Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
October 31,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on November 1, 2012
Online Registration and hotel bookings are open for the Jan. 28-Feb. 1 Las Vegas Furniture Market.
The upcoming Winter Market also coincides with the Surfaces Expo floor coverings and design trade show. Also coinciding with the Winter Market, is a first-of-its-kind Gift + Home CEO Summit, with keynote addresses, panel discussions and other topical presentations, that will debut Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Co-produced by International Market Centers and Eller Enterprises, executive-directed content will address effects of the China economy and Euro crisis, preparing a company for sale/exit strategies, building corporate culture, global economy, estate planning and wealth management and other topical issues impacting the U.S. gift and home marketplace.
The official Las Vegas Furniture Market Web site(http://www.lasvegasmarket.com) offers attendees values on a variety of room options at more than 20 Las Vegas hotels. Rates start at $39 per night for nearby downtown hotel properties and $50 per night for Las Vegas Strip properties, with complimentary shuttle service to and from partnering hotels. Attendees are encouraged to book early to ensure availability at one of the following properties:
* Aria Resort & Casino at City Center: $204; early bird. $174
* Bally's Las Vegas, North Tower: $79-$149
* Bellagio Las Vegas:$204-$234; early bird, $194 Sun.-Thurs., $224 Fri.-Sat.
* Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: $179
* Elara, Studio: $85-$115
* Elara, Junior Suite: $105-$135
* Elara, 1 Bedroom: $125-$155
* Encore: $229
* Flamingo, Fab Room: $50-$125
* Flamingo, GO Room: $75-$125
* Golden Nugget, Carson Tower: $70-$100
* Golden Nugget, Gold Tower: $90-$120
* Golden Nugget, Rush Tower King: $100-$130
* Golden Nugget, Gold Club King: $130-$160
* Hilton Grand Vacation, Studio: $89
* Hilton Grand Vacatio, 1 Bedroom: $115
* Mandarin Oriental: $213
* Mirage: $130-$160
* Monte Carlo: $80-$130; early bird, $75 Sun.-Thurs., $125 Fri.-Sat.
* New York New York: $80-$125; early bird, $75 Sun.-Thurs., $120 Fri.-Sat.
* Paris: $99-$169
* Planet Hollywood: $99-$139
* Stratosphere, Deluxe Room: $39-$69
* Stratosphere, Select Room: $49-$79
* Treasure Island, TI: $85-$135
* Trump Las Vegas, Studio King: $119
* Trump Las Vegas, 1 Bedroom King: $143
* Vdara: King, $174, early bird, $144
To book a hotel, visit here, or contact Connections Housing toll free at 855.255.4462 or 702.476.6976.
October 31,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on November 1, 2012
Consumer confidence jumped in October 72.2, the highest level since February 2008.
The Conference Board, the tracker of the index, attributed the increase in the gauge to brighter views on present employment and business conditions.
The index jumped 3.8 points from the downwardly revised 68.4 reported for September.
""The Consumer Confidence Index increased again in October and is now at its highest level this year," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, a New York research group. "Consumers were considerably more positive in their assessment of current conditions, with improvements in the job market as the major driver. Consumers were modestly more upbeat about their financial situation and the short-term economic outlook, and appear to be in better spirits approaching the holiday season."
October 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on October 31, 2012
The board of directors for the warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) has declared a cash dividend.
The quarterly dividend of $.275 per share is payable Nov. 30 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 16.
Costco currently operates 612 warehouses, including 442 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 83 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, nine in Taiwan, eight in Korea and three in Australia. The retailer plans to open up to 10 additional warehouses prior to the end of calendar year 2012.
October 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on October 31, 2012
Austin Rothbard has been named president of Baker.
In his new position, Rothbard will oversee Baker Knapp & Tubbs Inc., which includes Baker Manufacturing, Baker Knapp & Tubbs showrooms and Baker stores.
Bringing more 15 years of experience to Baker, Rothbard will be responsible for directing all functional aspects of Baker Knapp & Tubbs Inc.
Austin is the right leader to take Baker to the next level of performance, said Rachel Kohler, president of Kohler Co. Interiors Group, which owns Baker Knapp & Tubbs. It is his combination of leadership and experience that makes Austin the ideal president to guide Bakers future financially and strategically. I couldnt be more pleased with having him on board.
Most recently, Rothbard served as president of Brunswick Billiards, a 165-year-old business based in Bristol, Wisc. Prior to this, Rothbard was the President of Cabo Yachts, a luxury yacht business located in California. Rothbard also held a position as consultant at Bain & Company where he assisted Fortune 500 companies in strategic growth initiatives.
Rothbard holds an MBA from Cornell University where he was selected to be a Park Leadership Fellow. In addition, he holds a Bachelors Degree from Tufts University, Boston, Mass., in Civil Engineering.
Rothbard is headquartered at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs executive offices in Chicago.
Baker Knapp & Tubbs is a division of the Kohler Co. Interiors Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co.
October 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Outdoor Furniture on October 31, 2012
Outdoor furnishings retailer Patios Plus, Rancho Mirage, Calif., is the first International Casual Furnishings Association retail member to have its entire sales team complete the ICFA Sales Training Certificate Program.
Established in 1976, the 10,000-square-foot Rancho Mirage Patios Plus and a 7,000-square-foot companion store in La Quinta have been under the direction of Jim Schultz and Kristine Schultz Hutchinson since 1992. The two were honored in September with the industrys prestigious Apollo Award in the multi-store category. It was their third Apollo win.
ICFA is very pleased to recognize Patios Plus as our first retail member to have all of its sales associates complete the ICFA Sales Training Certificate Program, said Joseph P. Logan, ICFA executive director. It is an admirable achievement and speaks to their commitment to excellence in their store operations. We encourage all ICFA member stores to follow their example.
ICFAs Sales Training Certificate Program was developed in cooperation with Greg Welsh, Welsh Sales Group. The California-based training company has developed retail sales and management training programs for retail chains, manufacturers and buying groups. Welsh has personally trained more than 15,000 sales professionals over the past 19 years in 48 states and in more than 12 countries.
With the current state of our economy and our wide range of clients, it has become much more important for us to adapt our selling styles to meet their needs, said Jim Schultz. With the completion of the ICFA training videos, we learned much more about reading our clients needs--and not being afraid to ask for the sale when we have met them. Overall, it was a great way to refresh our sales team with new ideas and positive ways to look at every sale situation. In turn, we have seen a positive shift in our closing ratio, keeping us on the upswing for our new season.
The three-tier ICFA sales training program is DVD-based and includes companion workbooks, tests at each level and a certificate upon completion. Each sales associate who successfully completes the program also receives a lapel pin.
ICFA members can purchase the DVDs for $99 each or $297 for the basic, advanced and master level package. The cost is $795 for each level for non-member companies. The online tests are $15 each.
As a three-time Apollo Award winner, it is no mistake that Jim and Kristine recognize the value of training their entire team to a very high level, said ICFA Chairman Eric Parsons, Gloster Furniture.
The ICFA sales training program can be ordered here.