Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 7,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
Jane Gilmartin has joined Levitz Furniture as senior vice president and chief merchandising officer. She reports to Chief Executive Officer Tom Baumlin and will be responsible for buying, merchandise planning and allocation, and visual merchandising at Levitz’s 78 furniture and bedding stores.
Gilmartin came to Woodbury, N.Y.-based Levitz from specialty retailer Linens ‘N Things, where she served as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Her senior executive retail experience also includes working with DD’s Discounts (a division of Ross Stores), Intercontinental Art, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Fortunoff.
“Jane brings an incredible depth and breadth of experience to Levitz and will play a central role in our commitment to deliver an expanded and compelling merchandise assortment to our customers,” Baumlin said. “Her diverse experience in fashion, visual merchandising, and executive leadership will be put to immediate use in our strategic and tactical planning as we build on the momentum established in the past few months.”
Following the recent appointments of Elliott Wahle as chairman, Baumlin as CEO, and Kathy Guinnessey as chief financial officer, Gilmartin’s appointment to head Levitz’s merchandising effort is another step in the company’s move to revitalize its retail brand.
“The newly opened and recently renovated Levitz stores are receiving tremendous support from our customers and trade partners,” Gilmartin said. “I’m eager to lead another key element of our plans.”
August 7,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
The latest furniture retailer to utilize software programs to streamline the shopping experience is Bo Concepts, with the introduction of Furnish®, their 3D home furnishing software program. Furnish® allows consumers to create their own unique furniture as well as design layouts for every room of their home, either at home or in Bo Concepts retail stores where Furnish® computer stations are available in the showroom. Furnish® is a Windows based program and free to download at
http://www.boconcept.com.Consumers are able to create customized pieces of furniture on the downloadable computer software, using any different combination of the available matching textiles, styles, colors and fabrics. Users are also able to create personalized pieces by switching fronts, leg designs, bases or veneer types. Once consumers have created a piece, they can then view what it would look like in a room of their home. As dimensions of a room are entered and characteristics such as doors and windows are added, furniture can be placed anywhere in the room, making the consumer their own virtual interior decorator.
Other functions of the software include the ability to change the color and flooring of different rooms, as well as being able to view a room from above or in 3D from different angles.
Bo Concepts currently has more than 150 brand stores and 130 studios in 32 countries, the newest of which will come to Philadelphia, PA, and open September 21.
August 7,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 2006
Case goods importer Master Design has finalized a deal to open an East Coast distribution center in High Point Sept. 1.
The move is part of an ongoing effort to build the company’s High Point identity. Master Design already had moved its sales, marketing, administration and product development functions to High Point.
The company also is moving its High Point showroom to Hamilton Market as anchor tenant, a change that gives the company a strong street-front presence during market.
With 200,000 square feet to start, the High Point distribution operation joins two existing Master Design warehouses: a 450,000-square-foot location in Ontario, Calif.; and a 250,000-square-foot facility near Tupelo, Miss.
“We need this High Point warehousing because we feel most of our volume will be done east of the Mississippi,” said Joe Elmore, Master Design’s executive vice president of sales, marketing and product development. “It’s also part of a continuing effort to build an East Coast flagship identity, first with moving the sales, marketing and product development to High Point, and now adding customer support.”
In addition, Elmore said that Master Design had inked a deal to move into a new 21,000-square-foot showroom on the 14th floor of the World Market Center’s Building 2 in Las Vegas, where it will show at the January market.
August 6,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
Chris Rail has joined the case goods merchandising team at Klaussner Furniture Inds. as product manager for occasional tables, entertainment furniture and dining.
KFI, a full-line vendor, created the new position in response to rapid growth of the overall line. Rail, who also will concentrate on promotional product lines, reports to Darren York, vice president of merchandising for Klaussner International.
Rail began his furniture career in 1997 as a sales rep with Davis Inds. in High Point selling occasional tables. In 1998 he worked with Apollo Inds.’ occasional table line, both in sales and product development, and traveled extensively to Asia. For the last five years Rail has worked with Prime Resources International, a direct container import company, where he was responsible for sample procurement and product development.
“Chris brings product knowledge, sales experience and sourcing capabilities to this newly created position,” said York. “Not only is his experience valuable, but his enthusiasm and willingness to grow the business is exciting for our company.”
August 6,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 2006
Case goods manufacturer Leda Furniture has begun construction to house a new flat-line finishing line at its Toronto plant. The 18,000-square-foot addition, which will bring the facility to 175,000-square feet, also will allow Leda to re-align warehousing and distribution for greater efficiency.
The expansion is scheduled for completion later this year.
The need for the flat-line finishing system is to increase production capacity, improve quality and enter the contract office furniture market.
“This will be our first finishing flat-line, and though its primary purpose will be for our new office contract line, we anticipate finishing some of our residential collections using the flat-line method as well,” said Leda’s president, Marco Confalone.
The flat-line will run concurrently with Leda’s standard finishing line for anticipated productivity gains; and improve efficiencies and control costs. Leda expects to expand its work force between 20 percent and 30 percent when the new line is ready.
A third addition to the plant is possible within two years. Leda also is implementing changes to improve customer service, including a new quick-ship program and enhanced quality assurance systems.
During the week of August 21-25, Ontario Hydroelectric will perform electrical installations, causing a power outage at Leda’s building. This will interrupt all phone, fax and e-mail services, essentially preventing contact with Leda that week.
This power interruption coincides with the company’s summer shutdown period, so it will not affect production schedules.
Leda is working to get a power source for a one-line phone system that will accept calls during that week. As a back-up for that week, callers can contact Leda Furniture at Confalone’s cell number, (416) 806-7114.