Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 16,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on January 2007
Bring an estimated 500-plus furniture buyers from 400 accounts, many of those Top 100 dealers, give them three days to look around, and you can bet some other vendors want a piece of that action.
That was the case with the second edition of the Forbidden City Furniture Show, which concludes today in High Point. William Hsieh, the head of Lifestyle Enterprise, has made High Point a place to be in mid-January, not only for comped retailers, but also for other suppliers, more than 60, who opened their showroom doors this week.
One exhibitor who didn’t get on a pre-printed list of open showrooms even taped a card inside elevators in the International Home Furnishings Center.
JT Michael, which was on the list, expected to see eight to 10 existing or potential customers during the show, often known in the industry as “mini-market.”
“It basically costs us nothing to be here,” said Todd Robinson, a partner in the design/source case goods company. “We had people who wanted to see our product direction, and with the number of showrooms that are open this week, the fact that we’ve had these visits reinforces that we’re on the right track.”
Legacy Classic expected to see between 15 and 20 dealers at the Forbidden City show.
“Any time you have and opportunity to see important customers and spend time with them, you need to take advantage,” said Mike Harris, vice president of sales. “For us, it’s been in some ways a ‘premarket’ to Vegas. We saw a potential account from California who’s never seen our product line, and we’ll be following up with them in Las Vegas in a more intensive way.”
The Forbidden City event could end up being Vaughan-Bassett’s premarket for the Spring High Point show.
“At minimarket a year ago, we saw 57 dealers, which is more than the last two premarkets, combined,” said Vice President of Sales Doug Bassett. “We’re going to be a long way down the road by March 1 on what we want to bring out for market.”
High-end vendor Bernhardt was perhaps the strangest bedfellow at this week’s High Point event. Executive Vice President Rountree Collett said the company would have opened the showroom for last year’s minimarket had it had enough notice. Bernhardt had a near-complete collection in pine, its first to use that wood in many years, at its showroom this week.
“We saw a preliminary attendee list for this week that looked pretty good,” Collett said. “There’s not much customer overlap with Lifestyle, but some, and we had some key customers in to take a look at what we’re doing for spring. On product that’s not complete, there’s the opportunity now to get meaningful dialogue with dealers and actually have time to make some changes. ... We can also get a jump on distribution.”
John Wampler, president of Lifestyle’s Forbidden City and Lifestyle divisions, said that support for the show continues to build among others in High Point. He had particular praise for Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., which provided vans for transportation to and from the local airport, and between Lifestyle’s two showrooms. MMPI also produced a brochure identifying other showrooms that opened for the event.
“There were a lot of showrooms that aren’t among their properties,” Wampler said of MMPI. “They’re expansive in their view of what’s going on in High Point, and we appreciate their support, led by Tom Mitchell.”
January 15,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on January 2007
La-Z-Boy Inc. has named Alan McCollough to its board of directors. He takes a board seat which was vacated in October.
McCollough, 57, was the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Circuit City Stores prior to retiring last year. He joined Circuit City in 1987 where he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility before being named chief executive officer in 2000. McCollough also serves on the board of directors of VF Corp.
“We are delighted Alan has joined our board of directors,” said James W. Johnston, La-Z-Boy chairman. “He brings with him not only long-standing distribution, logistics and global supply chain experience, but, most importantly, a wealth of expertise in retailing, which is paramount to our business as we expand our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries network of stores.”
Kurt Darrow, president and chief executive officer of La-Z-Boy, said, “We are honored to have such a high-caliber individual on our board. With Alan’s vast knowledge, he will add depth and breadth to our board and will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to our company.”
Before joining Circuit City, McCollough spent 12 years with Milliken and Co., a textile manufacturer. He also spent three years in the United States Navy. McCollough holds a degree from Missouri Valley College and an MBA from Southern Illinois University.
January 15,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
Kelly Peterson, group advertising director of Hearst Corp., has been named 2007 president of WithIt.
Peterson succeeds outgoing president Kathy Wall, who becomes chairman of the board.
Peterson will lead the organization’s efforts to enhance tangible benefits to its members—networking, mentoring and access to education and other information critical to professional and personal growth. She will also lead the planning for the WithIt 10th anniversary celebration.
Other members of the WithIt executive committee for 2007 are: board of governor’s chairman, Robin Campbell, Stanley Furniture; vice president/president elect, Tiffany Mullis, Vanguard Furniture; secretary, Sev Ritchie, FurnitureFan; and treasurer, Rachel Fleming, Grant Thornton, LLP. Executive committee members serve one-year terms.
New vice presidents/committee chairs, serving for one year, are: financial development, Margaret Fontana, Anthem Leather; marketing, Betty Lyn Eller,
O at Home magazine; media, Leslie Newby, Brand Communications; membership, Mary Frye, HFIA; mentoring, Sharon Kepley, Woolrich; education, Jean Welch, Haverty’s; networking, Phyllis Zaepfel, PROFITsystems; scholarship/foundation, Liz O’Brien, Carter Furniture/Star International.
“WithIt’s leadership in professional development for its members is not only significant for individuals,” said Peterson, “It serves the entire home industries in its support of established and emerging talent.”
On the eve of its diamond anniversary, WithIt announces plans to celebrate the organization’s growth in both membership and prominence since its inception. Special events will be scheduled throughout the year. Established in 1997, WithIt provides educational and mentoring programs to benefit hundreds of participants and corporate sponsors annually.
Regional vice presidents serve two-year terms and are responsible for organizing events and opportunities for members in their areas. They also represent their membership to the board. In the second year of their terms are: in Atlanta/Southeast, Christina Mairs, American Drew/Lea Industries; in San Francisco/Northwest, Linda Carey; in Texas/Southwest, Stephanie Cole, Dallas Market Center; in Florida, Heidi Higgins, Carl’s Furniture; in Metro/Northeast, Susan Egan, House and Garden; in Chicago/Midwest, Erin Piotrowski, Leggett & Platt; and in the Virginias/Carolinas, Susan Inglis, From the Mountain.
Named as at-large board members, representing various segments of the industry, are: sales representative, Tracy Sherry-McDenton, Sealy; case goods/upholstery manufacturer, Kimberly Roussey, La Z Boy; supplier, Patty Toler and retail, Deb Linkhorn, Morris Home Furnishings.
Connie Post, The Connie Post Companies, will act as special chair of the 10th anniversary and Leslie Carothers, The Kaleidoscope Partnership will chair the 2007 Education Conference to held in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 7-9.
January 15,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Dining on January 2007
High Point’s furniture showrooms, normally dark between October and April, sprang to life Monday as the first wave of more than 500 retailers arrived for Lifestyle’s Forbidden City Furniture Show.
Group President Greg Noe expects the three-day event to top the first edition of the show, which attracted retailers from about 400 stores a year ago. He said more than 400 stores have registered for this week’s event, and many retailers are bringing larger buying teams.
“The showroom has been busy the whole day. It’s almost chaos because it’s so crowded,” he said Monday at a Lifestyle-sponsored dinner event where scores of tables were filled by buyers from across the country.
During the day, many of those retailers fanned out across High Point to visit more than 60 other showrooms that have opened in hopes of attracting some of the dealers visiting Lifestyle. Noe said many of the retailers he talked to complained of continued weak sales, and, as a result, most are focused on promotional items and strong-selling categories. He said Lifestyle is introducing more than 20 casual dining groups for the event, along with a dozen new bedrooms and upholstery collection.
January 14,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on January 2007
Glen Raven, a provider of performance fabrics for outdoor furniture and other applications, announced Friday that it plans to purchase two of its longtime business partners, the Astrup Company and John Boyle & Company. The companies are among the largest suppliers in the awning, marine and casual furniture industries, and both companies often use Glen Raven’s Sunbrella fabrics for those projects.
Officials at the company, which is based in Glen Raven, N.C., said the deals will create opportunities for growth. “Merging Glen Raven’s resources with those of Boyle and Astrup will create a stronger, more diversified organization that is capable of providing enhanced value throughout the entire supply chain,” said Glen Raven President Allen Gant Jr. “This strategic initiative will allow us to grow each of the markets we serve by working more directly with our customers.
He said Glen Raven has been a business partner of both Astrup and Boyle for more than 100 years. Glen Raven’s announcement Friday said the company has signed letters of intent to purchase both companies. The deals are subject to due diligence and board approval of both companies being acquired.