Daily News Archive
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April 30,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 1, 2013
The Specialty Sleep Assn. is taking public comment from mattress/bedding vendors, retailers and the public on revisions to its Environmental & Safety Program.
A comment form is available here, and comments are due by 5 p.m. (eastern time) on Friday, May 31.
The SSAs Environmental & Safety Program was created in 2010 to help manufacturers to offer transparency/truth in "green" marketing to consumers, and to comply with the Federal Trade Commissions requirements for environmental marketing as outlined in its Green Guides.
In May 2009, we realized that we did not have a level playing field for manufacturers wishing to market products with well-researched environmental claims, said Dale Read, president of the SSA. Most of the mistakes the industry makes when marketing environmental benefits are due to a lack of understanding of the true definitions of the environmental terminology, as well as a lack of knowledge of third-party certifications and regulations that exist to substantiate these claims.
The SSA's Green Initiative, launched in the summer of 2010, resulted in the creation of a Glossary of Terms Frequently Used in Environmental Marketing and the three-tiered Seal/Tag marketing program recognizing manufacturers that are taking steps to bring a more transparent product to consumers.
The SSA Green Initiative Board made a commitment to updating the program on a regular basis," said Vicki Worden, president of Worden Associates and sustainability consultant to SSA. "The changes in this round of updates include the addition of a Level IV recognizing finished mattresses that are third-party certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard. Additional third-party certification programs have also been added to Levels II, III and IV. The Seals and Tags (the flip side) detail the compliance Levels and complement the Consumer Disclosure Label that is also required to provide greater transparency to consumers.
Overall, the program provides transparency to consumers plus a format for manufacturers to follow to help ensure their claims are substantiated, Read added.
The proposed changes to the program can be reviewed here. Public comments can be submitted by completing this form.
April 30,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on May 1, 2013
Lifestyle home furnishings vendor Abbyson Living has partnered with Family-to-Family to aid families devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Abbyson Living reached out to Family-to-Family--a non-profit national hunger and poverty relief organization dedicated to creating a bridge between impoverished communities and those that can afford to give--in the aftermath of the storm that struck the East Coast last fall to support families in need.
Family-to-Family connected Abbyson Living with families living in a low-income housing project in the hard-hit area of Far Rockaway, N.Y. Several families received a new leather sectional couch from Abbyson Living.
"The essence and mission of Family-to-Family is facilitating one-on-one connections--linking those in need with those who want to help by 'sharing their bounty,'" said Pam Koner, founder and executive director of Family-toFamily. "It was a natural fit to match Abbyson, a company whose furniture pieces can essentially make a home, with specific families whose houses were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Through their furniture donations, Abbyson was able to help these families renew that feeling of home."
The American Red Cross commended Abbyson Living for its aid efforts.
Red Cross is very thankful for its partnership with Abbyson Living at all levels, said Jim McGee, CEO of the American Red Cross Central Coast Region. "Their commitment to Superstorm Sandy disaster relief was significant, and we are so appreciative of their day-to-day support of the life-saving mission of the American Red Cross in Ventura County."
April 30,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on May 1, 2013
Roche Bobois has opened a new, 6,000-square-foot furniture showroom in North Palm Beach, Fla.
The corporate-owned showroom is Roche Bobois' only Palm Beach County location and its second showroom in Florida, joining Coral Gables which opened in 1997.
"With more than 250 locations worldwide, Roche Bobois is a Paris-based company synonymous with fine, European-made furniture, design and distribution," said Julien Bigan, general manager for Roche Bobois in the Southeast. "Hiring the local French café, Paris In Town, was a perfect fit, and we were glad to give our business to a restaurant in the neighborhood."
At a recent open house, guests mingled inside the showroom, which is now open to consumers, interior designers, architects and specifiers. The contemporary setting blends with some "aged" wall and ceiling décor, resulting in a dramatic effect. Within the newly renovated, eco-friendly space, Roche Bobois showcases a display of products from its exclusive Les Contemporains and Les Nouveaux Classiques furniture collections.
Producing its own exclusive furniture and accessories for the home, the Roche Bobois Paris brand was born in 1961 after the merger of two French family businesses. Twenty-four of the company's 250 retail locations in 45 countries are located in the U.S.
April 30,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on May 1, 2013
Lysanne Pepin, the artist, designer and business maverick behind the boutique Espace Pepin will create a pop up store at the upcoming SIDIM show in Montreal.
Partnering with her brother, Pepin's pop up store will be inspired by pop art and will be showcased May 23-26.
"I wanted to take the funkiest patterns from the '60s and make them my own by blowing them up and mixing them with the current trends," Pepin said.
Within the pop up store, fashion aficionados will be able to find curated pieces from their favorite brands and exclusives from the store. Supported by her brother, photographer and self-proclaimed techie, Pepin launched a Facebook contest for the occasion. Visitors will be invited to dress up in get-ups from Montreal-based designers Melissa Nepton and Martin Lim and strike a pose in their a Pepin Pop Art backdrop.
The photos will be posted on Facebook and the contestant with the most votes will have the chance to win their outfits.
April 30,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on May 1, 2013
Zuo Modern has signed a five-year lease for showroom space at the Tupelo Furniture Market.
The space at the Tupelo market is almost 3,000 square feet and will feature Zuos promotional product and its bar stools.
In addition to the Tupelo space, the company has showrooms in Las Vegas, High Point, Chicago and Miami.
"We had walked the Tupelo show for two years and we see the growing market opportunity," said Luis Ruesga.