Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
October 6,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on October 2008
Furniture Row Racing, the team owned and sponsored by a Denver-based retail chain, posted its best finish in three years in Nascar’s top series, Sprint Cup, as Joe Nemechek steered the 78 Chevrolet to 11th place at Talladega, Ala.
The company’s previous best finish was 18th at Daytona in July.
“We had an awesome car, awesome motor and an awesome weekend of racing,” said Nemechek, who qualified seventh. “We put it all together, and the performance will give our Furniture Row team a big morale boost for the closing races.”
October 6,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2008
Cost Plus World Market will celebrate the 1958 opening of its first store along San Francisco’s famed Fisherman’s Wharf starting Oct. 23 with “50 years of fabulous finds” events at its flagship store in the city.
The company, which has grown to nearly 300 stores nationwide, was started by William Amthor, who began selling rattan baskets and furniture from overseas. Over the years, the company—and its selection—has expanded steadily and its buyers now purchase unique, handcrafted items from more than 70 countries, including imported foods from the U.K. for homesick Brits,gourmet chocolates from Switzerland and wine from the world’s top growing regions.
As part of its Oct. 23-26 grand opening celebration, Cost Plus will donate a portion of its proceeds from its flagship store during the anniversary weekend to schools in San Francisco and Oakland. The store will also host live entertainment, henna painting and demonstrations by well-known chefs.
October 6,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on October 2008
Atlanta-based Havertys, which operates 123 stores in 17 states, announced Monday that sales in its third quarter declined 12.5 percent to $175.6 million. Comparable-store sales declined 14.9 percent.
For the first nine months of 2008, sales were down 8.6 percent to $529.2 million, and comparable-store sales have declined 11.3 percent over the first nine months of the year.
In the third quarter, total written business was off 15.2 percent versus a decrease of 5.8 percent for the same quarter in 2007.
October 6,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on October 2008
GE Money and the retail buying group Furniture First have reached a multi-year agreement to provide consumer financing services through the Furniture First’s independent retailer locations across the United States.
The private label credit cards, issued through GE Money’s Sales Finance unit, provide homeowners extended terms and special financing promotions with no annual fee. The service is available through in-store application using GE Money’s online finance management system AdvanceDesk, which also gives cardholders online account management.
“Selecting GE Money’s financing program was an easy decision for Furniture First members,” said Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First. “Their experience in providing credit solutions that meet the needs of businesses and consumers alike brings added value to our retailers and their customers.”
Furniture First has 167 retailer-stockholders with 346 stores in 44 states. Collectively, Furniture First possesses $1.5 billion in industry buying power.
“Our expertise in financial services dates back more than 75 years,” said James Seger, vice president of the Home Furnishings industry for GE Money, sales finance. “We’re pleased to work with Furniture First to provide their customers a tool to purchase the home furnishings they want and need.”
October 6,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on October 2008
Leading Northeastern retailer Bob’s Discount Furniture will open its 31st location Friday in Dedham, Mass.
Grand-opening festivities, starting at 10 a.m., include Appearances By Bob’s Discount Furniture Founder Bob Kaufman, Bob’s television personalities Cathy Poulin and William Newton, New England Patriots cheerleaders, and radio personalities from 100.7 WZLX and Oldies 103.3. The celebration will continue throughout the day on Saturday.
“The opening of our new Bob’s Discount Furniture location in Dedham, Mass., during these challenging economic times is an acknowledgement of how we have always offered no phoney gimmicks and just straight talk to our customers,” Kaufman said. “I look forward to meeting and greeting all of the Dedham area residents visiting ‘the official furniture store of the New England Patriots’ during our grand opening weekend.”
The new Bob’s Discount Furniture is located at 350 Providence Highway, near the intersection of Route 1A and Washington Street, Dedham Mall, Dedham, Mass.
Bob’s Discount Furniture has stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island.