Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 23,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on February 24, 2012
Home furnishings retailer Leon & Lulu, Clawson, Mich., will host its Spring Artists' Market on Sunday, March 4, and Tuesday, March 6.
The event, which features more than 40 local artists showing their hand-made art at the juried show, runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 4; and 3-8 p.m. on March 6. Exhibits will include jewelry, pottery and photography. All products are hand-made in Michigan and the artists will be in attendance.
There is no admission fee to attend or exhibit, giving emerging artisans a high-traffic place to showcase their goods with no out-of-pocket expense. The event benefits Cass Community Services, serving the homeless population in Detroit.
"We love artists and the products they make and are delighted to be able to help emerging craftspeople showcase their work," said Leon & Lulu Owner Mary Liz Curtin. "It is our pleasure to support the artistic community and to help Cass Community Services."
For the full list of participating artists and their bios, click here.
February 23,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on February 24, 2012
Home furnishings retailer Leon & Lulu, Clawson, Mich., will host its Spring Artists' Market on Sunday, March 4, and Tuesday, March 6.
The event, which features more than 40 local artists showing their hand-made art at the juried show, runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 4; and 3-8 p.m. on March 6. Exhibits will include jewelry, pottery and photography. All products are hand-made in Michigan and the artists will be in attendance.
There is no admission fee to attend or exhibit, giving emerging artisans a high-traffic place to showcase their goods with no out-of-pocket expense. The event benefits Cass Community Services, serving the homeless population in Detroit.
"We love artists and the products they make and are delighted to be able to help emerging craftspeople showcase their work," said Leon & Lulu Owner Mary Liz Curtin. "It is our pleasure to support the artistic community and to help Cass Community Services."
For the full list of participating artists and their bios, click here.
February 23,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on February 24, 2012
Douglas Broward has joined AmericasMart Atlanta parent AMC Inc. in a new position, senior vice president/branding.
The post was created to help accelerate and expand AmericasMart's growth in the global tradeshow/trade mart sector. Broward is charged with creating and sustaining AmericasMart brand continuity across all shows, markets and business lines through all marketing communications channels and in the AmericasMart on-site brand presence.
Broward joins AMC from Grizzard Advertising, part of the global advertising and marketing firm Omnicom Group, where he was chief creative officer. At Grizzard, and in other agencies and firms, Broward developed successful branding and strategic creative programming for a range of clients.
His new position emphasizess AMC's mission as a global marketing services company and elevates the celebrated AmericasMart brand as a driving force in delivering superior customer service, said President and COO Jeffrey L. Portman Sr.
"Douglas brings his creative prowess to bear on every aspect of our business," he said. "He will help lead the charge to express AmericasMart in cutting-edge, harmonious ways through all internal and external expressions of our brand."
February 23,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Financial Reports on February 24, 2012
Leon's Furniture reported 2011 sales of $879.6 million (Canadian), a 3.1 percent drop from 2010; and net income fell 10 percent to $56.7 million.
Same store corporate sales were down 6.4% from the prior year.
For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2011, sales of $255 million were off 1.1 percent compared with the prior-year period; and net income of $19.9 million was off 6.7 percent. Same store corporate sales were down 7.4 percent from the prior-year fourth quarter.
In the third quarter of 2011, Toronto-based Leon's opened a new corporate store in Guelph, Ontario. That was followed by grand openings in the fourth quarter of 2011 of three additional corporate stores in Mississauga, Ontario; Rosemere, Quebec; and Regina, Saskatchewan. Also in the fourth quarter, new Leon's franchise locations had grand openings in Bathurst, New Brunswick; and Drummondville, Quebec.
In addition to these new locations, renovations are underway in Leon's Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, corporate stores. The Trenton, Ontario franchise recently completed a store renovation, and a renovation and expansion will commence shortly at the Simcoe, Ontario, franchise. The Kentville franchise has recently completed construction of a new and larger replacement store in Coldbrook, Nova Scotia. Construction has also started for a brand new franchise store to replace the existing St. John, New Brunswick store.
Leon's also has secured sites for four new corporate stores in Orangeville and Brantford, Ontario; Sherbrooke, Quebec; and Rocky View County, just north of Calgary, Alberta. Those locations should open during the later part of 2012 and 2013.
Click here for the full Leon's Furniture release.
February 23,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on February 24, 2012
Stephen Kosmalski has joined accent furniture and lighting vendor Stein World as president and CEO.
"We are very pleased that we have been able to add a very well rounded and experienced CEO to lead the Stein World team," said Stein World Chairman David Fiore. "Steve Kosmalski brings over 15 years of CEO and general management experience and a track record of success in the home décor industry. He is an excellent fit with the strategic direction of Stein World."
Prior to assuming the leadership of Memphis, Tenn.-based Stein World, Kosmalski served as president of Crescent Corp. For the seven years prior to Crescent, he held the position of group president overseeing four business units of Blyth Corp. in the home decor and seasonal decor industry, a group that comprised Blyth's largest business units. Kosmalski began his career as a sales and marketing executive with consumer brand companies, Revlon and Gibson's Greeting cards before moving into general management with International Paper and then onto CEO/president positions with Blyth and Crescent.
"Steve's strong international supply chain experience coupled with his demonstrated leadership ability, strategic vision and broad business experience combined with Stein World's outstanding management team will deliver excellence in service while supplying distinctive products with exceptional value to our customers," said Fiore.
Kosmalski earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his masters of business administration from the University of Detroit. He completed the Kellogg School of Management program at Northwestern University. Currently a resident in the Chicago area, he and his wife will relocate to Memphis in the near future.