Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
December 28,
2009 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 29, 2009
A St. Louis-area Ashley licensee will convert two Ashley Furniture HomeStores to Phillips Furniture stores, which will carry higher-end goods, the Belleville News Democrat reported Monday.
The Phillips family, which owns 72-year-old Phillips Furniture in St. Louis, had partnered with Ashley in 2004. Ashley stores in Edwardsville, Ill., and Kirkwood, Mo., have been converted and renamed Phillips Furniture.
Phillips made the move to offer higher-end styles that are "casually cool, classically sophisticated, hip, trendy, sharp and steady."
December 28,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 29, 2009
Ted Sehl has joined Natura World Inc., Cambridge, Ontario, as chief financial officer, a new position at the environment-friendly bedding manufacturer.He reports to Ralph Rossdeutscher, president.
Sehl's career in finance includes positions at W.C. Wood Corp., a leading manufacturer of freezers and refrigerated appliances; and McDonald's Restaurants of Canada. Sehl alsoserves on the board of Hammond Manufacturing, a global electrical and electronics manufacturer. Sehl a graduate of York University in Toronto, is an MBA and a chartered accountant.
"Like all of North America, Natura hunkered down during the recession, refining and focusing our growth," Rossdeutscher said. "But we have continued to innovate, expand and grow in new directions. Ted will be a driving force as we march forward at the swift and steady course we've set for ourselves and the industry."
December 28,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 29, 2009
Rusbosin Furniture and Flooring, Greensburg, Pa., will again sponsor the the Adelphoi USA Golf Classic and Arnold Palmer Spirit of Hope Reception in Latrobe, Pa.
The May 16-18 golf tournament raises funds for Adelphoi USA, a regional non-profit organization with many award winning programs to help youth become accountable productive citizens. From group homes to Myltisystemic Therapy, Adelphoi helps youth and their families through alternative education, charter schools and foster care programs.
Participants get a chance to play Arnold Palmer's home courses, Latrobe Country Club and Laurel Valley Golf Club. John Rusbosin, president of Rusbosin Furniture and flooring, and co-chair of the event, said the tourney will surpass $1.5 million raised during Rusbosin's 25-year sponsorship.
The Arnold Palmer Spirit of Hope Award reception caps an opening day of golf at Latrobe Country Club on Sunday May 16. Laurel Valley Golf Club is reserved for Monday and Tuesday.
To help celebrate 25 years of the Adelphoi Golf Classic, Arnold Palmer has selected and donated a set of eight clubs, which include three-iron through pitching wedge, for auction. Palmer used the clubs 25 years ago in tournament play. Because only 5 sets of Palmer's golf clubs have been released to private collectors worldwide, this set is part of a very exclusive collection. The rest of Palmer's extensive collection of clubs are on permanent display at the USGA museum in Far Hills, N.J.
The clubs, which have been authenticated by Palmer, are handsomely displayed in a shadow box and include an autographed Masters flag and a picture of Palmer. The winner of these clubs will have the opportunity to be photographed with Palmer when the clubs are presented during the 2010 Adelphoi Spirit of Hope Reception and Auction on Sunday, May 16 at the Latrobe Country Club.
The clubs are currently on display at Rusbosin Furniture and Flooring in Greensburg. Pictures and details on the fundraiser are available on the Adelphoi USA Golf Classic Face Book page, and Rusbosin's
Web site.
December 28,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 29, 2009
The old United Furniture plant in Lexington, N.C., was partially destroyed in a Monday morning fire, according to a report from the Lexington Dispatch.
The fire, which started around 5 a.m. Monday, was under control by early afternoon.
And investigation will likely begin Tuesday.
"We haven't started the investigation yet," Lexington Fire Chief Thad Dickerson said in the Monday report. "We're waiting until we get it cleared out--that way we'll get a chance to look at it. It's too early to tell where it started from or a particular area or origin."
The former furniture manufacturing operation ended in 1984.
December 27,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on December 28, 2009
Cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports should end a two and a half year decline with three straight months of year-over-year gains in early 2010. That's according to the monthly Port Tracker report released last week by the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight.
"We've been seeing hints of a turnaround in our past few reports but this is starting to look like a clear trend," said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold. "If retailers are starting to import more merchandise, it's because they expect to be able to sell more and that's a good sign for our industry and the overall economy."
U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.18 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in October, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That was up 4 percent from September as retailers hit their busiest shipping month of the year as the holiday season approached, but nonetheless down 14 percent from October 2008 and marked the 28th month in a row to see a year-over-year decline.
November was estimated at 1.09 million TEU, down 12 percent from last year, and December is forecast at 1.05 million TEU, down 1 percent from last year. January 2010 is forecast at 1.02 million TEU, down 4 percent from January 2009.
The January figure would mark the 31st month of year-over-year declines, but the trend is forecast to be broken in February 2010, when cargo is expected to total 972,391 TEU. The figure is below the 1 million mark because February is the slowest month of the year, but would be a 16 percent increase over February 2009. March 2010 is forecast at 1.02 million TEU, a 6 percent increase over March 2009, and April 2010 is forecast at 1.08 million TEU, a 9 percent increase over April 2010.
The report now expects 2009 to end with a total volume of 12.6 million TEU, a drop of 17 percent from last years 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 12.47 million TEU imported in 2003.