
For more information on Magniflex, click
here.
January 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 8, 2010
Leon & Lulu will host a third Artists' Market at the home furnishings retailer's Clawson, Mich., store.
On Sunday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Tuesday, March 2, from 3-8 p.m., the store will once again invite the community to meet local artists and discover the crafts and artistic creations being made in Michigan and surrounding areas. Admission is free.
"The Artists' Market is a blast. It is full of exciting, one-of-a-kind new product, designed by local artists and craftspeople," said Mary Liz Curtin, owner of Leon & Lulu. "The Artists' Market is an event you won't want to miss."
Artists may submit their work until Jan. 15. The jury has set criteria for selecting artisans similar to the standards that make Leon & Lulu an award-winning retailer--unique, fun, creative and full of personality. All items selected are made in either the United States or Canada, and actual artisans will be present at the Market alongside their creations. The artisans selected to participate will be announced on Feb. 2.
People attending the Artists' Market will find wall art, jewelry, home accessories, and fiber art, among other creations. The list of participating artisans and their specialty will be available
online.
The Artists' Market is part of Curtin's ongoing effort to support her local community. Leon & Lulu and Mary Liz Curtin have won numerous awards including being named a Retail Star in 2008, an ARTS award in 2009 and a Retail Excellence Award. Mary Liz and her husband Stephen's commitment to philanthropy and community service has found the perfect venue with Leon & Lulu, with most of their marketing dollars going to charity-related events.