Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 16, 2012
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association is presenting long-time member and former association president Richard Gillispie, with its highest honor, the Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award.
The award will be presented at the 18th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala at the upcoming High Point Market. The gala will be held Monday, April 23, in the IHFC Ballroom on the 11th floor of the Green Wing.
The Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was founded in 1975 as IHFRA's highest honor bestowed to a member of the organization. The DSA has been given annually for the past 36 years to a deserving representative. The recipient of the DSA is a sales representative who embodies certain qualities and character and has distinguished him or herself on behalf of IHFRA to sales representatives and the industry. The recipient has also enhanced, by deed and action, the image of home furnishings sales representatives in the community and the industry.
Gillispie joined
IHFRA and the Virginia/Carolinas Chapter in 1995. He has been active in his chapter and the local Piedmont Club holding various positions such as Piedmont Club president in 1995 and president of the Virginia/Carolinas Chapter in 1997.
Becoming more involved with IHFRA on a national level, Gillispie "went through the chairs" and became IHFRA's 69th President in 2007. He completed his educational course requirements to become a CHR in 1996. His passion for education led him to chair IHFRA's education committee in 2006. He also serves on the Board of Directors for IHFRA.
Gillispie was nominated to the
High Point Market Authority board in 2005. He continues to serve on the board and is one of the original rep ambassadors for the organization. In addition, Gillispie served on the board of the
National Home Furnishings Association from 2005 until 2010 as the liaison for IHFRA.
Gillispie began his career at
Hooker Furniture in 1982, working part-time in the shipping department while attending college. He worked in the corporate office seven years before being transferred to North Carolina in 1994 to become a sales representative. He became partners with George Dowdy in 1996, while representing Hooker in Western North Carolina.
He has more than 25 years service with Hooker and received Hooker's James W. Roberts Award for outstanding service for a professional representative both in 1998 and 2000.
Gillispie and his wife Patricia have three children. He and his family are members of
St. Pius Catholic Church in Greensboro, N.C.
Reservations for the gala can be made online.
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on March 16, 2012
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association is presenting long-time member and former association president Richard Gillispie, with its highest honor, the Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award.
The award will be presented at the 18th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala at the upcoming High Point Market. The gala will be held Monday, April 23, in the IHFC Ballroom on the 11th floor of the Green Wing.
The Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was founded in 1975 as IHFRA's highest honor bestowed to a member of the organization. The DSA has been given annually for the past 36 years to a deserving representative. The recipient of the DSA is a sales representative who embodies certain qualities and character and has distinguished him or herself on behalf of IHFRA to sales representatives and the industry. The recipient has also enhanced, by deed and action, the image of home furnishings sales representatives in the community and the industry.
Gillispie joined
IHFRA and the Virginia/Carolinas Chapter in 1995. He has been active in his chapter and the local Piedmont Club holding various positions such as Piedmont Club president in 1995 and president of the Virginia/Carolinas Chapter in 1997.
Becoming more involved with IHFRA on a national level, Gillispie "went through the chairs" and became IHFRA's 69th President in 2007. He completed his educational course requirements to become a CHR in 1996. His passion for education led him to chair IHFRA's education committee in 2006. He also serves on the Board of Directors for IHFRA.
Gillispie was nominated to the
High Point Market Authority board in 2005. He continues to serve on the board and is one of the original rep ambassadors for the organization. In addition, Gillispie served on the board of the
National Home Furnishings Association from 2005 until 2010 as the liaison for IHFRA.
Gillispie began his career at
Hooker Furniture in 1982, working part-time in the shipping department while attending college. He worked in the corporate office seven years before being transferred to North Carolina in 1994 to become a sales representative. He became partners with George Dowdy in 1996, while representing Hooker in Western North Carolina.
He has more than 25 years service with Hooker and received Hooker's James W. Roberts Award for outstanding service for a professional representative both in 1998 and 2000.
Gillispie and his wife Patricia have three children. He and his family are members of
St. Pius Catholic Church in Greensboro, N.C.
Reservations for the gala can be made online.
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 16, 2012
High-end custom upholstery manufacturer
CR Laine Furniture will be moving to the
Hamilton-Wrenn Design District for the Spring
High Point Furniture Market.
The 11,000-square-foot location, space 204 in the 310 N. Hamilton Court Building, formerly occupied by
Sligh Furniture Co., is almost twice the size of CR Laine's previous space in the
IHFC.
"Over the last two years, CR Laine has had considerable growth," said Mark Gilmore, vice president of sales. "We needed more room to not only show a broader representation of our collection, but to facilitate the increased number of showroom visitors."
Last market, CR Laine was recognized as one of High Point's most creative and innovative exhibitors and presented first-runner-up as Best of Market in High Point Market's Showroom Design Competition. The panel of judges for this annual event included Margaret Russell, editor in chief of
Architectural Digest and iconic designer and architect
David Easton.
In addition to a new showroom, CR Laine is has created a new corporate logo. "The cleaner font type and added color better reflects the CR Laine brand today as leader in style, comfort, and color," Gilmore said.
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 16, 2012
Dorothy Belshaw has joined International Market Centers as president of its Gift division.
Most recently, Belshaw was a senior vice president at GLM, where she served as director of the New York International Gift Fair, overseeing GLM's sales, customer service and corporate communications departments.
"I am very pleased to have a true industry leader and professional join our executive team," said Robert Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. "Dorothy brings the leadership and experience to accelerate the growth of our Gift+Home show in Las Vegas. As a recognized and proven leader, Dorothy brings a wealth of expertise and relationships to help establish Gift+Home as the industry's premier Western Market."
Belshaw reports to Maricich. Reporting up to her is Margaret Powers, vice president of Tradeshow/Las Vegas, and the five-person tradeshow sales team. Belshaw will also manage World Market Center's permanent gift leasing team consisting of Leasing Managers Sheri Makransky and Cassie Catania.
"I am thrilled to join the IMC team in building an exciting new marketplace for the gift and home industries," Belshaw said. "IMC's clear and compelling vision for the Las Vegas Market and their strong commitment to the project to date have resulted in impressive and immediate results. I look forward to working with this dynamic team as we establish Gift+Home as the premiere gift show west of the Mississippi."
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 16, 2012
Curations Limited, a producer of vintage-inspired case goods, upholstery and accent furniture, is moving to a larger showroom in
Market Square for the April
High Point Market. The company, which had been showing at 225 S. Elm St., is doubling its space with the new 7,256-square-foot showroom located at M90. The additional space will enable Curations to showcase its three gallery presentations so that retailers can better see how the line could work in their stores, said Eleonora Stefantsova, CEO.
"We offer three packages of 500-, 700- and 1,320-square feet that can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual retailer," she said "We use digital, 3D renderings of each of our pieces to show them exactly how the gallery will look in their space."
Stefantsova said Market Square is the ideal venue for the company's growing line.
"The brick walls and aged wooden floors are a great match for our furnishings, which are vintage designs updated for today's tastes," Stefantsova said. "We've built a special entryway for our new showroom and are also using a new color for our galleries that will be featured in all of our displays."
In addition to using the showroom for market, Curations plans to move its U.S. office to Market Square as well.
"This will enable our staff to be surrounded by our furnishings in the same settings as retailers have on their own floors," Stefantsova said. "We'll be able to answer questions faster and more accurately."
At the April market, Curations will introduce a collection of tables, benches and bookshelves with solid-oak tops and metal legs as well as new solid-oak case goods. To make product ordering easier for retailers and consumers, the company is rolling out a number of new technology tools, including a Web site update and
iPad applications.
"We're using technology to simplify the shopping process and make ordering and shipping even faster," Stefantsova said. "Our sales representatives and retail salespeople now will be able to go directly to an iPad to show our line rather than having to use a printed catalog."
Stefantsova, an interior designer and entrepreneur, launched Curations Ltd. in 2006 to serve the Russian hospitality market. In April 2010, she debuted the line at the High Point Market. The company sources its product from China, with pieces available on a container-direct basis or in smaller quantities from its High Point warehouse.