Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on March 28, 2012
Ashley Furniture Homestores has launched design-focused boards on social media site
Pinterest.
Ashley will pin images that highlight everything from different ways to use color, to a variety of decorating styles--all aimed at inspiring its customers and anyone else who shares an enthusiasm for home design. Users who visit the new Ashley pinboards can comment, "like" and "repin" items to their own pinboards to share with friends and family.
"Pinterest is a popular social media site--a virtual pinboard--that allows people to collect and share images on the Web, including home decor, design and lifestyle ideas," said Kris Woodcock, vice president of Merchandising. "We're excited to join this online community because it's yet another avenue for us to share with others our passion for beautiful furniture and home decor."
Ashley Furniture Homestores has more than 425 locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan.
March 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 28, 2012
Groupe Bermex is set to open "The Factory," featuring 10 Canadian home furnishings brands at Spring
High Point Furniture Market.
Located at 400 W. English Rd., the 95,000-square-foot building's exhibitors include established vendors
Bermex,
Dinec,
Shermag,
Jaymar,
Midi and
Bertanie, which are moving from their prior showrooms; and four brands new to dealers here:
Dezmo, D-10 Furniture,
Jaymar Mattress and
Liinz.
The Factory is a permanent, consolidated showroom for the brands listed, all of which are managed by Quebec-based Groupe Bermex Inc., a holding company for one of Canada's largest vertically integrated furniture manufacturing operations.
Groupe Bermex has invested in growth, infrastructure, and diversification since 2005 through both the acquisition and creation of Canada-based furnishings companies, according to Daniel Walker, president and chief of commercial operations.
"The launch of The Factory in April is the culmination of our vision to give home furnishings dealers the product differentiation at retail they need to grow sales, along with the efficiencies and exceptional service that a fully integrated back-end operation can provide," says Walker. "With economic rebound in sight for the U.S., we have no doubt this is the right time for our debut. We very much want to be every dealer's ultimate High Point Market destination."
The Factory aims to provide a one-stop shopping experience for furniture retailers, with major product categories represented, such as dining, bedroom, home entertainment, youth furniture, seating, in styles ranging from contemporary to transitional and traditional. Casual and formal furniture products at a variety of price points include case goods made from solid wood, upholstered items, accent items, and bedding. Customization options for sizing, finishes, and hardware, for example, and quick deliveries for many of the product lines, are designed to address the needs and expectations of today's furniture shoppers.
A dedicated, multi-vehicle shuttle service, accessible by calling 336.882.3950 during market dates will transport buyers to and from The Factory's four-floor showroom. The red brick building with its original water tower was a former hosiery mill built early in the last century, and is situated at the perimeter of downtown High Point. Dealer parking is also available on-site.
The Factory will kick off High Point Market with a grand opening event for the companies' dealers on Friday, April 20, beginning at 6 p.m.
March 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on March 28, 2012
Solid-wood case goods and occasional vendor Mastercraft Collections is moving to a new 16,346-square-foot showroom in the International Home Furnishings Center.
The new showroom, Design wing, space 1002, will be ready for the April 21-26 High Point Furniture Market, and replaces a 7,500-square-foot space in Furniture Plaza.
The move will consolidate all three of Mastercraft's lines into one showroom. At previous markets, its Douglas Casual Living and Arts & Crafts divisions shared a separate 6,000-square-foot showroom in Plaza Suites.
"Going forward, more of our product will be marketed under the Mastercraft Collections umbrella rather than Douglas or Arts & Crafts," said Mike Facchini, vice president of sales and marketing. "We will still use those names for specific collections but they will no longer be stand-alone lines."
Mastercraft Collections' new, larger location on the IHFC's 10th floor positions it near a number of major industry players, Facchini said, including Hooker, Vaughan-Bassett and Norwalk.
"We sell a mix of Top 100 stores and smaller independents, and our new location will be a very convenient place for them to shop," he said.
"This is a great example of how we are able to meet the needs of our customers here in High Point due to the broad portfolio of properties we own," said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers in High Point. "Mastercraft had spaces in two of our properties and was interested in consolidating all three of their lines into one large showroom, and we were able to find the perfect location for them in the IHFC."
At the April market, Facchini said, Mastercraft plans to introduce an ambitious slate of new products. They include major changes to the Douglas Casual Living line, which is being re-merchandised with 10 new collections being brought out under the Mastercraft Collections label.
As part of the remerchandising, the company is switching Douglas' sourcing to new factories in Vietnam and China "to step up the quality and update the styling," said Facchini, and it's introducing a new solid-wood casual dining program. In addition, Mastercraft is adding stationary dining options and pub heights to Douglas' castered dining offerings, "filling a long-time void in the line."
"We're aiming to strengthen our position as a key source for a complete range of casual dining products in the middle of the market--the $799 to $1,699 retail range," said Facchini.
This market, Mastercraft also is adding its first-ever upholstery to the Mastercraft line and the Arts & Crafts collection of solid-wood, Mission-style furniture. Sourced from Michael Nicholas in Buena Park, Calif., the upholstery offering will feature sofas, sectionals, love seats and chairs, with a wide range of leg, arm, fabric and finish options. Sofas will retail for $899 to $1,099.
"All of this upholstery will be made-in-America, so we'll be able to turn orders around quickly," said Facchini. "For the Arts & Crafts collection, everything will coordinate with existing wood products, expanding the range of decorating options for this popular line."
For Mastercraft, introductions will include upholstery that coordinates with best-selling case goods models in that line. In addition, Mastercraft is adding two youth bedroom groups, in Mission and country styling with multiple loft options, and several new adult bedrooms, including a reclaimed-style group called Harmony. It also is adding bedroom and occasional to its Arabesque collection in Old English styling, designed by Tracy Johnson.
"This represents a big introduction for us," said Facchini. "We're being extra-aggressive as we look for new ways to help our retailers generate business."
In addition to a direct-container program with its sources in Vietnam and China, Mastercraft Collections has four U.S. warehouses, in Plymouth, Mass.; High Point, N.C.; Ontario, Calif.; and Lakewood, Wash., to serve smaller retailers.
March 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Leather Upholstery on March 28, 2012
Leather furniture source Lazzaro Leather is moving to a larger, more centrally located showroom in the
International Home Furnishings Center.
The new location, space 1045 of the Hamilton wing, replaces two smaller spaces in the IHFC, and has more than 10,000 square feet of space, which Lazzaro will use to spotlight its growing line of leather upholstery, tables and accents, and fashion accessories.
"The new space is in a high-visibility, central spot, with lots of traffic moving through the area," said Lauri Cryan, vice president of operations. "We also have more window exposure, which will provide another great way for us to attract attention."
Known for its traditional leather upholstery, Lazzaro will introduce a variety of new transitional and contemporary models at market as well as two new leathers. New accent items include a traditional-style, rolling laptop computer table in solid birch with leather inlays and nailhead details and a variety of stylish steamer trunks. Many of the new models are designed by Richard Reichick, Lazzaro's president.
In addition, Lazzaro--which is owned by Chinese tannery Guangdong Sunton Leather Goods Co. Ltd.--will show a line of iPad covers, leather handbags and luggage that retailers can use as promotional items and giveaways.
"This market, we're looking to continue to build our brand with exciting new products and programs," said Cryan, adding that Lazzaro entered the U.S. market just four years ago as a new direct-to-retail division of longtime OEM supplier Guangdong Sunton.
"We already sell 20 of the Top 50 U.S. furniture retailers," said Cryan. "We doubled our sales in 2011 versus 2010, and we're expecting similar growth this year."
This month, Lazzaro relocated its U.S. operations from Mebane, N.C., to a new 70,000-square-foot office/warehouse building in High Point. The company provides 48-hour-or-less shipping on core items from the warehouse, which it has the option to expand.
March 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on March 28, 2012
Case goods importer Najarian Furniture will renovate and occupy a new, two-floor showroom in time for the April
High Point Furniture Market.
Moving from another showroom location within 220 Elm to space 220, which is accessible from the building's courtyard, Najarian will increase total square footage from 17,000 to 23,500.
The additional space will be used, in part, to accommodate Najarian's entry in the youth bedroom products category, announced earlier this month. Najarian Kids will debut its licensed collections and in-house designs geared to younger tastes, from toddlers to teens, at the spring tradeshow.
"We are extremely confident regarding our opportunity to grow in the youth category," said Michael Lawrence, vice president of sales, Najarian. "Early retailer feedback indicates that we're on the right track in terms of product mix and price points."
Najarian also will present product introductions in its contemporary and transitional collections for both dining room and bedroom.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new showroom will feature special guests and will be followed by a celebration for dealers on Saturday, April 21, in the 220 Elm building courtyard, beginning at 5 p.m.