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March 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 13, 2012
Rock legend Lou Gramm, voice of Foreigner, will headline the Stars Under the Stars concert series at the upcoming Spring
High Point Market, April 21-26.
The concerts kick off Saturday, April 21, with opening act
Lacy Green. Merging musical influences like country, blues, and bluegrass into a new sound, N.C.-native Lacy Green's first single "For the Summertime" is a Top 100 country radio hit. Lacy's backup band features Sammy Shelor, four-time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year, and the 2012 winner of Steve Martin's Banjo of Excellence award.
The headline act,
Gramm of Foreigner, takes the stage Sunday, April 22. The rock vocalist and songwriter will perform some of his greatest hits with the Foreigner, including "Cold As Ice," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "I Want to Know What Love Is," and "Head Games."
Doors open for all concerts at 7 p.m. at Center Stage, between the Transportation Terminal and Showplace, and the concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Food and drinks are provided to Market attendees with a current market pass and photo ID. No one under the age of 15 will be admitted.
March 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on March 13, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z6090650253&z=1250249027
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.22 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in January, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 4.4 percent from December and 1.3 percent from January 2011. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent. The Trucker News Services WASHINGTON Import cargo volume at the nations major retail container ports is expected to increase 10 percent in March compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year gains should continue through mid-summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation
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March 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on March 13, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z6088436005&z=1250249027
_ Henry Kravis KKR & Co. stuffed its Sealy Mattress company with too much debt, contributing to the manufacturers loss of 90 percent of its value, the second-largest shareholder in the bedding maker claims. Distressed investor H Partners, in a letter to Sealys corporate governance committee, also claims KKR, which owns 45 percent of Sealy, paid itself $900,000 for a CEO search and made strategic errors in management. Dean Nelson, head of KKRs consulting unit, comes under fire in the letter for having excessive influence on the Sealy board. H Partners, a $1 billion fund manager best known for
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March 11,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on March 12, 2012
The International Sleep Products Association has added more than 50 new member companies so far this year.
The new members range from start-ups to veteran mattress producers and component suppliers, and include manufacturers of top-of-bed accessories joining ISPA in a new associate member category.
Companies are joining ISPA for a variety of reasons.
"Used mattress recycling is an issue that has been near and dear to my heart for a number of years," said Carroll Moran, owner of Sleep Inc., a new ISPA member. "I support what ISPA is doing to promote recycling in our industry, and in opposing state recycling laws that could be costly to manufacturers. Now is the time for our industry to unite and support ISPA's green efforts."
"Fabrictech was among the first top-of-bed manufacturers to see the value of joining ISPA," said Sean Bergman, vice president of sales and marketing at Fabrictech International. "ISPA's Better Sleep Council allows consumers to make a critical link between the importance of sleep and good health, which is key to manufacturers of all sleep products. We look forward to actively participating in ISPA and helping advance the interests of this industry."
"ISPA is the voice of the mattress and sleep products industry," said ISPA Chairman Gerry Borreggine. "Retaining existing members and recruiting new companies is key to keeping our programs vibrant and relevant. This past year, we have worked hard to promote the value of ISPA, and I am thrilled that our membership numbers have returned to pre-recession levels."
March 11,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Youth, Juvenile Furniture on March 12, 2012
Case goods importer Najarian Furniture will enter the youth bedroom furniture category with licensed collections and in-house designs at next month's High Point Furniture Market.
Showing in the City of Industry, Calif.-based company's 220 Elm showroom, Najarian Kids already has secured licensing agreements with popular youth brands Hello Kitty, Paul Frank and Barbie.
The new product offering includes beds, upholstered items, storage units and other accent items. Retail price points range from $49 to $999.
"The intention is to help our dealers create a high-turn item driven business at retail with exciting opportunities for promotion," said Michael Lawrence, vice president of sales and marketing, Najarian. "We expect young shoppers and their parents to respond enthusiastically to the brands, as well as to the distinctive product features that focus on functionality in youth bedrooms."
Since 1976, the Hello Kitty brand from Sanrio has retained its appeal to girls of all ages with a long list of branded products ranging from the smallest items--stickers and key chains sold through Toys 'R Us--to diamond encrusted jewelry worn by Hollywood starlets. The Hello Kitty furniture line from Najarian includes a space saving upholstered chair and ottoman, knock-down bookcase with drawer storage, toddler writing desk, and vanity sets, among other items--many boasting the kitten's bright pink signature hue.
Cartoonist and fashion designer Paul Frank created his Julius the Monkey character in the late '90s, an offbeat yet compelling illustration that spread like wildfire to cover T-shirts, backpacks, wallets, and cell phone cases. Embraced by both boys and girls alike, Frank's silly primate materializes in youth beds, nesting storage cubes, stackable ottomans, and colorful desk chairs from Najarian.
Najarian also will offer a line bearing the iconic Barbie doll's name; and Missy Couture and Najarian Teen, two in-house designed youth product lines that capitalize on the case goods specialists expertise in contemporary and transitional furniture styling.
A ribbon-cutting and launch event for Najarian dealers is set for Saturday, April 20, in the showroom.