Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 7,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on February 8, 2013
The monthly Furniture Buying Index, compiled by America's Research Group, remained flat at a reading of 72 for February.
"Consumers are in the mood for shopping, and not necessarily buying at this time of the year," said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group. "Americans are waiting to make big ticket purchases to see if their employers will continue to pay for their health insurance coverage at the same rate as they have in the past. Consumers are worried they may see higher deductions taken out of their pay checks for insurance costs in the coming months."
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month from interviews with between 5,000 and 8,000 consumers across the country. In a typical month, 80 percent of the consumers interviewed can name a specific furniture item they intend to buy. The Index's mark signifies what percent of the benchmark 80 percent actually have a particular item in mind.
February 7,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on February 8, 2013
The International Sleep Products Association has slated its 2013 ISPA Industry Conference for March 6-7, in Orlando, Fla.
ISPA shortened its biennial Industry Conference to a day-and-a-half to accommodate busy mattress industry executives. Despite being a full day shorter than previous ISPA Conferences, mattress industry executives will find the new condensed format is filled with timely and relevant educational sessions tailored specifically to the industry.
The Conference kicks off on March 6, with an afternoon and evening filled with valuable networking. The Walt Disney World golf tournament, the ISPA Womens Networking cocktail reception, and the Welcome Reception all offer many opportunities to meet and catch up with mattress industry colleagues.
ISPA is a leader in executive education for the mattress industry, said Latex International President Tom Eisenberg. Attending the Conference is a great investment of our time and allows us a unique opportunity to network with some of the top leaders in the mattress industry in such a short period.
Educational sessions begin on March 7. Steve McKee, president of marketing firm, McKee Wallwork Cleveland, will kick things off with his lively keynote presentation on Marketing to the Rationally Irrational. Attendees will learn how to achieve a balance of fact and feeling to make their marketing efforts more successful.
Following McKee, Amy Jantzer of Echo, and Brett Burky, director of online traffic at Radically Ambitious, will discuss the constantly evolving world of social media and search engine optimization--key to any business marketing plan for the mattress industry.
No trip to Disney World would be complete without a session from the Disney Institute. David Mulvey will share his expertise on how to increase creativity and innovation in the mattress industry--giving attendees the keys to success in the rapidly changing 21st century.
The closing keynote speaker Kit Yarrow, Ph. D., chair, Department of Psychology at Golden Gate University, will offer essential strategies for marketing to Generation Y adults, an important demographic and buying group for bedding products, during her presentation, Psychological Secrets of Gen Y.
After a day full of executive-level education, attendees are invited to a Rock the Dock reception outdoors on the expansive grounds of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Guests can unwind with cocktails and hors doeuvres while mingling with colleagues, business partners and friends.
Click here for more information on the 2013 ISPA Industry Conference.
February 7,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Financial Reports on February 8, 2013
Rent-to-own retailer Aaron's (NYSE: AAN) reported net income of $36.6 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 versus $30.5 million for the same quarter.
Net sales for the quarter climbed 9 percent to $568.5 million, compared to $522.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
For the year ended Dec. 31, net income was $173 million compared to $113.7 million for the previous year. Net sales for the year rose 10 percent to $2.2 billion versus $2.02 billion in the previous year.
During the third quarter, the retailer recorded a $10.4 million charge to earnings for costs associated with the retirement of company founder and chairman Charlie Loudermilk. Additionally, the Company accrued $36.5 million in the second quarter of 2011 related to a lawsuit with a former Aaron's associate. In the first quarter of 2012, the company settled the lawsuit and reversed into income $35.5 million of this charge. Also, in the fourth quarter of 2011, Aaron's incurred separation costs of $3.5 million related to the departure of its former CEO.
"We are pleased with the Company's performance for the fourth quarter and year ended 2012, both records in revenues and earnings," said Ronald W. Allen, chairman, president and CEO. "The results for the year were the best in the company's history and at the high end of our initial expectations, including a 6.6 percent increase in store count. Customer growth during the quarter and the year was excellent, as demand remains strong for our high-quality, affordable basic home furnishings."
February 7,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on February 8, 2013
The American Home Furnishings Alliance will examine key issues impacting home furnishings manufacturing in the first of two Manufacturing Summits this year.
The March 27 Summit will be held at the Franklin Furniture Institute on the campus of Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has been invited to open the summit with a brief overview of the state of manufacturing in Mississippi.
Registration for the 8:50 a.m.-4 p.m. summit is $99 for AHFA members and $139 for non-members. It includes a light breakfast, as well as lunch.
AHFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Bill Perdue will offer an important update on key regulatory issues. Details of the revised California flammability standard, TB 117, are on Perdues agenda, as well as an update on how the industry is responding to the recent spate of California Proposition 65 notices targeting upholstery products that allegedly contain the flame retardant TDCPP.
Obamacare: Implementation and Concerns is the topic of a panel discussion that will be moderated by Jay Moon, president of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. Panelists include Mike Chaney, Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Mississippi; Rusty Berryhill, president of Kevin Charles Furniture; Jim Taylor, corporate vice president of benefits and compensation for Huntington Ingalls Inds.; and Pepper Crutcher, a partner in Balch & Bingham, LLP.
Additional presenters include Nicole Ponder, professor of marketing in the MSU College of Business, who will present results of a consumer buying attitudes and behavior study; Jack McDougle, senior vice president of the Mississippi Council on Competitiveness, who will present, Lessons Learned in the Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index"; and Bill Renick, workforce investment area director for Three Rivers Planning and Development District, who will address Solutions for Surviving the Skilled Labor Shortage.
Summit sponsor CertiPur-US also will provide a brief overview of the certified foam program.
Attendees requiring overnight accommodations should contact the Hilton Garden Inn in Starkville at 662.615.9664. A group rate of $111 is available through March 12.
AHFAs second Manufacturing Summit is slated for August 22 at the Greensboro, N.C., Airport Embassy Suites. Program details will be announced at a later date.
February 7,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on February 8, 2013
The High Point Furniture Market has named its nine newest members of the award-winning Style Spotters team.
They include the winning Style Spotter from October, Lisa Mende, Lisa Mende Blog, @designLHM; Stacey Bewkes, Quintessence, @quintessenceblg; Grant K. Gibson, Grant K. Gibson Interior Design, @GrantKGibson; Raina Kattelson, A Stylists Life, @astylistslife; Kelly Kole, Kandrac & Kole, @KandracKole; Erin Loechner, Design for Mankind, @erinloechner; Marisa Marcantonio, Stylebeat, @Stylebeat; Marilyn G. Russell, Design Magnifique, @Marilyn_Russell; and Michelle Wiebe, Studio M, @StudioM_.
Style Spotters, launched during the October 2011 Market, are home fashion trendsetters that showcase their favorite products and top trends from Market exhibitors on Pinterest, a Web site that lets users organize and share photos on virtual pinboards.
The Style Spotters will work the April Market, on the lookout for top products and trends, and will present exhibitors with signs that highlight the Style Spotters name with a QR code and URL for the Market Pinterest board. Market attendees also can participate by voting on the pinboards and products, generating likes or re-pinning. Style Spotters are promoted on the Markets Facebook page and on Twitter, using the Market hashtag #hpmkt.
High Point Market has received international recognition as one of the top brands using Pinterest. Social media and branding experts such as Hubspot, Social Media Today, Likable Media, eModeration, and FrontLine have touted the Markets Style Spotters program as a unique way to take advantage of brand building on Pinterest. Named alongside such top-shelf brands as The Today Show, Whole Foods, Pillsbury, and Random House, the High Point Market also has been listed as a brand that creatively used Pinterest as part of its overall marketing plan.
Click here to learn more about the Style Spotters.