August 6,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Tupelo on August 2006
Powell Company announced the implementation of a new order scanning system, dubbed the PowellASAP system, or ASAP. ASAP is a state of the art hand-held PC computer that links real time information to a server based in the Powell showroom.
“Our sales reps can create quotes to prepare for their customers arrival at markets, plus, they can use them in retailers stores after market” said Tom Liddell, senior vice president of national sales. “The orders will be transmitted wirelessly to our servers and almost immediately be received at our offices. This will allow real time inventory and sales tracking”, Liddell added.
The company used ASAP at the recent Las Vegas market, and will demo it to retailers at the upcoming Tupelo Market. The main benefit to Powell customers was the time saved in the showroom. “With all of the different categories of product that we offer, it’s not unusual for a customer to purchase 50 or more SKU’s” said Sean Slack, Executive Vice President. “The time savings for both our customers and our sales staff was significant, not to mention, the system can cut down on the chance for errors during the rush at market,” Slack said.
Powell CFO, Larry Woods said, “The PowellASAP system will sync with our new PowellPRO dealer order system. PowellPRO stands for Powell Retailers Online. This new web based order placement and inquiry system was just introduced to our dealers this week.”
For more information on PowellPRO, Powell retailers should visit: www.powellpro.net.
August 3,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
While factory orders for residential furniture rose 18 percent in May from April to $2.3 billion, they were essentially flat compared to May 2005, according to BDO Seidman’s monthly report on furniture industry activity.
Those year-to-year results are somewhat disappointing, since it was hoped that a late High Point market had contributed to a 13 percent drop in orders comparing April 2006 numbers to April 2005.
Year-to-date, new orders are now just slightly ahead of last year for the first five months.
Just over one-half of survey participants reported increased orders in May compared to May 2005. Year-to-date, only 32 percent of the participants have reported increased orders, but a good number of the participants are about even with last year.
May 2006 shipments of $2.3 billion rose 1 percent over last May and 6 percent over April. Year-to-date, shipments are basically even with the first five months of last year.
Some 54 percent of the participants reported increased shipments in May over last May. Year-to-date, 45 percent of the participants have reported increased shipments. As we have noted before, there are a number of participants reporting fairly strong double-digit improvements, but there are also a number that are off in double digits.
Backlogs in May, $1.8 billion were about even with April as shipments and orders were about even in dollars. Backlogs fell slightly from May 2005.
Receivables were about even with last May levels, reflective of shipments for the month in both years, as well as the year-to-date levels. There have been a couple of bankruptcies this year, but none of the magnitude of some in prior years.
Inventories were 2 percent lower than last May, but up 1 percent over April.
Furniture factory employment fell 5 percent from last May, and were about even with April levels. Factory payrolls were down 8 percent from last May and down 2 percent from April, again reflecting slower business at retail. Year-to-date, factory payrolls were down 7 percent, consistent with April results.
Employment and payrolls continue to post year-over-year declines. For example, May 2006 employment was down 5 percent compared to May 2005. May 2005 employment was down 6 percent from May 2004. It appears that the employment declines have not leveled off.
Favorable economic indicators for furniture in May include an uptick in consumer confidence, consumer prices, consumer debt, housing starts and sales of existing homes, and producer prices.
Unfavorable indicators include interest rates, consumer spending, retail sales, unemployment, durable goods orders, factory shipments, new home sales, automobile sales and capital outlays.
August 3,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 2006
Full-line major La-Z-Boy Inc. has combined its Pennsylvania House case goods division and Clayton Marcus upholstery brand into one operating company.
Clayton Marcus President Mac McCall is president of the collective entity. Dave Sowinski, who had been president of Pennsylvania House, has left the company.
Pennsylvania House and Clayton Marcus will retain separate product lines with their own independent sales and marketing teams.
“There are a number of synergies between Clayton Marcus and Pennsylvania House,” said Kurt Darrow, president and chief executive officer of La-Z-Boy. “Operating at the higher end of the market, they have a similar product line focus and customer base. The combination of these two companies will enable us to leverage the best of marketing, merchandising and manufacturing within each and will improve our product offering to our dealers and consumers. At the same time, the new entity will benefit from combining a number of back-office operations while making our entire enterprise more efficient.”
August 3,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on August 2006
Case goods and leather upholstery importer Zocalo has opened a warehouse in Vietnam to support growing sales of best-selling groups produced there.Zocalo currently operates six warehouse locations throughout the San Francisco area, but needed additional space for its most popular collections, including Sterling Park, Milano and Revelle. Because several best-selling groups are produced in Vietnam, the logical step was to add space near the source.
“With our new warehouse space in Vietnam, we can better cope with unexpected spikes in demand,” said Merchandising Director Michael Pierce. “And because the new warehouse is stocked with multiple collections, our dealers will benefit from more options for mixing product on direct containers.”
Zocalo plans to add space in the Vietnam warehouse for its October 2006 introduction in High Point.
August 2,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2006
Dwellings, an 8,500 square foot home furnishings and accessories store and whole home design center designed by New York based GRID2 International is under construction and scheduled to open in November according to the owner, Luis Carrillo.
A contemporary offering of kitchen, home décor and bed and bath items are intended to reflect the island’s colorful personality, says Carrillo of his new store. “It’s like the Crate & Barrel of the islands,” he adds, which will target local and international residents owning upscale villas on the island. Selling to non-residents is not in Dwellings’ early forecasting because of shipping issues.
Though home furnishings are not the bulk of his sales, Carrillo says he wants Dwellings to grow into that area.
“Most of my suppliers are from the U.S., we’ve got Calphalon, and Lenox. We’re not doing hard furniture right now there are import tax issues for furniture that is not built in the Carribean. It’s a protective tax, meant to insure the regional furniture manufacturers don’t get hurt. We’re not selling stuff made in the region because it doesn’t fit with the feel of the store. We would love to carry American home furnishings. When that import tax on furnishings is reduced I will look into it,” said Carrillo.
Carrillo said Dwellings plans to expand into furniture sales by 2008.