Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Bedding on January 23, 2013
from http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/01/sealy_workers_ask_oregon_inves.html
Employees of a North Portland mattress factory on Wednesday made an impassioned plea to the citizen's board that oversees Oregon's pension investments to help save their jobs.
Employees and union leaders from Sealy's mattress plant in Portland, slated for closure in March, were making a last-ditch effort by asking the board to intercede with the leveraged buyout giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Sealy's largest shareholder.
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January 22,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Bedding on January 23, 2013
from http://www.cnbc.com/id/100402504
Sealy Corp. narrowed its fiscal fourth-quarter loss as mattresses sales improved from last year and beat market expectations.
The company, based in Trinity, N.C., is one of the largest bedding brands in the world, with mattress lines such as Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster. It has been dealing with intense competition in the industry as mattress makers increased their marketing and promotions to help lure cost-conscious consumers into making big purchases.
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January 21,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on January 22, 2013
from https://newsdesk4.moreover.com/click/?p=Qy84MDE5OTg5ODE5Jm49TkFQQ08&a=MTMxODExMjkxNjI&f=TmV3cw&s=cmljaHhtbA&u=YWNyZW5zaGF3QG5hcGNvLmNvbQ&c=TkFQQ08&i=MA&e=V0NCSQ&d=1989&t=1
Ashley Furniture Industries will create 60 jobs at a new, 275,000-square-foot facility in Verona, Miss.
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January 21,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on January 22, 2013
Bassett Furniture (NASDAQ: BSET) is expanding adding two regional warehouses to its network.
One is located in Seattle, and the other is located in Indianapolis. Both are stocked with best-selling SKUs to support the growth of the brand with independent retailers in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Canada.
"We are excited about the increased service levels that the addition of these two new warehouses will provide Bassett to dealers in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Canada," said Rob Spilman, president and CEO. "The six regional warehouses that we now operate represent our commitment to improving the operational capabilities of Bassett's dealer network."
Bassett's regional warehouse program is called "Fast Forward" and utilizes supply chain analytics and forecasting to anticipate regional demand for top-selling product and directs inventory from Asia to appropriate warehouse locations around the U.S. This process is in place from product inception through shipment so that inventory is already located where customers need it. Bassett's other four warehouses that serve North America are located in Bassett, Va., Conover, N.C., Dallas, and Riverside, Calif.
January 21,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on January 22, 2013
The Tupelo Furniture Market is boasting 145 furniture and accessory companies who have chosen Tupelo, Miss., as their primary furniture venue.
According to the market, those 145 companies no longer exhibit at either High Point Market or Las Vegas Market.
The upcoming spring market is set for Feb. 28-March 3.
"Tupelo's reach is national in scope, and many internationals attend this event," said Chris Bray, vice president of sales and marketing for Delta Furniture Manufacturing, an upholstery supplier. "We have found, over many years of participating in these events, that if we show in Tupelo, which is located nearer the center of the United States, we can expect to draw buyers from throughout the country. And we have also determined, as have many other companies that exhibit in Tupelo, that we write a lot of orders during this event. We see just about everyone we need to see here in Tupelo."
Kevin J. Seddon, president of the Tupelo Furniture Market, said the geographic location of the Market offers a buyers and sellers an advantage.
"If you draw a large circle around Tupelo that encompasses 300 or so miles, many would be surprised at the major markets from which retailers can drive in for this event," Seddon said. "It's an advantage for Tupelo's market because, in contrast, our competitors are closer to the east and west coasts. A good portion of their 'circles' fall in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, so drive-in traffic is probably somewhat limited."
Seddon said some trade event locations are selected for the extracurricular activities available for attendees.
"It may be Disney in Orlando, theater in New York or gambling in Reno," he said. "Our location picked us. Mississippi is home to more than 200 manufacturers that service the furniture industry. Buyers come to Mississippi and the Tupelo Furniture Market because it's a primary hub for furniture business. Our slogan, 'We're All Business,' sort of sums this up. Leisure and sightseeing activities probably won't distract participants attending our event. So they don't lose their focus, and we don't lose ours."
Tupelo's market has experienced an uptick in number of exhibitors overall, with more than 110 new companies contracting for exhibit space in the last six months alone and more than 20 of their existing companies expanding.
January 21,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on January 22, 2013
The International Sleep Products Association will give an update on mattress-recycling legislation at the upcoming Las Vegas Furniture Market.
The informational session, Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. in Building B, space B-960 of World Market Center looks to help educate the industry on efforts being taken in several states to thwart burdensome mattress recycling laws that threaten mattress manufacturers and retailers.
Ryan Trainer, President of the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) stated, Our organization is very proud to again be participating in the Las Vegas Market," said ISPA President Ryan Trainer. "It provides us an additional platform to communicate with the industry about market trends and public policy issues facing our industry.
The overreaching recycling proposals our industry faces could cost mattress manufacturers and retailers millions each year; costs which consumers will ultimately bear. Fortunately, many state Legislators have recognized the need to step in to craft and advocate for sound public policy that will address mattress recycling concerns and state mandates, maintain job creation, and wont bankrupt our industry.
In California, Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) is doing just that for the 2013-2014 Legislative session.
A good mattress is essential to our lifestyle," Correa said. "Yet, at the end of its lifecycle, mattresses add tremendous strain on our landfills and contribute to community blight when they are dumped in our neighborhoods. I am pleased to be crafting a legislative measure that balances landfill pressures and environmental concerns with industry concerns. My legislation will seek to strike a balance that will incentivize Californians to recycle used mattresses, thus easing the burden on our landfills and communities, while retaining valuable employers, creating new jobs and business opportunities. I am confident this proposal will create a win-win solution for industry, environmentalists and California consumers."
ISPA applauds Senator Correa for his efforts in recognizing that an efficient industry and consumer-friendly mattress recycling program is a comprehensive solution.
ISPA looks forward to working diligently with Senator Correa and policymakers on his legislation this year, Trainer said.
For more information about the recycling session, visit here.
January 21,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on January 22, 2013
High-end furniture vendor Jonathan Charles and
lighting and accessories vendor Wildwood Lamps have named John Cunningham creative director.
He is responsible for showroom design and product development. Cunninghams background in showroom design and visual merchandising will help highlight the eclectic, inspirational lifestyle elements of both Jonathan Charles and Wildwood Lamps. His experience in visual merchandising includes roles with department store giants J.C. Penny, Dillards and Filenes. Since 2003, he has been the director of visual merchandising for
Furnitureland South and
Guildmaster, where he oversaw all design aspects of the
companies branding.
In October 2012, Cunningham was recruited to revamp Jonathan Charles 20,000-square-foot
High Point Furniture Market showroom, which is shared with Wildwood Lamps, to reflect a lifestyle-oriented environment. He will continue to oversee showroom designs at future High Point Markets, as well as product development for both brands. Cunninghams new role also includes traveling to Jonathan Charles prominent domestic and international retailers to ensure a consistent visual display on a sales level.
Jonathan Sowter, CEO and head designer of Jonathan Charles; and Russ Barnes, president of Wildwood Lamps, said they are thrilled to have Cunningham join the team. His design aesthetic mirrors that of Jonathan Charles--mixing contemporary, artistic elements into historical period furniture--and believes their shared philosophy will result in a great marriage that bolsters the brands images.
I envision our showroom space in a way that is more inspirational than sales-oriented, said Cunningham. We will merchandise the line not only as purveyors of fine furniture and lighting but also as trendsetters for modernizing classic pieces for todays living.
For the April High Point Market, Cunningham plans to infuse an expansive color palette into Jonathan Charles new collections and reference more au courant trends into Wildwoods showroom.