Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
October 5,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on October 2008
The High Point Market Authority on Friday invited exhibitors at this month’s High Point Market to submit their showroom presentations for the second annual High Point Market Showroom Display and Merchandising Ideas Competition.
All companies exhibiting at the Fall 2008 High Point Market are eligible and invited to enter the competition, designed to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary showroom presentations created by Market’s exhibitors.
“We instituted this very special event to celebrate the extraordinary creativity and inventiveness of our exhibitors,” said Brian Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority. “For years, designers and retailers have known that the High Point Market is the place where trends begin—and a great place to discover fresh, new merchandising ideas. The showrooms at the High Point Market are unlike any other in the world so this is really the only place an event like this can be held. By showcasing and honoring our exhibitors in this way, we hope to provide retailers with a source of ideas, inspiration and techniques that they can use on their floors throughout the year as they work to deliver the ultimate shopping experience to their customers.”
The Fall 2008 Showroom Competition offers exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their ideas in one of the following categories: Visual Appeal; Creativity; Elements and Principles of Design; Retail Application; and Consumer allure. Additionally, in recognition of one of the industry’s most important trends, this year’s competition adds a new standard of excellence: Sustainability.
The competition will culminate in a gala reception for retailers, designers and exhibitors under the tent in the Century Courtyard at Market Square on Tuesday, Oct. 21, beginning at 6 p.m., with competition winners recognized at 7 p.m. Winning entrants in each category will be presented with a crystal trophy cup for display in their showroom, showcased on “High Point Market Live,” highlighted in Market’s press materials and featured on the High Point Market Web site as a resource for retailers following Market.
A panel of editors representing both domestic and international publications will serve as judges for the competition, including Takayoshi Nagashima, The Home Living, Japan; Sylvia Khan, Index Furniture Journal, India; Mark McMenamin, Interior Design; and Sheila Long O’Mara, Home Furnishings Business. Judging will be led by Jane Matteson, executive director of the American Society of Furniture Designers.
Competition details, official rules, criteria for judging, and instructions for submissions are available now at www.highpointmarket.org/competition . All entries must be made through the website and received before 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. No entries will be accepted after this deadline.
October 2,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2008
Calvin Klein is jumping into the furniture business with a two-pronged approach that includes a line to be sold through select Macy’s nationwide and a higher-end line that targets traditional furniture retailers.
The lines are set to show up in stores in January; company officials will be showing the upper-end line in High Point at the upcoming market.
The two collections—Calvin Klein and The curator collection by Calvin Klein Home—will feature a variety of materials, finishes and hardware. The initial offering includes furnishings for the living room, dining room, and bedroom, including sofas, chairs, dining tables, coffee and side tables, beds, mirrors, and book cases. The designs will be unique to Calvin Klein Home, and will embody the modern design aesthetic known to the brand. The launch will be supported by a national advertising campaign with placements in strategic shelter, lifestyle, and fashion publications, such as
Elle Décor, Metropolitan Home, O at Home, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Wallpaper, Domino, and
New York Times Magazine, among others.
“Strategically, the addition of furniture is very significant for us as it further extends the Calvin Klein Home lifestyle product offering,” said Tom Murry, president & chief executive officer of Calvin Klein. “I believe our team has done a great job creating collections that are true to the Calvin Klein brand DNA while at the same time incorporating elements that exude warmth and comfort to appeal to a wide consumer base.”
The designs were created by an in-house team led by Calvin Klein Home’s Creative Director, Amy Mellen. The manufacture, production, sales, and distribution of both lines will be executed by Calvin Klein’s licensing partners, Alexandre International and Shayne Inds.
Both lines take inspiration from the Calvin Klein apparel and accessory lines, as evidenced in the textures, materials, and hardware. Surfaces are crafted of in travertine, parchment, marble, smoked glass, brushed stainless steel, and gold leaf, in unique combinations of matte and high gloss finishes.
The Calvin Klein furniture line will be available exclusively at select Macy’s nationwide beginning in January. This line is merchandised into three key groups–City, Weekend, and Destination. Each group is delineated by a single wood finish: walnut, whitewash, and teak, respectively. Items in the Calvin Klein furniture line at Macy’s will range in price from $850 for a glass end-table to $2,600 for a canopy bed.
The curator collection by Calvin Klein Home is a more detailed offering consisting of approximately 65 SKUs constructed with expert workmanship. Sculptural and sophisticated, the curator collection is highly polished, with hand-rubbed, dark walnut-finished and ebonized-finished pieces, accented with leather details and bronze hardware. Some of the multi-functional pieces include a tall chest of drawers with valet doors, a parchment-front dresser, and an elegant, hand-rubbed walnut day bed with all-natural linen upholstered cushion and pillows. The curator collection is planned to be available at fine furniture retailers nationwide and range from $1,100 for a cocktail table to $5,000 for a walnut sleigh bed with hand-applied gold leaf. The company will show the collection, by invitation only, in HIgh Point on a dedicated floor in the C&D building.
“We believe that Calvin Klein furniture will bring a fresh and modern approach to the current marketplace and serve to enhance the overall Calvin Klein Home presentation at retail,” said A.J. Menozzi, chief executive officer, Calvin Klein Home Furniture and The Next Market. ”Speaking on behalf both licensing partners, we are privileged to work with Calvin Klein, Inc., on the development of these exciting new product lines and look forward to growing this business.”
October 2,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on October 2008
LBC Advertising, Santa Monica, Calif., has won seven national Telly Awards for excellence for advertising on behalf of Ashley Furniture and Robb & Stucky. The agency, which specializes in furniture retailers, was recognized in the commercial category for four separate Ashley ads and in the film-video category for two projects for Ashley and one for Robb & Stucky.
The 29th Annual Telly Awards is the premiere award program honoring outstanding local, regional and national commercials and programs and honor the very best, including work created for the Web.
LBC’s winning ads were selected from over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents. They recognize distinction in creative work. LBC has now won 64 National Telly Awards including 22 for its work with Robb & Stucky, beginning in 1980, and nine for Ashley Furniture Industries, beginning in 1994.
“We are honored to again receive the national recognition for our great creative work on behalf of our clients”, said Natalie McKinney, LBC’s vice president and general manager. “It means that much more because it is judged by our peers. If there is one word that defines our firm it is ‘creativity,’ and we believe that it is the very soul of our organization. Few firms have this legacy and track record of excellence. It is a vital part of our DNA.”
October 2,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on October 2008
Jennifer Welsh has joined Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, Fort Atkinson, Wis., as retail environment and merchandising manager; and Britta Haraldson has come on board as administrative assistant and customer service manager.
In her new position, Welsh will assist Vice President Keith Mackey in executing in-store experiences and activities. Welsh will also research and report local market conditions to determine consumer experience and expectations as well as implementing any necessary corrective programs.
Welsh began her career in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, where she was the marketing and advertising coordinator for Kapalua Resort. Welsh planned and executed national and local ad placement for print, online and broadcast media. Her other host of duties included: coordinating ad development, design, copywriting and proofing for print and online advertising; managing lead generation and tracking ROI for direct mail and online marketing campaigns; and developing new product literature, collateral materials, signage, exhibits and product displays.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Verlo team and look forward to using my marketing background to drive traffic to the stores and create the perfect ambiance to the showrooms,” Welsh said.
Haraldsonbrings nearly 10 years of experience to Verlo, having previously worked in the food, beverage and retail sector. As the face for Verlo customer service, Haraldson acts as a mediator between franchise stores and customers to resolve customer issues in addition to her administrative duties.
Verlo Mattress Factory Stores is the nation’s largest Craftsman-Direct mattress retailer. Verlo’s business model in specialty bedding sustains the retail framework for custom-built mattresses, ornamental design beds, futon mattresses, assorted futon covers, futon frames, bolsters and pillows. Verlo has a concentrated retail presence in the Midwest with stores expanding as far west as Colorado and as far south as Texas.
October 2,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2008
Solid wood bedroom manufacturer Durham Furniture expects to have its corporate restructuring complete by the end of the year, and will be returning to High Point Market this month with a new location in space 204 of the Atrium Furniture Market showroom.
“Significant overhead cost reductions with the closing of our Chesley facility, increased productivity in the Durham plant, and inventory reductions have all improved Durham’s financial condition,” said Chief Operating Officer Wayne Brohman in an announcement Thursday.
Gord Dilworth, vice president of manufacturing said that two new air makeup units installed in the Durham facility in August will increase the company’s ability to unique finishes on solid wood product.
Durham also announced that Ed Fritz, a solid wood industry veteran, is working as a consultant to the company.
“Ed brings experience to our product development,” Dilworth said. “The new Eastpointe collection which debuts this market is our proof. Ed has helped develop better finishes, and we are anxious to show our customers our improvements.”
In January, Durham initiated a Court-supervised restructuring of its finances and operations, and obtained an order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for protection under the Canadian Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
Durham has been manufacturing furniture since 1899.