Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 29,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on July 2007
Global Furniture USA has expanded by opening a 40,000-square-foot warehouse and regional headquarters in Houston to serve retail customers in the Southwest.
The new office will be run by long-time Global executive Mark Shreyberg and partner Ahmed Zarroug.
“Although furniture industry growth has been lackluster lately, the contemporary category is arguably the fastest growing segment in the industry,” said Alex Vaysman, Global chief executive officer. “We are proud of our double digit growth each year in the last few years, especially from our growing leather furniture division. Our expanding distribution system enables all furniture retailers, large and small, to take advantage of Global furniture and competitive pricing and to tap into the exciting contemporary furniture phenomenon.”
The new facility will allow the company to better serve its retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico.
“Our new Texas facilities offer state-of-the-art distribution services,” Shreyberg said. “Being located in Houston enables us to offer even quicker shipments and better service to the entire Southwest. This area is one of the fastest growing in the U.S., and we look forward to helping our retail customers grow, now with so much of our giant contemporary furniture selection in-stock in Houston.”
Global, known mostly as an importer and distributor of contemporary furniture, will also be able to make its line available to smaller retailers and interior designers who might only need a few pieces at a time from this facility.
July 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on July 2007
Stanley Furniture, Stanleytown, Va., has named Shawn Stevens vice president of procurement. He reports to Rick Lovorn, vice president of manufacturing.
Stevens will be responsible for the strategic planning, implementation and coordination of all purchasing activities. He served as global purchasing for Spectrum Brands before joining Stanley. His previous experience includes a procurement role at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, “Shawn’s more than 10 years of purchasing experience makes him a very valuable addition to our manufacturing team,” Lovorn said.
July 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Display on July 2007
Circuit City CEO Phil Schoonover told a cable industry gathering earlier this week that the electronics retailer has teamed with Ethan Allen in a test to sell televisions and other electronics together with with home furnishings, according to a report in Multichannel News Wednesday.
At the Cable Television Association for Marketing Summit conference in Washington, D.C., Schoonover said the electronics retailer, which has 650 stores, partnered with Danbury, Conn.-based Ethan Allen in Boston.
In another test in Massachusetts, Circuit City has teamed with Comcast cable to open at least two Connect stores. He said the retailer will have 38 concept stores by the end of the year. The Connect stores, which have a boutique feel, showcase the latest in entertainment and communications products, complete with interactive demos and consultants that can provide full-service support from point-of-sale to custom installations.
Schoonover told the cable industry audience that Circuit City needs partners in the battle against big-box stores and other competitors. An Ethan Allen spokesperson didn’t immediately responds to a request for comment on the Boston partnership with Circuit City.
July 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on July 2007
Progressive Furniture Co., the wood case goods division of Sauder Woodworking Co., Archbold, Ohio, will phase out production of domestic laminate and veneer bedroom, and exit its Royal Patina upper-end lines by the end of this year. The streamlined operation will focus on solid pine bedroom furniture from Progressive’s Mexico plant, and low- to medium-priced wood bedroom, dining room, and occasional furniture sourced in Asia.
Dennis Ammons, Progressive’s president, announced his retirement July 2, and Kevin Sauder will act as interim president. Dan Kendrick, currently senior vice president of Merchandising, is being promoted to executive vice president of Merchandising, responsible for management of the entire product line.
Originally known for paper laminate bedroom and occasional furniture produced in North Carolina, Progressive evolved into a major manufacturer and importer of the full range of bedroom furniture in all price segments with its purchase of Royal Patina in 2005. The company’s new strategy will force the closure of the company’s Claremont, N.C., plant, which employs 330 people. Production will wind down through the end of this year, when the facility will be converted to a distribution center.
“We regret that we have to make this move, but we need to change with the new market realities,” said Kevin Sauder, president and CEO of Progressive’s parent Sauder Woodworking Co. “A division the size of Progressive should become a specialist in key market segments, and serve those customers well with great styling, service, and quality.”
The Royal Patina business unit will be offered for sale to allow Progressive to focus on its core business. These furniture lines are marketed through upper end retailers such as Robb & Stucky and Louis Shanks. Royal Patina has an experienced sales and merchandising staff, solid Asian manufacturing resources, and a design team in Cebu, Philippines.
Progressive’s restructuring will also generate new synergies and working relationships with Sauder Global Sourcing, Sauder’s import RTA division. These divisions will share the new Sauder Asia headquarters in Southern China, headed by Mitch Helm, formerly of Gruga-Novimex Seating, a recent Sauder acquisition. The multiple imported furniture lines will pool resources such as supply chain logistics, sourcing, and quality control to provide valuable service to their retail customers.
July 25,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on July 2007
Veteran industry executive Jim Adams has joined Fine Furniture Design and Marketing, High Point, as vice president of design and marketing. Adams reports to Ted Philpott, FFDM chief executive officer.
Adams most recently was chief executive officer for Sherrill Furniture’s wood divisions, including Hickory White and CTH-Sherrill Occasional. Prior to Sherrill, Adams spent 29 years with Thomasville Furniture in various sales, marketing and product development roles, leaving in 2002 as senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
In addition, Sid Barnett has joined FFDM as director of product engineering. Barnett previously held the same position at Kemp Enterprises. His other experience includes quality and manufacturing positions with LADD, Myrtle Desk and Bernhardt. Barnett reports to Adams.
“The addition of Jim and Sid will greatly enhance our product design and engineering capabilities,” Philpott said. “The experience they both bring to FFDM will be an asset to our customers.”
Now marking its fifth anniversary of shipping furniture, FFDM operates a sales and marketing office in High Point with a distribution warehouse located in Eden, N.C.; and a dedicated factory in Shanghai, China.