Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 7,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on January 2007
Traffic at the nation’s major retail container ports should continue to grow in 2007 as retailers import more merchandise from abroad, but won’t grow as fast as it did during 2006, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released Friday by the National Retail Federation and Global Insight.
“Overall trade growth is expected to be positive but slower compared with the monthly rates we saw in the first half of 2006,” said Global Insight Economist Paul Bingham. “Nonetheless, each month is still expected to see a new record volume for that month.”
Container traffic is expected to grow at rates ranging from 4.6 percent to 7.3 percent once the slow winter season ends this spring (March through May 2007 measured against the same months in 2006). That compares with increases ranging from 7 percent to 17.9 percent during the same months last year.
All ports covered by Port Tracker–Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle on the West Coast, and New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast–are currently rated “low” for congestion, the same as last month.
Nationwide, the ports surveyed handled 1.36 million 20-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of container traffic in November, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. The figure was down 6.6 percent from October but up 7.1 percent from November 2005.
Volume is expected to follow its usual pattern of declining during the winter months, although numbers will continue to show growth above one year ago. December is forecast at 1.32 million TEUs (up 10.1 percent from December 2005), January at 1.27 million (up 4.2 percent from January 2006), and February at 1.2 million (up 13.4 percent from February 2006).
Volume will begin to move upward again in March, forecast at 1.3 million TEUs (up 4.8 percent from March 2006). April is forecast at 1.38 million TEUs (up 4.6 percent from April 2006), and May at 1.41 million TEUs (up 7.3 percent from May 2006). One TEU is a 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.
Port Tracker, which is produced by the economic research, forecasting and analysis firm Global Insight for NRF, looks at inbound container volume, the availability of trucks and railroad cars to move cargo out of the ports, labor conditions and other factors that affect cargo movement and congestion.
January 7,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on January 2007
World Market Center will host a special “Rep Appreciation Day” Sunday, Jan. 28, on the eve of opening day for the 2007 Winter Las Vegas market.
The all-day event, scheduled for 8 a.m.-6 p.m., in the fountain foyer of Building A, with a Happy Hour starting at 4 p.m., includes food, beverage and hospitality for all sales representatives attending the show.
“Rep Appreciation Day is our way of rolling out the red carpet to the rep community, who are really the unsung heroes of market,” said Harvey Dondero, CEO of World Market Center. “We also plan to run shuttles the weekend prior to the Market to and from hotels and World Market Center, for the convenience of sales reps who may be attending pre-market meetings. Our new ‘M Line’ shuttles will better accommodate reps and exhibitors, and will also offer pick up service to the Monte Carlo, a designated hotel for the IHFRA. ”
Dondero added that World Market Center has outfitted a new office space on the 16th floor of Building B for the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, which will help the association serve its members.
Kathy Parks, executive director for IHFRA, said Rep Appreciation Day and the new IHFRA office both underline the vital role reps play at the market and World Market Center’s commitment to these industry professionals.
“In a chaotic pre-market day of sales training, World Market Center is offering reps a welcome respite during the day and a great social outlet in the evening,” she said.
January 4,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on January 2007
The Western Home Furnishings Association will host a member appreciation party during Las Vegas market, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 4-6 p.m., in the new retailer resource center on Building B’s 16th floor.
The golf-themed event, titled “The 19th Hole” and sponsored by Citi-Financial Retail Services, is designed to build excitement for WHFA’s annual conference in May, slated this year for the golf destination of Palm Springs, Calif.
Members and industry guests are invited to eat, drink and participate in putting contests; while enjoying golf-related promotional items, DJ music, and networking with peers and board members.
In addition, a free WHFA 2007 Conference registration will also be awarded during the event. For more information, visit the WHFA Web site,
www.WHFA.org; or contact Cindi Williams, (916) 960-0277.
January 4,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
The Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2007 is scheduled for March 8-11 at Pier 94 in New York City.
Co-sponsored by The New York Times and produced by Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., the show features almost 300 manufacturers, distributors and designers showcasing products and services for the upscale residential design market. The Show also offers complimentary one-on-one designer consultations, design exhibits, culinary demonstrations, book signings, special events and seminars to educate consumers about interior design and the latest trends.
According to organizers, the Architectural Digest Home Design Show attracts more than 25,000 home-design decision-makers, including affluent homeowners, trade professionals and members of the media.
Products on display in more than 110,000 square feet of space will include art and antiques, building products and flooring, carpets and rugs, design services, electronics, fabric and trimming, furniture, home accessories, kitchen and bath, lighting, outdoor furnishings and stone.
Exhibitors at the 2007 show will include Holly Hunt, Ligne Roset, Paola Lenti, Roche Bobois, Clive Christian, Viking, Osborne & Little, Bang & Olufsen, Kenneth Cobonpue, Niedermaier, Lefroy Brooks and Stark Fabrics.
For more information, visit the Web sites
www.archdigesthomeshow.com, or
www.merchandisemart.com; or call (800) 677-6278.
January 3,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 2007
The Anti-Defamation League will present American Heritage Awards to Ashley Furniture Chairman Ron Wanek and Bloomingdale’s General Merchandising Manager Joe Laneve on June 7 at the organization’s 2007 National Home Furnishings Division Tribute, the organization announced Wednesday.
The ADL Industry Division also said Wednesday that Neil Goldberg, president and CEO of Raymour & Flanigan, has assumed the post of chairman. He will serve together with La-Z-Boy President and CEO Kurt Darrow and Mattress Firm Chairman and CEO Gary Fazio as vice chairs. Schnadig’s Norman Waxman will assume the post of honorary chair.
Organizers expect the June 7 event benefiting the New York-based civil rights and human relations agency to be one of its most successful fundraising events.