Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on August 20, 2012
The Furniture Buying Index held steady this month at a reading of 70, according to America's Research Group.
"Job insecurity is a major factor in preventing the Index from rising this month," said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group. "Consumers are concerned about the security of their job, as well as their personal financial situation as many have experienced little or no salary increases and/or bonuses. Parents are also focusing on back-to-school purchases which are taking priority over other items this month."
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America's Research Group from interviews with between 5,000 and 8,000 consumers across the country. In a typical month, 80 percent of the consumers interviewed can name a specific furniture item they intend to buy. The Index's mark signifies what percent of the benchmark 80 percent actually have a particular item in mind.
August 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 20, 2012
The October issue of Home Furnishings Business is our Annual Retail Look Book issue that features great ideas and retail strategies from home furnishings retailers.
The editors are currently collecting stories and pictures about retailers that show off great retail strategies. If your store does an exceptional job in merchandising, we want to hear about it. If your store has an amazing advertising strategy, we want to hear about it. If your store is exceptional in human resources, we want to know. If your team does an amazing amount of custom orders, we want to know. Anything you would post in your company's brag book, we want to hear about it and share with our readers.
If you're an industry vendor and know of a retailer that should participate, forward along this information and encourage them to participate.
It's super-easy to participate. Simply e-mail us a short write up - 350 to 450 words - on what makes your retail operation exceptional, attach three or four high-resolution pictures and hit the send button by Wednesday, Sept. 10. If we have questions, we'll follow up.
Send those e-mails to Sheila Long O'Mara and Powell Slaughter.
August 16,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 17, 2012
La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB) is exploring options to build a new world Headquarters building in Monroe, Mich., its hometown since its founding by two young cousins in 1927.
The project, if sited in Monroe, would result in the development of a landmark office campus and would retain the company's approximately 500 headquarters employees in the Monroe community and surrounding area. Contingent upon approval of state and local incentives, the company is focused on a land purchase agreement with the Sisters of the Monroe-based Immaculate Heart of Mary order. The proposed concept would involve the acquisition and development of a significant tract of land currently on IHM's Monroe campus.
Both La-Z-Boy and IHM have a tremendous commitment and connection to the community of Monroe, and both are interested in keeping and growing jobs in the Monroe area. In addition, with IHM's intense belief that a sustainable way of life means that the needs of the present are met without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs, they see a strong synergy with LaZBoy, a company firmly committed to sustainable practices across all aspects of its business, from manufacturing to retail. Not only is La-Z-Boy committed to developing a LEED-certified building utilizing recognized sustainable building practices, but the company also hopes to preserve a significant amount of green space on its campus, including the maintenance of an endangered oak savannah eco system, with the assistance of Monroe County and others. In addition, revenue from this agreement would enable IHM to continue the development of their campus as a learning lab for sustainable living, as well as to sustain the mission and assist with the congregation's retirement needs.
La-Z-Boy Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Kurt L. Darrow said, "The World Headquarters project is the start of an exciting new chapter for La-Z-Boy, and we are enthused about our potential purchase agreement with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and with the possibility of staying in Monroe."
"The IHM community began right here in Monroe, Michigan, in 1845. Two visionary and action-oriented personalities, Father Louis Gillet and Sister Theresa Maxis, responding to the need to educate young immigrants, especially young women, undertook that initiative and established the IHM community," said Sister Janet Ryan of IHM. "The pioneering, risk-taking legacy of their founders lives on in our ministries today. The La-Z-Boy project will demonstrate that sustainability incorporates economic, social and environmental and spiritual values. That is why this project is so appealing to IHM."
If the La-Z-Boy World Headquarters is placed in Monroe, the new facility would allow La-Z-Boy to continue to grow in Michigan and has the potential to be visited by customers, suppliers and other visitors from around the world. The future of the company's existing headquarters building has not been determined, but the company would seek options for redeveloping the facility and grounds in a way that would be beneficial to the community.
"This project would be a large undertaking for La-Z-Boy and will only be feasible in Michigan with financial support and assistance from the State of Michigan, Monroe County, the City of Monroe, Frenchtown Township, and others," Darrow added.
The company has begun discussions with these groups about economic incentives, re-zoning and permitting, and pending the necessary approvals and support by these groups, the company hopes to make a final decision about the new facility by the end of the year. The company has considered a number of potential options for the relocation of its headquarters, and has narrowed those choices to Monroe, Michigan as well as other sites in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. The company is currently assessing the feasibility, cost and timetable of each option.
August 16,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 17, 2012
Solid wood furniture manufacturer Thos. Moser has expanded the scope of its Maine showrooms.
The companys Auburn, Maine, headquarters has been converted to function as both workshop and showroom, with experiential elements such as shop tours and new product previews. Previously, the facility only encompassed the operating arm of the business and the 90,000-square-foot workshop where Thos. Moser furniture is designed and constructed. Now, existing lobby space has been transformed to a 1,443-square-foot showroom. Visitors to the showroom can tour the shop, offered twice daily, to see the woodworking process in action.
The Auburn Shop & Showroom will eventually house a Thos. Moser design museum which will exhibit furniture collections and pieces that chronicle the companys 40 year history. The Auburn Shop & Showroom is located at 72 Wrights Landing and is open to the public Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with shop tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The flagship showroom in Freeport, a 5,500-square-foot storefront that opened in 1998, has also changed, becoming the Thos. Moser Freeport Showroom and Outlet. While the space still exists for customers to work with the Thos. Moser team and place orders, visitors can now purchase select items on a cash and carry basis, most at reduced prices. The Freeport Showroom and Outlet is located at 159 Main Street and is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Thos. Moser continues to experience positive changes as we move to the next decade of designing fine wood furniture, said Christine Parish, senior vice president of sales & marketing. Expanding the scope of our Maine showrooms allows us to serve our customers in different ways while creating new opportunities to continue to tell the Moser story.
August 16,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on August 17, 2012
Online home furnishings and interior design resource Altogether Home has launched an all-new Web site.
The re-branded site is easier to use than ever before, designed to enhance the browsing and buying experience, while providing visitors with stylish inspiration for their own home designs.
Altogether Home, based in New York, is a furniture and accessories retailer that helps people decorate with confidence by offering a catalog of world-class products along with inspiration and advice for real-world interior design. Trendsetter and design expert Marc Thee is collaborating with a team of expert interior designers to curate and design high-quality furniture and accessories with real-world style.
Thee is the founder of Marc-Michaels Interior Design and has more than 25 years of experience in high-end interior decoration. In 2012, Interior Design magazine named Marc-Michaels the Number 1 residential design firm in the United States. Soon, Altogether Home will be the exclusive retailer for the Marc Thee Home Collection, available to the public through the new Altogether Home online store beginning in Fall 2012.
The revitalized Altogether Home website has two new browsing formats: Visitors can now shop for stylish furniture either "By Room" or "By Category. The Shop By Room feature seamlessly assembles all of the relevant furniture and home décor items that are appropriate for the users room of choice: living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, or home office. Alternatively, the Shop by Category feature brings related items together under the following banners: furniture, lighting, dining and entertaining, bed & bath, home collections, home décor, and sale items. With either function, every selection is fully sortable and accompanied by a helpful sidebar to facilitate more specific shopping.
Enhanced product detail screens present every item in the Altogether Home store with greater depth of detail. Home furniture shoppers will easily find the dimensions, materials, finish types, and prices for all products, which are now accompanied by brand-new descriptions that reveal how each piece can accentuate various styles of interior home design. All of the product images have been increased in size and also feature new zoom functionality. Many are accompanied by a gallery of alternate images as well.
A reader-friendly interior design inspiration blog, "Haven," is written by experts in interior design such as Marc Thee and style guru, Andrea Hurt. An all-purpose lifestyle blog, Haven goes far beyond home furnishings, incorporating fashion, food and travel. Professional decorators share their perspective on how interior design furniture can rejuvenate anyones home living. Unlike typical retail blogs, Altogether Home supplies fresh, new content all the time - the kind that readers will want to revisit daily for fresh inspiration.
The all-new Haven portal at AltogetherHome.com also allows any visitor to ask for free interior design advice about their own room designs. The Haven style team responds promptly and privately to every question submitted, and there is no cost or purchase obligation.
The upgraded online store also provides an easier, more user-friendly transaction from beginning to end. Every customer now has access to a user-specific account management system, which allows shoppers to track their orders, store multiple addresses, contact customer service, and much more. The new site is also equipped with the latest technology for making secured payments.
Altogether Home and the Haven team have lined up a more new content for the remainder of 2012 and beyond. In-depth "How-To Guides" will be available for free download on a regular basis, guiding readers toward more fabulous home living. Additionally, Haven will present before and after galleries and a brand-new feature called One Room, Three Ways," showcasing the creative versatility inherent in interior design. Altogether Home is also the exclusive provider of the Marc Thee Home Collection, which will be available beginning in Fall 2012.
We started Altogether Home because were passionate about style, design and helping people decorate with confidence, says Hurt. This newly rebranded website lets us inspire our visitors with stunning interior design inspiration and furnishings, and we get to do that in a truly personal way. That means a lot to me and to all of us here at Altogether Home.