Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 23,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on January 2007
Full-line importer Zocalo, which debuts its permanent World Market Center at the upcoming Las Vegas market, has named Tasha Rassuli public relations manager.
She replaces former Public Relations and Marketing Manager Amy Neal. Rassuli will serve as Zocalo’s key media relations contact, and work to raise Zocalo’s visibility in the industry, local and national publications, and in the local community. Rassuli comes to Zocalo after spending the last two years with The Birmingham News in Birmingham, Al. She served as a reporter and editorial assistant with the newspaper’s sports section. She brings a wide variety of skills to the Zocalo team with her experience in the print media industry.
In Las Vegas, Zocalo’s 13,000-square-foot showroom in space 1254 of WMC’s Building B, will feature all-white walls, specialty lighting and polished concrete floors to showcase existing collections, as well as new leather accent seating in sandstone, espresso, persimmon and a 3/2/1 group in saddle, covered in top-grain leather.
“We’ve invested in World Market Center because it’s an incredible opportunity to connect with our existing West Coast dealer base and a wide variety of new dealers from around the country and the world,” said Marketing Director Danny Olivas. “Our new showroom concept is very design focused. Instead of displaying collections in common vignettes, we’ve developed a museum format where our product can be experienced like art.”
January 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
Cheminne Taylor-Smith has been named director of marketing and communications for Lexington Home Brands.
Prior to joining Lexington Home Brands, Taylor-Smith was most recently editor in chief of InFurniture, which was acquired by
Home Furnishings Business in November.
In the new position, she reports to Phil Haney, president and chief executive officer.
“Cheminne has a well-known name and a long history within the home furnishings industry,” Haney said. “Her experience in the media, retail and consumer sectors will be invaluable as Lexington Home Brands moves forward with its dynamic plans for the future.”
Taylor-Smith has been in trade publishing for 20 years and has held editorial positions at
Furniture/Today,
Home Accents Today,
Casual Living and
BedTimes.
January 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
Carolina Rustica Inc, a multi-channel retailer of home furnishings, lighting and gourmet kitchen accessories, has named Keila Hughes to the newly-created post of vice president of operations.
In this position, Hughes will be responsible for helping the company better serve its growing customer base nationwide by streamlining operations in customer service and all warehousing and shipping functions. Additionally, she will be responsible for developing customer relationships with local builders and designers as well as new suppliers to Carolina Rustica.
Prior to joining Carolina Rustica, Hughes was vice-president of sales at Charleston Forge, where she oversaw dealer relationships, marketing, and customer service. She was with Charleston Forge for 18 years and brings a wealth of furniture industry experience to her new position.
January 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
Furniture industry veteran Randy Austin Sr. will open a consulting firm in Vietnam in February after he departs his current position as president of Ho Chi Minh City-based manufacturer Theodore Alexander.
Austin & Austin Consulting will offer a variety of services to U.S. and Vietnamese furniture companies. Furniture-related services will include sourcing in Vietnam for new or current furniture and furniture related products; assistance to U.S. retailers in designing and making exclusive products in Vietnam; resolving quality and/or product issues in furniture manufacturing in either the U.S. or Vietnam; and quality assurance for new and ongoing furniture production in Vietnam.
Austin also hopes to assist Vietnamese furniture makers in marketing their products in the United States.
Austin draws from more than 45 years of experience in the industry, starting at age 15, when he went to work for his father’s retail furniture store, Castleberry’s Treasures for Your Home, still in operation in Atlanta.
After graduating from Davidson College in 1962, he joined Rich’s as an upholstery buyer. He then switched to the manufacturing sector, starting with Heritage Furniture Co., later a division of Drexel Heritage.
Austin managed the Drexel Heritage Store and Gallery program, and by the time of his departure in 1983 as vice president of store development, the program had grown into 85 free-standing stores and 125 galleries. Austin then joined Hickory Chair as executive vice president for several years before joining Hammary Furniture Co. as president. During his five years at Hammary, the company doubled its sales and was acquired by La-Z-Boy.
In 1991, Austin went to Riverside Furniture Co. as president, guiding the company through a complete restructuring of its product direction and an acquisition by private investors.
He then served as president of Hickory White, which Sherrill Furniture acquired in 1997, for 12 years. In 2003, Austin became president of Paul Maitland International, owner of Theodore Alexander in Vietnam, where he served as president and general director. He will leave Theodore Alexander Feb. 15.
“My comprehensive knowledge of the furniture business places me in a unique position to assist clients wishing to pursue new production in Vietnam, to facilitate production that is already ongoing or to develop new products for the U.S. market,” Austin said. “As someone who has worked in Vietnam for some years, it is clear to me that as the furniture industry continues to increase production and sourcing of beautifully crafted furniture in Asia, it is imperative to have someone based here working on behalf on U.S. customers, who can keep the process efficient and effective.”
With more than 20 years of experience in product development, Austin has developed successful furniture collections, many of which remain in production.
“I have an extremely hands-on approach when it comes to the product development process, from concept to sketch to final sample to production quality assurance,” he said.
Austin’s wife, Robin King Austin, will assist him in the business and will continue her consulting with humanitarian organizations and companies in Vietnam needing assistance with their social initiatives. She will also continue to work on her passion, building capacity for heart surgery in Vietnam, with the World Heart Foundation.
January 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on January 2007
Smith Furniture Manufacturing has teamed with noted fabric designer Glen Read for a licensed upholstery collection.
Read, a licensed designer for Specialty Textiles, offers a clean aesthetic when it comes to his designs. Fabrics from the Specialty Textiles’ line are available at Crate & Barrel, Rooms To Go, RC Willey, Art Van, Robb & Stucky and others.
“When designing furniture, I try to follow the old design rules of form needs to fit function,” Read said. “I believe the goal is to create clean lines, comfort, and attract the 30 to 50 years olds out there in the consumer world. My belief is that there has been a shift in America in regard to what that consumer wants in there home.”
The collection, Dreamscape: From the Imagination of Glean Read, includes the contemporary Sojourn sectional wtih straight, clean lines. Other designs in the group will include a sofa, chair and dottoman. Read is working with the company on several new designs. The collection will make its debut later this month at the Las Vegas Market.
“Glen’s designs will allow our team of upholstery artisans, many of whom have worked with us for over 20 years, to showcase their special talents,” said Harry Smith, president and owner of Smith Furniture.
Some of the collection will be manufactured in Smith’s Waco, Texas, facility, and others will be part of the company’s new import program.
“Few designers posess Glen’s imagination, humility, and gravitas,” said Mark Smith, vice president of Smith. “Glen echoes the creative spirit of our company philosophy of transcending innovation. This is the foundation of our signature Smith style and quality.”