June 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on June 14, 2012
Mark Craven has been named president of furniture producer Fairfield Chair Co.
Most recently, Craven was vice president of sales for the company's contract division. He started his career with the company in 1985 as a sales representative. In 2005, he was named vice president of sales. At that time he managed the residential and contract sales teams until 2010 when Fairfield created separate divisions.
When the two divisions were created, David Blair was named vice president of residential sales.
"Mark has had a very positive impact on our business since joining our management team in 2005," said Harper Beall III, chairman and CEO. "His duties will continue to be heavily focused on growing our contract line, while assuming the added responsibilities that come with his new position."
June 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on June 14, 2012
Comfort Solutions' Texas-based licensee will host three days of events to mark the opening of its 200,000-square-foot manufacturing, sales education and office complex in Ft. Worth, Texas.
The grand opening celebration will be held June 22-24. The event will begin Friday, June 22 with a ribbon-cutting and presentations by Comfort Solutions president Dave Roberts and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus. Also scheduled that day are product presentations, factory tours, retailer education sessions and a gala party and dinner.
Over the weekend, an open house will allow retailers to review the more than 100 beds-a representation of the company's complete range of products.
The grand opening of the new complex coincides with the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (June 20-26) at the Dallas World Trade Center.
"This celebration is a sincere 'thank you' to our many retail customers, industry partners and employees to whom my family owes our success," said Rizwan Sunderji, senior vice president of the business founded as Sleeptronic more than 20 years ago. "Our new home will better accommodate our growth and enable us to capitalize more fully on the product lines and marketing opportunities that Comfort Solutions offers."
According to Sunderji, the biggest difference between the company's former 50,000-square-foot facility in Dallas and the new complex lies in scope and sophistication. The Sunderji family spent more than a year remodeling and upgrading an existing structure to maximize efficiency and design while minimizing the plant's environmental footprint.
"The new complex is a model facility in terms of its layout, design, state-of-the-art equipment, accommodations for customers and employees, and environmental standards," Roberts said. "We're very proud of what Comfort Solutions-Texas has accomplished."
Located on an 11-acre site, the factory features bright, energy-saving lighting throughout and new, high efficiency equipment like computerized quilters, tape edge and packaging machinery, plus a 2,000-foot-long conveyor-affording an output of up to 4,000 pieces per day.
"Waste from every subcomponent in our manufacturing process will now be re-sold for re-use," said Alim Sunderji, executive vice president. "Waste overall will be greatly reduced through increased efficiency and new technologies."
A two-story, 20,000-square-foot office/showroom space is situated within the building and features a custom-designed exterior entry. The office interior includes on the top floor a 10,000-square-foot reconfigurable showroom with multi-channel, high-definition monitors; a customer entertainment center and lounge; a board room, executive offices and an office for outside salespeople.
On the ground floor Comfort Solutions-Texas has installed a second, larger board room that adjoins a sophisticated product education center. A series of retailer-focused seminars led by content experts are now in development for the center, covering topics like product components, selling strategies and retail marketing.
Comfort Solutions-Texas, which makes both Comfort Solutions and its own branded products, was founded by the Sunderjis in 1991. Today, the company is operated by Amir ("Andy") as president and CEO; Alim; Rizwan; Jameel, vice president, and Yasmin, office manager.
Other key staffers include Anthony Klatt, director of sales and marketing, and Arturo Alcala, plant manager.
"We could never have reached this company milestone alone," concluded Amir Sunderji. "On behalf of our entire family, we express our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make this possible."
June 13,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on June 14, 2012
from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pier-1-1st-quarter-profit-up-26-outlook-higher-2012-06-14
Pier 1 Imports Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 26 percent as the home-furnishings retailer's strong sales growth helped to improve margins.
The company also raised its full-year earnings guidance by 2 cents to a range between $1.08 and $1.14. Pier 1 has made a turnaround since the recession, when it teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, struggled with declining sales and lost market share to discount retailers like Target Corp.
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June 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on June 13, 2012
from http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/memorial-news/article/Arhaus-to-open-Uptown-store-3628524.php
Arhaus Furniture plans an expansion into the Uptown Houston Districtan area known for a number of home furnishings and décor retailers.
Weingarten Realty is leasing a 19,340-square-foot site in the Centre at Post Oak to Arhaus Furniture. The store is set to open in early 2013 at the shopping center, which is across the street from the fourth-largest mall in the nation, the Galleria.
The area is one of the most competitive home-furniture retail markets in Houston, said Don Sweat, president of the Galleria Chamber of Commerce.
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June 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on June 13, 2012
from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/retail-sales-ex-autos-post-123822466.html
Retail sales fell for a second straight month in May as demand for building materials tumbled and declining gasoline prices weighed down on receipts at service stations, a government report showed today.
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