Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
May 22,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on May 2008
Contract furniture manufacturer American of Martinsville expects to eliminate manual processes and speed projects up with the implementation of new technology from Microsoft, the Redmond, Wash.-based software company announced Thursday.
According to the news release, American is replacing a 28-year-old mainframe computer system that was programmed in-house. The new Microsoft Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM technologies will automate what are currently manual processes and improve planning capabilities.
The mainframe system at the century-old company required the use of many manual spreadsheet processes with multiple databases for the same information, requiring duplicate data entry across the company that can cause errors and sluggish workflow. The furniture design process was not connected to manufacturing and delivery. The new technology will enable all aspects of the operation to share integrated data. Yuri Romero, American of Martinsville’s vice president of information technology, said the two technologies “work together as the most flexible system for our needs, and they provide a lot of functionality out of the box. With Microsoft Dynamics solution, we will be able to do more business with the same number of people, handle more transaction, have better control of our information and be more proactive in catching problems early in the process.”
May 22,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on May 2008
Suite Play! shut its four stores in the Chicago area as it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Wednesday, according to records filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Illinois’ northern district.
Formerly named Rec Room Furniture, the Algonquin, Ill.-based retailer based also shut down its Web site. It closed its stores in Algonquin, Downers Grove, Deerfield and Napierville, according to a report in a local newspaper,
The Northwest Herald, Thursday.
The company, which claimed to provide the Chicago area’s “largest selection of fun home furnishings,” sold a wide array of products, ranging from pool tables to home theater seating, game room furniture and wine storage pieces. CEO Rick Weber told
The Northwest Herald that customers awaiting orders should call their credit card companies to protest charges.
May 22,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 2008
The Massachusetts Family Business Awards were created to recognize the achievements of the top family-owned companies in Massachusetts for their excellence in business, innovation and contributions to the community. The awards program was developed by Northeastern University Center for Family Business; the Family Firm Institute, New England Chapter; and family businesses across the state.
“It is an honor to receive this important award. Even as we have grown, our focus has been on retaining that strong sense of family and commitment to family values that has been the hallmark of our company over the years,” said Bernie Rubin, chairman and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We will work hard to continue to earn the respect and admiration of every person who comes in contact with our company and to live up to the ideals that are represented in winning this award.”
Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is the largest privately owned furniture retailer in Massachusetts with six stores. The company received the prestigious Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence in 2007 and 2004, and it was named “Retailer of the Year” by the National Home Furnishings Association in 2002.
May 22,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 2008
Minneapolis-based Room & Board will move into the Los Angeles market in a 40,000-square-foot retail location in Culver City, according to a news release by Grubb & Ellis, which handled the real estate transaction.
The store being developed at 9300 Culver Boulevard in a three-story, mixed-use building will open in early 2010.
Room & Board currently has eight showrooms in Minnesota, Illinois, New York, San Francisco and Orange County.
Myron Sokolsky of Grubb & Ellis said in a statement that the firm is working with the retailer to identify locations for new stores in a handful of key markets across the United States, including Washington D.C.; Boston; Philadelphia; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; Miami; Atlanta; and Ann Arbor, Mich. The cities targeted for expansion are locations where Room & Board already has a significant built-in customer base through its catalog and Web site businesses.
May 22,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on May 2008
A.R.T. Furniture Inc., Ontario, Calif., has hired former Broyhill executive Pat Watson as director of product development, a newly created position.
In his new position at A.R.T., Watson will be responsible for product line development activities from the concept stage to Market introductions. He reports to Vice President John Iasiello.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Pat’s caliber joining the A.R.T. Team,” Iasiello said. “He has a proven track record of driving results, with a team-oriented approach.”
Watson was most recently director of product development at Broyhill. A.R.T. Furniture Inc. is an importer of residential bedroom, dining, occasional and home entertainment furniture distributed through a network of retailers that include independent furniture stores, department stores, national and regional chains. It has permanent showrooms in High Point and Las Vegas, with warehouse and distribution centers in China, Ontario, California and Conover, N.C.