Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 15,
2008 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2008
Swedish home furnishings retail giant Ikea will market this summer’s movie release from Universal Pictures, “Mamma Mia!”, which features the songs of Swedish pop band ABBA, according to a report in
Advertising Age. ABBA took the world by storm back in the ’70s with tunes such as “Waterloo” and “S.O.S.” The movie is based on the hit stage musical of the same name.
Ikea has 35 U.S. stores in 19 states, and its 50 million U.S. shoppers spend an average of at least two hours in the store, and drive, on average, at least half an hour to get there, Bill Agee, marketing manager of Ikea’s U.S. operations, told
Advertising Age.
“We’re always looking to add entertainment value to the Ikea experience,” he said, “because to visit Ikea is often a long drive, so we need to keep the store experience vital, especially since they have to drive by competitors on the way to Ikea. ... Given the Swedish heritage of the film, it made sense.”
Ikea locations will feature in-store trailers promoting the film, and will host ABBA sing-alongs on four different weekends in June and July. In addition, almost 1,000 customers have applied to be part of a Rev. Moon-like mass wedding of 20 couples on July 17 at Ikea’s Burbank, Calif., location, in what the store calls its “Ikea ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ Want to Get Married at the Mamma Mia! Wedding Event Couples Search.”
June 15,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on June 2008
Monday is the deadline for early registration discounts for WithIT’s Education Conference, set for August 12–14 at the Renaissance Suites Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.
Today is the last chance attendees can qualify for lower prices on registration fees and qualify for a chance to win an iPod Touch at a drawing during the conference.
To reserve a room, call (704) 357-1414, or click
here and use conference code “withit” to receive a room discount.
June 12,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on June 2008
The 17th annual West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament raised $550,000 for City of Hope earlier this month.
More than 330 furniture industry members took part in the tournament at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club. After the day of play, more than 500 guests honored the philanthropic work and professional achievements of Bob Lawrence, chief executive officer of Brand Source, at a reception and dinner.
“This recognition is both humbling and inspiring,” said Lawrence of his Lifetime Achievement award. “But seeing our industry continue its long-standing support of City of Hope’s efforts to move discoveries quickly into better treatments is truly remarkable. I’m proud to be a part of our ongoing commitment to bring hope to cancer patients everywhere.”
Since its inception, the West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament has garnered more than $4.5 million for the institution.
Created more than 40 years ago by a group of industry leaders who wanted to help fund the search for a cure for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, City of Hope’s National Home Furnishings Industry chapter has grown to include representatives from all facets of the industry including retail, manufacturing and publishing. To date, the group has raised more than $40 million for City of Hope.
June 12,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on June 2008
The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) will unveil its 15,000-square-foot permanent showroom in Building C at the World Market Center (WMC) at the Las Vegas Market next month.
The association’s theme, “The Future of Sleep,” will be reflected by the companies and products exhibiting in this space.
“Specialty sleep is the fastest growing segment of the bedding industry,” said Dale Read, association president. “With consumer and retail acceptance on the rise, we jumped at the opportunity to better showcase and promote our members’ products to retail buyers.”
Read said the showroom will bring the latest bedding technology “under one roof.”
“It feels like Disneyland for bedding with everything from memory foam, latex, air and gel to water, adjustable, natural and organic bedding products all at one site,” he said.
June 12,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on June 2008
Carlo Armenise has joined Kalco Lighting as president.
Prior to joining Kalco, Armenise was vice president/general manager of retail for Mikasa’s chain of retail outlets. Previously, he held positions as executive vice president of retail and consumer direct for handbag and accessories producer The Sak, senior vice president of sales and operations for Ulta Salons and Cosmetics in Chicago, and vice president and chief operating officer of The North Face.
He started his career in sales and marketing with Gucci America and Coach Leatherwear.
Based in Las Vegas, Kalco is a supplier of lighting and operates facilities in the U.S. and the Philippines.
June 12,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2008
Crate and Barrel and DonorsChoose.org have received the Silver Halo Award from the Cause Marketing Forum for a program that has provided more than $700,000 to public school classrooms since 2006.
The award, the highest honor in cause marketing, recognizes a program created by DonorsChoose.org that enables individuals to fund classroom projects submitted online by public school teachers. Chicago-based Crate and Barrel, which operates 160 stores, distributed more than 128,000 DonorsChoose.org Giving Cards to its customers as a thank-you for their business, and those cards were used online to help more than 400,000 students.
According to the Crate and Barrel announcement Thursday, the company found that customers spend more at Crate and Barrel following a DonorsChoose.org experience, and see the company as more community-minded than before.
“The positive responses from our customers have been tremendous, and we are excited to continue our partnership with DonorsChoose.org,” said Crate and Barrel CEO Barbara Turf, who said the company will continue the program in 2008.
June 12,
2008 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 2008
Restoration Hardware shareholders overwhelmingly approved the sale of the 110-store chain to a private equity firm, Catterton Partners, for $4.50 per share Thursday.
“We are pleased with the outcome of today’s vote and appreciate the strong support demonstrated by our shareholders,” said President and CEO Gary Friedman in a news release that also said 99 percent of votes cast favored the buyout.
The deal is expected to close next week. The company, which operates 100 stores and 10 outlets, rebufffed an offer from Sears Holdings—at $4.55 per share—with Restoration Hardware officials saying the Sears offer was subject to more uncertainties than Catterton’s proposal.
The retailer, which posted a $19.8 million loss in its most recent quarter, has annual sales of $722 million. Its shares have ranged from $2.56 to $7.30 over the past year.
On Thursday, Restoration Hardware officials said the company had agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit for $3.7 million. Raymond Hemming, chairman of the board’s independent committee, said the legal action was without merit, but the company settled to clear the way for the merger that provides a “substantial premium” to shareholders.