Daily News Archive
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March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on March 16, 2012
El Dorado Furniture has teamed with non-profit organizations and local media to donate new furniture to 45 families in need.
The company, which celebrates its 45th anniversary in June, said the effort is to show its appreciation for South Florida's many years of support. The
"45 Years, 45 Families" program starts March 15 and ends June 27.
The 45 families will be selected by the non-profit organizations, and El Dorado Furniture will provide over a quarter of a million dollars in new furniture, interior design service, delivery, and set up.
"This is a great way to celebrate our anniversary," said Vice President of Operations Pedro Capo. "We are very grateful to our community."
More information is available online at
www.45years45families.com. The Web site will be updated with photos and videos as they visit each home.
This is not the first time El Dorado Furniture celebrates an anniversary with contributions to the community. In 2007 it celebrated its 40th anniversary with a similar program, "40 Years, 40 Families."
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on March 16, 2012
The imm cologne and LivingInteriors markets closed the end of January with a strong showing, according to
Koelnmesse, show organizers.
During the seven-day market, 1,157 companies from 54 countries exhibited at the show while 115,000 buyers shopped the wares.
"Cologne is the key business platform for the global furnishing industry," said Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. "We are proud to say that we are right on course. More exhibitors with a higher degree of internationality and happy attendees who got to see lots of product innovations."
The market set the stage for a strong year, according to Dirk Uwe Klaas, chief executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry.
"2012 looks like a good year with lots of momentum for the international furniture industry," he said. "As far as Germany is concerned, our domestic furnishing market may well become the engine that drives consumption."
Buyer attendance was up14 percent compared to the comparable show in 2010, and foreign visitors accounting for 42 percent. The event saw an increase of buyers from Europe, especially from the Russian Federation and Italy. Attendee numbers from North America and Asia were up as well. The public days were attended by 40,000 consumers seeking inspiration from the interior worlds on show.
"We see this result as proof that our many and varied activities, aimed not only at national and international trade visitors but at consumers as well, have been successful," said Katharina C. Hamma, COO of Koelnmesse. "The imm cologne 2012 has thus established itself as an order-writing and information platform."
Highlighted trends for 2012 were:
* The major trend theme is nature. Natural-looking and natural materials exude a sense of honesty and authenticity. Solid wood and veneer furniture is just as popular as parquet flooring. As for covering fabrics, real leather, lots of wool and wool felt are popular, the latter often knitted.
* Furniture items are becoming smaller. A growing number of singles are living in smaller spaces and need petite and multifunctional furniture. Merging of home areas, lighter furniture with more flexible applications. Reduced size upholstered furniture with smaller tables and home office equipment.
* Wall units are becoming more compact and slender. Chunky TV units are replaced with flat screens, less need for storage space due to digitized records. LED and energy saving lighting integrated in furniture items.
Show dates for 2013 are set for Jan. 14-20.
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Customer Service on March 16, 2012
Retail buying group BrandSource has launched a credit card program designed to boost Spring sales.
Members got a look at the program during the merchandising group's summit in Orlando last week. The new BrandSource credit card offers qualifying customers 0 percent interest, 24-month financing for a six-week promotional period that begins on April 22 and lasts through the end of May. The cost to the dealer is less than 1 percent.
"When a typical retailer runs a 0 interest, 24-month promotion, associated fees often climb as high as 10 percent, making it cost-prohibitive," said Bob Lawrence, CEO of BrandSource. "We've negotiated with Citi Financial Services to help offset the cost of this program so our members pay less than 1 percent. The money saved can be used for other things, including additional promotions or even member dues."
Earth Day marketing campaigns have exploded over recent years, with increasing numbers of major appliance, electronics and home furnishings retailers offering a variety of green- and energy-themed promotions. Men looking for Mother's Day gifts often purchase consumer electronics, major appliances or products geared toward outdoor entertaining. During the busy Memorial Day shopping weekend, consumers often search for great deals.
"Big box stores run aggressive advertising and promotional campaigns throughout the spring, and our members need a competitive edge," said Lawrence. "This program is designed to help BrandSource members drive foot traffic into their stores and help customers purchase what they need for their families with easier payment terms."
Based in Anaheim, Calif. and founded in 1969, BrandSource is a 100 percent member-owned merchandising group with nearly 4,500 independent dealer members in North America and close to 3,000 "branded" stores in the United States.
March 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on March 16, 2012
The
Accessories Resource Team is partnering with
Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative to donate, install and contribute "manpower" to the Saratoga Square project in New Orleans. The product installation will be for four new construction houses in this project.
The ART conference, May 17-20 in New Orleans, will feature a new workshop for attendees interested in participating in the project.
Jericho Road focuses on serving families through education on home ownership and community development. Some of the families stay on its rolls up to five years and utilize the support the organization offers to help them be successful homeowners and community citizens.
JR is strategic in its decisions as it relates to neighborhood revitalization and is a neighborhood-based, non-profit homebuilder that provides families with healthy and energy-efficient affordable housing opportunities.
"We believe that ART Conference is in a unique position to offer assistance and can make a real difference to this new community," said Susan Andrulis,
IMAX and ART Conference 2012 co-chairman.
The ART Conference project involves four new construction homes, and the group intends to provide furnishings for at least one living area of each home. Conference attendees will install the furnishings and participate in any other appropriate volunteer effort the afternoon of May 18.
"Jericho Road has found a brilliant partner in ART," said Holly Heine, director of operations and communications of Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative. "We search for and favor a volunteer partner who brings both passion and their own life skills to bear to the project at hand. In this case Jericho Road future homeowners will benefit from the love and passion that ART members bring to both helping and designing!"
The conference registration fees for attendees is $599 for ART members and $299 for a retail store attendee. The non-member attendee rate is $799.
Additional information about ART Conference and registration are available online. To guarantee hotel reservations, conference registration ends April 24.
March 14,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on March 15, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z6104032989&z=1250249030
More Americans are stretching out on new sofas as they settle into recently-purchased homes, amid an improving outlook for employment. Furniture sales grew 8.3 percent last month from a year earlier, following the largest increase since July 2000 in January, according to Census Bureau data. Meanwhile, existing single-family homes sold at an annual rate of 4.1 million in January, the most in almost two years, based on data from the National Association of Realtors. Demand appears to be rebounding as Americans regain confidence in the economy, said Ken Smith, managing partner of accounting firm SmithLeonard.
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