Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 24,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on June 25, 2012
Trae Stokes has been named vice president of merchandising and marketing for upholstery supplier Craftmaster Furniture.
Prior to his promotion to the new position, Stokes was vice president of sales for the Paula Deen Home and Better Homes & Garden branded product lines.
"Trae has demonstrated the necessary skills to move into this role at Craftmaster," said Roy Calcagne, president and CEO. "We have created this new position to better focus our merchandising efforts on the products and fabrics that meet the needs of today's consumer. He has been involved with many different aspects of the company over his past 15 years at Craftmaster and understands what is important when it comes to creating fashionable yet saleable upholstery products. Trae's team will work closely with the Craftmaster dealers, our sales organization and fabric suppliers to determine the product direction for the company which include the Craftmaster line and both of our branded product lines of Paula Deen and Better Homes & Garden."
Calcagne said Craftmaster's business has grown significantly over the last few years. The company's product line has grown with the addition of the branded collections and the Encore Leather program.
"We felt the need to add this new position within the company to keep us moving forward," Calcagne said.
June 24,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Financial Reports on June 25, 2012
Furniture supplier Flexsteel Inds. (NASDAQ: FLXS) has joined the list of companies on the U.S. broad-market Russell 3000 Index.
Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. Russell U.S. indexes have $3.9 trillion in assets currently benchmarked to them. Flexsteel's membership, which will remain in place for one year, means inclusion in the Russell 3000 Index along with the appropriate growth and value style indexes.
"Many investors and institutions rely on the Russell 3000 Index as part of their investment strategy," said Ron Klosterman, president and CEO of Flexsteel. "Flexsteel's inclusion acknowledges our strong business fundamentals and potential for future growth."
Annual reconstitution of Russell's U.S. indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization. The largest 1,000 companies in this ranking comprise the Russell 1000 Index and the next 2,000 companies become the Russell 2000 Index. Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.
June 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on June 22, 2012
Gil Sturtzel has joined casual dining and occasional furniture importer Steve Silver Co. as director of merchandising and product development.
Sturtzel reports to David Corbin, COO.
Sturtzel joined SSC in June after being president of Gil Sturtzel International, a design and product development firm. Prior to running his own firm, Sturtzel was vice president of Davis International, vice president of Pacific Marketing International, and vice president of Bell Furniture Industries.
We are pleased to welcome Gil to our executive team, said Corbin. We have a lot of respect for his leadership and vision.
I am happy to be at SSC. In addition to being a leader in creating customer value, Steve Silver Co. is a great organization with one of the best management teams I have worked with, said Sturtzel. The company is solid financially with a good track record of growth and is well positioned to execute our consumer inspired designs.
With extensive overseas sourcing and quality control expertise and more than 60 people on the ground in five Asian offices, the Steve Silver Co. excels in cost-effective design and delivery of high quality furniture at value oriented price points. It operates from state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facilities and is headquartered in Forney, Texas, just outside Dallas.
June 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on June 22, 2012
A June 30 grand opening is set for the fourth and newest Seattle-area Ashley Furniture Homestore, and first in Tacoma.
With an eye to environmental responsibility, the company has incorporated many "green" elements into the design of the new showroom.
In honor of the grand opening, Ashley Furniture HomeStore will partner with a local organization, Family Renewal Shelter, to donate 25 mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and comforters to families in need. FRS soon will open an additional facility for victims of domestic violence; and will be on-site the day of the Ashley Furniture grand opening to offer guests information about the organization and its purpose.
Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.; and the first 100 families to attend the grand opening will receive a $100 gift certificate. All attendees will be eligible to win hourly giveaways including sofas, rugs, mattresses and more. All customers who make purchases on the day of the grand opening will also be entered in a drawing that will take place at 7 p.m. where one lucky winner will have the chance to receive full credit for their purchase made earlier that day.
"Ashley Furniture HomeStore is proud to contribute to the growth of the city of Tacoma, and is looking forward to bringing jobs to the local economy while expanding retail business in the area," said Store Owner Gary Seals. "We have had our eye on the Tacoma market for five years and we're thrilled that the right opportunity for a location has finally opened up. We hope our donation of mattress sets to those in need conveys our commitment to the community and demonstrates our passion to make a difference. We thank the Seattle community for all support we have received over the past years."
June 21,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on June 22, 2012
Jamie Valeri, co-owner of two-store furniture retailer Today's Furniture Advantage, has been crowned Mrs. Wisconsin.
The mother of six will represent the state in next month's Mrs. United States competition and pageant.
Jamie Valeri, along with her husband, Richard Valeri, took a furniture business in bankruptcy in 2005 and have spent the past seven years building it into a profitable, multiple store success story, with Today's Furniture Advantage locations now in Appleton and Stevens Point, Wis.
An encounter with an area family struggling to make ends meet inspired the couple to start sharing their success with the communities around them. In 2011, the couple launched a new program out of their stores called "Silent Night--Give A Child A Bed". For every 10 bedding sets sold through their stores, the Valeris began donating one set, with the assistance of local social services, to a child in need of a safe place to sleep.
The impact the program has made in the surrounding communities inspired Jamie to use the visibility of her crown and the Mrs. United States pageant to expand "Silent Night" nationwide. She began making appearances, doing print and television interviews and contacting other furniture stores across the state in an effort to make her big dreams for the program come true.
With new found support from several furniture stores across the state and her trade association, Home Furnishings Independents Association, Jamie's "Silent Night--Give A Child A Bed" program has the potential to impact the lives of thousands of children across the country.