Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 20, 2012
Scott Eckman has joined International Market Centers as chief marketing officer and chief strategy officer.
In this newly created position, Eckman is responsible for defining and driving all strategic, corporate development and marketing activities across the IMC organization. For the last five years, Eckman has served in a senior leadership capacity with GMAC Insurance Holdings, based in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"We are very excited to have someone of Scott's professionalism, leadership and critical thinking capabilities heading the strategy and marketing efforts for the newly formed organization of IMC," said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. He brings significant experience and proven success in leading corporate development activities, managing the analysis process for acquisitions, and designing and executing marketing initiatives.
"We have exceptional marketing talent and professionals in both High Point and Las Vegas with deep industry experience and notable successes building our markets and properties. Under Scott's leadership, we can continue to expand our teams' breadth and effectiveness as we harness the value proposition of our new corporate portfolio."
Eckman reports to Maricich and is based in High Point. Reporting up to Eckman is Dana Andrew, vice president of marketing and public relations, based in Las Vegas; and Karen Olson, vice president of marketing, based in High Point, and their respective marketing teams. Eckman also will work closely to support the leasing efforts of the President of Furniture, Tom Mitchell; and the newly appointed President of Gift, Dorothy Belshaw.
At GMAC Insurance Holdings, a $1.2 billion in personal lines insurance operation, Eckman was responsible for the sales and marketing activities of its Affinity Business, as well as all corporate marketing efforts and strategy efforts. He also was responsible for a 100-plus-person inbound sales call center. Prior to holding this position, Eckman served as a senior vice president and general manager of GMAC's Agency Division, where he was responsible for profit and loss of $600 million in auto insurance premiums sold through a network of over 10,000 independent insurance agents.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the talented team that Bob has assembled," Eckman said. "As a marketer, I am eager to have the opportunity to help identify and create real value that is created by bringing together the Las Vegas and High Point operations under one umbrella."
March 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 20, 2012
The schedule for the Design Viewpoints Series at the High Point Market has been set and offers up to .3 continuing education units.
Sponsored by the High Point Market Authority, the American Society of Interior Designers and Legrand, the series will take place April 22-24 at noon in the High Point Theatre, next to the Transportation Terminal.
All seminars in the series are free to interior designers and retailers attending the Market. No RSVP is required, and a boxed lunch will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
This year's series includes a discussion about how communication impacts the bottom line, how consumers live today and how to design for the changes, and how to prepare for the top macro trends coming in 2013.
"The Design Viewpoints Series has been hugely popular for the High Point Market and ASID by offering a series of topics critical to the success of designers and retailers," said Cheminne Taylor-Smith,vice president of marketing for the High Point Market Authority. "The design community is important to the High Point Market and this series is just one of the many ways that we work to support and promote interior designers."
"ASID is proud to join High Point Market in offering top-notch speakers on hot-button topics. Our focus is to develop events that are educational as well as inspiring," said Heidi Salati, director of education, ASID. "Working together with High Point Market has given ASID the chance to offer its members another quality educational opportunity".
Topics and speakers for the April Design Viewpoints Series include:
Sunday, April 22 - Top Communication Tips to Boost Profits How much profit have you lost or gained in your career as a result of your communication skills? Typically the answer is "a lot." There is a direct correlation between your level of communication skill and your income. Your communication impacts profits in the millions of dollars over a person's career - either in lost or added revenue. In this interactive presentation, participants will learn common mistakes and key tools to improve communication skill levels. As a 25-year veteran in Fortune 1000 companies, Angela Merola taught individuals and teams how to communicate effectively. Through consulting engagements, Angela helps organizations develop and implement strategies that will improve not just their profits, but their overall productivity and culture as well. .1 CEU Credit
Monday, April 23 - How People Live Now
Design maven Courtney Cachet works with designers and clients around the globe, which has given her an inside look into thousands of homes. The way people live has changed dramatically and their interiors must reflect new lifestyles. Cachet will present how people use their homes today, with inside tips for designers on how to keep up with, and design for, those changes. A regular contributor to Huffington Post and NBC, Cachet is one of the most sought after celebrity designers and a TV personality who has appeared in Vogue Italia, The Wall Street Journal, US Weekly, Better Homes & Gardens, People and more. .1 CEU Credit
Tuesday, April 24 - Fast Forward - Three Macro Trends for 2013
Greg Dunlop of WGSN-homebuildlife, the leading online global trend forecaster, will showcase an exclusive look at far-forward trends just coming over the horizon. Get an early look at the new colors, styles, materials, and inspirations that will influence the future of interior design in 2013. Powered by WGSN's global research and heritage, WGSN-homebuildlife is trusted by the biggest design brands in the world to deliver unmatched expertise in product categories that include furniture, lighting, print and pattern, bedding, bath, and tabletop. .1 CEU Credit
March 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 20, 2012
Furniture and bedding components vendor Hickory Springs has promoted Eddie Alala to national accounts director for consumer products.
In this newly created position, Alala will focus on maintaining and growing the consumer products division's key accounts as well as creating new business opportunities throughout the nation.
Alala joined Hickory Springs in 1990 and has held various positions within the company that have focused on establishing new business opportunities in both the retail furniture and bedding markets.
"Eddie's existing business relationships within the retail furniture and bedding markets will serve the company well as he works to strengthen key accounts and develop new relationships in the retail industry," said Dwayne Welch, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer of Hickory Springs, Hickory, N.C. "We look forward to Eddie bringing his 20-plus years of experience to the consumer products division and opening up valuable new retail markets and revenue streams for Hickory Springs."
Hickory Springs consumer retail products division has been producing and distributing exclusive lines of futon frames and mattresses, steel bed frames, adjustable bases, top of bed products and support products sold through hundreds of furniture stores, sleep shops, catalog companies and furniture chains located throughout the nation for more than 20 years.
The company has more than 50 manufacturing plants in 16 states and China. In addition to its core business in home furnishings, the company also serves a growing range of customers in the transportation, healthcare, packaging, and government markets.
March 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on March 20, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z6138076314&z=1250249032
Jonathan Adler has always had a big Washington following for his mod-meets-traditional home-furnishings line. So on May 22, when the New York designer plans to open a signature shop in Georgetown, hes going to stock plenty of hot-pink wool throws, stoneware horses and acid-yellow needlepoint pillows. A lot of my references have a sort of updated take on the WASP-y country-club style that is very Georgetown, says Adler, who started his design life as a potter. Georgetown is one of those singular places in the world with such a distinct character. I like to put my stores in places
Read Full Article...
March 19,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on March 20, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z6135603132&z=1250249032
ORLEANS, Vt. - The Ethan Allen furniture company is expanding its operations in Honduras. But the company says the move is to support its U.S. operations, not replace them. Ethan Allen has a furniture plant in Orleans and a sawmill in Beecher Falls. In the past decade, the Connecticut-based company has closed three furniture plans in Vermont. In announcing its purchase of the Honduras plant, Ethan Allen says it will help manage further growth of existing plants in North America.
Read Full Article...