Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 11,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on June 2008
Daryl Kleiman has been named vice president of sales and marketing for Retailbuyers.com, a home furnishings and giftware industry online overstock shopping Web site.
In the newly created position, Kleiman will manage and develop all channels of U.S. distribution, as well as evaluate the company’s advertising, marketing and other strategic opportunities.
Prior to joining Retailbuyers.com, Kleiman was vice president of retail sales with Forcht Group of Kentucky and previously was senior vice president of merchandising with FurnitureFind.com.
“We are thrilled to have Daryl overseeing our U.S. distribution,” said Debbie LaLande, chief executive officer of Retailbuyer.com. “His proven experience will help streamline our operations and allow us to focus our efforts on growing the business and driving sales.”
June 11,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on June 2008
On a busy day for the High Point Market Authority, the group’s board set a new schedule for events starting in the spring of 2009, gained a new chairman and a new board member and discussed a possible reduction in funding.
The biggest change was a unanimous move to adopt a new six-day schedule with a Saturday start date to address complaints from designers and higher-end buyers that some showrooms have been closing before the end of the Market’s current seven-day schedule, which runs Monday to Sunday.
Newly elected Chairman Kevin O’Connor said the October Market will maintain its current schedule this fall (Oct. 20 to 26), but in 2009, the April 25 to 30 event and future Markets will run Saturday to Thursday. He said the new schedule, which reduces the length of Market by one day, will be more vibrant and ensure that designers will find fully-staffed showrooms when attending on a weekend, which is when many of them prefer to shop.
O’Connor, president and CEO of Samson Marketing, was elected Market Authority Chairman, taking over from Vanguard Furniture CEO John Bray. Other changes included Bruce Miller joining the board as representative of the International Home Furnishings Center, High Point’s biggest showroom building at 3 million square feet. Miller retired as CEO of the IHFC in 2006, but resumed his role on an interim basis in May after Tom Lindh resigned from the top job.
Market Authority President and CEO Brian Casey said he has actively meeting with members of the North Carolina Legislature to lobby against a possible reduction in state funding for the Market. He said a spending bill recently approved by the state House could reduce funding by $400,000 from last year’s level, and he is meeting with members of the state Senate to request that current funding levels be preserved. He said funding could be finalized in July.
June 11,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2008
New York City shoppers can begin lining up as soon as Monday for a furniture giveaway that will be part of the grand opening of Ikea’s newest store in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
While it’s the fourth store in the New York Metro area, it’s the first within New York City itself and the 35th in the United States. Shoppers will be able to reach the 346,000-square-foot store via a water taxi from lower Manhattan, as well as shuttles from city subway lines.
The first 35 people in line when the doors open will receive a free sofa, and the new store will also be giving away gift cards and merchandise worth thousands of dollars, including 100 Poang armchairs and 2,500 random prize envelopes with gift cards worth anywhere from $10 to $250 or free food vouchers.
The store on Brooklyn’s waterfront is one of 281 Ikea locations in 36 countries. In the United States, new stores are being planned in Charlotte, N.C.; Somerville, Mass.; and Tampa, Fla.
June 11,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2008
HFB Senior Editor Powell Slaughter has some good news to report in his new blog: Even in today’s harsh economic climate, one furniture store has determined now is the right time to reopen.
Read about it
here.
June 10,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on June 2008
Martha Stewart Omnimedia, which manages a home furnishings-focused empire that extends from magazines to furniture, announced Wednesday that Susan Lyne has stepped down from her position as president and CEO. The company now will be run by two Co-CEOs after the promotion of President of Media Wenda Harris Millard and President of Merchandising Robin Marino to fill the position.
The duo reports to Chairman Charles Koppelman.
In a statement, Lyne said her main goal in taking the position four years ago was to rebuild the company and return it to profitability.
“While there is never a perfect time to depart, the company is on sound footing and we expect the transition to be very smooth,” she said, according to the announcement that did not state a reason for her departure.
Company Founder Martha Stewart said, “Our company is strong and vibrant, and Susan’s contribution have been key. Wenda and Robin are passionate, consumer-oriented leaders with equally passionate teams—all committed to provide our customers with fine quality, beautifully designed products and useful, practical, trusted information that enhances and improves their everyday lives.”
Millard oversees media businesses, including online, publishing and broadcasting. Marino oversees merchandising, including licensing partnerships with manufacturers such as Bernhardt and licensing partnerships with retailers such as Macy’s and Kmart.