Daily News Archive
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March 29,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Leather producer Natuzzi reported a loss of $20.8 million for the year ended Dec. 31 compared to net income of $22.9 million the previous year.
For the fourth quarter, the company reported a loss of $3.3 million, compared to a $12.1 million loss during the same quarter last year.
Sales for the quarter were $226.6 million, a decrease from $251.5 million during the same period last year. In the Americas, the company's sales were $77.2 million, and increase over $70.4 million in the 2004 quarter.
"In 2006, we will continue to be focused on the initiatives that should make our operations more efficient and profitable," said Pasquale Natuzzi, chairman and chief executive officer. "At the same time, we have to take into consideration that the industry and currency scenario for 2006 appears to be characterized by the same uncertainties experienced last year."
March 28,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Ikea has started construction on its third store in the Lone Star state.
The 252,000-square-foot store, located in Round Rock, Texas, is set to open next spring. Round Rock is just north of Austin.
The retailer opened a store in Frisco, Texas, last August, and opened in Houston in 1992. Ikea later moved its Houston store in 2004.
The new store will present 50 different room settings, three complete homes, a supervised play area for children and a 250-seat restaurant that will serve both Swedish specialties and American dishes.
In addition to 500 jobs created during the construction phase, the retailer will hire about 300 associates.
"We are thrilled that construction is now underway on the future Ikea Round Rock," said Doug Greenholz, real estate manager for the company. "It is an exciting opportunity for us to bring our unique family-friendly shopping experience closer to Central Texas customers who currently are driving to Houston or North Texas. This location will allow them to visit more frequently, while also enabling us to attract new customers who may not know us yet."
March 28,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Full-line supplier Universal Furniture has created a retail merchandising program called Universal Home that offers its dealers a comprehensive approach to marketing the company's products.
The four-level program gives retailers the opportunity to choose their degree of participation with level one being the lowest commitment and level four being the highest. Retailers may change the level of participation at any time.
"This program gives our retailers, large and small alike, the support they need to grow their business and the necessary tools to strengthen their bottom line," said Bill Hall, vice president of sales and marketing.
Benefits of the program include a variety of industry-leading marketing tools, resources and support.
March 27,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
The Export Textile Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Division will hold an open meeting on May 24.
The committee provides information on overseas requirements and regulation, works with U.S. companies to eliminate trade barriers and promotes U.S. textile and apparel products overseas.
A tentative agenda includes review of export data; a report on conditions in the export market; an update on free trade agreements; export expansion activities; and the "Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism" initiative from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The meeting, open to the public, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Main Commerce Building, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
March 26,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
As many as 1,000 new manufacturing jobs could be headed to the North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region, if the area is chosen as the home for a new $25 million furniture plant.
According to a story in Friday's edition of The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area, Location Management Services, a California-based consulting company, said it was in collaboration with a furniture manufacture to build a new 500,000-square-foot plant. Alamance and Randolph counties are reportedly on the short list of five possible locations for the plant that will be used by an undisclosed manufacturer.
The decision will be made by July 1, a company representative told the Greensboro-based newspaper.
The plant would be a boon for the area historically known for its manufacturing. The Triad – the area surrounding the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point – has lost more than 35,000 textile, apparel and furniture jobs in the last five years, the report said.