October 5,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on October 2006
Cardinal Furniture, a new case goods company launched last April sourcing goods in Honduras, has retained Joan Franken as retail business development consultant.
Franken, founder of the Chicago-based furniture consultancy Concepts & Designs, has extensive experience in both retail and manufacturing. Her career includes serving as merchandise manager for high-end retailer Toms-Price, and more recently as vice president of case and upholstery merchandising at Henredon.
“Joan’s background as a retailer, buyer, and merchandiser will no doubt be a tremendous asset to our company,” said Cardinal’s president, Michael Scarsella. “Our focus is on our customers, the retailer, and Joan will bring a perspective that will only make us better at serving their needs. She will be involved in all aspects of our operation from product development, relationship building, sales education, and future business development.”
Franken said she’s looking forward to partnering with a fresh and entrepreneurial-based company like Cardinal.
“Their business model is positioned perfectly to maximize the profitability of their dealer base with great looking product stocked in North Carolina, competitive pricing, and something important from my retail experience: limited-protected distribution,” she said.
Scarsella, who founded Cardinal in March, said the company’s infrastructure in in place, with a manufacturing partner in Honduras, distribution center in North Carolina and corporate operations in Ohio.
“Our sales force is assembled and armed and our dealer base is continuously growing,” he said. “Dealer response has been extremely positive to our initial shipments and we have seen brisk activity at retail. We are looking forward to a great fall and 2007.”
Cardinal has more than doubled the size of its showroom at 226 Market Square, where at October market it will add two additional solid wood bedrooms to complement the original four, as well as a complete entertainment collection.
October 5,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2006
Case goods major Stanley Furniture Co. has named Kevin Bowman vice president of sales for Stanley Collections. He reports to Glenn Prillaman, senior vice president of marketing and sales.
Bowman takes over sales responsibilities formerly held by Phil Haney, who recently joined Lexington Home Brands as president and chief executive officer.
Bowman most recently served as vice president of sales and retail development for Thomasville Furniture Industries. His 18 years of experience includes working in the retail arena for Sears/Sears Homelife, Circuit City and the Hendricks Furniture Group.
“We’re fortunate to have someone with Kevin’s experience and ability to join our team,” Prillaman said. “He is a results-oriented manager who understands how to engage the sales force to strategically execute our business plans for Stanley Collections.”
Bowman will focus on leveraging sales opportunities across all product categories–bedroom, dining room, home office, home entertainment and accent tables–in order to increase placements on the retail floor. He also will work with the sales team to support retailers through excellent customer service and the implementation of marketing programs designed to assist Stanley Collection retailers in attracting and retaining customers.
October 5,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Technology on October 2006
Sumner, Wash., retailer Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse has converted its store automation to Storis Management Systems’ Vision R8 retail management system.
The switch took less than 90 days.
“Old Cannery decided that they wanted to expedite the conversion process,” said Mark Van Winkle, director of Vision R8. “Working together we were able to create a project plan and deliver the professional services to meet their goal date. Having the opportunity to work with the Old Cannery staff of professionals, it is no surprise that this company has a long history of success in achieving their goals.”
Family-owned, 25-year-old Old Cannery has created a unique visual experience in its store. The store is set up to look like an ‘old cannery,’ and features old-fashioned toy trains streaming through the space, and showcases a seasonal petting zoo for the kids.Old Cannery also has an oak manufacturer on its 10 acre campus and a homemade-fudge factory.
Old Cannery was originally ran all store operations manually.
“Our business process struggles prompted us to search for the right needs-based software to be incorporated into our day to day methods, and we found that with STORIS,” said Cris Ness, IT/systems manager at Old Cannery.
He noted that the Vision R8 operates in real-time, performing the work that would have originally taken five people to do at the store.
October 5,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2006
Case goods importer Richardson Brothers Co. now offers its retail customers new financial programs that greatly extend repayment terms on inventory through GE Capital Solutions.
“The advantageous repayment terms will free up a retailer’s cash, allowing them to have greater purchasing power,” said Jim Richardson, president of Richardson Brothers. “We continue to make investments in our distribution base, and this is another way we add quality to our full line of collections.“
Through its Commercial Distribution Finance unit, GE Capital Solutions developed new financing programs in response to furniture industry demand for financial tools to assist retailers who are looking to grow their sales by leveraging longer financing periods.
“Richardson Brothers is enabling its retailers to stock more products as close to the customer as possible,” said Bill Baptiste, CDF’s senior vice president and Home Furnishings sales director. “The financing programs offer a strong solution to drive revenue and growth through higher credit lines and very competitive rates. The program also gives Richardson a competitive edge when negotiating for dedicated showroom space for their lines.”
October 5,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on October 2006
The National Furniture Bank Association, the home furnishings industry’s unified charitable organization, has announced the formation of the NFBA Advisory Board. The NFBA Advisory Board includes general participants and ten subcommittees: Transportation, Media, Retailers, Manufacturers, Suppliers, Representatives, Services, Designers, Conferences, and Technology.
Furniture banks are non-profit organizations which collect gently used furniture from the general public and the home furnishings industry for donation to children and families in need. Typical recipients are women and children escaping domestic violence, victims of natural disasters such as hurricanes, and working families living below the poverty line.
Subcommittee chairs are tasked with engaging their designated market segment to support the NFBA’s efforts. The NFBA Advisory Board was formed in response to requests from executives to compartmentalize specific areas of expertise within the home furnishings industry.
Phil Van Poetsch, executive director of the NFBA, said that the NFBA Advisory Board allows industry leaders to take charge of their market segment on behalf of the NFBA.
“We’re experts about how to open and operate furniture banks,” Van Poetsch said, “but we’re not experts about how retailers, transportation companies, or manufacturers can help. The Board of Directors told us to go gather an advisory board comprised of leaders across all major market segments. There has never before been such an unprecedented gathering of industry leaders pulling for a common cause.”
“This is the perfect charitable effort for the home furnishings industry,” said Ed Massood, chief operating officer of MGM Transport Corp. and chairman of the NFBA Advisory Board Transportation Subcommittee. “Furniture banks help over a hundred thousand families every year, and they create demand for new furniture purchases. It’s a win-win partnership. Everybody’s getting involved. This is very exciting.”
“The momentum behind the NFBA is really growing now,” said Steve DeHaan, executive vice president of the National Home Furnishings Association and a member of the NFBA Board of Directors. “The industry is realizing that furniture banks benefit us all because consumers wonder what to do with their existing furniture.”
Furniture banks pick up donations from consumers’ homes and provide a tax-deductible receipt. DeHaan said that the mission of the NFBA is to expand the service capacity of existing furniture banks, and to open new ones.
“Furniture banks make it easy for people to donate their used furniture, then they’re ready to purchase new furniture,” he said.
Other home furnishings industry leaders on the NFBA Board of Directors include Ray Allegrezza, editor-in-chief, Furniture/Today; Sharron Bradley, executive director, Western Home Furnishings Association; and Mary Frye, president, Home Furnishings International Association. The NFBA Ambassador is Kathy Ireland, chief executive officer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide.
NFBA Advisory Board members are Mary Ann Levitt, president of Breuners Arizona and 2006 NHFA president; Leslie Carothers, principal, The Kaleidoscope Partnership and writer of “Retail Ideas” blog, Furniture/Today online edition; Powell Slaughter, senior editor of Home Furnishings Business; Doug Kays, home furnishings industry consultant, Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate; John McCloskey, president, Profitability Consulting Group; Richard Tubman, owner, Circle Furniture; and Scott Stephens, chairman and president, Pixel Bridge.
In addition to Massood, chairman of theTransportation Subcommittee, other subcommittee chairs include: Hershel Alpert, president, Alpert’s Home Furnishings, Retailer Subcommittee; Kathy Parks, executive director, IHFRA, Representatives Subcommittee; Ralph Mosher, president, Light Check Services Inc., Supplier Subcommittee; Jeff Cook, president and CEO, Magnussen Home Furnishings, Manufacturer Subcommittee; Brian Casey, president, High Point Market Authority, Conferences Subcommittee; Janice Craig, president, J. Craig & Associates Interior Design and past president, Interior Design Society, Designers Subcommittee; co-chairs Russell Bienenstock, editor, Furniture World, and Cheminne Taylor-Smith, editor in chief, InFurniture Magazine, Media Subcommittee; and David Chisholm, COO, TrueHome,Technology Subcommittee.
The chairperson Services Subcommittee will be announced shortly, pending the nominee’s clearance to participate from their corporation.
“I urge the industry to get involved,” said Brian Casey, president, High Point Market Authority. “Be a sponsor. For so little money, who among us can say ‘no’ to the home furnishings industry’s effort to see that no child in America sleeps on the floor?”
Companies interested in corporate sponsorships can the Web site visit Help1Up.org. Sponsors will be listed on the Help1Up.org Web site, including a logo, description, and hyperlink to the sponsor’s site. Retailers’ locations are included in the “find a sponsoring retailer by zip code” feature.
Call Don Lawrence at (800) 576-0774 or e-mail to dlawrence@help1up.org to get involved.