January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Financial Reports on January 23, 2013
from http://www.thelocal.se/45772/20130123/#.UP_Nc6GOg9U
Swedish furniture giant Ikea reported on Wednesday an 8-percent rise in full-year profit and said it was benefiting from more cost-conscious consumers.
Net profit rose 8 percent to 3.2 billion euros ($4.3 billion) as revenue rose 9.8 percent to 27.6 billion euros in the year ending August 31st.
"Customers are getting more and more value conscious, which makes Ikea a better choice," Mikael Ohlsson, chief executive of the Ikea Group, said in a statement.
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January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on January 23, 2013
from http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=169810441&hash=bae28270e5a8aeef1bf84cf532b0d7af
Carls Patio management executives and investors have signed an agreement to buy the patio furniture company from its current owners, the ownership group announced Tuesday.
Its new leaders are planning to revamp the stores, expand throughout Florida and increase its online presence.
"We are really excited," said Paul Otowchits, new company president and one of the owners. "Carls has been a staple of the community for the last 19 years and hopefully we continue another 19, just bigger."
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January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on January 23, 2013
Lifestyle home furnishings vendor Four Hands has promoted Senior Buyer Anna Ogden to creative director.
Ogden enters her new role after almost eight years with Four Hands. She joined the company in 2005, initially working in product development before transitioning to a buying role. As a buyer, she has traveled worldwide, seeking unique makers and materials to be incorporated under the Four Hands umbrella of collections. Prior to Four Hands, Ogden was a bedroom and dining furniture assistant buyer at lifestyle furniture retailer Crate and Barrel's Chicago headquarters.
Anna and I have worked closely together for years, and I am consistently impressed and amazed by the skill set she has developed, says Four Hands President and CEO Matthew Briggs. She works equally well and effectively with customers, vendors, and her peers, and has blossomed into a true leader. We wouldnt be the company we are right now without her.
As creative director, Ogden will continue her cultivation of the Four Hands collections by discovering, developing, and merchandising innovative pieces that are sustainable, of the best value, and the highest quality.
Ultimately, on-point creative direction requires seeking the perfect combination of having both the right timing and a decent gut instinct, Ogden said. If the product is too early, no one will understand it. If its too late, it isnt relevant.
January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on January 23, 2013
Regina Dinning has joined online ad technology company Netsertive as business development director.
The move is part of Netsertive's expansion of its dedicated furniture industry team in response to the growing need for dealers to better target online consumers.
Dinning is a seasoned professional with more 15 years experience in marketing and advertising, including several years specifically in home furnishings, most recently at Banner Marketing.
According to research firm BIA/Kelsey, over 90 percent of consumers research products and businesses online prior to making purchases locally. Yet the vast majority of marketing investments from traditional industries such as furniture is still made in traditional media such as newspapers and printed directories.
Online research is unequivocally the first step for consumers researching important or higher-cost products, and this represents an incredible opportunity for local offline businesses, said Brendan Morrissey, CEO, Netsertive, Morrisville, N.C. As weve seen in similar traditional industries over the past five years, when businesses leverage efficient, locally targeted online media, they can leap ahead of their competition whether large or small. Retailers that do not closely manage a strong online presence and fully leverage their available co-op funding are missing new sales opportunities every day.
Netsertive provides solutions only in select industries like home furnishings, where we can truly impact the bottom line for dealers and manufacturers, said Morrissey. Regina brings an incredible depth of knowledge in this space, which helps us ensure we deeply understand our clients needs and capitalize on the opportunities to help them drive more business in this rapidly evolving digital world.
January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on January 23, 2013
Motion chair supplier Mac Motion has doubled the size of its Las Vegas Market showroom for next week's market.
The company, which currently shows in space A-1040, is adding another showroom next door in space A-1038. The expanded space will be used to spotlight the company's Oslo collection of two-piece motion chairs and ottomans.
"For the first time in Las Vegas, we'll show Oslo as a standalone collection with 12 to 15 models on display," said Tony McCracken, vice president of sales. "In the past, we've only had two or three Oslo models in the showroom mixed in with the rest of our Mac Motion line. We're very excited about this expansion, since it enables us to stay in our current, high-traffic location, where we've been for five years."
Mac Motion's core line of two-piece, promotionally oriented motion chairs and ottomans runs from $499 to $699 retail. The Oslo collection focuses on a step-up range of $699 to $999, with enhanced styling and features.
At the market, Mac Motion will expand its quick-ship program by adding 10 new leathers to the Oslo program. Currently available on 50 best-selling products in the Oslo and Mac Motion lines, the company's quick-ship program offers two- to five-day delivery via FedEx and UPS, including direct-to-consumer delivery at no extra charge.
"We'll have lots of exciting product and promotions for our retailers," said McCracken about Mac Motion's market plans. He added that the company has taken a number of steps recently to grow its business, including the October expansion of its High Point showroom; the addition of a third warehouse in Hickory, N.C.; and the appointment of Mark Price as national sales manager in August.
Mac Motion's new warehouse will begin shipping product in February. The company also has warehouses in New Jersey and southern California.
"Our new warehouse will enable us to enhance our service to retailers in the Midwest and South and take us into Canada for the first time," said McCracken, noting that Mac Motion recently was named an approved vendor for major Canadian buying group Cantrex.
Based in Edgewater, Fla., Mac Motion sources its line from three manufacturing facilities in China.
"Mac Motion has been a long-standing customer of Las Vegas Market, and we are thrilled to see the growth they have experienced throughout their tenure with us," said Craig Staack, vice president of home furnishings leasing for International Market Centers. "The focus of the market aligns with Mac Motions growth strategy to capture market share in the South, Midwest, and Canada."