November 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in economic news on November 14, 2012
from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/business/economy/retail-sales-hurt-by-hurricane.html?_r=0
Retail sales fell in the United States in October for the first time in three months as superstorm Sandy slammed the brakes on automobile purchases, suggesting a loss of momentum in spending early in the fourth quarter.
Sales dipped 0.3 percent, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday, after an upwardly revised 1.3 percent increase in September that was previously reported as a 1.1 percent rise.
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November 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on November 14, 2012
Cory Home Delivery has expanded its client list in several major markets.
New clients in the Northeast region include Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Central N.J., and Wayfair.
In the Southeast, Cory now provides home delivery for Rana Furniture of Miami, a growing South Florida group of stores.
New business in the Southwest includes Georgetown Manor-Ethan Allen of Houston, which continues a 50-year tradition of Cory service to Ethan Allen dealers, and The Dump in Dallas, a division of Haynes Furniture, also a Cory client.
Additionally, Cory now serves Grupo Famsa, a consumer products retailer based in Mexico with stores throughout the southwestern part of the United States.
In the Mid-Atlantic region, Wolf Furniture of Bellwood, Pa., a family-owned and operated company with stores throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland, has joined the Cory team of clients.
Managing partner Patrick Cory announced the recent additions to Cory's extensive roster of national retailers.
"Providing a high level of service and strategic partnering with retailers are foundations for continuing growth," said Patrick Cory, managing partner. "We are delighted and thankful to be in this growth position in these uncertain times."
Adding new clients coincides with Cory's expansion of delivery centers that includes the recent opening of a 200,000-square-foot New York City Metro home delivery center. In 2012 Cory opened delivery centers in St. Paul, Minn., Hanover, Md., and Pittsburgh, Pa. These centers, added to the company's delivery centers in Miami and Pompano, Fla., Melville, N.Y., Baltimore, Md., and San Antonio and Dallas, Texas, form a strategic network of major-market locations.
"We are now expanding our services to include more cross-docking in key strategic areas and using technology to offer flexibility to retailers that encompasses traditional brick and mortars as well as e-tailing and e-commerce businesses," Cory said. "Such expansion offers Cory opportunities for growth with existing clients and new opportunities with top furniture, electronics, and appliance retailers in need of these services, particularly in the Midwest, and nationwide."
November 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on November 14, 2012
Home furnishings retailer Furniture Mart USA has opened a La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio at its Sioux Falls, S.D., store.
Furniture Mart's new Comfort Studio features 11,000-square-feet of retail space dedicated to the range of La-Z-Boy furniture for the family room and living room, which includes recliners, motion sofas, sleep sofas, sectionals and leather upholstery.
La-Z-Boy furniture has always stood for comfort, and were proud to partner with such a well-known furniture brand to bring its wide selection and stellar reputation to our community, said Mandley Davis, store manager. The addition of this Comfort Studio demonstrates the commitment we have to offering our customers the best selection of comfortable, quality furnishings available.
Family owned and operated Furniture Mart USA has 31 furniture stores and one carpet store in the Midwest, including Furniture Mart, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Unclaimed Freight Furniture, and CarpetOne.
November 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on November 14, 2012
WithIt has set the agenda for a one-day leadership initiative to be held in February in Greensboro, N.C.
The event, "Critical Success Factors for Women Leaders," will be held Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport.
Sara N. King, author and principal at Optimum Insights, will guide attendees in assessing their individual success profile, developing a leader vision and learning how to strengthen the breadth and depth of their professional network.
"For 15 years, WithIt has advanced hundreds of careers by helping women develop and fine-tune their leadership skills," said Pat Bowling, WithIt vice president of education. "The WithIt Leadership Institute will build on this mission by offering King's superior leadership training and individual assessment in an affordable one-day event."
During her 25 years in leadership development, King has served thousands of executives in Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofits. She spent 23 years at the Center for Creative Leadership, a provider of leadership education and research. For 10 years, she ran the Center's largest global business unit with a team in Asia, Europe and three locations in the United States.
"Critical Success Factors for Women Leaders" is open to WithIt members for $295; the cost for non-members and other Piedmont Triad-based professionals is $325.
Lodging is available at a discounted rate on Feb. 27-28 at the host hotel (Marriott Airport, 336-852-6450); $129 for a single room and $139 for a double.
Registration is available online.
November 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on November 14, 2012
Organic cotton bedding vendor Coyuchi has expanded into furniture with the launch of nature-inspired, hand-crafted bed frames and headboards in reclaimed woods.
The new frames and headboards in reclaimed Douglas fir and oak have premiered on the Coyuchi Web site, and will become available in stores across the United States and Canada by the end of the year.
The Barnwood bed frame and headboard are made of Douglas fir timbers reclaimed from old barns and factories in Northern California. Softly weathered, freckled with nail holes and worn smooth by generations of hands and feet, the wood has character showcased by the designs clean lines and broad, flat planes.
Woodcrafters in Northern California hand-build the weathered-oak bed frame and headboard, using thick oak planks from certified-sustainable sources. Simple lines and precise joinery combine with the natural beauty of the wood for a warm, yet modern look.