Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on August 31, 2012
Home Furnishings retailer City Furniture is unveiling a new series of commercials for its South Florida market just in time for the Labor Day weekend.
In developing the campaign, the retailer looked at the market from a global perspective.
"We analyzed world trends and studied how people interact with their surroundings and found that home was more than just product and price, it was the universal center of family life," said Mike Lennon, senior vice president of marketing at City Furniture.
"Instead of focusing on numbers and a purely analytical approach, we wanted our new campaign to embrace multiculturalism, environmentalism and a deeper understanding of how families relate to their homes and each other." said Vanessa Northrop, marketing director.
The five-spot campaign is the culmination of several years of some deep soul searching by the marketing team at City Furniture and a new collaboration with Tinsley Advertising.
The first spot is called "Habitat" and highlights the diversity of architectural styles and unique interiors that make up the South Florida lifestyle. The second spot called "Build a life" shows how furniture becomes part of your family and is intertwined with our lives. The next three spots "Green", "Community", and "Make it good" show sides of City Furniture that most people have never seen.
The ads can be seen online.
The campaign has a mellow vibe with soft focus and original, acoustic music. This is in stark contrast to the hard sell environment that furniture is often sold in.
"We're asking people to let us into their homes instead of breaking down the door," Lennon said. "Our goal is to connect people and families to their community and the environment, and to let our customers know that we have the most tasteful designs and the best values for the kind of life they actually lead."
The spots will run in rotation with promotional commercials that will highlight great values on well-made furniture.
August 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 31, 2012
Home furnishings retailer Room & Board has joined the Minnesotans United for All Families coalition in opposing Minnesota's marriage amendment.
"Room & Board is dedicated to helping customers create homes they love," the retailer wrote in a press release. "We recognize that the joy found in one's home extends far beyond our surroundings to the people with whom we spend our lives. To that end, we have long supported efforts dedicated to strengthening home and family. We oppose the amendment to the Minnesota Constitution banning marriage for same-sex couples."
The release went on to say that the company celebrates diversity daily.
"We take pride in providing a progressive, balanced and positive work environment that is based on trust, fairness and respect," the release said. "This core philosophy shapes the relationships we have with our customers, vendor partners and employees."
The company, which operates 14 stores, points out that it has offered domestic partnership benefits for its employees and their families for nearly 20 years.
The proposed amendment is on the state's ballot in November.
August 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on August 31, 2012
Toronto-based case goods and upholstery source Gus Design Group is moving to a larger showroom for the upcoming High Point Market.
The company's new 2,061-square-foot showroom is located in the International Home Furnishings Center, space H512. It is located near the previous Gus showroom in the Design Center, which was about 1,300 square feet.
"We needed additional space so that we could show all the exciting new designs in our growing collection," said Jon Isaak, marketing director. "The IHFC is a hub of activity that's easy to shop with a steady stream of traffic. Over the years, our showroom has become a must-see destination for retailers, designers and other buyers looking for fresh, modern design."
At market, Gus Design will enter the bedroom category for the first time with the introduction of two upholstered beds. The first model - the Gardiner bed - is a simple, geometric design. The second - the Carmichael - is a transitional design with turned walnut legs and a wing-shape treatment on the headboard.
Both beds are made using 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods. The beds are offered in select fabrics as part of the company's in-stock program. Fabrics will include a cotton cover with nautical-inspired piping details; a billiard table-like recycled wool cover with contrast piping; and several menswear patterns.
"This is a very succinct, well-edited collection," said Amanda Schuler, cofounder of the company with husband David Podsiadlo and business partner Matt Parass. "We've been working on this addition for several years to make sure we got these beds just right."
The new line makes Gus Design Group "a whole home source," with products in every key category, added Isaak.
In addition to the new beds, Gus Design Group also is expanding its accent table line with the new Hull cocktail table. In solid ash with a powder-coated metal base, the piece has a "beautifully sculpted shape" that is similar to that of a guitar pick, Schuler said. "It's very smooth and organic-looking and we expect it to be a hit."
Building on a successful introduction of the rich, blue-toned Muskoka surf fabric introduced in April, Gus Design Group also is adding a new cover in a bright yellow tone called Laurentian Citrine this market that will be featured on its popular Carmichael loft sofa, the GT rocker and the Jasper cube ottoman.
"We're known for our muted gray palettes, but these bright new colors have generated a very positive response," said Schuler.
Introduced in 2002, Gus Design Group's line includes sofas, sofa-sleepers, sectionals, ottomans, accent tables, dining tables and chairs, storage pieces, lighting and accessories. Gus Design creates original designs "inspired by the great modernists of yesterday that mix the elegant with the industrial," Schuler said.
August 29,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 30, 2012
Specialty home retailer Pier 1 Imports reported sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 25 of $368 million, a 8.3 percent increase from the sales of $340 million in the same quarter last year.
Same-store sales climbed 6.7 percent compared to an increase of 10.8 percent for the second quarter last year.
Total sales for the first six months increased to $729 million from $674 million for the same period last year. Merchandise margins for the second quarter are expected to be approximately 60.1 percent of sales, up from last year's second quarter merchandise margins of 59.4 percent of sales.
Gross profit is expected to be about 41.2 percent of sales for the second quarter versus 39.6 percent of sales for the second quarter of last year.
"We are very pleased with our profitable sales growth this quarter, which reflects strong execution across all aspects of the organization," said Alex Smith, president and CEO. "Our stores have transitioned from summer to fall and customers have responded favorably to our new assortments."
The retailer will host a conference call Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. Central time to discuss its complete second quarter financial results.
August 29,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on August 30, 2012
Australian upholstered furniture manufacturer Moran Furniture will make its U.S. debut at the Oct. 13-18 High Furniture Point Market.
The company, which will show in a 3,500-square-foot showroom, space 648 of the International Home Furnishings Center's Wrenn wing, is kicking off a major push into the North and South American markets with its first showing in High Point, said John Byrne, who heads the companys U.S. operations.
Moran is very well known in Australia, as well as New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and has been a household name for more than 50 years, said Byrne. Moran is a major supplier to upscale Australian department stores David Jones and Myer.
Weve also done quite a bit of OEM work in Europe over the years, and some in the United States, and after a lengthy study of the market weve decided the time is right to further expand in the Americas, Byrne said.
In High Point, Moran, whose slogan is "Relax, it's a Moran," will showcase high-quality classic traditional and modern styles priced in the upper-medium range. The line includes leather and fabric stationary upholstery, sofa-sleepers, recliners, barstools and upholstered beds. Among the items Moran will be featuring in High Point is the Active Comfort Chair, a popular Euro-style recliner.
The made-to-order lines features include eight-way, hand-tied springs; spring cell seat cushions; body- correct lumbar support; kiln-dried, close-grain hardwood timber; and premium leathers and fabrics. Moran is known for its luxurious leathers sourced directly from leading tanneries.
We are thrilled that Moran has chosen High Point--the worlds leading home furnishings market as the launching pad for its expansion in North and South America, said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers, parent company of the IHFC.
As in Australia and Asia, Moran is targeting retail channels of distribution as well as the hospitality industry with its new sales effort in the Americas; and is setting up a network of independent sales representatives here to promote the line.
Moran Furniture was founded more than 50 years ago by the late John Moran. During his long career, Moran made Moran Furniture a household name by focusing on quality, style, service and value. Today, hundreds of thousands of Australians live with a piece of Moran furniture in their home.
Our long-term plan is to become an iconic global brand and be as significant here as we are in Australia and Asia, Byrne said.
Moran has production facilities in Melbourne, Australia; and Shanghai, China. It will offer North and South American customers direct-container service from both facilities. Smaller quantities of product will be available through a cross-dock facility in North Carolina.
Moran is known for listening to its partners, incorporating ideas derived from our active interchange with retailers, architects, designers and consumers, said Byrne. As part of the companys planning effort for its U.S. push, he added, it brought over a group of American retailers to its factory in Shanghai for a series of face-to-face meetings.