Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 22,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 23, 2012
Joseph Peterson has joined luxury mattress brand Pure LatexBliss to lead sales for the company in the northwestern United States.
Peterson, a 15-year industry veteran, most recently served as key account manager at International Bedding Corp., where he was responsible for training and managing associates across California. Recognized by IBC as the top specialty bedding sales person in 2010, Peterson is credited with growing his territory by 500 percent in three years, with half of that growth coming from signing new dealers. Peterson first got his start in the industry in 1998 as a customer service and key account manager at Serta.
As we continue to expand nationally, we need strong leadership at a regional level to support our growth, said Atlanta-based Pure LatexBliss Co-Founder and CEO Kurt Ling. In addition to his in depth understanding of our industry, Joseph is a proven leader with a broad base of customer relationships and a long history of sales success, driving high performance results. His key account sales experience is going to be a tremendous asset for Pure LatexBliss as we build our brand in the northwest.
Peterson received his bachelors of arts degree in communications from the University of Utah. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT with his family.
August 22,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 23, 2012
Boyd Specialty Sleep has appointed Jeremy Kates to the newly created position of director of internet operations.
In his new post Kates manages all of the producers online functions and multiple Web sites, focusing on strategies that will create a strong presence both for the Boyd name and for each of the companys product brands.
More than 50 percent of consumers consult the internet before making a purchase, said Dennis Boyd, president of St. Louis-based Boyd Specialty Sleep, and our objective is to effectively reach them with our brand messaging before they begin the shopping process.
Boyds current domain portfolio involves as many as six Web sites, including boydlatexmattresses.com, boydairbeds.com, boydmemoryfoammattresses.com and boydaccentbedroomfurniturestore.com.
In managing our entire IT initiative, Boyd added, Jeremy will refine our current platforms and develop new ways to leverage online technologies to drive our business.
Before joining Boyd, Kates had worked since 2010 as a marketing director for Web2Carz.com, a Chicago-based automotive site dedicated to matching consumers with new and used cars, car insurance companies and auto financing firms.
Before that, he founded and headed jfknet Inc., a digital marketing consultancy, for 14 years.
Kates, who reports to Boyd, recently relocated from the Chicago suburbs to the St. Louis area.
August 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 22, 2012
Upholstered furniture manufacturer Marshfield Furniture, Marshfield, Wis., has appointed Marc Levy chief operating officer.
Levy has been with the company for 12 years and also has seven years of manufacturing and sales management experience with Noritage Furniture; and seven years with Schweiger Industries.
"Marc's 26 years in manufacturing and sales management, plus 20 years in retail give him a balance to meet the needs of both our retail customers and our company," said William Mork, president and owner of the company. "His knowledge, work ethic and loyalty make him a trusted and valued leader. This appointment as COO is recognition of the role in which he has been performing for some time. This is earned and deserved."
Marshfield Furniture has committed its resources and energy to being an important "Made in the U.S.A." manufacturer. This is one of numerous initiatives to transition for present and future growth and brand identification.
Marshfield has won numerous state and national awards for its quality, customer service and product creativity.
"We believe that creativity, consistency, quality and customer service trump lower price," said Levy. "I am pleased to have such an important leadership role. I value the stewardship entrusted to me."
August 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 22, 2012
Bedding producer Kingsdown Inc. has promoted Michael Carter to director of quality systems.
Carter is responsible for Mebane, N.C.-based Kingsdowns Total Quality Management program. Implemented in 2007, the program aims to refine the standardization among all Kingsdown plants and the scope will now be expanded to better integrate the sales and marketing departments into a single quality system.
Were adding several new initiatives with a heavy emphasis on product development. At the same time, were streamlining the reporting structure to eliminate red tape and improve communication among the divisions at Kingsdown, said Vice President of Manufacturing John Farnham. Michael will focus on all aspects of the program with the help of a cross-functional support team. Our goal is a leaner program with 100% involvement from all employees.
Carter has risen through the ranks since joining Kingsdown in 1998. Most recently he served as international operations manager, working directly with licensees around the world to train them on the correct quality and construction methods required by the company. Carter will maintain his international responsibilities, but will now oversee the quality system at Kingsdowns domestic facilities as well. Previously, he led manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom, prior to that he ran the research and development division in Mebane. He also served as assistant plant manager in Lakeland, Fla.; and began his career at Kingsdown as a production line coordinator in Winchester, Va.
Michael has a tremendous understanding of operations and quality control, and hell be an excellent liaison among our facilities, said Kingsdown President and CEO Frank Hood. In fact, Michael has worked in more Kingsdown facilities than almost any other manager, making him the ideal person to keep all our plants operating in unison. He has already excelled in this role on an international level and we believe he can only strengthen our operations in the U.S.
August 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on August 22, 2012
Yue Dai from the Industrial Design Department at Purdue University has won the popular vote in Groovystuff's Design Challenge at Las Vegas Furniture Market.
Dai competed against 17 other Industrial Design students at Purdue University, under the leadership of Professor Laura Drake, to design an environmentally friendly lighting product that reflects the Dick Idol brand audience, and can be produced using sustainable manufacturing practices.
Students produced miniature models and product display boards for market attendees to vote on. "RiSe" by Yue Dai was voted "most versatile and most likely to show a profit" by retailers, interior designers and trade professionals attending the Las Vegas market.
According to Dai, the "RiSe" table lamp is a growing-looking wall lamp that can fit both inside and outside of an entrance. The design is based on a half wagon wheel, the aligned curvy teak spread out, emulating the rising sun. Without taking too much space, "'RiSe' decorates your wall or table with its vivacious look, and creates a warm and lively atmosphere for your home," she said. "I'm so exciting that my design was chosen as the popular vote winner. I'm very happy that my 'RiSe won approval of professionals."
Dai will receive a $250 cash prize for her popular vote design, and will be one of the finalists at the Jan. 28-Feb. 1 Las Vegas Furniture Market, where she will compete with the other popular vote designs from Purdue University for the grand prize to the Groovystuff Challenge: $500 cash, inclusion in the celebrity endorsed Dick Idol Legends brand of home furnishings, and permanent royalties for life.
For the High Point Furniture Market, Groovystuff and co-sponsor International Market Centers are helping to broaden the educational outreach of university programs across the country by giving them real world market experience in "The University Hall of Innovation and Job Creation," and a platform to build on their association with the industry prior to graduation.
Founded in 1998 by Chris Bruning, Dallas-based Groovystuff designs, produces, and distributes unique reclaimed teakwood home furnishings at upper-medium and high-end price points.