January 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 8, 2010
The Culpeper County, Va., Sherriff's Office is investigating a break-in last week at Amish Furniture and Gifts, the Star Exponent reported Thursday.
Suspects took a safe that included cash, checks, credit cards and other items. The safe was later recovered but the money and credit cards were gone.
"I was actually up in Pennsylvania picking up furniture," Owner Tim Swetman said in the report, who received a phone call alerting him to the break-in.
January 6,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 7, 2010
Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) reported net sales of $8.26 billion for the five weeks ended Jan. 3, an 11 percent increase from $7.41 billion in the same period last year.
For the 18 weeks ended Jan. 3, the retailer reported net sales of $26.83 billion, an increase of 8 percent from $24.93 billion during the same period last year.
Same-store sales for the five weeks climbed 5 percent in the U.S. and 9 percent when international results are included. For the 18-week period, comparable-store sales climbed 2 percent in U.S. stores and 5 percent when international locations are included.
January 6,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 7, 2010
Specialty retailer Pier 1 Imports reported that its December same-store sales climbed 8.6 percent.
Sales for the five-week period ended Jan. 2 rose 5.6 percent to $218 million. The retailer said the nine-week holiday selling period from Nov. 1 to Jan. 2 pulled in a 12.2 percent increase in comparable store sales.
Pier 1 shares climbed 7 percent this morning on the financial news.
January 6,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 7, 2010
Juan Montoya will be honored next month with World Market Center Las Vegas prestigious Design Icon award, presented during Winter Las Vegas Market, Feb. 1-5.
The award presentation, part of Las Vegas Design Center's Design Series during Market, is set for 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3, in WorldView, located on the 16th floor of Building B. Montoya will speak about some of the projects he's done over the past two decades, and topics will include the origin and message of projects, the impact of lighting, cultural differences in the design world, use of materials, and the ways of combining design and technology. His presentation will be offered in both English and Spanish. Montoya's talk will be followed by a reception.
Montoya, who is one of the United States' top designers for residential and commercial spaces, joins the ranks of past recipients, such as Vicente Wolf, Roger Thomas, Vladimir Kagan and Larry Laslo.
"I feel very honored and very appreciative and humbled by this award," Montoya said. "It means that people appreciate the work I have done, and that I have been doing my job the best way I can do it."
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Montoya studied at Universidad La Gran Colombia and at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. He got his start working for Ford and Earl, and did freelance work in Paris and Milan prior to opening his own New York office in 1978.
Known for his qualities of space and scale, Montoya's eclectic style integrates objects from across the globe to highlight the cultures that inspire him, such as Japanese, Moroccan, Scandinavian and North and South American.
"The client and space dictate what period I will be working in," Montoya said. "I consider myself a tailor who finds the best materials to clothe an interior in the appealing and comfortable way, down to the last detail."
He takes projects that are not only interiors, but also architecture and exteriors. His clients represent his international interests and are often involved in¨commerce and diplomacy.
Montoya has received numerous accolades throughout his colorful career, including the S.M. Hexter award for Interior of the Year in 1977 and 1980; the Chicago Design Sources award for excellence in the field of residential interior design; and the Resources Council Inc. Awards for furniture design. Montoya also was selected as a panel member for the National Endowment of the Arts, is consistently named in the AD Top 100 Designers and is represented in the Interior Design Hall of Fame.
He's currently working on a home for seniors in Columbia, as well as developing a project for Aid for AIDS in New York.
"I have been very lucky in my professional career and I enjoy giving back to the community," Montoya said of those projects. "I want to help them not only with donations but also construction of facilities. When you have been in the field for as many years as I have it's important to help in areas like education for the design field, among others."
"The fact that we're honoring such an eclectic and world-inspired artist speaks volumes about design today," said Robert Maricich, president and CEO of World Market Center Las Vegas. "Juan Montoya's career draws from different countries and different cultures to create his own unique aesthetic. World Market Center Las Vegas and Las Vegas Design Center couldn't be more pleased to designate him Design Icon, for he truly is that, in every sense of the word."
January 6,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 7, 2010
Ashley Furniture HomeStores, Arcadia, Wis., launched the retail network's national Big Screen Event Wednesday which runs through Jan. 25. Customers can take advantage of special pricing that includes high-definition televisions. Event details can be viewed online, and photos of the furniture included in this event can be viewed on the Ashley Furniture Flickr page.
The specials include:
* Free 32-inch HDTV with any furniture purchase of $1,999 or more.
* Free 42-inch HDTV with any furniture purchase of $2,999 or more.
* Harmony five-piece bedroom plus 32-inch HDTV for $1,299.
* Nico six-piece bedroom plus 32-inch HDTV for $1,499.
* Macie Brown eight-piece living room group plus 42-inch TV for $1,799.
* Freedom Canyon six-piece living room group plus 42-inch HDTV for $1,499.
* Durapella red sofa, love seat plus 32-inch HDTV for $999.
Ashley Furniture HomeStores has more than 400 locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan.