Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
September 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Customer Service on September 2006
Hooker Furniture announced its endorsement of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, a training program that teaches customer-focused, collaborative and relationship-building selling skills to retail salespeople, as a recommended resource for its retailers.
Headed by Leslie Carothers, a 24-year veteran of the retail sales and design industries, The Kaleidoscope Partnership specializes in sales training and one-on-one coaching based on “whole room” collaborative selling techniques using sketching and room planning. The program helps consultants build relationships and enables the consumer to articulate their vision, with a goal of increasing average sales tickets and improving close ratios, margins and customer loyalty.
“While our sales representatives have and will continue to be responsible for product-based sales training, Leslie’s program can help our retail partners provide a superior shopping experience for their consumers that is more educational, inspirational and engaging,” said Ray Harm, senior vice president of sales for Hooker. “We believe this can result in a win-win-win for our retail partners, Hooker and our mutual consumer, who will be more satisfied and loyal if her shopping experience is emotionally rewarding and personalized.”
Carothers will address Hooker Furniture’s sales representative and management group during the upcoming High Point Market, and will be one of six panelists at an educational “SmartLiving Symposium” Hooker is providing its retailers during the market titled “Delivering a Breakthrough Customer Experience through Your Sales Consultants.”
“TKP is honored to receive this endorsement from Hooker Furniture to provide customer-centric creative design sales training and coaching services to Hooker’s retail accounts,” Carothers said. “Hooker’s recognition of the importance of a well-trained retail sales consultant to the long term profitability and viability of their retail partners is why TKP is proud to be associated with this progressive program from one of our country’s most well respected manufacturers.”
September 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on September 2006
Barclay Butera and Kravet Collections have teamed up to create a line of fabrics and trims set for introduction in 2008.
The line will focus on Butera’s appeal to a broad audience through color, texture and detail.
“I’m very excited to be involved in such an incredible joint venture with a company and people that I’ve long admired,” Butera said. “They have a very strong vision for their company, and I look forard to being actively involved in the design and the creation of the collection.”
Butera joins Barbara Barry and Joseph Abboud in Kravet’s stable of outside designers.
“We are thrilled to have Barclay Butera bring his unique point of view and signature style through a new and exclusive collection of fabrics for Kravet,” said Cary Kravet, president. “We believe that a noted and published designer like Barclay will be an inspiration to our customers and a welcomed addition to the varied licenses in the Kravet Collections division.”
In addition, Butera has also signed a deal with Stone America Licensing to handle the launch of his licensing program to include furnishings, lighting, bedding, bath, home fragrance and fashion.
September 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on September 2006
The Metropolitan Home Collection, a new line of contemporary case goods, occasional, and upholstery developed by Metropolitan Home magazine in partnership with designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, will debut at next month’s High Point Market in a 4,000-square-foot showroom in space 1214 of the International Home Furnishings Center’s Design Wing.
The collection will reflect Metropolitan Home’s focus on contemporary design and lifestyle.
“We have celebrated ‘modern’ and showcased the best in contemporary furnishings and style for 25 years now, and so we are thrilled to present this collection that distills Met Home’s signature look,” said Donna Warner, editor-in-chief of Metropolitan Home. “Benjamin’s furniture is perfect for sophisticated, smart consumers: Each piece is timeless, beautiful, and sexy—making anyone’s home a stylish and comfortable place to be.”
Noriega-Ortiz is involved with all aspects of design, from architecture to custom furniture and lighting, accessories, towels, sheets, dishes, silverware and even stationary. He and his award-winning work been featured in more than 100 leading design publications throughout the world, and he appears regularly on HGTV, Style, Fine Living Network and E!. Simon and Schuster will publish his first book of design in November 2006.
Metropolitan Home positions itself as the definitive guide for modern style with an urban mindset targeting affluent, intelligent, progressive consumers, with practical information to create a contemporary home lifestyle through decoration, renovation, gardening and cooking.
September 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Motion Upholstery on September 2006
Larry Musick, executive vice president of operations for Berkline/BenchCraft is retiring after 39 years.
Jeff Hale succeeds Musick as executive vice president of operations and chief operating officer. Prior to joining the company, Hale held senior management positions with McDonnell Douglas, Honeywell and Dorel Inds.
“I appreciate Larry’s leadership, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to the growth and success of the company and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years,” said Bill Wittenberg, president and chief executive.
“Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and skill sets to our company,” Wittenberg said. “He is a key ingredient to our continued commitment to quality and value to our customers in the marketplace.”
September 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on September 2006
David Berg has been named managing director of Home Styles Asia, part of DMI Furniture.
Prior to joining the company, Berg was global project coordinator with Lexington Home Brands where he had extensive experience in global sourcing, product design, engineering, costing, sampling and production activities during his 16-year tenure.
Berg will live in Bangkok, Thailand, where he will have day-to-day management responsibilities for the Home Styles office and staff located there. He will also be responsible for all global sourcing activities for the company throughout Asia.