September 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on September 2012
Gel-infused bedsand other means of making foam beds sleep coolercontinued to be a primary focus of many bedding manufacturers exhibiting at the World Furniture Market held July 30 to Aug. 3 in Las Vegas.
While the Las Vegas event is, to many in the industry, THE bedding Market, the summer installment saw few new product announcements, as more bedding vendors are holding off on rolling out new lines until January.
Even so, some manufacturersincluding industry leaderssaw fit to premiere new beds and related items at the show. In addition to gel-based products, latex is also getting a push as a cooler bedding surface with a plush feel and a green appeal.
Also, adjustable beds continue to transition from the nursing-home image of the Craftmatic commercials of way back when into a trendy, upscale bedroom accessory.
Here is an inside look at some of the cool stuff we saw on and about bedding at Vegas.
Veteran bed maker Simmons announced an emboldened marketing push as well as new product. The company is betting big on its RECHARGE promotional campaign with national TV ads, a new Web site and ramped-up social media efforts. The campaign, which pushes the health/energy-enhancing benefits of Simmons beds, is built around the slogan Live Life Fully Charged. Under this banner, the company has a new hybrid line, the Recharge Sleep System, which combines AirCool memory foam with its Beautyrest Smart Response Pocketed Coils. The company displayed its accompanying Recharge Sleep Station in-store display, which utilizes video, three mattress models and an adjustable base.
Simmons also showed its expanded Beautyrest Black collection, which added new versions of the upscale lines Ansleigh, Georgianna and Ella models that incorporate the Recharge Sleep System. A new bed, Bray, was also added to the line, which is priced from $1,999 to $5,999.
A new Beautyrest TruEnergy model, Blaine, was rolled out with an SRP of $1,299, replacing the now-10-model-lines previous $1,599 entry point.
A new addition to Sealys popular Posturepedic Optimum gel memory foam line, a pillowtop model, was introduced at Market. The bed fuses Sealys proprietary OptiCool gel memory foam with heat-removing OUTLAST material to ensure a cooler sleep. The new Optimum pillowtop bed is set to retail for $3,799.
Sealy also added a new gel-infused model to its Comfort Series memory foam line. The noteworthy thing about this mattress is its $599 starting price point, making Sealy the first major bedding manufacturer to offer a gel bed in this price range, according to
the company.
Serta continued to build upon the success of its gel-infused iComfort line by expanding its second gel-based line, the iSeries, adding a $1,999 pillowtop and a $2,999 zippered-cover model. The iSeries line merges Sertas gel memory foam with the companys Duet innerspring coil.
Tempur-Pedic clearly didnt get the memo about being laid-back with intros at the summer Market, because the foam giant used the occasion to roll out an array of new products. The companys new TEMPUR-Breeze technology, designed to produce an extra-cool feel for those who feel they sleep warm, is featured in two new models. The TEMPUR-Cloud Supreme Breeze will offer an extra-soft feel and will retail for $3,499 (queen), while the TEMPUR-Rhapsody Breeze offers a medium-firm, deep feel and will retail for $3,999 (queen).
Tempur-Pedic also showed two new models in its new Weightless line: TEMPUR-Weightless Select and TEMPUR-Weightless Supreme. Both have the companys TEMPUR-Float support layer to add responsiveness and make it easier to get in and out of bed, and a TEMPUR-ES comfort layer to improve alignment and reduce pressure points. Both beds will be available beginning September 2012. The Select will retail for $2,199 and the Supreme for $2,699 (both in queen).
An addition to Tempur-Pedics Cloud collection, the TEMPUR-Cloud Select adds a stretch cover with an Ecru MicroSuede base trim, along with the companys upgraded TEMPUR Support System. Another model added to the line, the TEMPUR-Cloud Supreme Breeze, adds extra coolness through its redesigned mattress, TEMPUR-Breeze cover, and TEMPUR-ES Breeze Comfort Layer.
The company also premiered its new TEMPUR-Ergo Premier adjustable base, which offers:
¢ LCD readout providing user feedback
¢ Upgraded frame and structure
¢ Raised symbols on controls lift and massage buttons for no-look operation
¢ Upgraded massage technology optimized for use with Tempur-Pedic mattresses
¢ Free app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
Specialty sleep manufacturer Anatomic Global announced an expansion of its Adjustable Ascent collection, adding two new models, the Adjustable Ascent 4 and 5. Both have bases designed to mimic the contour of an adjustable bed frame, eliminating gaps between mattress and base. The mattresses feature 10 and 12 inches of plant-based visco memory foam. Anatomic Global will also be making its adjustable base available as a stand-alone product, starting at $1,499 in queen.
Ontario-based bedding-protection provider Caliber Sure Fit announced a new push into the U.S. market, launching its DreamSerene consumer line along with its BedCare commercial products for the B2B market. The DreamSerene collection comes in value, good, better and best product categories, and is offered in fabrics made from terry, bamboo and eucalyptus.
Comfort Solutions showed new additions to a variety of its lines at Market, including:
¢ Six new latrix-centric models in its Natural Response line, expected to retail at luxury price points. These beds include a new Gel Response gel-latex component to maximize airflow, regulate temperatures and provide pressure relief, and come with latex toppers offering soft to medium comfort feels.
¢ Two new models in its iMattress line, retailing at $2,999 and $3,499 in queen, that add layers of the companys iFusion gel form, along with its new Gel Response latex
¢ A new Laura Ashley Value Collection priced for retail promotions targeting budget-minded shoppers drawn in by the lifestyle brand. The line will feature fabric patterns and colors drawn from Laura Ashley designs.
¢Two coil-based Posture Sense beds, including a three-piece version with a reversible top for extended wear, and a new pillowed Eurotop design. Both beds have the King Koil brands Cool Cell technology combining open-cell memory foam and gel cells.
Glideaway introduced its line of all-in-one bed frames for adults, the Designer Bed Series, designed to eliminate the need for a separate frame, headboard, footboard and foundation. The line will comprise three models, the Sonoma, Bellerive, and Crestwood, and no tools will be needed to build the frames, which will be priced from $299.99 to $449.99 in queen.
The company also debuted its first gel pillow, Blue Chill, which fuses a gel layer over memory foam and will retail for $79.99; along with its Intuition by Sleepharmony collection, which adds three new models to the lines Renew and Bliss beds. The collection will range in price from $1,199 to $1,699 in queen.
Kingsdown debuted three collections at Las Vegas:
¢ Traditiona high-end line with wrapped coils, layers of cotton, wool and silk, along with a tier of gel and visco foam, retailing for $2,999 to $12,999 in queen.
¢ Selecta luxury foam line with designer euro styling priced from $2,999 to $12,999 in queen.
¢ Passiona value-priced wrapped-coil line with gel-infused visco foam on some models, selling for $799 to $1,699.
Kingsdown also unveiled its revised MySide custom-comfort line of beds, enhanced with new styling options and lower price points. The line includes foam beds with gel features, along with innerspring models. New styling options include a conventional look, a euro look with a non-quilted smooth top, and a hybrid look blending both. New pricing for the line ranges from $999 to $3,999.
E.S. Kluft announced the expansion of its airegelle collection with the new Aireloom Devereaux Hybrid series, which pairs wrapped coils with gel-infused foam. The luxury line will feature smooth-top, non-quilted euro styling. Pricing for the series ranges from $3,700 to $4,200 in queen.
The company also announced it will now offer its Aireloom beds in a new King size, measuring 7-by-7 feet and offering 20 percent more surface area than standard king beds. Aireloom King will be sold in four varieties:
¢ The Emerald retailing for $5,000 to $5,500
¢ The Debut retailing for $7,500 to $8,500
¢ The Skyview retailing for $7,500 to $8,500
¢ The Charisma retailing for $12,500 to $14,000
Also, the customizable A3 bed will now be offered for $11,000 to $12,000 with an adjustable base, or for $6,500 to $7,500 with a modular foundation.
Leggett & Platt introduced a new branding and product development initiative in adjustable beds based on extensive research its conducted in this category. This effort includes the rollout of a new Web site, LPAdjustableBases.com
Italian bedmaker Magniflex introduced three redesigned lines. The Duoform XS, Duoform XM and the recently introduced Memoform Snooze all now have a softer-feel Memoform core, as preferred by U.S. consumers.
Magniflex also showed its Memoform Snooze beds, which feature temperature-regulating Outlast covers and the companys water-expanded memory foam. The beds Dual Core design enables couples to customize its feel by zipping off the cover and flipping either of the single cores to soft or firm.
Pure Latex Bliss premiered its new ActiveFUSION Talalay latex pillows, which the company says will cool a warm sleeper and warm a cool sleeper, all in one product, by adapting to a sleepers body temperature through its ActiveFUSION technology. Pricing for the collection, available in king and queen, ranges from $129 to $149.
The company also announced its incorporating ActiveFUSION Climate Control into all of its mattresses.
Seahawk Designs showed its new Casual Elegance line of storage bed bases, which includes two modelsManhattan and Newport. Both bases, priced at $599 - $799 in queen, include the companys interchangeable platform storage system and upholstered headboards.
Spring Air International presented two gel foam lines:
¢ Back Supporter Conforma Gelan eight-model collection featuring gel memory foam that uses a zoning pattern for pressure relief. The line is expected to retail from $799 to $2,499 in queen.
¢ Back Supporter Cool DotsA gel foam line in which the foam is poured into dimples in the foam layer to provide added coolness. The beds, which have a foam-encased, wrapped-coil core, will sell for $799 in queen.
Therapedic Internationals big news at Market was its new Agility collection, which combines gel foam with microcoils to provide coolness and support. The four models, all of which come in an attention-drawing orange-tangerine color, will be priced from $1,299 to $2,499 in queen. HFB
September 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on September 2012
Why are some Web sites more successful than others? Typically its because they are designed to be user-friendly in a variety of ways. These so-called Best Practices can enable users and search engines to easily navigate a site, find what they are looking for and optimize a Web site for search engines.
Here are some proven Best Practices to consider:
1 Keep your Web site address simple
Make sure your Web site address is simple, easy to remember, and free of punctuation so customers can quickly and accurately view the site. To help in that regard and before committing to a Web address, type the URL out on a computer as it must be typed by users into a browser. You may be surprised at the outcome when all the letters run together.
2 Optimize the site for viewing by various browsers and devices
Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari are the most commonly used browsers and should be able to display a Web site layout and accommodate its functionality in the way it was designed. As the popularity of mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones continues to grow, ensure the Web site is compatible with and able to be viewed on mobile devices.
3 Be consistent
Creating a balanced, organized and easy-to-navigate site helps customers find products and information. Think of the Greeks and their view on aesthetics when updating or creating a Web site. Proportion and harmonious arrangement are always best.
4 Make sure all multimedia can be loaded and viewed by all browsers and devices
Multimedia is a great way to add interest and excitement to a Web site, but to be successful, the pictures and videos must load quickly and display properly. Also, avoid using Flash and pop-ups as these tools are often not compatible with mobile devices.
5 Be concise
The reason for a Web site is to drive in-store traffic and close sales. When writing page content, explain what you do best and what differentiates the store from the competition. The content should be concise and able to be skimmed. Try incorporating keywords and phrases into your page content. This will not only help your customers, but also help to optimize your site with search engines.
6 Use a proven color strategy
The colors you use on your Web site should evoke the same emotion that a customer would experience when walking into your store. Best Practices suggest a Web site should have a limited palette of approximately three colors that are easy on the eyes. Just remember that the colors displayed on a computer screen or mobile device are more vibrant than printed colors.
7 Be unique and stand out
Make your Web site a leading resource for consumers by utilizing current technology trends such as social media integration and mobile device optimization. Whether they are shopping for specific furniture, planning their rooms or just browsing, a site should stand out from your competition.
8 Always do maintenance
Web sites do not maintain themselves. Stay current with fresh content and layout styles. Check links regularly to ensure they work properly and refresh the homepage photography each season. Be sure the look, feel, style and care you put into a Web site mirror the effort that goes into a brick and mortar store. Just as furniture vignettes are constantly being moved and refreshed, the same maintenance should be done online.
Creating a Web site that educates customers, improves search engine rankings, and increases online and in-store sales is the ultimate goal. To get there, employ these eight Best Practices. HFB
September 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on September 2012
I attend a lot of conferences and events in my position as publisher for Home Furnishings Business. Outside of the retailers, manufacturers, three-ring binders and name tags, there is another constant at most every event.
You dont have to look far, but if there are any seminars scheduled I guarantee you one topic of discussion is social media and the Internet. Lets face it, its not going away anytime soon, and you better get on board if you havent already. If you arent participating, you are missing an opportunity.
The consumer has gotten a lot smarter, not necessarily on her own, but with the tools available online to her. In just a few clicks of a mouse, consumers can find out about a companys products from a number of places on the Web. Call me silly, but I want to have some say in the information they receive. By using your company Web site, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and whatever other platform I might have overlooked, you are the one providing information about your company and products. Tell them why you are the best retailer to do business with.
You are a local retailer and support local events. You deliver same-day, and they can be sitting on that new sofa watching the game tonight. Maybe you have lowest pricing every day and they have no need to wait for a sale.
Whatever it might be, you need to be the author of your story and the one providing information to engage your potential customers. Its much like how you would handle a customer when they walk in your doorask a few questions, provide relevant information and generate interest in an effort to close the sale. You do the same things with them online; the difference is the customer now has a key to your store 24/7. You wouldnt let someone walk in your door without acknowledging them, would you?
Social media is much the same. You need to acknowledge these customers because most expect you to have an online presence. Research has shown most consumers today review products and companies prior to ever walking in the door. If you arent online, will they walk in your door?
Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are all great ways to grab your audiences attention. Posting pictures of products is an effective way of drawing customers into your brick and mortar. Pinterest is particularly good for showcasing your best inventory and can be integrated easily with your Twitter and Facebook accounts.
What about QR codes? Are you using them with your direct mail and print advertising? Everyone with a smart phone has a QR reader in their pocket (there is an app for that). QR codes provides quick and effortless access to your companys Web site. Besides convenience to the consumer, this capability increases the chance that contact with your advertisement will convert to a sale. This format will direct your customer to your Web site and explain the benefits in doing business with youprovided you have told your story on your Web site.
Bottom line is, the world has changed, your customer is changing and your way of doing business must follow. If you are expecting different results, but not evolving well, you just need to get your head out of the sand. You dont need to be an expert; you just need to be active and engage your customer. I hope the following pages will give you a push in this direction.
September 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on September 14, 2012
Furniture retailer Rooms To Go will open its first Virginia location Saturday in the Richmond-area community of Glen Allen, Va.
In addition to its full selection of furniture, Seffner, Fla.-based Rooms To Go also exclusively offers the Cindy Crawford Home Collection, one of the country's fastest growing home furnishing brands.
The attached Rooms To Go Kids showroom has a large selection of the latest furniture for Kids and Teens, with exclusive merchandise from Disney and an exciting collection of NFL furniture that is only available at Rooms To Go Kids.
"We are thrilled to be opening in our 10th State with our first store in Virginia. We're dedicated to bringing the very best of Rooms To Go to Glen Allen and the greater Richmond community," said Jeffrey Seaman, CEO. "Our goal is to make furniture shopping easy and convenient for our guests, by offering beautiful, well made and affordable furniture either by the room or by the piece. Our commitment is to provide unparalleled service, selection, value and an amazing shopping experience every day."
Grand Opening festivities will kick off on Saturday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., where Rooms To Go executives will be joined by local business and community leaders. In addition to the formal opening, there will be drawings for amazing prizes, a live radio remote from Q94-WRVQ and fun activities for the kids. To show its support for the community, a portion of opening day sales with be donated to The Children's Museum of Richmond.
"We are so pleased to welcome Rooms To Go to Richmond," said Karen Coltrane, CEO of Children's Museum of Richmond. "Their generous gift in support of children and our non-profit organization speaks volumes about the type of company they are and their commitment to our local community."
Rooms To Go has more than 150 locations in 10 States.
September 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Motion Upholstery on September 14, 2012
Norwegian upholstered furniture vendor Sitbest will make its U.S. debut at the Oct. 13-18 High Point Furniture Market.
Sitbest, a division of Norwegian comfort seating specialist Elano AS, produces Euro-style recliners and sofas. The company has signed a five-year lease on a 3,000-square-foot showroom in the International Home Furnishing Centers Hamilton Wing, Space 507.
This marks a new direction for Sitbest and Elano, which is a well-known brand in Europe but has never done business in the U.S., said Robert Kelly, national vice president of sales for the Midwest, East and Canada. Sitbest has done its homework and has come up with a unique new product line and a logistical set-up that are perfect for America retailers.
Sitbest specializes in stationary and motion sofas, love seats, swivel recliners, swivel rockers, lift chairs and home theater seating in three grades of leather as well as polyester and microfiber covers. Recliners will retail from $999 to $2,499. Power options are available for all the swivel recliners and lift chairs. Three size options are available in each category of recliners. All recliners come with built-in footstools.
The company plans to establish a network of galleries with retail partners throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada in which retailers will show a focused display of the Sitbest product. A small gallery would contain eight to 10 Sitbest models, and a standard gallery would range from 12 to 18 SKUs, according to Kelly.
He added that Sitbest is targeting Top 100 retailers as well as strong mid-sized stores with its new line, particularly merchants who understand the power of customization.
Our business model is to provide a combination of quick-ship limited choice, with a fast and full customized choice from Europe, from the as you like it custom recliner and sofa line, said Kelly. Were focusing on an exclusive distribution gallery presentations because we want consumers to be able to see the wide range of choices we offer.
According to Mark Parris, national vice president of sales for Sitbest in the South and West, todays retailers are looking to expand and add programs with special-order capability in order to reduce excess inventory and increase cash flow. Sitbest offers an array of options and covers as well as timely delivery without the hassle or need for container buying.
Sitbest produces its line in Poland on a just-in-time basis, so customers can order the exact style, size, recliner options, fabric and finish they desire, said Kelly. That ability to customize is very important element in todays marketplace, and we back it up with consistent, quick-ship service.
Sitbest will support its quick-ship program by providing delivery to gallery retailers within six to eight weeks from the Poland facility. In addition, the company will maintain inventory of best sellers at a Massood Logistics warehouse in Eden, N.C., delivering within two weeks or less.
We are thrilled that Sitbest has made the commitment to be part of the worlds leading home furnishings market, said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers, about the new initiative. Their decision to debut their new U.S. line in High Point demonstrates the important role the market plays in helping new companies establish a presence in North America--and the world.
To build interest in its new line heading into market, Sitbest has deployed two vans with half-dozen or so products onboard to travel to retailers in major markets in the U.S. and Canada. The visits have generated a fabulous reaction so far, said Kelly, and were expecting to have a very good High Point Market.
Anders Brunstad and co-owner Fridtjof Fredriksen both will be in the companys showroom during market to meet with retailers, Kelly said.