Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
November 19,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on November 2007
Nebraska Furniture Mart and Sony Electronics cut the ribbon on a new “Sony Shop” that was part of the retailer’s multimillion expansion of its Omaha, Neb., flagship store.
The 1,525-square-foot Sony-dedicated area includes featured products such as BRAVIA televisions and front projectors, Cyber-shot digital cameras, Handycam camcorders, VAIO notebooks, DVD and Blu-ray disc players, Walkman MP3 players, audio components and a fully interactive PlayStation3 display.
The Sony Shop features interactive stations that give customers hands-on experience with the products, and specially trained employees are available to assist customers and answer any questions they may have regarding Sony products.
“Since my grandmother Mrs. B founded the store 70 years ago, we have always tried to make our customer’s shopping experience special and unique,” said Irv Blumkink, CEO of Nebraska Furniture Mart. “This new Sony shop and our new appliance and electronics store will help us exceed our customer’s expectations and provide a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.”
To mark the Sony Shop’s opening, Nebraska Furniture Mart will donate six PlayStation units to local children’s organizations.
Nebraska Furniture Mart is part of Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway’s furniture division.
November 19,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 2007
Retailer Artios Home, Spokane, Wash., celebrated the grand opening of a Nicole Miller Collection Design Studio earlier this month.
Excelsior Designs, fashion designer Miller’s manufacturing partner in the collection, offers the studio program to Excelsior retailers with four distinct levels of participation available.
The Artios grand opening for the Miller collection took place Nov. 3, and a portion of the event’s sales were donated to the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Research Fund, “Ribbons for Life.” Attendees received prizes ranging from furniture and cookware to art and home accessories.
“This was a great event for Artios Home,” said Artios Owner Rand Rogers. “It was well-attended, and we appreciate the support we have received from Excelsior Designs. We’re looking forward to continuing a healthy partnership with them.”
“We are pleased to have the addition of Artios Home’s beautiful new Nicole Miller Collection Design Studio,” said Steven Kayne, president of Excelsior Designs, Amityville, N.Y. “We look forward to introducing our products to more consumers along the West Coast.”
November 19,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Tupelo on November 2007
A group of Mississippi furniture manufacturers met Friday at the Tupelo Furniture Market to prepare for a lobbying effort with state legislators, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported.
The Mississippi Furniture Association will recommend a state income tax credit for cut-and-sew jobs and Foreign Trade Zone status for all Mississippi furniture manufacturers, vendors and suppliers, according to the report.
The tax credit would give each Mississippi furniture maker $2,000 per worker, per year for 10 years for all existing cut-and-sew and related jobs. Companies adding such jobs in the state versus sourcing from abroad also would receive the credit. Foreign Trade Zone status could lower or eliminate duties on raw materials as well as exported goods. Application for that status costs $200,000, and the Daily Journal said the MFA will ask the state of Mississippi to absorb the cost.
The MFA plan also requests support at the city and county level for tax advantages, including property and equipment tax exemptions; modification of Momentum Mississippi and Mississippi Job Protection Act application requirements; and funding to promote export of furniture made in the state.
November 19,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 2007
Bedding major Sealy Corp., Trinity, N.C., has teamed up with Southern California retailer Linder’s Furniture to donate 200 mattress sets to victims of the recent San Diego wildfires.
“Sealy is committed to helping the communities in which it serves because we care about our neighbors in need,” said Dave McIlquham, Sealy’s chairman and CEO. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the California wildfires, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Linder’s Furniture to provide mattresses for victims.”
Sealy is donating 200 twin, full, queen and king sized mattress sets, and Linder’s will deliver them to recipients for free. Anyone who has lost a home in the wildfires can apply for a free mattress through the Linder’s Web site,
http://www.lindersfurniture.com , or by calling the retailers’ customer service department. The mattresses will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Thousands of our community members and customers have been affected by the wildfires,” said Tom Campbell, board member and corporate spokesperson for Linder’s. “We live here and work here. This is our home and we are dedicated to helping victims in our community get back on their feet in the midst of this tragedy.”
Hollywood Bed also is providing free bed frames for all 200 mattresses.
“We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of Sealy and Hollywood Bed,” said Eric Foucrier, president of Linder’s Furniture. “It’s a great example of what we can accomplish when we team up to help others.”
November 19,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on November 2007
According to motions filed in the bankruptcy case of Levitz Furniture, New York, there will be a hearing to approve bidding procedures today at 2 p.m., and an actual auction of company assets could occur as soon as Nov. 26.
The assets for sale could include retail locations, leases, merchandise and intellectual property, and other intangibles. The motion also includes provisions for going-out-of-business sales.
Attorneys for Levitz, which filed for Chapter 11 earlier this month, requested the bankruptcy court hearing set to occur today. Several parties to the case have raised objections, arguing that more time should be provided to sell company assets.
The retailer has 76 stores in the Northeast and West.
On Nov. 8, the company announced that it was filing for bankruptcy for the third time since 1997 because of “insufficient liquidity to support the company’s current operations.” The company also said the filing was part of its strategy to evaluate its options, including a sale or finding a new financial investor.
According to court documents, the company lists assets of more than $100 million and liabilities of more than $100 million. Its estimated number of creditors is listed as being between 1,000 and 5,000.