Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
April 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Financial Reports on April 2, 2012
Leather furniture manufacturer Natuzzi reported 2011 sales of 486.4 million euros, a 6.2 percent drop from 2010.
The Italian manufacturer lost 19.6 million euros in 2011, compared with a prior-year loss of 11 million euros.
In fourth-quarter 2011, Natuzzi had sales of $129.6 million euros, a decrease of 1.8 percent from fourth-quarter 2010; and lost 15.9 million, compared with a 1.4 million euro loss the prior-year period.
"In 2011 we faced a difficult economic situation, characterized by the Sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the consequent decline in consumer confidence. The historical presence of the Group in such market has caused a sales reduction, even if the Group market shares, distribution network, and customer portfolio remained substantially stable," said Natuzzi Chairman and CEO Pasquale Natuzzi. "On the top of that, we also experienced during the course of the year, an increase in raw material prices and cost of labor, as well as unfavorable trends in currency markets, together with the negative effects deriving from the Chinese plants relocation. The decrease in sales in Europe and North America was partially offset by an encouraging sales performance in the BRIC region of about plus-64 percent on (a) yearly basis. The Group presence in this area is now well established, with offices, plants and qualified distribution network. In particular, the 'made-in-Italy' Natuzzi branded products are sold through 32 Natuzzi Stores in China, five in India and seven in Russia."
April 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on April 2, 2012
Art Van Furniture will host a job fair for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans 9:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17.
The job fair includes dozens of major Michigan employers, such as Compuware, DTE Energy, Ford Motor Company, Oakwood Healthcare and Wayne State University. Organized by the American Society of Employers, "The Returning Veterans Job Fair" will take place on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 9:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m., at the Southfield Pavilion, located at 26000 Evergreen Rd. in Southfield, Michn.
"For these brave men and women who have given so much, we owe a great debt of gratitude, and an opportunity to have a job to help them return to civilian life," said Kim Yost, CEO of Art Van Furniture, Warren, Mich. "This is a time we show our returning veterans and their families how much we appreciate their sacrifices and how glad we are to have them home."
Michigan has the third largest population of veterans in the United States. Art Van Furniture is inviting all major Michigan businesses to participate in this occasion.
"Although we are sponsoring the event, other companies will benefit as well," adds Yost. "We believe that employing returning veterans in any capacity at any company is good for our community and something we at Art Van see as our responsibility to support."
As Michigan's largest furniture retailer, Art Van Furniture currently employs more than 3,000 associates. It will offer a variety of jobs at the event, including sales associates, drivers, warehouse workers and customer service representatives to mention a few.
April 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on April 2, 2012
Reclaimed teak furniture vendor Groovystuff has teamed with Purdue University for the latest Groovystuff Design Challenge.
Students from Purdue's Industrial Design Department will participate in the program at the April 21-26 High Point Furniture Market in the Suites at Market Square. The challenge, part of Groovystuff's efforts to build links between higher education and the furniture industry, is for students to design marketable home furnishings from sustainable materials.
Under the leadership of professor and design professional Laura Drake, 18 students from the Industrial Design department received a pallet of reclaimed material and started the Groovystuff Design Challenge right after spring break. As a class decision, the students chose "Lighting" as their category of contribution and will be charged with designing a modern and elegantly rustic lighting design for inclusion in the celebrity Dick Idol Brand.
Since joining the faculty in 1990, Professor Laura Drake has been actively involved in design initiatives and cross promotional opportunities for graduates. As a design professional, Laura has been featured in publications both domestically and internationally to include, Metropolitan Home, HG, Craft International, Casa Vogue, Japan High Fashion, Japan Interior Design as well as a number of other leading publications. She currently holds memberships in The American Furniture Society, The Industrial Design Society of America, and The Chicago Furniture Designers Association, and has spearheaded the involvement of Purdues outreach into the residential home furnishing market by bringing her program to the High Point Market for the first time.
Groovystuff, along with co-sponsor International Market Centers, help to broaden the educational outreach of university programs across the country by giving them real world market experience, and a platform to build on their association with the industry prior to graduation. Purdue also is the latest to join in "The Groovystuff University Hall of Innovation and Job Creation," a sponsored space at market providing students and faculty with an invaluable opportunity to network with retailers, designers, manufacturers, suppliers, journalists, and industry professionals.
The Industrial Design Department from Purdue will display outs contributions to the residential home furnishings market at The Suites at Market Square, Showroom Number 1-836, along with faculty and students from The Industrial Design Department at Appalachian State University, The Interior Architecture & Design Department at The University of North Carolina Greensboro, and the Interior Design Department at High Point University.
"Our goal with the University Hall is to provide students with a platform for creativity and encourage them to embrace the home furnishings industry," said Groovystuff President Chris Bruning, the visionary behind the Groovystuff Hall of Innovation and Job Creation. "We will display the original drawings along with the finished product so buyers can see the transformation of the concept into a fully executed consumer product. We'll ask them again for their comments and votes--but also for their order. The final winning design will be the one with the top sales. That student designer will not only win a $500 cash prize, and inclusion in the celebrity endorsed Dick Idol Brand, but also a permanent 1 percent royalty on all future sales of the product."
April 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on April 2, 2012
Schandig International has added 14,000 square feet on the International Home Furnishings Center's sixth floor, directly above present fifth floor location.
The move represents the largest existing tenant expansion this market within the International Home Furnishings Center.
"We've literally gone through the roof,: said Jeff Young, CEO and chairman of Schnadig. "We went straight up into the sixth floor with a spacious staircase connecting the two."
The showroom space has been intact since Schnadig's current management took over the company three years ago. During that time the company expanded from a single portfolio to four major portfolios, including Lauren Ralph Lauren and Caracole at the high end, and Compositions and Schnadig at the promotional level.
Those additional portfolios soon made it difficult to show both new introductions and product from the previous markets. There was no space to exhibit introductions which were more than a year old.
"In addition, Richard Feng, CEO and chairman of Markor, our parent company, encouraged us to consider showing a minimum of 90 percent of both our Lauren/Ralph Lauren and Caracole products," Young said. "Mr. Feng simply was not comfortable with the fact that our presentations were not keeping pace with our internal growth. This reality was even more salient as it relates to our international customer base, many of whom only attend one High Point market a year."
The new staircase is located at the interior entrance of the existing Lauren display on the fifth floor, directly across from the showroom's dining area. Handicapped access is easily available via the alley on the sixth floor, and attendants will be standing by during market to assist and direct visitors.
The expansion allows the company to properly segment each portfolio and to spread out collections, creating a more comfortable buying experience for visitors. Higher-priced Caracole and more medium-priced Caracole Light and Lauren Ralph Lauren product will be generously expanded and shown on the fifth floor. The more promotional Schnadig mix of case goods and upholstery along with the opulent Compositions line of exposed wood upholstery and correlating occasional tables will be featured on the newly-connected sixth floor.
Young said Schnadig is proud to have grown business during uncertain economic conditions for home furnishings.
"Fortunately, our 2010 strategy of diversifying our products and therefore widening our collective retail audience has been successful," he said. "Of course, Caracole and Lauren have led the way in terms of exceeding our original volume projections; but our re-vamped entry level introductions from Schnadig along with a demonstrative 360 degree 'turn' in the styling of our Compositions upholstery have all contributed to the expansive showroom result you see here today.
He added that the most recent boost to Schnadig's growth has been its tactical partnership with upholstery manufacturer Key City Furniture, North Wilkesboro, N.C.
"This strategic relationship has helped us gain substantial placements of Lauren upholstery with three, multi-store national accounts," said Young. "In addition, we are now beginning to realize meaningful volume in special orders for Lauren custom fabrics from our existing Lauren dealer network. Working with Key City the past nine months has given us the confidence to move forward with the April introduction of our Caracole Custom Upholstery program this market to satisfy the obvious demand for additional fabrics that will now grace our high-fashion Caracole upholstery frames."
Schnadig dealers have been invited to a "wine and dine" gala on Friday evening, April 20, for an exclusive showroom preview. Extra personnel will be on hand throughout the market so buyers wont have to wait long for a guided tour.
April 1,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on April 2, 2012
The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library has formed a new scholarship to benefit college juniors and seniors interested in careers in interior and furniture design.
The scholarship documents are being sent to 230 colleges and universities that have programs in furniture and interior design. The library in High Point is collaborating with the American Society of Furniture Designers on the Furniture Design portion; and the American Society of Interior Designers on the design portion of the competition. A distinguished panel of judges will choose the winners.
In addition to the scholarship, other developments include a building renovation; and a new identity and a new comprehensive website to be announced soon.
"Since 1984, the library has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships to students at 17 colleges throughout the U.S.," said long-time board member and Scholarship Committee Chairman Paul Brayton. "It was Mr. Bienenstock's long standing desire to invest in the education and future of the furniture industry. Our intention is to encourage and inspire the best and most creative minds and help them to develop their talents. To that end, we created two substantial national scholarships. In addition to the $10,000 awards, professional members of the furniture and interior design industries are available to mentor and answer design questions."
The Bienenstock scholarships are open to any junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in an accredited college design program. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to the first place winner of each category, interior design and furniture design. Two Honorable Mentions also will be chosen for each category.
Judges for Furniture Design include: Paul Brayton, Paul Brayton Designs; Richard Frinier, Frinier Atelier; Rod Lambeth, Tomlinson/Erwin Lambeth Furniture; Dudley Moore, ASFD; Jay Reardon, Hickory Chair Company; Rick Schroeder, Stanley Furniture; and Royal Wiggin, Thayer Coggin, Inc.
Judges for Interior Design include: June Anderson, ASID; Christi Barbour, Allied ASID Barbour Spangle Design; Barry Dixon, Barry Dixon Designs; Libby Langdon, Libby Interiors; Pat Plaxico, Pat Plaxico Interior Design; Christi Spangle, ASID Barbour Spangle Design; and Brianne Verstat, ASID Barbour Spangle Design.