Daily News Archive
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December 22,
2009 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 23, 2009
Home furnishings retailer Art Van is implementing Code Adam, the system created to help find children who are reported missing or lost in retail stores, in all of its 31 stores immediately.
The Warren, Mich.-based retailer has trained all of its employees to follow the procedures outlined by the program. Code Adam goes into effect as soon as a missing child is reported. A special alert is broadcast, and employees immediately follow specific steps outlined by the program.
As a father, I completely understand the worry parents can have when shopping in a public place," said Gary Van Elslander, president of Art Van. "Code Adam has proven to be successful, and Art Van employees are 100 percent behind this program.
Code Adam, which began in 1984, is one of the countrys largest child-safety programs. To learn more about the program or what you can do to keep your children safe while shopping, click
here.
December 21,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 22, 2009
Ethan Allen, Danbury, Conn., has drawn praise from New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, one of the country's most recognized editorial bylines on political and economic topics.
In "The Do-It-Yourself Economy" Friedman addressed the "twin tsunami's" of the Great Recession and the "Great Inflection" that are affecting the way companies do business.
"The Great Inflection is the mass diffusion of low-cost, high-powered innovation technologies--from hand-held computers to Web sites that offer any imaginable service--plus cheap connectivity," Friedman wrote. "They are transforming how business is done. The Great Recession you know.
"The 'good news' is that the Great Recession is forcing companies to take advantage of the Great Inflection faster than ever, making them more innovative."
Ethan Allen was Friedman's "large company" example of businesses that are investing in technology to trim costs, increase efficiency and reach out to new markets.
December 21,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 22, 2009
World Market Center will host its first "Kick Off to Bedding," a day of exclusive networking events and programs underscoring the line-up of new bedding products and collections at the Winter Las Vegas Market, on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
"With so many new product introductions planned for February among our mattress producers, we wanted to shine a giant spotlight on our bedding market and create new opportunities to grow business for our customers in 2010," said Babs Blair, vice president of leasing for World Market Center Las Vegas. "We have a terrific line up of networking and content-focused events that will energize retailers and ensure February Market is the 'Super-bowl' of the bedding industry."
"Kickoff to Bedding" events on Feb. 2 include:
* "The Producers: Power Breakfast," 8 a.m.
Bedding producer roundtable discussion hosted by Furniture/Today. Senior bedding executives will share their perspectives on the industry's business prospects in the new year and will reveal what their companies will be doing to spark sales during this roundtable discussion hosted by Furniture/Today.
* "Environmental Claims: What Marketers and Retailers Need to Know--Terminology, Definitions, Standards and Trends for the Bedding Industry," 2 p.m., WMC-C1350.
The Specialty Sleep Association sponsors the release of findings from a "Green Initiative" consumer survey, and will also release a set of definitions and terms based on research conducted over the past nine months. Open to the public, the mattress/bedding "Green Initiative" is working to better define common terms being used in the industry to achieve transparency with clear terminology based on consumer and retail sales research.
* "Kick Off to 2010: The Bedding Producers and Players."
A private event featuring an entertaining address by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Manning's impressive 13-year professional football career included the National Football League's Most Valuable Player recognition in 1978 and induction into Mississippi's Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Manning is father of current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, and former Ole Miss receiver Cooper Manning. Manning's on-the-field leadership will present new insights for an industry "playing to win."
December 21,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 22, 2009
Picture Source, a Seattle-based wall art vendor, has reached an agreement with Werner Frank Enterprises Inc. for expanded representation of the company's Picture Source and The Art Club lines in several southeastern states.
The new relationship bolsters Picture Source's presence in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. The added coverage allows Picture Source to provide better support to its retailers, which include major retail chains, boutiques, independent interior designers and lifestyle furniture stores, as well as contract and hospitality chains across North America and beyond.
In addition to its permanent AmericasMart Atlanta showroom, in Building 1, 14th Floor, Suites E13/15, many of Picture Source's Atlanta Market introductions and bestselling collections also will be shown in the Werner Frank Enterprises showroom in Building 2, Floor 12, Suite 1200, beginning with the January 2010 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and continuing year-round by appointment.
Picture Source also maintains permanent showrooms in High Point (IHFC-D423), Dallas (10040), Las Vegas (inside Dillon-Wells A-236 and at A-319) and Los Angeles (inside Dillon-Wells, 711).
December 21,
2009 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on December 22, 2009
The licensing division for Biltmore, the Asheville, N.C., estate built for George Vanderbilt and widely considered America's largest private home, will celebrate 20 years in licensing during 2010.
"My great-grandfather, George Vanderbilt, brought together an amazing collection of antiques and shared his treasures with a multitude of guests over the years," said Bill Cecil Jr., president and CEO of The Biltmore Company. "Today, Biltmore hosts nearly one million visitors each year. We're proud to be able to offer our guests and others the chance to bring the inspiration of Biltmore House into their home with Biltmore's licensed partners."
Diana Cecil Pickering, vice chairman of the board and great-granddaughter of George W. Vanderbilt, founded Biltmore's licensing program and first introduced the Biltmore brand to prospective partners at High Point Furniture Market in April of 1990.
Originally marketed as Biltmore Estate Reproductions, Inc., the company initially focused on reproductions produced with authenticity and integrity, created exactly as those found in Biltmore House.
"In the beginning, we were very committed to exact reproductions," said Pickering, who explained the learning curve in developing Biltmore's licensing program.
Restrictions on manufacturing processes to achieve perfect authenticity in each item slowed production, which led Pickering and her associates to add the licensed categories "adaptation" and "interpretation." This allowed partners to produce items inspired by Biltmore's collections, while using modern production techniques.
"Our partners do an amazing job of turning the inspiration of Biltmore into a incredible array of products," said Tim Rosebrock, vice president and general manager for Biltmore's Licensing Division. "They deserve a huge amount of the credit for making our brand what it is today."
Rosebrock brings a unique perspective to Biltmore's licensing division as a former employee of one of Biltmore's early home furnishings partners.
Today, Biltmore's licensing division is comprised of 50 active partners that offer Biltmore's estate-inspired furniture, bedding, tabletop, cookware, custom frames, accessories, cabinetry, flooring, outdoor décor and many other products for the home and garden. Partners include Belk, Sarreid/Encore, Capel Rugs, Larson-Juhl, Anderson Flooring, Habersham and Executive Kitchens.
As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Biltmore will open The Biltmore Legacy in May 2010, an exhibition in the new Antler Hill Village showcasing the Vanderbilt family, historic objects and furnishings from Biltmore House, as well as licensed products. The new showcase will be the first exhibition to illustrate the creative process behind Biltmore's licensed products.