Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on February 13, 2012
Alden Clanahan, vice president of trend direction and design for the Dallas Market Center has died. He was 52.
"Alden's untimely passing is a deep loss for our company family, for our city and for the industries we serve," said Bill Winsor, president and CEO of the
Dallas Market Center. His keen eye and creative vision were an inspiration to every single person who walked through the Dallas marketplace. His intelligent expression and generosity will be deeply missed.
Clanahan began his retail career at department store Sanger Harris in 1981, and in the 1980s and 1990s served as a production manager for Dallas-based fashion designer Sandra Garratt, managed visual merchandising for
Neiman Marcus, and created a freelance business for visual merchandising, store planning and store design.
His roster of clients included
Carlos Falchi,
Escada, Lily Dodson,
Tootsies, Dallas Market Center, the Greenhouse Spas,
Trappings, Redeem and Translations, in addition to many private residential clients. In 2001, Alden joined Dallas Market Center to direct the visual merchandising and events department, where he was promoted to vice president in 2005.
Clanahan was tireless in his support of local service and charitable organizations. His leadership role within DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS) included serving on the Board of Trustees for three separate terms. In 2005, he was selected as a Texas Legend by the Metroplex Cadillac Dealers for his work with
DIFFA. He served as an active member of
Fashion Group International (FGI) Dallas for many years and was recently asked to join the Board of Trustees for FGI Dallas.
Clanahan is survived by his mother, brother, sister and his dog, Bella.
The funeral will be held at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas, at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17. A celebration of Clanahan's life will take place at the Dallas Market Center Tuesday, Feb. 28.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
DIFFA Dallas and the
SPCA.
February 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on February 13, 2012
Furniture supplier
Aico honored its top-producing sales representatives during its annual sales award banquet during the
Las Vegas Market.
Brad Pyne, who manages the company's New York and northern New Jersey, was recognized as sales professional of the year 2011. Pyne has been with the company six years.
In addition to a trophy, Pyne was presented a white gold diamond ring recognizing his achievement.
Brads drive and commitment has been key to our growth in the region, however, the recognition that Brad received from his peers this past year as dean of IHFRA is a true tribute to his makeup as a Professional," said Chuck Reilly, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Aico President Martin Ploy presented the Presidents Club award for outstanding sales achievement to Hank Butler, Mike Gray, Frank Lorenzo, Pyne and Jake Salman. In presenting these awards, Martin said, the measure of success is not just in the volume of sales achieved, but in facilitating growth even in the toughest times. These gentlemen continually reinvent their sales approach to win in challenging times.
Lawrence Pascal, who has managed the Canadian territory at AICO for more than 12 years, was honored with the Spirit of Professionalism award, which is given annually to the sales professional who most exemplifies professionalism day in day out and in the management of their accounts.
In addition to these awards, other representatives were honored for sales achievement in the top-of-bed and upholstery sales.
February 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Rent-To-Own on February 13, 2012
Rent-to-own furniture and appliance retailer Aaron's (NYSE: AAN) reported an 8 percent increase in fourth-quarter and 2012 revenue to $523.5 million and $2.02 billion, respectively.
Net earnings were down--off 1 percent in the fourth quarter to $30.5 million; and down 4 percent to $113.8 million for the year.
Same store revenues increased 3.7 percent during fourth-quarter 2011 compared with the fourth quarter of 2010. Same store revenues also increased 2.1 percent for company-operated stores open for over two years at the end of 2011.
During the fourth quarter, Aaron's recorded a $3.5 million, or $.03 per diluted share, charge to earnings for separation costs primarily related to the accelerated vesting of restricted stock units and stock options previously granted to its former CEO.
"Excluding the aforementioned $.03 diluted per share charge, our results for the fourth quarter and year were within our guidance," said Ronald W. Allen, interim President and CEO of Aaron's. "We had good revenue and customer growth during the quarter, and believe the results were outstanding in these challenging economic times. Our market remains large, and the high-quality, affordable basic home furnishings we provide fulfills the desires and needs of our customers.
"We continued to expand our HomeSmart weekly rental business during the quarter and had 71 HomeSmart stores open at the end of the year. Revenues of the HomeSmart stores grew to $8.6 million for the fourth quarter and $15.4 million for the year; however, the start-up expenses associated with opening these stores negatively affected earnings during the quarter by $.03 per diluted share and $.06 per diluted share for the year. We continue to be very optimistic about the future prospects for HomeSmart, but as previously stated, do not plan to open a significant number of additional HomeSmart stores until the earnings and return on investment potential of this concept are thoroughly evaluated."
During the fourth quarter, Aaron's opened 16 company-operated Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores; 18 franchised stores, eight HomeSmart stores; and three RIMCO stores. The company also acquired four stores from franchisees; seven stores were acquired from a third party operator and converted to HomeSmart stores; and one company-operated store was sold to a franchisee. In addition, during the quarter the company closed 10 company-operated stores and one franchised store.
For the 2011 year, the company opened 51 company-operated Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores; 55 franchised stores; 24 HomeSmart stores and six RIMCO stores. In addition, during the year 44 stores were acquired from third-party operators and were converted to HomeSmart stores, along with one Aaron's company-operated store. Aaron's total net store count increased 7 percent for the year.
During the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2011, the company awarded area development agreements to open 17 and 68 additional franchised stores, respectively. At the end of December 2011, area development agreements were outstanding for the opening of 230 franchised stores over the next several years.
As of Dec. 31, Aaron's had 1,144 company-operated Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores; 707 Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership franchised stores; 71 HomeSmart stores; 16 company-operated RIMCO stores, and six franchised RIMCO stores. The Company also had one Aaron's Office Furniture store. The total number of stores open at the end of 2011 was 1,945.
February 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on February 13, 2012
High-end outdoor furniture and accessory vendor O.W. Lee has two new quick-ship programs for faster access to inventory for retail dealers and designers in all regions.
The program includes the company's Santorini Fire Pit and a Monterra Chat & Fire Pit Set, which can now be shipped within 10 working days from receipt of completed sales orders. The "Fast as Fire, On Demand" quick ship programs will be available to O.W. Lee's customers March 1-Aug. 31.
"We developed the new 'Fast as Fire, On Demand' program with quicker lead times on key products to maximize dealer success with our lines," says Terri Lee Rogers, president of Ontario, Calif.-based O.W. Lee. "In addition, we wanted to ensure popular items could be delivered to our customers in a timely manner for their short lead-time installations."
The Santorini Fire Pit quick-ship initiative includes a choice of three hearth tops. The 42-inch hearth tops feature hand-cut ceramic tiles in Sand, Mocha or Calico. The Santorini Fire Pit has a rich Espresso finish and comes with burner assembly. Fire ring inserts can be ordered such as a Log Kit with lava rock granules, Ceramic Rock Kit with lava rock granules, Glass Kit with decorative glass in two colors, or Lava Granules only.
The Monterra Chat & Fire Pit Set was conceptualized to offer a combination of O.W. Lee's popular Monterra Club Chairs and Vesuvius Chat Height Fire Pit. The chair options are the Monterra Spring Base Club Chair and Monterra Swivel Club Chair, both with Espresso frames and Fife Ginger fabric cushions. The Vesuvius fire pit base is paired with a Richmond 54-inch round hearth top in cast aluminum.
The Richmond hearth top frame is Espresso in fashion with the frames of the Monterra Club Chairs. Fire ring inserts featured in the Monterra Chat & Fire Pit Set are the same as with the Santorini Fire Pit program.
O.W. Lee leased a 25,000-square-foot warehouse to store the inventory for both of the new quick-ship programs. The building is adjacent to the company's upholstery department and in close proximity to the main manufacturing plant.
"Last year, several dealers successfully placed Santorini on the floor because of our quick-ship," said Rogers. "It allowed them to show more selection with minimal increases in inventory, while still servicing consumers quickly."
February 12,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on February 13, 2012
Matthew Howsare, chief of staff for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, will address furniture industry issues at the Feb. 22-23 AHFA Sustainability Summit in Raleigh, N.C.
Howsare's topics will include an update on the federal upholstered furniture flammability standard and the impact of the growing environmental backlash focused on flame retardant chemicals.
Registration remains open for the 2012 Sustainability Summit, sponsored by the American Home Furnishings Alliance(http://www.ahfa.us) and dedicated to advancing sustainable business practices in the home furnishings industry.
Best practices that help companies meet their sustainability objectives in a manner that supports their overall business goals is the focus of the Summit, being held at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel in Raleigh, N.C.
Registration for the 2012 Sustainability Summit is available online here under EVENTS. Registration is $325 for AHFA members and $500 for non-members. The AHFA rate is also available to members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
Titled "Racing Beyond Expectations: Best Practices Fueling the Industrys Sustainability Successes," the Summit opens at 9 a.m. on Feb. 22 with keynote speaker Michael Lynch, managing director of NASCAR Green Innovation. Since 2008, Lynch has built the largest recycling program in sports, diverting more than 1,000 tons of material from landfills in 2011. In addition to extensive recycling, the program includes introducing biofuels to all three of NASCAR's major races and working to popularize environmental behavior within NASCAR's estimated audience of 75 million people.
Additional Summit presentations on Feb. 22 include:
* Green Innovations Changing the Industry Right Now: Furniture Packaging from Ultra-Rapid Renewables. At its manufacturing facility in Green Island, N.Y., Ecovative produces innovative packaging material out of cotton-seed hulls and mushroom roots. Steelcase is using Ecovatives sustainable packaging to replace expanded polystyrene previously used to ship ready-to-assemble office furniture a solution that provides better protection and far less environmental impact for the same cost. Ecovative co-founder, Sam Harrington, will offer Summit attendees a quick course on ultra-rapid renewables and explain their current application for furniture packaging as well as some intriguing raw material applications for the furniture industry being explored by Ecovative R&D.
* Powering Toward Zero Waste: Ramping Up Recycling. Thomas Bean was the sustainability team manager for Hickory Springs Manufacturing until the success of that companys recycling initiatives led him to form his own company last year. EarthWay Global was formed with the specific intent of processing waste streams derived from the home furnishings industry. The company is tackling solutions to the industrys toughest waste challenges, including packaging foams, fabric waste, and pallet and wood waste. Bean will address these challenges and lead a discussion focused on solutions.
* Accelerate Energy Savings. Increased efficiency is the best way to improve the bottom line and environmental performance. But, beyond high efficiency lighting, where can home furnishings companies find new energy efficiencies? Trebor Davis, energy consultant with Southpoint Solutions, Charlotte, will explain the latest advancements and describe new technology just coming to the market.
* Best Ideas: Sauder Woodworking--The Case for Sustainability Reporting. Many home furnishings companies are finding that financial reporting alone no longer satisfies investors, governments, supply-chain partners and consumers. Today, these stakeholders also want information on sustainability initiatives. More than 2,500 organizations around the world measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Sauder Woodworking, the 2011 Sage Award winner, is one of them. The companys executive vice president for operations, Garrett Tinsman, who recently completed Sauders first annual Sustainability Report, will describe the tangible business benefits of sustainability reporting.
* Best Ideas: Crypton Fabrics--The Benefits of Third-Party Certifications. In addition to seeking third party certification for its textile products, Crypton Fabrics has been an industry leader in helping to develop the Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric. The company's vice president of research and development, Hardy Sullivan, will describe the use of industry-wide standards and certifications for commercial upholstery and discuss their potential use in the residential sector.
* Best Ideas: FBN and Century Furniture Case Histories. David Stout, director of environmental compliance, will describe the implementation of the EFEC environmental management system across the many brands and operating facilities of Furniture Brands International. Keith Nichols, plant manager for Century Furniture, will describe the challenges and opportunities experienced while meeting requirements of AHFA's Sustainable by Design program.
Following a day of practical strategies for powering environmental initiatives beyond expectations, the Summit program will turn to regulatory issues that are related to environmental management. AHFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Bill Perdue will open the program on Feb. 23 with an overview of current regulatory issues related to environmental management.
In addition to Howsare from CPSC, key presenters throughout the day include:
* Brent McClendon, executive vice president of the International Wood Products Association, who will discuss his organization's efforts to amend the Lacey Act in ways that will protect law-abiding businesses and individuals while preserving the integrity of the law. He'll explain what the IWPA is doing, what's happening on Capitol Hill, and what companies can expect in 2012.
* Alex Katz, research associate in the New Jersey office of UL Responsible Sourcing, who will address new regulations governing supply chain transparency--regulations that h've moved "social responsibility" to the forefront of the sustainability discussion in corporate America. Katz helped author AHFAs new Responsible Sourcing Manual and Country Risk Profiles.
* Jim Chester, CEO of Assured Products Group, who will present a cost-effective plan for tracking and storing supply chain compliance documentation for all environmental and safety regulations. The program helps prevent superfluous testing expenses and ensures required documentation is in place if regulators come calling.
AHFA's discounted room block at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel is sold out. However, rooms are readily available at comparable rates at several nearby hotels. Call AHFA at 336.881.1006, for more information.