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January 16,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on January 17, 2013
Bedding retailer Sleep Train has signed a five-year partnership with Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) for the naming rights to the entertainment company's Chula Vista, Calif., venue.
Formerly known as Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, the San Diego-area music venue will now be called Sleep Train Amphitheatre.
"We are proud to expand our partnership with Live Nation to become the title sponsor of this venue," said Dale Carlsen, Sleep Train founder and CEO. "It allows us to deepen our connection with the San Diego area community and extend the reach of our award-winning Foster Kids Program with the addition of in-venue events."
Sleep Train created its Foster Kids Program in 2008 and contributes to its community through ongoing donation drives that benefit more than 60,000 foster children in California. As part of this new sponsorship, Sleep Train will host two donation events at the newly renamed venue to collect essential material items for local foster children such as pajamas, shoes, clothing, school supplies, and gifts.
The newly re-named Sleep Train Amphitheatre can accommodate about 20,000 people and hosts about 26 events per year. This year, the venue will welcome One Direction, Keith Urban, Vans Warped Tour and many others to its line-up. Sleep Train also sponsors Live Nation venues in Wheatland, Concord and Shoreline, California.
"We couldn't be happier to expand on our 11-year partnership with Sleep Train," said Maureen Ford, president of Live Nation Venue Network. "Dale and his team of employee owners, not only have built a terrific company in Sleep Train, but they are leaders in the community and our positive work experience with their company makes this a great fit."
January 16,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on January 17, 2013
Home furnishings networking group Next Generation-Now will host three events at Winter Las Vegas Furniture Market.
Those include a networking breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by an educational Retailer Panel Discussion on Monday, Jan. 28; and the NGN Bash, on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The Retailer Panel Discussion on Monday morning, 9-10 a.m. in the RRC, C-496, will focus on "Multiple Generations = Many Opportunities." Panelists from Royal Furniture and Ivan Smith Furniture will share their ideas and experiences of working within multi-generational family businesses. All attendees are invited to enjoy a hot waffle breakfast at 8 a.m. prior to the panel discussion.
The panel discussion features a great team of successful retailers, who have also been longtime friends. The discussion will focus around family business practices and the importance of industry relationships, said NGN Education Committee Chair Amy Schmidt. These third generation storeowners will share all of their successes, and stumbles, of running their family businesses. It will be a great discussion for anyone who is involved in a family business.
The semi-annual NGN Bash will be held on Tuesday, 5-8 p.m. in the One-Six Club on the 16th Floor of Building B. Sponsored by Coaster, the NGN Bash will have attendees rolling the dice while networking, enjoying hors doeurves and drinks. This years Bash has been extended to give all attendees plenty of time to enjoy the Casino Night festivities and build new industry connections.
The NGN committee has been hard at work planning this bash and doing some things we've never done before. We wanted to take this event to a whole new level, said NGN Event Committee Chair Sara Wedding. We went all out with bringing in a DJ, having games and giving away one of three all-expense paid trips to the 2013 HFIC.
During each NGN event, participants have the opportunity to drop off their business cards and be entered to win one of three all-expense paid trips to the 2013 Home Furnishings Industry Conference, June 2-4 in New Orleans, La.
"We are so grateful to have Ashley Furniture Inds. committed to this group as well as the Home Furnishings Industry Conference, said NGN Marketing Committee Chair Alex Macias. As our benefactor sponsor, Ashley clearly understands the connection between the Next Generation-Now group and the next generation of their customers. Ensuring that NGN members attend industry education and have the opportunity to network with top 100 retailers is essential to their future and the future of their business. Ashley's generous backing will allow young professionals to immerse themselves much earlier and easier."
Next Generation-NOW is a hosted community of the National and Western Home Furnishings Association. To sign-up for Next Generation-Now, visit here.
January 16,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on January 17, 2013
The National Home Furnishings and Western Home Furnishings associations, Best Buy For Business, and R&A Marketing have partnered again to host the The Social Spot at Las Vegas Furniture Market.
The Social Spot is a dedicated space inside the Retailer Resource Center, WMC-C496, for the industry to learn the ins and outs of social media. The RRC has been the retailers destination for networking opportunities, free educational seminars, and information on products and services designed just for buyers.
With the landscape of social media, technology, and advertising changing daily, The Social Spot is undergoing change as well. The Social Spot will continue to teach retailers about social media and how to use it as a marketing tool, but take it one step further. Both R&A and Best Buy For Business believe your customer experience starts online and the final customer experience is your physical storefront. Making sure that your online experience is a seamless transition to your physical experience is important in converting sales today. R&A Marketing and Best Buy For Business will teach, and show, retailers how to enhance their in-store environment through technology and marketing that will help deliver sales for today and tomorrow.
We have developed The Social Spot to educate and inform the retailer, said Kyle Doran, president and co-owner of R&A Marketing. The convergence of what has always worked, and what is working today is only growing. To move forward in today's world and sell more product (that's what it's all about) the principles of social media and offline media need to work togethernot apart.
Along with the dedicated Social Spot space, a Web site, and Twitter handle (@FurnSocialSpot) have been created to inform, and teach, retailers throughout the year about technology, advertising, and marketing. The content-laden Web site and Twitter account will help businesses grow by giving them the one thing that helps every marketer: information. Updated daily, visitors can find information, insights and news about what is happening around the world in marketing and advertising and how it can help move their businesses forward.
R&A Marketing and Best Buy for Business have partnered with Mail America for a special promotion that retailers can implement in their own stores that encompasses technology, social media, and traditional media. Retailers also will have the chance to win up to $5,000 and other great prizes. They also can attend the Social Happy Hour on Tuesday, Jan. 29 starting at 3 p.m., where retailers can enjoy complimentary beverages, enter in to win prizes, and play interactive games.
January 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on January 16, 2013
Harden Furniture Co. was recently awarded $750,000 in grants by the New York State Economic Development Corp. and Oneida County to assist in modernizing its sawmill and woodworking facilities.
The New York State grant provides the company with $600,000 to fund a portion of a projected $3 million investment in new technology and lean processes. The $150,000 Oneida County grant was secured through a federal Community Development Block Grant and will also be applied to the modernization program. The company expects the update to be completed in 2015.
Harden Furniture, founded in 1844, and the oldest manufacturer of furnishings in North America, began a conversion of its manufacturing systems in 2012 to transition the majority of its production to a "batch one" system. Building on earlier lean projects, the company expects to reduce production lead times, eliminate inventory buffers, and enhance its ability to customize case good and upholstery products. Currently all dining tables and the majority of Harden's upholstery frames are produced using a similar process.
Prior to the grant funding Harden had installed a Holtz-her CNC machining center, the centerpiece of the lean production cell, and the equipment is currently supporting existing manufacturing processes in addition to serving the new "batch one" line. Additional equipment and engineering investments are planned for early this year as the company transitions more product collections to "batch one" production. In a "batch one" process, pieces are manufactured one at a time, versus older production systems that required quantities of 25 and greater to achieve acceptable efficiencies.
Harden's sawmill produces more than four million board feet of Adirondack hardwood annually, with about 40 percent of the material used to produce Harden furniture and the balance sold to manufacturers of other products. The investment planned for the sawmill will improve efficiencies and add capacity to sort and dry grade lumber.
In 1999 Harden replaced an older sawmill facility with the assistance of a New York State grant and now foresees the opportunity to further expand production and efficiency with additional internal investment and grant support.
January 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on January 16, 2013
The Dallas Market Center and ART are adding a bit of star power to the upcoming 24th annual ARTS Awards Saturday.
HGTV's designer and television host John Gidding, and Shay Geyer, an interior designer who makes regular appearances on WFAA's "Good Morning Texas", will participate in presenting awards.
Gidding has appeared on HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block" series. Born in Istanbul, he attended American schools in Turkey and Switzerland before Yale University, receiving a bachelor's degree in architecture. He also earned a master's degree in architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.
Gidding's portfolio includes his work on the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Union Square in New York, the campus plan for Carnegie Mellon University, and a pavilion for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Geyer has been a professional interior designer since 2001. Her mother, Beth Rafferty, founded IBB Design Fine Furnishings when Geyer was a toddler, so she was exposed to the world of design at a very early age. Her work has been published in ON and GrandLuxe magazines. Her projects range in style from modern lofts and high rises to French opulent estates. Her style and ability to forecast design trends landed her the position of design expert for "Good Morning Texas". She has been a part of the show since 2006 and is currently designing an exclusive collection of upholstery and soft good furnishings for IBB.
Bill Winsor, Dallas Market Center president and CEO, and Cindy Morris, COO, will also be presenters along with Sharon Davis, ART executive director, and Mindy Lowack, executive vice president of ART.
The presenters will speak from a crystal embellished podium, complemented by a 14-foot-tall crystal strand curtain backdrop. Both were custom created by Swarovski Elements.
ARTS Awards is an international awards program dedicated to recognizing home industry excellence and achievement in retailing, manufacturing, design and representation. The awards culminate with a black-tie gala held each year during the January Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (Jan. 16-22). The awards will be presented during a gala event on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.