Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Boasting a cleaner, more efficient design and layout, World Market Center released a newly redesigned version of its Web site Tuesday for Internet surfers to visit.
The improved site --
www.lasvegasmarket.com -- will begin to see increased traffic early next month, as exhibitors, buyers and the media start online registration beginning on April 3.
"We understand that visitors to our Web site are busy home furnishings professionals who require immediate access to market information, and so we've specifically redesigned our website with their needs in mind," said Dana Pretner, director of marketing and public relations at World Market Center. "The new site allows users to make the most efficient use of their time by providing a well-organized, comprehensive layout that clearly offers the tools and information needed to successfully plan for Las Vegas Market."
The July Las Vegas Market is scheduled to run from July 24 to July 28.
March 20,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
The Swedish retailer's North American arm has been named to Fortune's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For in the latest issue of the magazine.
On the overall list, the company landed at 96. Among other mid-size companies, Ikea was ranked No. 35.
The magazine said the company's ranking was based on "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! The Swedish retailer expanded its U.S. payroll by 2,500 last year, and is adding three to five stores a year in the U.S. Eighty percent of employees agree that 'people are given a lot of responsibility here.'"
According to the list, the U.S-division of the company, with its headquarters in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., employs 9,499 people at 31 locations. The home furnishings retailer created 940 new jobs last year.
March 19,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Merv Rabin, a longtime veteran of sales, marketing and executive positions with several furniture companies, died earlier this month from cancer. He was 62 years old.
Born in Liverpool, England, and raised in Canada, Rabin's family settled in the Los Angeles area when he was 16. He entered the furniture industry in the '60s as a manufacturer's representative after serving in the military, and was active in the National Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., the California Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and the City of Hope.
During his career, Rabin worked with companies including John Boyd Designs/Salem House and Kushwood. In 2001, he began his own consulting business for several furniture manufacturers, and also for America West Transportation, coordinating furniture shipments for manufacturers and retailers.
Rabin is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughter, Holland; step-daughters Cindy and Pam; step-sons Richard and Ron; daughter-in-law, Tricia; and 16 grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to: City of Hope/NHFI, 117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N-320, Atlanta, Ga., 30338.
March 19,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Fort Worth, Texas-based Pier 1 Imports announced Monday that it has sold its England-based subsidiary The Pier Retail Group Limited and its subsidiaries, collectively called The Pier, to Palli Limited for about $15 million.
Palli Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagerinn ehf, an Iceland corporation owned by Jakup a Dul Jacobsen. Lagerinn and Jacobsen own about 9.9 percent of the company's common stock.
As of February 25, the company operated over 40 The Pier stores located in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Pier 1 recorded a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of about $7 million in the fiscal year 2006 fourth quarter to state its investment in this subsidiary at estimated fair value as of February 25, 2006. The results of this subsidiary will be classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented in Pier 1's consolidated financial statements.
The retailer's fourth quarter and fiscal 2006 year-end results and March sales will be reported April 6, and the company will hold a conference call the same day.
March 19,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Full-line vendor Lexington Home Brands is gearing its April High Point market activities around the dates most retailers are in town by planning on a Sunday-to-Sunday schedule.
The Lexington showroom at 1300 National Highway will be open to the trade and press April 23 through April 30. The move is a reaction to the market reality that many retailers show up well before the official opening day – this spring it's Thursday, April 27. The market officially runs through May 3.
"Concentrating our efforts within the time frame of a single week allows both our weekday and weekend buyers ample time to view all that Lexington Home Brands has to offer this market," said Lexington President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Stec. "It is, we believe, a more efficient and economical use of everyone's time, giving both reps and buyers the following week to finalize and follow up on orders."
Lexington will showcase major new additions to its Tommy Bahama and Liz Claiborne brands, as well as a new marketing concept for Tommy Bahama.
In addition, Lexington won't hold a regular premarket exhibition in High Point next week. The company had earlier held an invitation-only preview of its new Tommy Bahama collection in Las Vegas in conjunction with the market there in January.