Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
September 23,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 2008
A company created through the merger of two Philadelphia-area retailers, Oskar Huber and D&D Home Furnishings, is seeking permission to hold going-out-of-business sales at its nine stores after filing for Chapter 11 in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Camden, N.J., Monday.
According to court filings, the two companies based in Southampton, Pa., merged operations six months ago in order to cut advertising and purchasing expenses, but almost immediately soft market conditions created difficulties for the new company, DD-OH Family Partners. “Within a few months of the merger, sales had declined 40 percent to 50 percent from pre-merger levels. At the same time, the costs of inventory skyrocketed, affected by sharp increase in the cost of manufacturing and shipping finished goods,” according to the filing, which also said the company had difficulty getting additional financing.
The filing said the merger was successful in cutting expenses like advertising and warehousing, but added, “the reductions were more than offset by declining sales, tighter credit options, increased fuel costs and the sagging economy.”
Hal Baume, the attorney who filed DD-OH’s Chapter 11 petition, told the
Bucks County Courier Times that a hearing on a going-out-of-business sale is set for Oct. 6. Once the sale is underway, he said the company will determine whether it will be possible to re-open with a smaller number of stores.
September 23,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 2008
Ikea, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, has named Richard Castanon store manager for the 356,000-square-foot store it’s scheduled to open next spring in Charlotte, N.C.
“We are very excited about opening a store in the Charlotte area, where there are many Ikea customers as well as others who may not know us yet but are anxious for us to open,” said Ikea North America President Pernille Lopez. “Richard’s retail experience, and expertise launching new stores, has prepared him for managing this store in Charlotte.”
Castanon, who relocated to the Charlotte-area from California, started at Ikea in Burbank, Calif., in 1991 as a furniture showroom manager after previously serving as store manager at a local Los Angeles-area furniture store. Then, in 1996, he managed an external service provider that specialized in assembly and installation of Ikea products for Ikea customers. Castanon returned to Ikea in 2002 as the build-up project leader responsible for the multi-million-dollar outfitting and launching of new Ikea stores in: East Palo Alto, Calif.; Tempe, Ariz.; Frisco, Texas; West Sacramento, Calif.; Draper, Utah; and most recently Brooklyn, N.Y., this past June.
There currently are more than 280 Ikea stores in 36 countries, including 35 in the United States, where other new stores are being planned in Centennial, Col.; Somerville, Md.; and Tampa, Fla.
September 23,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 2008
Denver-based Furniture Row Companies is holding a “grand re-opening” of its Furniture Row Shopping Center in Springfield, Mo., which underwent extensive restoration and remodeling after enduring substantial wind damage from a tornado in June.
Renovation includes an exciting interior created by the retail design and architectural firm JGA.
JGA incorporated “visual vignettes” at the transition between brands and at key places within the store. These vignettes allow Furniture Row to display the latest furniture fashion trends while giving consumers a visual interpretation of how the furniture will feel in their home. JGA also assisted in the development of environmental graphics within the store.
In celebration the Center will be offering special promotions beginning Wednesday.
September 23,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on September 2008
The CA Boom Design Show, a West Coast contemporary design trade show and exhibition, has lined up 15 exhibitors so far for its first East Coast show, CA Boom East, during High Point Market, Oct. 20-26.
The show is set for Mill Village located at 1014 Mill Ave. in High Point. Cisco Bros. Furniture renovated the former plant for its showroom.
Like CA Boom East’s West Coast predecessor, CA Boom EAST is set to showcase strictly modern, non-traditional products that are authentically designed and manufactured in the designer’s country of origin. Among the 15 exhibitors from various design disciplines that will show in High Point: Animavi, BAZZEO, Berndt Woods Inc., Bevara Design House, blankblank, Bottega Montana, Carol Hicks Bolton Antiques, Cisco Brothers Furniture, Davistudio, Groundwork, John Derian Furniture, Ku Ambience, Luisana Designs & Antiques, Obleek Objects and P.Casero. With the exception of Cisco Bros., the majority of these designers will be showing in High Point for the very first time.
CA Boom creator and executive producer Charles Trotter selected High Point Market in North Carolina as the location for CA Boom EAST with the goal of offering a larger assembly of the world’s top buyers and retailers access to today’s cutting-edge, undiscovered contemporary design talent.
“The CA Boom Design Shows continues to attract some of the most exciting design talent that has yet to be discovered, and CA Boom EAST will be no exception,” Trotter said. “We have already compiled an impressive group of designers for our CA Boom EAST show which will further establish High Point as not only the world’s largest furnishings tradeshow, but as a cultivator of tomorrow’s top contemporary designers.”
“Over the years ... High Point has grown to encompass some 2,000 companies from around the globe exhibiting more than 60 categories of home furnishings in every imaginable style and price point. And there’s no doubt that contemporary design has been coming on strong across the Market,” said Brian Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority. “We applaud the vision that has led to the inception of CA Boom East and the exciting shopping experience it represents. We think Ca Boom East is a tremendous addition to the High Point Market and look forward to introducing the next generation of contemporary designers to our Market-goers this Fall.”
September 23,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on September 2008
The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation has started accepting reservations for the 20th anniversary of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Induction Banquet during Fall High Point Market. The celebration, which culminates with the announcement of new inductees, takes place Oct. 21 in the International Home Furnishings Center Ballroom. Cocktails are at 6 p.m., followed by the gala dinner at 7 p.m.
Honorees and this year’s roster of candidates for induction are: Alfred J. Audi, Wogan S. Badcock Jr., Howard G. Haas, Simon Kaplan, K. Bruce Lauritsen, Pasquale Natuzzi and Adrian M. Pearsall.
“We are thrilled to honor each of these industry pacesetters at our 20th anniversary induction banquet,” said Donald Belgrad, AFHF president. “Each of the nominees has made extraordinary contributions to the home furnishings industry. We are deeply grateful and delighted to highlight their accomplishments.”
Banquet tickets are $95 each, and the reservation deadline is October 3. To make a reservation, mail a check, payable to the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation, to AFHF, 202 Neal Place, High Point, N.C. 27262.
New inductees will be presented with a plaque at the Walk of Fame on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Main Street entrance of Furniture Plaza.