Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on June 2007
Dirk Springmann has been named to the newly created position of vice president of sales for Canada for Hamilton Spill Furniture Group.
Springmann reports to Rick Verjee, president, and will be responsible for directing all Canadian sales efforts.
Traci Bratton, recently named national sales manager for Canada, reports to Springmann and is responsible for managing Canadian sales, allowing Springmann the time to focus on three areas of new responsibility—working closely with major and national existing accounts; developing new customers in the company’s existing distribution channels; and developing new customers in six new channels that the company has identified.
“I have watched the performance and worked closely with Dirk for the past two-and-one-half years and have been very impressed with Dirk’s leadership skills, ethics and self-motivation,” Verjee said. “He is a tremendous asset to the company, and I am proud to have Dirk on my senior management team.”
Springmann previously worked for United Furniture Warehouse, a Canadian retailer. During his 13-year tenure with United, he held the positions of district supervisor on Vancouver Island, and from 1998 as area manager for Alberts.
“These are very exciting times for Hamilton Spill, and as the new vice president of sales-Canada, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to make a significant contribution to the Canadian operation,” Springmann said. “I have a great team to work with and am looking forward to working together with our customers and our new national sales manager for Canada, Traci Bratton. I think the next 12 months will see some tremendous opportunities and growth for the company.”
June 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Technology on June 2007
Nebraska Furniture Mart, Omaha, Neb., has contracted San Diego-based FurnishNet to provide electronic supply chain connectivity with more 300 vendors.
NFM, part of Berkshire Hathaway’s furniture retail holdings, chose to move from its in-house EDI package to FurnishNet’s hosted network in an initiative to increase vendor connections as well as automate additional transaction sets in its supply chain network.
Additional transactions sets the company has targeted include electronic invoice processing, ship notices, product sales reporting and parts management.
According to FurnishNet, more than 1,100 leading U.S. retailers and manufacturers use the company’s electronic transaction exchange network to streamline their supply chains.
June 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Technology on June 2007
Myriad Software, San Diego, has successfully integrated Bassett Furniture’s electronic product catalog with both Bassett Furniture Direct’s Myriad Eclicktic business system and its wireless browser.
“Through the Eclicktic system, Bassett dealers are able to check stock at the warehouse, expediting processing and delivery,” said Carolyn Crowley, Myriad Software president and co-founder. “And with our wireless Browser, Bassett floor staff can check manufacturer’s inventory online, providing real-time, correct information, including retail pricing. Shoppers are able to select products that are readily available and can be delivered very soon.”
Steve Harmon, Bassett vice president of information technology, said, “With this capability, our retail stores will significantly reduce order-entry error and add speed to product delivery, providing a substantial return on our investment.”
“Myriad’s Sales Browser provides a mobile platform enabling our design consultants to spend more time with consumers,” Harmon added, referring to Myriad’s integration of the wireless browser. He believes importing Bassett’s electronic product catalog into Eclicktic and Myriad’s wireless Browser should cut order-entry time for custom product will be cut by 50 percent or more.
Myriad plans to kick off discussing e-catalog and wireless browser integration with other dealers and manufacturers at the upcoming Las Vegas Market.
June 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on June 2007
With consumer interest in memory foam mattresses rising, Atlanta-based Simmons has reached an agreement to acquire the Comfor-Pedic line. The deal is expected to close in the next 30 days.
In a statement released Wednesday, Simmons officials said the deal rounds out its specialty sleep offerings, which already include its Natural Care line of latex mattresses.
“Manufacturing and selling foam mattresses has its own unique set of characteristics, which is why we’re excited about the addition of the Comfor-Pedic team’s expertise to our capabilities set,” said Charlie Eitel, Simmons chairman and chief executive officer. “We look forward to leveraging Comfor-Pedic’s more than 60 years of foam product innovation across our visco and latex offerings.”
Simmons has conducted market research showing that 60 percent of consumers are aware of the memory foam category, and half of those surveyed have considered purchasing a memory foam mattress.
Butch Webster, Comfor-Pedic’s executive vice president, said, “A match between Comfor-Pedic’s foam expertise and the manufacturing and distribution strengths of an industry leader (is) incredibly powerful. I believe that we have found the perfect partner in Simmons to take this category to the next level.”
The new product line called ComforPedic by Simmons will feature five beds ranging in price from $1,899 to $6,999. It will debut at the Las Vegas Market July 30.
June 26,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Leather Upholstery on June 2007
Leather seating manufacturer Bradington-Young, Cherryville, N.C. announced four management promotions Tuesday.
Ben Causey, who’s been with the company 12 years, most recently as vice president of finance and administration, has been promoted to senior vice president. Prior to Bradington-Young, he was vice president of finance for Henredon and Caraway Furniture, and before that vice president and controller of American Drew.
Craig Young has been promoted to senior vice president of sales from vice president of sales, a position he’s held for more than 10 of his 14 years at Bradington-Young.
Conrad Kerley has been promoted from vice president of leather and import operations to senior vice president of leather and import operations. Prior to his 10 years at Bradington-Young, Kerley was at Emerson Leather.
Dale Smith, director of manufacturing the past three years, has been named vice president of manufacturing. Prior to joining Bradington-Young, Smith was plant manager for Hooker Furniture Corp.’s Maiden, N.C., plant, and before that was a plant manager for Henredon.
“I am pleased to announce the promotions of these four individuals in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to Bradington-Young,” said Scott Young, president and CEO.
Bradington-Young is a subsidiary of Hooker Furniture Corp.