Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
November 5,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 2008
Gautier, a French manufacturer of contemporary furniture with a growing international network of stores, is opening its first U.S. retail location in Paramus, N.J.
Gautier currently has about 50 stores around the world and plans to open more than 200 new locations over the next four years.
Gautier’s retail concept is based on selling furniture in relatively small stores with a complete seasonal marketing mix and a cutting-edge three-dimensional room planning tool.
November 5,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on November 2008
The International Home Furnishings Center in High Point has named Julie Messner vice president of publication sales.
Messner, who has more than 10 years of home furnishings experience came to the IHFC from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc.’s High Point office, where as director of leasing she was responsible for leasing more than 400,000 square feet of temporary exhibit space in the Suites at Market Square and the Plaza Suites.
Messner replaces Carroll Springer who announced her retirement in September of this year. Springer has been with the IHFC for over 29 years where she has been recognized as a key member of the management team.
“We are obviously very pleased to have Julie accept this key position on our team,” said Tom Mitchell IHFC president and CEO. “She will be responsible for continuing to maintain the strength of the High Point Market publications, which include the Furniture, Accessory and Designer Previews, as well as the official Market Resource Guide and Pocket Guide. Julie’s accomplishments, experience and industry relationships will further strengthen the IHFC’s management team.”
Before joining MMPI, Messner was a sales associate at Rose Furniture Co., also in High Point, where she consistently sold more than $1.2 million in merchandise each year. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Interior Design from High Point University.
November 4,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 2008
WG&R Furniture, Green Bay, Wis., has closed five Sleep Shop locations it opened this year in the Milwaukee area, according to a report Monday from the Green Bay Press Gazette. WG&R cited the poor economy for the decision.
“We are very fortunate to have the success we have in Northeastern Wisconsin,” Jim Greene, WG&R president, said in the report. “I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that by prolonging something, given the economic forecast, that has a low likelihood of success.”
WG&R is discussing the possibility of other sleep chains taking over the leases at the Sleep Shop stores, which sell mattresses, bedding and other accessories, and are located in Germantown, Delafield, Wauwatosa, Greenfield and Waukesha.
The retailer has furniture stores and four Sleep Shops in Green Bay and other locations in Northeastern Wisconsin; and also has a private-label mattress factory.
November 4,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 2008
Icovia, Londonderry, N.H., announced Tuesday that Havertys has selected Icovia as the Atlanta-based furniture retailer’s exclusive online interior design and space planning solution.
Ed Clary, Havertys’ chief information officer and senior vice president of distribution said the Icovia room planner provides an essential service to customers. Havertys has found that cross channel marketing, or moving customers easily from the store, to visualizing the furniture in their home via an online room planner, and back again, greatly enhances the customer experience, as well as helping close sales.
“The customer’s purchase decision can be a long process,” Clary said. “Many factors, including the placement of the furniture in a room setting, are very important to them. We considered building a planner but decided on Icovia because it is not only the top-tier room planner, but also based on the tight Web site integration possible with their system. In Icovia we have a seamless integration that makes the use of www.havertys.com and the Icovia planner an easy operation for any customer.”
Clary added that the Icovia Planner helps salespeople send plans to customers and vice versa.
“Havertys is a successful, innovative company that has recognized that Web marketing is an essential, integrated component of customer service,” said Icovia CEO Steve Street. “We are pleased to welcome Havertys as a customer.”
November 4,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Occassional Tables on November 2008
Magnussen Home, High Point, began a sale to the public last week at its 400,000-square-foot Riverside, Calif., distribution center to liquidate $10 million in excess inventory.
“We’re having a warehouse sale on discontinued items and seconds,” said Magnussen Executive Vice President Don Essenberg. “We never had done this, and figured why not, and if it’s all discontinued goods it doesn’t disrupt our local retailers.”
Magnussen retained Deere Park Associates, Northbrook, Ill., to handle the sale, which touts prices up to 75 percent off wholesale cost. While most of the goods are occasional tables and accents, the sale does include some bedroom and dining, Essenberg said.
The liquidation event will continue until all the earmarked goods are sold.