August 8,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on August 9, 2012
Home furnishings and gift retailer The Bombay Co. will launch a new e-commerce Web site this fall.
The site, which goes live in mid-September, will offer a range of New York-based Bombays signature pieces, including furniture, accents and décor, gifts, textiles, seasonal and holiday items. The collection will include both best-selling Bombay archival pieces, in addition to a number of fresh designs, all embodying the brands dedication to stylish design and leading craftsmanship. Featuring more than 200 pieces, the collection will range in price from approximately $20 for accessories to $1,500 for furniture pieces.
The passion for Bombay is alive and well. When communicating with our loyal customers and fans, we realized there is tremendous interest in Bombay expanding its offerings in a lifestyle format by re-opening Bombays e-shop, said Wil Hollands, president of Hermes-Otto International USA and owner of The Bombay Co. brand. For over three decades, we have brought our customers an eclectic assortment of classic home décor and accents pieces embodying value luxury, stylish design and time-tested quality. As we expand our business model, we are pleased to roll out this new consumer-facing Web site to offer our dedicated customers what they have been so kindly requesting, easier access to their favorite Bombay pieces, and now with our new Web shop--they will have access 24/7--from the comfort of their homes.
The new Web site offers customers the convenience of online shopping with unique functionality features, as well as fostering a sense of community through social media. To check-out, customers will have the option to either register an account or checkout as a guest.
Now through the launch in mid-September, consumers can visit bombaycompany.com and sign-up with an e-mail address to receive updates and a special offer when the site goes live.
August 8,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on August 9, 2012
Italian furniture manufacturer Selva recently has opened two showrooms in China--Shanghai and Wuxi in Jiangsu province.
The company has already been represented since 2009 with a showroom at Derlook in Suzhou, as well as at other sales outlets.
With the new showrooms, we want to secure our position and our good relationships in a rapidly growing market that is important to us, and along with our on-site partners, we wish to stimulate the desire for our brand, said Selva CEO Philipp Selva.
Katia Hurga, Selva's regional manager for Asia, added: "China is a country with enormous growth that has tremendous purchasing power as well as an affinity toward top-quality design. The store in Suzhou demonstrates the great popularity that our furniture enjoys. I am certain that the two new addresses will also contribute to further positioning Selva in China.
In Shanghai, Selva has a double presence: at Tiamantti Home Furnishings in the Puxi district and the Tiamantti Home Furnishings in Pudong. The showroom in Puxi was just expanded by numerous Italian companies and was officially inaugurated in June. In addition to Selva, a variety of other well-known brands are also presented there. Selva is displaying above all a mix of Philipp Selva Home collections, such as Vendôme, Solitaire, and Tzsar in a 1,900-square-foot area.
In addition to the showroom in Puxi, the proprietor Tiamantti has also been running a shop since the beginning of the year in Pudong which presents the same companies.
Selva's second showroom is located at the Derlook International Hall in Wuxi. Like the showroom in the Derlook in Suzhou, this 2,700-square-foot shop is a single-brand store. The grand opening was accompanied by traditional singing, dance, and other performances.
In addition to our presence in Dubai, the new openings in China represent another important pillar for establishing the Selva brand in Asia, said Selva. It is our goal to continue to open up this exciting market that is so significant for us.
August 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on August 8, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z7001536886&z=1600249622
Big-box retailer Costco is planning the launch of a high-end line of furniture.
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August 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on August 8, 2012
Gibson Guitar Corp. will pay $350,000 to settle a U.S. Department of Justice and Fish & Wildlife Service investigation into alleged violations of the Lacey Act.
The settlement also indicated a need to resolve classification and scope issues associated with the Lacey Act, according to an industry group.
The case, the first to test the Lacey Act amendments' "teeth," dates back to November 2009, when agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service searched Gibson's Tennessee manufacturing facility as part of an investigation under the Lacey Act into the use of endangered rosewood from Madagascar.
The agreement was announced Monday by Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division; Jerry Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee; and Dan Ashe, director of the Department of the Interiors U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The criminal enforcement agreement defers prosecution for criminal violations of the Lacey Act and requires Gibson to pay a penalty amount of $300,000. The agreement further provides for a community service payment of $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to be used to promote the conservation, identification and propagation of protected tree species used in the musical instrument industry and the forests where those species are found.
Gibson also will implement a compliance program designed to strengthen its compliance controls and procedures. In related civil forfeiture actions, Gibson will withdraw its claims to the wood seized in the course of the criminal investigation, including Madagascar ebony from shipments with a total invoice value of $261,844.
In light of Gibsons acknowledgement of its conduct, its duties under the Lacey Act and its promised cooperation and remedial actions, the government will decline charging Gibson criminally in connection with Gibsons order, purchase or importation of ebony from Madagascar and ebony and rosewood from India, provided that Gibson fully carries out its obligations under the agreement, and commits no future violations of law, including Lacey Act violations.
As a result of this investigation and criminal enforcement agreement, Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit over-harvesting and conserve valuable wood species from Madagascar, a country which has been severely impacted by deforestation, said Moreno. Gibson has ceased acquisitions of wood species from Madagascar and recognizes its duty under the U.S. Lacey Act to guard against the acquisition of wood of illegal origin by verifying the circumstances of its harvest and export, which is good for American business and American consumers.
Since May 2008, it has been illegal under the Lacey Act to import into the United States plants and plant products (including wood) that have been harvested and exported in violation of the laws of another country. Congress extended the protections of the Lacey Act, the nations oldest resource protection law, to these products in an effort to address the environmental and economic impact of illegal logging around the world.
The criminal enforcement agreement includes a detailed statement of facts describing the conduct for which Gibson accepts and acknowledges responsibility. According to a DOJ release, the investigation established that Gibson purchased fingerboard blanks, consisting of sawn boards of Madagascar ebony, for use in manufacturing guitars. The Madagascar ebony fingerboard blanks were ordered from a supplier who obtained them from an exporter in Madagascar. Gibsons supplier continued to receive Madagascar ebony fingerboard blanks from its Madagascar exporter after the 2006 ban. The Madagascar exporter did not have authority to export ebony fingerboard blanks after the law issued in Madagascar in 2006.
In 2008, an employee of Gibson participated in a trip to Madagascar, sponsored by a non-profit organization. Participants on the trip, including the Gibson employee, were told that a law passed in 2006 in Madagascar banned the harvest of ebony and the export of any ebony products that were not in finished form. They were further told by trip organizers that instrument parts, such as fingerboard blanks, would be considered unfinished and therefore illegal to export under the 2006 law. Participants also visited the facility of the exporter in Madagascar, from which Gibsons supplier sourced its Madagascar ebony, and were informed that the wood at the facility was under seizure at that time and could not be moved.
After the Gibson employee returned from Madagascar with this information, he conveyed the information to superiors and others at Gibson. The information received by the Gibson employee during the June 2008 trip, and sent to company management by the employee and others following the June 2008 trip, was not further investigated or acted upon prior to Gibson continuing to place orders with its supplier. Gibson received four shipments of Madagascar ebony fingerboard blanks from its supplier between October 2008 and September 2009.
According to the Lacey Act Coalition, an industry group that includes the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the settlement makes clear the need for clarification of the Lacey Acts scope "and has strengthened our resolve to work with Congress to develop a practical and targeted solution to the Lacey Acts unintended consequences."
In addition to the Madagascar wood, agents had hauled away 24 pallets of Indian rosewood and ebony.
The LAC release cited the settlement" The Government and Gibson acknowledge and agree that certain questions and inconsistencies now exist regarding the tariff classification of the confiscated wood.
The release continued: "This cuts to the heart of the Lacey Acts problems: How can a business be expected to know with absolute certainty that a wood product was harvested, shipped, and imported in compliance with a nearly limitless number of foreign laws when the United States government itself does not know how to classify or treat that product under the Lacey Act?
"Inconsistencies in tariff classification should not trigger Lacey Act enforcement actions that result in questionable product seizures and business-destroying litigation. As this settlement demonstrates, the Lacey Acts scope is far too broad and amendments are necessary to ensure that the Act effectively eliminates illegal logging without stifling economic growth and job creation. We look forward to working with Congress to enact legislation that strengthens and improves the Lacey Act."
The Lacey Act Coalition was formed to ensure that the U.S. government's implementation of amendments to the Lacey Act are applied in a transparent, predictable manner that focuses scarce resources on the amendment's intended goal--stopping illegal logging--while not arbitrarily impeding trade.
August 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on August 8, 2012
The Scott Newman Center Summer Fest Fundraiser will honor Sit n Sleep CEO Larry Miller and President Nelson Bercier with the Scott Newman Legacy Award.
Miller and Bercier were recognized for their ongoing involvement and contributions to the Scott Newman Center. This year, Sit n Sleep, Gardena, Calif., has pledged a $50,000 donation to ensure that local families will continue to be able to utilize the services of the center.
Founded by late actor and activist Paul Newman and named after his son, the Scott Newman Center is focused on the recovery of families struggling with drug addiction and domestic violence. The Centers summer Rowdy Ridge Camp is free to attend and designed to help family members remain sober, develop healthy lifestyles, and encourage family reunification.
We are honored to support the Scott Newman Center and their Rowdy Ridge Camp program, said Miller. Our fervent hope is that our involvement will challenge other local businesses to become involved in the Scott Newman Center and help ensure that their life-changing programs remain in operation. Nelson and I are incredibly impressed with the impact the Center has on our community and we want to guarantee that their services are available for many years to come.
Next summer will be the 20th anniversary of the Rowdy Ridge Camp, a landmark milestone for the Camp and the Scott Newman Center, said Scott Newman Center Executive Director Ruben Barajas. Larry and Nelson have been incredible supporters and dear friends of the Center for years, and their support is truly priceless. Its our sincere hope that their generous gift will inspire other would-be donors to step forward and support the Scott Newman Center.
Summer Fest 2012 will take place Sunday, August 12, 4-9 p.m. at The Depot Restaurant in Torrance, Calif. The event features hors doeuvres and a gourmet barbecue prepared by a local chef as well as dancing to a live band. Silent and live auctions will be held throughout the event.