Daily News Archive
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May 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on May 2, 2012
The Furniture Buying Index rose another point this month to a reading of 74, according to America's Research Group.
This continues the positive movement the Index has experienced the past few months.
"The Furniture Buying Index is up slightly this month which is a positive sign," said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group. "Many consumers have lower debt levels currently, and this decrease in debt is keeping the Index stable."
Beemer said the upcoming Memorial Day weekend will be a key shopping time because many consumers have postponed purchases in anticipation of sales.
Charleston, S.C.-based America's Research Group compiles the Furniture Buying Index each month from interviews with 5,000 to 8,000 consumers across the country. In a typical month, 80 percent of the consumers interviewed can name a specific furniture item they intend to buy.
The Index's mark signifies what percent of the benchmark 80 percent actually have a particular item in mind.
May 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on May 2, 2012
Ethan Allen CEO Farooq Kathwari joined Ethan Allen Interior Design Affiliate members and other Chicago designers for an April luncheon at Trump International Hotel.
I am pleased to have had the opportunity to share all the new initiatives at Ethan Allen with such a large group of design professionals in the Chicago area and hear their valuable feedback, Kathwari said at the event. I plan to continue this dialogue with design professionals in other markets around the country this year.
The more than 70 local designers in attendance were treated to breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and waterfront area as they mingled with their colleagues. Following Kathwari's presentation and lunch, Sherwin Williams presented a continuing education seminar on color trends for 2012. Two attendees won door prizes of artwork from Ethan Allens custom art program.
Ethan Allens IDA program is a network of more than 3,000 interior design professionals across the country. It offers exclusive to-the-trade privileges and benefits, including a referral fee for every purchase; order processing and fulfillment; free local delivery; and the ability for qualified independent designers to extend to their clients the full range of Ethan Allen products, services, warranties, and support.
Mr. Kathwari noted that, as an interior design company with a vertically integrated business structure, Ethan Allen has significant flexibility in adapting to a designers concept, budget, and time frame.
Opening our doors to more independent design professionals is a natural extension of our established business, he added. Our goal is to be a go-to resource for designers in every market.
May 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Mattresses on May 2, 2012
Mattress manufacturer Royal-Pedic is expanding internationally, planning three stores in South Africa and additional locations in the Middle East.
Royal-Pedic has signed a licensing agreement with Zamhat Trading Ltd. of Cape Town, South Africa, that will result in the first shop opening in suburban Johannesburg by the end of the year. Once the first store opens its doors, additional locations will be selected in South Africa. All the shops will have a similar look and feel to Royal-Pedic's signature retail store location in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Theres an elite group of people in South Africa who are interested in luxury goods, but they often must travel abroad to purchase them, said Royal-Pedic CEO, Tony Kelemen. More manufacturers are recognizing the opportunity in this emerging market and high-end producers are beginning to come to them. We see this as Royal-Pedics chance to get in at the ground level to target an underserved niche market--its an extraordinary opportunity for growth.
All stores established by Zamhat Trading Ltd. will bear the Royal-Pedic name and offer a full spectrum of Royal-Pedic products, including its Natural Organic Collection and at select locations, its top of the line Dream Spring Mattress Collection. Modeled after the Beverly Hills shop, the overseas locations include top-of-bed items such as linens, pillows, and comforters, with 10 to 15 mattresses on the showroom floors.
The company does anticipate making some design alterations to its products in order to accommodate overseas preferences, including adjusting mattress sizes and adding wooden legs to mattress foundations as preferred in South Africa. Zamhat Trading Ltd. first approached Royal-Pedic in 2011 about exploring a partnership.
All Royal-Pedic products sold abroad will continue to be manufactured at the companys Wilmington, Calif., facility. The company anticipates hiring more employees as stores open abroad and demand increases.
Luxury consumers in these emerging markets want the panache of owning a product that is made in America. By continuing our tradition of hand-crafting exceptional mattresses in Southern California, we give consumers the authentic product theyre looking for, while ensuring the quality expected of all products bearing the Royal-Pedic name, said Kelemen.
Royal-Pedics agreement also calls for potential expansion into other African countries as well. Meanwhile, the first Middle Eastern location is projected to open in 2013.
May 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 2, 2012
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has registered a trademark for E.S. Kluft & Co.'s design used on the side border of mattresses and mattress foundations.
The cotton plaid upholstery-grade fabric first appeared in the border design of Klufts Madeline Collection.
This trademark border style is just one more way were separating ourselves from the competition. Use of rare and beautiful designer fabrics is almost unheard of in the bedding industry, said President and CEO Earl Kluft. We chose to import this particular fabric from Portugal because it was so unique and beautiful. We want our bedding to both feel luxurious and look stunning. Material of this quality is typically only used on upholstered sofas and fine draperies, proving once again that our bedding goes above and beyond industry standards.
April 30,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on May 1, 2012
from http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/335175/20120430/ikea-swedish-furniture-forced-labor-east-germany.htm
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has initially rejected claims in a new Swedish television documentary that East German political prisoners were used in its factories in the 1970s and 1980s.
The claims, which will be aired on public televisions Sveriges Television's (SVT) Uppdrag Granskning program Wednesday, first emerged in a German television documentary.
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