Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 28,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 29, 2012
Renowned designer Lillian August was in Naples, Fla. recently to tour the new showrooms of Clive Daniel Home and discuss emerging trends in home furnishings.
August is the founder of and face behind the upscale sophisticated showrooms bearing her name in Norwalk and Stamford Conn., New York City and Los Angeles. She also designs collections carrying her name for leading manufacturers.
Clive Daniel Home has market exclusives on several introductions for the Lillian August license, including a fabric line for Fabricut and a furniture collection for Hickory White featuring precise antique reproductions and fresh pieces with a classic spin.
In conferences with Clive Daniel Home Chairman Clive Lubner and Vice President of Merchandising and Interior DesignKris Kolar, August discussed what she calls the two firms' shared belief in the 'bohemian chic' sense of design.
"It's a blend of blend different styles, colors, and periods," she said. "For example, pairing an English antique with a 1920s rug and an industrial-style table. People also are becoming increasingly eco-sensitive, and are gravitating toward natural fibers and reclaimed woods."
"Clive Daniel Home is honored to have this relationship with one of the top visionaries in design today," Kolar said. "The philosophies of our two companies make a perfect marriage to create the wonderful personal spaces that our customers desire."
March 28,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 29, 2012
Hooker Furniture and its
Bradington-Young and
Sam Moore subsidiaries will open a redesigned, consolidated and relocated showroom at
High Point Furniture Market.
Hooker's casegoods showroom has moved from the I
nternational Home Furnishings Center Wrenn wing location it occupied for more than 30 years to a high-traffic location on the same floor at IHFC Commerce 1058, where the wood and upholstery divisions will share an 80,000-square-foot renovated showroom. The showroom will feature compelling displays, open sight lines, a dealer and designer resource center, a glass-walled entrance hub, company history display and a welcoming lobby, lounge and cafe.
"The new showroom is a unified presentation to the marketplace that better reflects who we are as a company," said Alan Cole, president. "The showroom makes the impactful statement, 'This is Hooker Furniture today.' It reflects our revitalized product direction and the energy and excitement about our future. It positions upholstery as an integral part of the company and Hooker as a unified resource. It signals a fresh new era at Hooker Furniture built on a wonderful legacy."
The glass walls in the lobby and entrance hub area "reflect an openness and excitement about who we are and our future," Cole added. The lobby, with large columns and a water feature, flows into a circular hub entrance where "we can tell the story of what is happening now." From the circular hub, there are entrances to the Hooker, Sam Moore and Bradington-Young sections of the showroom, as well as the cafe.
Hooker has made a substantial capital investment in the redesign and renovation, Cole said.
Barbour Spangle Design in High Point has directed the renovation. Everything about the design and the layout of the showroom has a common theme of hospitality and making visitors feel welcome, said Christi Spangle, principal of the firm.
A lounge off the lobby will have comfortable seating, a large screen TV, wireless Internet access and a beverage bar. Neutral color tones throughout the showroom are meant to be warm and welcoming. A centrally located resource room will feature large work tables, finish and fabric samples and computer monitors with web access to help dealers and designers put product programs together. Moveable walls will allow the company to be flexible and update its displays from market to market.
The new showroom uses eco-friendly lighting. During non-market times, the showroom will use energy-efficient T5 lighting that will consume 85 percent to 90 percent less power than traditional 75 watt halogen lighting. The lights also burn cooler, meaning lower costs and energy consumption for climate control as well.
March 28,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on March 29, 2012
ISPA Expo 2012 drew 200 exhibitors, almost 60 first-timers, from 62 countries and almost 3,200 participants, the
International Sleep Products Association reported.
The March 14-17 event in Indianapolis showcased the latest in machinery, components, services and technology for the mattress and bedding industry.
"ISPA opens doors to the opportunities available in the industry and the new products that are coming to market," said Jerry Pratt, president of
Creative Ticking. "The ISPA EXPO provided the perfect setting to showcase our capabilities to the mattress industry and affords us that kind of exposure to such a large audience of decision-makers."
EXPO attendees also participated in educational sessions on topics including international markets and statistics, the art of selling sleep, and the importance of a national mattress recycling program. Other highlights included a welcome reception that featured music by the Insomniaczzz, a band whose members are mattress industry leaders, and a breakfast presentation by Mt. Everest climber, cancer survivor and motivational speaker Alan Hobson.
"We made sure that this EXPO offered something for everyone," said ISPA President Ryan Trainer. "There is a common purpose behind all of ISPA's programs and initiatives, and that is to provide value to our members in today's ever-changing economy. Bottom line--EXPO is an important industry event where both our exhibitors and our attendees expect ISPA to deliver."
One first-time exhibitor, Maurizio Momoli, sales and marketing manager with
Soff-Art, an Italian manufacturer of top-of-bed accessories, said: "As an attendee, I have always appreciated the very professional format of this event. Now as an exhibitor, I benefit from the specialized crowd that ISPA EXPO continues to attract. These attendees make the bedding world turn, and being there gives me the opportunity to feel the pulse of the industry."
March 28,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on March 29, 2012
The
International Home Furnishings Representatives Association has named
Home Furnishing Representatives of Michigan its Chapter of the Year.
HFRM takes great pride in its persistence as a viable club, against constant and challenging odds, staying ahead of the curve as the furnishings industry continues to change drastically from what it was at its founding in 1948.
The oldest living member of HFRM, Gerald Ross, just passed away at the age of 90. He was still on the road right up to the end. Ross was representative of the long-serving, caring, and hard-working members who kept the Chapter going through all of the challenges.
Additionally, Jeffrey LaKritz, long-serving Board member, will be honored as Dean of IHFRA this year. Many of the HFRM members have been involved with the Chapter for their entire careers and have contributed generously with their time, to ensure the success of the work on behalf of charities such as Childrens Hospital in Detroit and Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids.
In recognition of the need for new survival skills, HFRM is planning more events for the edification of members, such as the All-Industry Seminar held in 2010. The annual HFRM holiday event for members and spouses is a popular social occasion as well as a presentation of the latest benefits of membership in the Chapter.
In 2011 HFRM launched a new, informative
Web site for members and retailers to take the place of our print Buyers' Guide. This new Web site enhances both the opportunities and abilities to communicate with members and customers.
For more information about the IHFRA Presidential Gala and Awards Ceremony, contact the IHFRA Office at 336.889.3920 or
e-mail. Reservations can also be made online at
www.ihfra.org.
March 28,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on March 29, 2012
Solid wood furniture maker Durham Furniture has a new program designed to offer style and finish variety, and sizes to fit home and lifestyle trends.
PerfectBalance by Durham Furniture, a new stand alone program, includes eight collections with the same solid wood craftsmanship, quality and delivery that define the 113-year-old Durham Furniture, Durham, Ontario. The difference is focus on allowing the consumer to virtually create her own bedroom furniture that is the right style with the right finish in the right size.
The eight distinct bedroom collections are available in up to 17 finishes including aged wheat and light brown, mid-brown and mid-cherry and paint colors to darker merlots. The 17 hardware choices range from antique bronze and brushed nickel to wood. Most of the beds include options for under-bed storage for each bed--twin, double, queen or king size. All include the proprietary Fortress Finish with under-mounted, self-closing drawer guides. A unique storage lift bed rounds out a broad selection of bed styles and sizes. And, all collections are right sized for real bedrooms.
"You love your space when all of the elements of design come together in a perfect balance," said Gord Dilworth, Durham CEO. "Fashioned for apartment or condo living, a family in an older or new smaller home, a second vacation home, a teenager ready for grown-up furniture, or the mature lifestyle of townhome living, PerfectBalance offers unmatched lifestyle flexibility for right-sized homes."
Taking a cue from the housing trends which show that the average American home size has dropped from 2,700 to under 2,400 square feet; and the average Canadian home from 2,266 to 1,980, PerfectBalance offers collections covering design categories from contemporary to traditional.
"How often have you heard a consumer say, 'I just love that style, if only it was in a different finish?' Or, 'I love that collection, if only it would fit into my bedroom?'" said Dave Pinamonti, Durham vice president of business development. "PerfectBalance is based on consumer research as our answer to personalization and the trend towards smaller homes, condo living, both younger lifestyles and an aging population that is downsizing."
The new program will include a full package of branded collateral materials for dealers, including point of purchase displays, a dedicated catalog binder with inserts for each collection, consumer marketing piece and product photography for local marketing.
The positioning of PerfectBalance marks an entry into consumer marketing for Durham and designed to speak directly to consumers shopping in dealer stores.