Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
May 30,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on May 2007
The Las Vegas Market officially announced Wednesday the debut at this summer’s market of the Living Green Pavilion, a team effort among World Market Center, the Sustainable Furniture Council and Channel Logic, a sustainable products representation firm. The show runs July 30-August 3. The new pavilion, which highlights the growth of stylish, eco-friendly home furnishings, will be located in the Sands Expo temporary spaces, which open July 31.
Other environmentally-conscious manufacturers also will show new products and evolving sustainable product lines in permanent showrooms in World Market Center’s Buildings A and B.
“One of the most important issues in the world today is protecting the environment, and so it’s no surprise that the home furnishings industry is becoming more in tune with consumer demand and the usage of sustainable resources in their products,” said Tim Branscome, World Market Center’s director of international business development. “World Market Center is pleased to launch Living Green, which creates a platform for these cutting-edge companies and products, while also informing and educating the entire furniture industry on the latest trends and developments in the sustainable furnishings marketplace.”
Branscome said it is important to raise the profile of companies who are leading the movement in sustainability, and SFC has established meaningful criteria in terms of identifying suppliers as truly sustainable.
“We are happy that World Market Center has asked us to be part of this market that is becoming increasingly important,” said Gerry Cooklin, president of the Sustainable Furniture Council. “Our member companies will have a fairly large showing area, which will allow us to reinforce our message. Sustainability is a topic of fast growing concern, and even though our industry has been lagging other industries in this awareness, it’s never too late to catch up. We look forward to meeting many more new companies that will be ready to join us.”
Branscome added that manufacturers promoting sustainability also are product innovators.
“The introduction and availability of various new sustainable materials appears to have stimulated a whole new community of designers who are now finding their way into the market,” he said. “This July is a starting point for introducing this segment at Las Vegas Market. Naturally, we want to see sustainable content grow, and we intend to continue to bring new suppliers, new products and new eco-friendly developments to the marketplace.”
Also slated for July is a panel discussion, “Retail Sustainability,” presented by Home Furnishings Business. The dynamic discussion will explore how key retailers have incorporated sustainable practices into their business plans for the future. Members of the Sustainable Furniture Council, the designated beneficiary for this event, will be present and answer questions and support retailers in their outreach efforts.
May 30,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 2007
Costco posted net sales of $14.34 billion for the third quarter ended May 13, up 10 percent from $13.01 billion during the third quarter of last year.
Sales for the quarter were reduced by $228.2 million due to an increase in the sales returns reserve balance.
Net income for the quarter was $224 million, a decline from the $235.6 million posted during the third quarter of 2006. Included in this quarter’s results is a $48.1 million pre-tax charge reflecting reduced gross margin on estimated future returns recorded in the increased sales return reserve.
Net sales for the three quarters were $43 billion, up from $39.47 billion posted in the first three quarters of 2006. Net income for the 36-week period was $710.4 million, compared to $747.6 million during the same period in 2006.
May 30,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 2007
The Sleep Products Safety Council and the International Sleep Products Association are combining operations in an effort to broaden industry involvement.
The SPSC, founded in 1986 by the ISPA, is a non-profit organization that provides consumer safety information, support and research and promotes safety of sleep products.
“The SPSC has done a terrific job in leading the industry’s safety initiatives over the past 20 years, and consumers have benefited greatly as a result of the dedication and commitment of its members,” said Jim Nation, chairman of ISPA. “This decision to combine forces with ISPA will allow us to build on their very successful work as we tackle the challenges facing our industry in the future. Under this new arrangement, we will continue and enhance the SPCA’s strong programs.”
Over the last eight years, SPSC has worked closely with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission to figure out the mattress open-flame standards, said Tom Taylor, chairman of the SPSC.
“We look forward to working more closely with the ISPA leadership as we strive to further enhance the overall sleep product safety landscape,” Taylor said.
May 29,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on May 2007
The National Furniture Bank Association, Decatur, Ga., has announced an additional sponsorship level, “Help1Up Friend,” to accommodate individuals and corporations of all sizes wishing to get involved with furniture banks.
NFBA administers Help1Up, the home furnishings industry’s free, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly used furniture removal service for the general public. The service is made possible through a network of dozens of furniture banks across the country, which then provide the furnishings directly to families in need. Typical recipients of the used furniture are women and children escaping domestic violence, families living below the poverty line, and victims of natural disasters.
The new Help1Up Friend sponsorship is $100.
“We’ve had many requests from individuals asking how they can support us,” said NFBA Executive Director Don Lawrence. “People who become a Help1Up Friend are not only ensuring that we can keep opening more furniture banks, but they also demonstrate their commitment publicly and setting an example for others to follow.”
Help1Up Friends will be listed on the Help1Up.org Web site, and receive a Help1Up lapel pin.
Kathy Parks, the executive director of International Home Furnishings Representatives Association and a member of the NFBA Board of Directors, said the Help1Up Friend sponsorship will engage a large segment of the home furnishings industry.
“Representatives tell me all the time they think the NFBA is a fantastic organization,” stated Parks, “and now they have a way to get involved.”
Smaller retailers, manufacturers, designers, and others in the industry asked the NFBA to create a lower-cost sponsorship than the previous entry level of $1,000.
“There are many retailers in the HFIA with only one or two locations,” said Home Furnishings International Association (HFIA) president Mary Frye, also on the NFBA Board of Directors. “A $1,000 sponsorship might require a plan for a return on the investment, but $100 is an easy decision to help children and families in need. Most of us spend $100 on things that don’t make any long term difference to anyone.”
Contact the NFBA at (800) 576-0774 for more information on Help1Up Friend sponsorships.
May 29,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on May 2007
Home Meridian International has selected the city of High Point for its new corporate headquarters. George Revington, the company’s president and CEO, said the new 20,000-square-foot facility at 3980 Premier Dr. will house Home Meridian’s senior managers and staff, and also serve as a world class design, sourcing and marketing center for each of the company’s strategic marketing units. Home Meridian was formed last year with the merger of Pulaski Furniture, Pulaski, Va.; and SLF (formerly Samuel Lawrence Furniture), Phoenix, Ariz.
The company’s other strategic marketing units are Solutions, which sells hospitality and specialty products to big-box retailers, and Creations, a producer of juvenile furnishings.
The High Point City Council had approved $200,000 in incentives on May 24. Revington said he was grateful for the support the city showed during the process.
“Mayor Becky Smothers, City Manager Strib Boynton and the High Point Economic Development Corporation listened to our needs and demonstrated a willingness to bring our company to High Point. This city is the ‘Home Furnishings Capital of the World’ and we will be able to take advantage of the tremendous resources here, from designers to photography studios to an experienced pool of talent from which to recruit,” Revington said.
Revington said that approximately 18 executives and staff will transfer to the new High Point headquarters. He added that the company will continue its operations in Phoenix; Pulaski; and Madison, N.C., where it has more than 1 million square feet of distribution space. In addition, the company has more than 90,000 square feet of showroom space in High Point and 25,000 square feet in Las Vegas. Home Meridian’s international locations include facilities in Dongguan, China, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.