Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 13,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on June 2007
Furniture Brands International, St. Louis, announced Thursday that longtime Chairman and CEO Mickey Holliman will relinquish his CEO hat Jan. 1, and the company’s board of directors has appointed Ralph Scozzafava as vice chairman and chief executive officer designate.
Holliman will remain chairman until May 1 when he will retire.
Scozzafava served most recently as the vice president-worldwide commercial operations of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Prior to joining Wrigley in 2001, Scozzafava served in sales, marketing and merchandising positions at Campbell Soup Co., Clorox Co., and Johnson & Johnson.
In a news release, Holliman said, “Ralph is a proven leader and he brings extraordinary breadth and depth of experience in branded consumer products which will translate well to the furniture industry. Ralph and I will work closely together to ensure a successful transition of executive duties.”
Scozzafava said, “I am excited to join Furniture Brands at this important time in the company’s history, and I look forward to working with Mickey in the coming months to gain the benefit of his many years of experience in this business. Under Mickey’s leadership, Furniture Brands has remained a powerful force in this industry. I appreciate this opportunity to contribute to its continuing success.”
On Wednesday, Furniture Brands announced that it expects sales in its current quarter to be down about 12 percent from the same period last year. The sales decline, which the company attributes to challenging business conditions, is an improvement on the 15 percent decrease in net sales it forecast last month.
June 12,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on June 2007
Furniture Values International, parent of aspenhome, has received an award for its systems upgrade to increase productivity.
Furniture Values was given the Rev’d Up award from QAD, a provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturers, at a conference in Dallas. QAD created the award to recognize manufacturers who work to stay at the forefront of technology.
“We are very proud to receive this award,” said Bill Colegrove, general manager of aspenhome/Furniture Values International. “This accomplishment reaffirms our decision to partner with QAD and our consulting partner, Strategic Information Group. aspenhome and Furniture Values International pride themselves on their people, products and process. This process enhancement enables us to be even more responsive to our customers needs.”
June 12,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Leather Upholstery on June 2007
Natuzzi, Italy’s largest furniture manufacturer, announced that it is temporarily cutting production at its factories in Italy due to challenging business conditions and adverse currency trends that are depressing its order flow.
Beginning today, Natuzzi’s factories will cut shifts from eight hours to five hours for 13 weeks. In late May, Natuzzi announced that total net revenues for its first quarter declined 18 percent, and the number of seats sold declined 17 percent from the same period in 2006.
The company operates 125 stores in Italy, and 158 Natuzzi and Divani & Divani stores elsewhere in the world.
June 12,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2007
Full-line design/source vendor Zocalo, San Franciso, announced on Tuesday the opening of the Chapter 1 Zocalo Living gallery in Hartford, Conn.
The 4,000-square-foot freestanding store is the first retail operation dedicated exclusively to Zocalo’s line of case goods and leather upholstery.
“After having so much success with Zocalo, I decided having a gallery store would be the best move for Chapter 1 and our customers,” Owner Ron Smith said of his decision to open the first Zocalo Living free-standing gallery.
The process of dedicating an entire store to Zocalo has been a smooth transition, Smith said.
Chapter 1’s Zocalo Living gallery carries the majority of Zocalo’s collections, including Sterling Park, Revelle, Elevation, Breckenridge and Hampton Library. Zocalo Metropolitan Leather pieces are also used throughout the gallery to complete vignettes.
The store also has space dedicated to Zocalo’s teen brand, Z Generation.
June 12,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on June 2007
ABIMAD, a consortium of Brazilian furniture manufacturers working to promote the country’s furniture exports, will occupy a permanent showroom at this summer’s Las Vegas Market.
Eleven of the 22 ABIMAD members showing in Las Vegas will exhibit a variety of goods in Space 1000 on the 10th floor of Building A in the World Market Center. Another 11 Brazilian manufacturers will exhibit in the temporary spaces at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Space P-11302 in Pavilion 1.
ABIMAD’s presentation will include 10 members making their Las Vegas debut.
As a group, the manufacturers offer a variety of categories including case goods, dinning sets, upholstery, leather furniture, decorative accessories and wall decor.
ABIMAD also will have an booth located at the Sands lower lobby entrance, where staff will introduce potential buyers to the companies and goods, and promote an “International Buyers Trade Mission” that will visit ABIMAD 2008 Exhibition in Brazil with all expenses paid.