Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 31,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Tupelo on August 1, 2012
Tupelo Furniture Market organizers expect the highest buyer attendance in decades this month as the show celebrates its 25th year in operation and 50th event overall.
In addition, exhibit sales have increased substantially, leaving only a small amount of permanent and temporary space still available with just more than two weeks left before the market opens Aug. 16.
"Immediately after our last show in February, we began a review of our business and then executed a plan that we believed would maximize our market position, increase awareness and create excitement," said V.M. Cleveland, CEO of Tupelo Furniture Market. "From management and sales personnel to infrastructure, operations and marketing, all areas of our business, as well as the industry itself, were taken into consideration. This upturn is the end result."
For the upcoming Market, organizers report pre-registrations are up 100 percent; permanent exhibit space is 97 percent sold; and temporary exhibit space is 88 percent sold. Hotel reservations have surpassed any year in recent history.
"We are already completely booked for the week of the event," said Shari Long Neely, director of sales at Tupelo's Hilton Garden Inn. "We always do well during the furniture market, but this year we are ahead of schedule, and my understanding is that hotel space throughout the city is nearing capacity. This bodes well for the entire region."
Greg Giachelli, vice president of economic development for Tupelo's Community Development Foundation, agreed with Doe's assessment: "The CDF has been intricately involved with the Tupelo Furniture Market since its inception. It's clear that this year's event will far exceed expectations, and we are fortunate that we will all share in this success on the market's 25th anniversary."
Th Market also features a Top 50 Promotion or New Exhibitor Promotion to provide added incentive for attendance. More than 80 companies exhibiting at the event will give away the latest Apple iPads or state-of-the-art, flat-screen TVs throughout the show's four-day run. Many of these companies will give away product along with the electronic devices, and many of them are offering incentives to industry buyers that will be available only in Tupelo.
"We don't plan on letting up until the doors open," said Cleveland. "Our planning and execution have already produced positive results, and we aim to capitalize on our momentum and ride that wave all the way through to August 16."
July 31,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on August 1, 2012
The East Coast event for the City of Hope will honor Connie Post, owner of Connie Post Cos., and Mike Massood Sr., co-founder of MGM Transport Corp.
The event, Taste of Hope Italia, is set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Masina Trattoria in the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, N.J. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.
Post is a retail design strategist and trend expert who works with retailers to create compelling and inviting store environments.
Massood, founded MGM Transport Corp. in 1952, with his brother George Massood. Mike will receive the lifetime achievement award at the event next month.
Additional information about the event can be found online.
July 31,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on August 1, 2012
Ethan Allen Interiors (NYSE: ETH) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share.
The dividend will be payable to shareholders of record as of Oct. 10, and will be paid on Oct. 25.
Ethan Allen has a network of about 300 design centers in the United States and abroad. Ethan Allen owns and operates eight manufacturing facilities including five manufacturing plants and one sawmill in the United States plus two plants in Mexico and Honduras.
July 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on July 31, 2012
from http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/jul/31/us-consumer-spending-flat-income-05-percent/
Americans spent no more in June than they did in May, even though their income grew at the fastest pace in three months.
The Commerce Department said Tuesday that consumer spending was flat in June after declining 0.1 percent in May. Income rose 0.5 percent. And wages, the largest component of income, also increased 0.5 percent, the biggest gain since March. The jump in income went straight to savings. The savings rate rose to 4.4 percent in June, the highest level in a year.
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July 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Bedding on July 31, 2012
from http://www.redding.com/news/2012/jul/30/sleep-train-to-join-other-furniture-mattress-in/
Sleep Train will open a new mattress center in Redding, Calif., next month.
The store inside the former Blockbuster Video space on Churn Creek Road will be walking distance from Mattress Discounters, also owned by Rocklin-based Sleep Train.
There's talk that another mattress store soon will open next to Blimpie Subs in the Target center on Churn Creek Road. Meanwhile, Outwest Furniture recently left its home of 11 years on Athens Avenue for a larger location on Eureka Way in downtown Redding, inside the former Peddler's Mall.
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