Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 9,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on January 10, 2013
A fire broke out a 1 p.m. local time yesterday at luxury furniture vendor Theodore Alexander's plant one in Ho Chi Minh City.
Due to rapid response and the company's emergency procedures, there were no injuries among Theodore Alexander's 3,000-plus employees at the plant. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
Theodore Alexander CEO Harvey Dondero said the fire damaged finishing lines and spread to the work-in-progress area before being extinguished. Those operations will move to other company facilities; and the company shortly will announce a revised production and shipment plan.
The company already has substantial inventory in its U.S. distribution facility and overseas warehouses in preparation for the Tet holiday.
Samples for Spring High Point Market were unaffected, and the company proceeds with Market plans as scheduled.
January 9,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on January 10, 2013
Home furnishings women's leadership network WithIt has named its 2013 Board of Directors.
Betty Lyn Eller, vice president, home division of IMRE, a marketing agency, takes the helm as 2013s WithIt president.
"Being involved in WithIt is an investment in your success and your professional future," Eller said. "This is your organization and its up to you to get involved and see the return on your investment."
The WithIt board is made up of an executive committee, vice presidents who lead committees, vice presidents who represent industry functions and vice presidents who represent geographic regions. Serving in 2013 in addition to Eller are:
¢ Chairman, board of governors, Mary Leigh Howell, principal, Howell Communications
¢ Chairman, WithIt, Julia Rosien, chief idea officer, Social North
¢ Vice President/President Elect, Violette Forman, general manager, Havertys Furniture
¢ Secretary, Cindy Williams, vice president, sales, Wright Global Graphic Solutions
¢ Treasurer, Peg Whitehurst, vice president, finance, Norwalk Furniture
Vice presidents and committee chairs are:
¢ Education: Pat Bowling, vice president of communications, American Home Furnishings Alliance
¢ Marketing: Amanda Williams, public relations account supervisor, Wray Ward
¢ Media: Lisa Hanly, vice president, corporate communications/public relations, Furniture Brands International
¢ Membership: Kim Grubb, vice president, sales, Wright Global Graphic Solutions
¢ Mentoring: Amy Schmidt, vice president of merchandising communications, FurnitureDealer.net
¢ Networking: Margi Kyle, owner and interior designer, The Designing Doctor
¢ Social Networking: Dana Helms, social media community manager, Social North
Vice president at large officers, serving as representatives of industry functions, are:
¢ Manufacturing, Carol Gregg, president, Red Egg
¢ Youth Outreach, Victoria Valentinas, visual merchandising coordinator, Bassett Furniture
¢ Supplier/Design, Libby Langdon, president, Libby Interiors Inc.
Regional vice presidents are tasked with building membership and developing events in their regions. These 2013 officers are:
¢ Virginias/Carolinas, Trisha Kemerly, president, WhipSmart Creative
¢ International, Donna Bartlett, president, ViewIt Technologies
Sara Lyke remains WithIt's executive director and Amy VanDorp is membership/media manager.
WithIt was founded in 1997, as a non-profit dedicated to mentoring, education, networking and leadership development. The group exists to encourage and develop leadership opportunities for women. As well, the organization connects, brings recognition and supports women who have achieved top leadership. WithIt provides opportunities for women to mentor or be mentored, teach or be taught and encourage all women who aspire to grow their leadership.
January 9,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on January 10, 2013
Dallas Market Center has announced the 10 finalists for The Next Big Give contest, a third annual national search for specialty retailers that make a difference in their communities through volunteering, raising funds or donating goods.
The Next Big Give 2013 finalists are:
Best Buddies Dog Boutique and Bakery St. Pete Beach, Fla.
With the belief of reinforcing the bond between human and dog, Alan Ronay of Best Buddies focuses on the positive things that bring people and dogs together. The boutique works with local pet shelters to raise awareness of the many neglected pets that desperately need homes, as well as donating food to the shelters and spreading awareness about their good work. The store also gives a free bag of premium pet food to all adopted pets to help get them started on the right paw to good health. Most recently, Best Buddies also participated in an event that paired war vets with shelter dogs.
C and Js Gifts and Home Décor Jacksonville, Ark.
Carletta Wilson and her family always had a love for rescue dogs. After her daughter suggested the store help the local animal shelter, C and Js decided to hold an annual Canine Cutie Pageant, collaborating with the Jacksonville Animal Shelter, Community Center and Chamber of Commerce. Every dog wins a participation prize and are judged on best stage personality, most likely to be cuddled, prettiest hair, most photogenic, best smile, cutest eyes and best attire. Shelter dogs are paraded for the audience to view and adopt, and the shelter receives the proceeds from the event.
Calico Cat Greenville, Tex.
Calico Cats owner, Janeen Cunningham, has led countless charity efforts through her gift and apparel store the past 40 years. Bras for the Cause (BFTC) is the most remarkable of its recent projects, inspired by the idea of decorated bras raising money for breast cancer causes. Anyone can enter a bra, and after decorating, theyre displayed along a three-block area in downtown Greenville for one October night. The public is invited to purchase a ballot to cast votes on their favorites. More than $125,000 has been raised in just four events since its inception. The proceeds of BFTC benefit a local hospital to establish a program providing wigs, mastectomy bras, prostheses, compression garments and other necessities for cancer patients unable to afford them.
Dedricks Pharmacy & Gifts New Paltz, N.Y.
Michelle Harris of Dedricks believes in the foundation and partnership between a community and a small business, and that giving back to its community is natural. The pharmacy and gift store gives away approximately $12,000 each year to charity in addition to staff volunteer work. A recent event included partnering with a locally-based community organization, Family of Woodstock to supply cleaning supplies, bedding, new toys, new coats, clothing and jewelry for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The pharmacy inspired its customers to drop off new merchandise for the women and children in need, and in turn, they received a discount off of a purchase of their choice.
Holiday Divine Tualatin, Ore.
Noticing a need to cheer the spirits of the residents at a local nursing home, Matthew Preston and the staff at the holiday and gift store decided to design, purchase and decorate several full-size Christmas trees at nursing homes in the Northwest. Each year, an event is made of the decorating complete with cookies, apple cider, music and even teaching the residents new crafts and techniques. The residents look forward to it as the holiday season draws near each year.
Journeys of Life Pittsburgh, Pa.
The mission of Journeys of Life for the past 23 years has been to serve people on their journey where they have been, where they are, and where they would like to go. Because of this mission, owner Jean Haller and her store have participated in countless efforts benefiting the community. In 2011, a fire destroyed Journeys entire inventory. The community rallied and helped reopen the store through vendors sending product, neighbors pricing merchandise and volunteers coming to help bring the store back from the ashes. Although the store and its contents were declared a total loss, Jean approached the insurance company and gave the customers the opportunity to purchase the almost destroyed treasures with a reduced rate with all proceeds benefiting charities. In one week, the Fire Fund earnings were $3,500; each day benefited a different local charity. The Fire Fund sales continue with more than $8,000 raised to date.
Leon & Lulu Clawson, Mich.
Mary Liz Curtin holds true to a community-focused marketing plan in her furniture, gifts and accessories store, which includes more than 60 charity events annually. One of many events includes the store hosting local artists and crafts people for a two-day market to introduce the community to a range of exceptional handcrafted items made in Michigan. The event benefits Cass Community Social Services, a Detroit agency committed to fighting poverty and creating opportunities by providing food, medical, mental health, vocational, youth and homeless services. Other events throughout the year promote literacy, donating blood, diabetes and breast cancer.
LoveShopGive Tustin, Calif.
LoveShopGive is a family philanthropic business that was designed to give back to the community. By partnering with local, national and international nonprofits, as well as socially responsible brands, LoveShopGive gives 20 percent of all sales to the charity of the buyers choice, and shares the brand and charity stories that help consumers make an educated Purchase with a Purpose¢. The store works alongside its charitable partners to create online and in-store events where they can share with supporters how to get involved, volunteer opportunities and other charitable news. By connecting consumers with the brands and charities that are creating positive change in the world, LoveShopGive believes its creating good they call, Full Circle Giving.
Stanley Korshak Dallas, Tex.
As an independent Dallas business owner, giving back to the community has always been a top priority for Stanley Korshak owner Crawford Brock. For more than 25 years, Brock has been instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for numerous charities at both the local and national level including the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Texas Ballet Theater, Crystal Charity, Jewel Charity, The Suicide and Crisis Center of Dallas and many more. He implemented a Random Acts of Kindness program to commemorate the stores 25th anniversary, initiating a series of activities with the employees including: greeting U.S. troops returning home from war, delivering cookies to fire houses on Sept. 11, serving ice cream sundaes to Ronald McDonald families, creating Easter baskets for Community Partners of Dallas, sponsoring a Salvation Army Angel Tree and hosting a canned food drive for The North Texas Food Bank.
The Kitchen Store Conway, Ark.
Mike Smyers, the late owner of The Kitchen Store, had the idea to help families through the perinatal loss grieving process after his daughter and her husband suffered a miscarriage. Mike and his wife, Jeanne helped to establish and became the primary business supporter of the Perinatal Bereavement Program at Conway Regional Medical Center, which offers support services to families who have experienced the perinatal loss of a child. Each year, the store holds a holiday fundraising event giving away 100 percent of the proceeds to the program. In less than 10 years, The Kitchen Store has contributed nearly $82,000 to the Perinatal Bereavement Program through the annual shopping event.
Two winners will be announced on Feb. 14, and receive a complimentary trip to the March 21-24 Market in Dallas including round-trip airfare from anywhere in the continental U.S. and two nights hotel stay. While at Market, The Next Big Give winners will be recognized during The Inspired Event. The winners will share their stories of giving back in hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Retailers either nominated themselves or were nominated by a manufacturer, a sales representative, buyer or customer. The finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts and Dallas Market Center representatives.
For additional information on the contest, visit http://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/contests/give; or e-mai to:thenextbiggive@mcmcmail.com.
January 9,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 10, 2013
San Diego-based Jerome's Furniture has added a new retail concept to its lineup with the Furniture Marketplace in Murrieta, Calif.
The Jerome's Marketplace will offer three specialty furniture stores in one location.
"We are excited to announce this expansion. We've been active in the Murrieta market since 2009 with amazing results," said Jerry Navarra, chairman of Jerome's. "It seems the community really responds to our styles, levels of service, and pricing strategy. It was a natural evolution to offer more options to the area."
The expanded flagship Jerome's Furniture store in the Marketplace offers value-priced furniture. The Dream Shop at the Jerome's Marketplace is a mattress shop, and Jerry's Bloopers, the third store in the center, is more of a close-out store.
"The blooper store is where we get rid of furniture that me say 'uh-oh'," Navarra said. "We call them bloopers. Sometimes a manufacturer makes too many chairs, and we get a great deal. Sometimes things get nicked or scratched in the warehouse, and sometimes I just get things wrong. It's a great place fox customer to come and search out great deals. It's a bit of a treasure hunt and merchandise changes on a daily basis."
Each of the stores has its own distinct signage and entrance.
January 9,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on January 10, 2013
Online marketing solutions provider MicroD kicked off its 20th anniversary celebration this week by opening a new, 7,800-squre-foot office in Hickory, N.C.
The company was founded in Hickory in 1993 with four people in less than 1,000 square feet. Today, MicroD employs about 60 people in Hickory office where the company houses its product development, sales, customer support and digital catalogs creation services. MicroD employs a global staff of 100 with additional offices in Charlotte, N.C., India and the Czech Republic.
"We are grateful to our customers and colleagues that have enabled these 20 years of growth," said Manoj Nigam, CEO and president. "We have proudly maintained an exclusive focus on the home furnishings industry. We continue to invest, innovate and expand our operations here and around the world in response to strong demand for the latest tools and technologies."
In the beginning, MicroD pioneered the used of computers for desktop product presentation, and later took the technology online with its ePreVue solution. In 2000, the company introduced its technology that allow computer generated visualization of upholstery fabrics on frames for visual merchandising and custom product.
In 2003, MicroD merged with Exim Technologies and added a web-based electronic data interchange to its product lineup.
MicroD serves both business-to-business and business-to-consumer needs. Furniture suppliers use ePiphany Web sites to build consumer brand awareness, as well as to support their retail partners. Retailers rely on MicroD's interactive catalogs, room planners and other solutions to engage consumers in the shopping process.