October 10,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on October 11, 2012
The Sustainable Furnishings Council will host a webinar next week that examines the latest developments in responsible wood sourcing.
Part of the Sustainability Essentials webinar series, the session--Thursday, Oct. 18, noon-1 p.m. (eastern time)--will be led by Amy Smith of the World Wildlife Funds Global Forest & Trade Network.
Webinar participants will gain an understanding of the state of the worlds forests and global trends in wood sourcing. The session also will cover the free tools available to help furniture companies assess and mitigate sourcing risk, best practices in supplier engagement, practicing due care under the U.S. Lacey Act, Forest Stewardship Council certification, and the benefits of using lesser-known species. Additionally, the webinar will give an overview of how GFTN is working with nearly 300 companies across the globe in 34 countries to promote responsible forestry and trade.
Click here to reserve a "seat" at the webinar.
October 10,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on October 11, 2012
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) will tour Younger Furniture's showroom during High Point Furniture Market.
She will visit the showroom of Thomasville, N.C.-based Younger, a family-owned upholstery company that shows in 220 Elm, Space 214, on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Senator Hagan will be joined by, Mike Younger, founder and CEO of Younger Furniture; Meredith Younger Spell, president; Heinz Kattenfeld of 200 Elm; Tom Conley, president and CEO, High Point Market Authority; and Tammy Nagem, COO, High Point Market Authority.
October 10,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on October 11, 2012
Foam vendor FXI donated $1 million thousands of bedding products with a retail value of $1 million dollars to local non-profit organizations this summer.
The groups are focused on helping Indiana families who have been victims of natural disasters and adults fighting addiction. Media, Pa.-based FXI gave products such as mattresses, pillows and mattress toppers to two important philanthropic pillars in the community near its Auburn, Ind., facility, Mustard Seed Furniture Bank and Serenity House.
Community outreach is an important part of FXIs corporate culture and we believe it is our responsibility to support the communities where our Company thrives and our employees live, work and play, said FXI Senior Vice President of Consumer Products Diane Adams. A good nights sleep is something that so many of us take for granted. Our donation of mattresses and other sleep accessories will help families who have had their homes destroyed and those struggling to fight addictions have a safe, comfortable place to rest their heads at night.
The Mustard Seed Furniture Bank provides household furnishings to families and individuals as they rebuild their lives after suffering disaster, personal tragedy or other catastrophic misfortunes. Since 2002, it has assisted over 5,000 households touching the lives of over 6,800 adults and 8,670 children. FXI provided the organization with over 9,000 pieces of premium foam products including pillows, mattress toppers and mattresses. The donation ensures that recipients will have good nights sleep as they begin to rebuild their lives.
For more than 25 years, Serenity House has consistently and successfully expanded substance abuse services throughout DuPage County in Indiana to meet the ever increasing demand for treatment. Serenity House serves hundreds of men and women each year through its residential and outpatient programs. The non-profit was a recipient of 50 twin mattresses courtesy of FXI to help residents have a more comfortable, restorative nights sleep an essential part of the recovery process.
October 10,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on October 2012
Q. What has been instrumental in your design approach and personal style?
My office, of course. Having a great group of people to work with is imperative, and we work as a team in making everything happen from TV to the book to interior design and to the product.
In terms of my aesthetic, my point of view is new Americana fresh, chic take on the American lifestyle that we bring to our high-end clients, to television, to our product and even with the book, American Beauty.
My style is like sophisticated American chic. Its global in that we take inspiration from the world and intrinsically make it feel more relaxed.
Its just sort of a lifestyle point of viewhonest, clean, crisp that is rooted in classic styling.
Q. Over the years, how have your design techniques changed?
That hasnt changed so much as refined itself through the years. Were always evolving as human beings. Folks that Ive known for years always say I havent changed a bit.
I havent made drastically huge changes in point of view or aesthetic. I think I have evolved and matured, but Im still rooted in where Im from and where I grew up.
I think a lot of my product is rooted in classic lines, classic motifs but translated to something a bit more fresh and new with a different spin that feels welcoming.
Q. If you had to pick one lesson you have learned in your business the hard way, what would it be?
With every opportunity, theres an incredible amount of involvement and responsibility. I used to always think sometime when I get to this point Ill be able to chill out and relax. If you love what you do, youre just going to be doing it. You still do what you have to do, and you have to carry your weightnot really HAVE to be but still WANT to. Every fabulous opportunity is another chance to roll up your sleeves and stress out.
I think you just have to really enjoy the process; there is no end game. Thats the joy of it. The trick is that you have to make the process enjoyable and realized at the end of the daythats the ride.
Its important that when youre there, youre there with great people, who all have a sense of what has to be done.
Q. Whats the best advice youve ever been given?
Dont believe your own press. The minute you think you are fabulous, thats the minute that youre not. Stay really grounded, down to Earth, keep your eye on the ball and keep moving forward.
Q. What online tools do you use that you cannot live without?
For us, online catalogs. Being able to access them 24 hours a day for sizes, materials, and other details allows us to work more efficiently. That the online catalogs have really beautiful photography just makes life much easier.
Q. How do you balance your own design work with the collaborations you have within the home furnishings industry?
If you follow me for a day, its more of a run than a juggle. If you make a commitment that youre going to do it, you just do it. There are times when I wake at 4 a.m. and feel a bead of sweat over what all I have to do. There are a lot of balls in the air, and sometimes its more emotionally taxing than physically taxing.
I was so excited about the book, still have knots in my back that will be there forever. I figure out an efficient point of view in my head and get it done. Try to cross-pollinate the book with the furniture with the products with the clients. I get inspiration for the furniture from working with clients, and I get inspiration from textiles when shopping for clients. I find inspiration from my role as a visiting professor at Syracuse University. If youre really interested and love what youre doing, you submerge yourself up to your eyeballs.
Q. How do you collaborate with retailers and consumers?
We do the initial shopping and then take clients out to see things they might want to see. We have to prioritize what they want to see. There are certain pieces that they just need to see in order to understand. Id say about 25 percent of what we do consists of things that the client has to touch and feel.
Q. What is your strategy for understanding your clients needs when starting new projects?
First, I look at their architecture, their point of view, lifestyle, budget, whether there are children and animals. I look at how the space is usedan escape, a summer home, a lake house. We really do our homework and figure out what makes them tick. We take all of those things into consideration. We look at where theyve been, where they are and where they want to go. Its really a narrative of their life.
Q. If you could partner with anyone in design, who would it be and why?
We love the idea of partnering with partners in areas that weve not figured out. I love our partnerships with Vanguard, Kravet, Soicher Marin, Safavieh, Classical Elements and Shaw Hospitality. I would love to work with Kohler. I would love to partner with a company and do home pet products, as well as an outdoor furniture line with the likes of Janus et Cie or Brown Jordan.
Q. Tell me about the new book.
Its called American Beauty and is published by Clarkon Potter. Tina Fey, a client, wrote the foreword, and it hits the book stores Nov. 13. Its all about my house in upstate New York that I renovated and decorated from floor to roof. It features products from all of my lines and is an honest reflection of my personal aesthetic and point of view. To pre-order the book, visit ThomFilicia.com.
October 10,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on October 2012
I love retail of all kinds. I like shopping; I like browsing; and I like buying. I dig the inspiration that can be found in great retail display, and I often shake my head in wonderment at a poorly thought-out retail display. Its the whole experiencethe thrill of the hunt; the rush of the find; and then, the sheer enjoyment of the new whatever once its home.
Im one of those consumers who can get lost in a great-looking store for a good chunk of a morning or afternoon, just wandering around browsing and finding great treasuresAND ideas.
Amazing retailersnot just furniture retailersmake me smile. That smile can emanate from a number of things, ranging from a great selection to helpful associates to a kind word, but always from a well-merchandised floor.
Its the icing on the cupcake. The thing that catches my eye and makes me want to replicate the looks I see in part or in whole.
This issue of Home Furnishings Business is dedicated to great furniture retailers. Its our annual Retail Look Book, the issue in which we spotlight awesome retail work ranging from merchandising to great customer service to logistics to social media. Its our opportunity to allow home furnishings retailers to show their plumage in whatever it is that makes themyoushine in a marketplace.
This issue, like many other issues we publish, is a resource guide in which retailers can glean ideas from their peers.
Idea sharing among peers is one of the best ways we have in our industry to sustain business and keep things fresh. Often a retailer in a non-competing market may have faced down a similar challenge as the very one youre dealing with right now. Theres really no need to start over from scratch on a solution. Instead, a peers experience can be a great educator when an open dialogue takes place.
As we do each year, we ask our readers to share their store pictures, their success stories involving their business, and generally, the story of what makes them successful in their markets.
Inside this months pages, youll find short profiles of home furnishings merchants who have found success over the last year in a variety of ways. For some, the bright spot lies in their creative merchandising and outstanding displays. For others, a portion of their business plan is an inherent need to assist those less fortunate through a number of ways. Other retailers excel in back-shop operations and logistics, while others have a prowess for putting social media to work for them to churn sales.
To those of you who sent along your stories and photos: Thank you for sharing. Heres to helping improve retail by sharing your ideas, strategies, and tried-and-true tactics for elevating home furnishings retail.
Without your stories, wed have blank pages!
So read on, friends. Be inspired so that you in turn can inspire the customers who walk through your doors each day.
Happy reading.
On another note, heres to a great week at the High Point Market!