Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
High Point University President Nido Qubein has been elected to the board of directors of full-line major La-Z-Boy Inc.
Qubein, 57, also serves on the board and as chairman of the executive committee of BB&T Corp., the ninth-largest financial institution in the country; and is chairman of Great Harvest Bread Co, which has 218 bakeries in 41 states. He is also a world renowned public speaker and serves on the boards of several national organizations.
“We are honored Nido has accepted the board’s nomination,” said Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy president and chief executive officer. “He is an extraordinarily accomplished individual who has achieved great success in business and now in the academic world. A strategic thinker with a unique point of view, he has made monumental changes to High Point University and will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to our company.”
Qubein honors and awards include the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; and Citizen of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year from the city of High Point. He is also the founder and chairman emeritus of the National Speakers Association Foundation.
August 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
Larry Milan has been named president of Maitland-Smith, a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International’s high-end HDM Furniture Inds. division.
He reports to HDM President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Young, who had stepped in when former president Seamus Beatson left Maitland-Smith earlier this year.
Milan’s appointment will be effective Sept. 11.
Most recently Vice President and Controller of Masco Contractor Services, Milan was president of Maitland-Smith in the early 1990s when the company was still part of Masco.
“Larry brings back to Maitland Smith a wealth of business experience to help us leverage the resources of Maitland-Smith with its sister companies Drexel Heritage and Henredon,” Young said, noting Milan’s experience in financial, sales, distribution and supply-chain management.
“Under his previous leadership Maitland-Smith exhibited dynamic growth, and we know he will continue this legacy of success as he returns to our company,” Young said.
August 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Technology on August 2006
Retail automation systems vendor GERS Retail Systems has merged with Ecometry Corp., a provider of retail, electronic retail and direct marketing systems to form Escalate Retail.
The name Escalate Retail reflects the new entity’s focus on improving retailer profitability through customer-focused solutions. In a release announcing the deal, terms of which were not disclosed, the company said that combining GERS’ strengths in merchandise planning and execution with the front-office strengths of Ecometry customer-interaction and loyalty applications, Escalate Retail will provide retailers advanced capabilities to meet their customer demands across channels.
The transaction was funded by San Francisco Bay-area private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. Stewart Bloom, who was chief executive officer of GERS, will serve as CEO of Escalate Retail. John Marrah, who headed Ecometry is president. Former GERS Chief Financial Officer Mike Larkin will hold the same title at Escalate Retail.
The company will have headquarters in San Diego and Delray Beach, Fla. Six additional satellite offices are located across North America and in Europe.
“We are excited about our ability to bring integrated and customer focused solutions to the industry,” Bloom said. “The synergies created by merging GERS and Ecometry into a significant new entity, Escalate Retail, have immediate benefit to our current customers and create a compelling new option for retailers who are looking for a unique technology partner to help with their business growth agenda.”
“After analyzing opportunities in the market for over a year, we are very excited to join forces with GERS,” said Marrah said. “We are both committed to the goal of delivering highly extensible retail solutions that can be delivered individually or as a comprehensive suite.”
Escalate Retail has over 650 retail clients across North America and Europe. Current clients include Home Depot, Williams Sonoma, Nordstrom, Hot Topic, Sainsbury, Harry Rosen, Louis Vuitton, Blue Fly, Z Gallerie, Brooks Brothers, Saks, Lamps Plus, Sony and Raymour & Flanigan. Other furniture clients include Jordan’s, Leon’s, El Dorado, Baers, Gallery, Mattress Giant, La-Z-Boy, Domain Home Fashions, Homemakers, Steinhafels and Slumberland
August 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
Montana retailer Conlin’s Furniture has opened Broyhill galleries at its stores in Bozeman and Kalispell.
Tom Broyhill, vice president and grandson of founder T.H. Broyhill, who has been adding his knowledge of the company’s history and family connections to recent retail events, was in attendance, and also chose the winning names for drawings to win $2,000 worth of Broyhill merchandise.
“Conlin’s is very excited about its partnership with Broyhill Furniture, and we were thrilled to be able to have Tom Broyhill visit our stores and meet our customers,” said Joni Olson Vetterkind, merchandise manager for Conlin’s Furniture.
Broyhill Furniture is expanding its in-store gallery program, and anticipates having approximately 100 new galleries opened by early next year. The full-line vendor is part of Furniture Brands International.
August 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on August 2006
The International Furnishings and Design Association has announced the date and location for its 60th Anniversary Conference.
The event has been scheduled for May 3-5, 2007, at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta, Ga.
The professional alliance, founded in 1947, (IFDA), a professional alliance of designers for every facet of residential and commercial furnishings and design.
It also has adjuncts to incorporate licensing, education, editorial, advertising, marketing, public relations and showroom management.
The 15-chapter organization also includes a non-profit philanthropic arm, the IFDA Educational Foundation, which provides grants to students and industry professionals engaged in industry related projects and enterprises.