Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on February 8, 2012
An independent study by N.C. State University says three of four home furnishings companies using outside carriers opt for specialized furniture carriers.
The furniture carrier survey was commissioned by the Specialized Furniture Carriers, a division of the American Home Furnishings Alliance that serves niche carriers dedicated to the transportation and delivery of residential furnishings. The group intends to use results of the study to develop programs, services and marketing materials for its members.
Companies using specialized furniture carriers said they value these companies' services for their furniture handling expertise, personalized service and support for the furniture industry, according to the study. The respondents reported using specialized carriers for both business-to-business and business-to-customer deliveries.
The study was conducted by the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center and the Psychology Department at NCSU and included 234 respondents responsible for logistics at furniture manufacturing and retail companies. Slightly more than half of the group (53 percent) reported using external, third-party freight carriers. Of this group, 76 percent reported using specialized furniture carriers, while 24 percent said they use general commodity carriers.
The majority of survey respondents were from retail companies (76 percent) and reported being highly experienced, with 67 percent having been in the furniture industry more than 20 years. Only 6 percent of respondents said they had been in the furniture industry less than five years. Most (59 percent) work for small- to medium-size companies with fewer than 25 employees. However, nearly one out of four (23 percent) work for companies employing more than 100.
Those using specialized carriers were asked to judge the quality of 19 services provided by specialized carriers compared to general commodity carriers. Respondents reported satisfaction with the services they receive, specifically citing better furniture handling and more personalized service as top advantages to using a specialized furniture carrier. Many also said they consider specialized furniture carriers essential to the furniture industry.
Among those respondents who said they do not use specialized furniture carriers, most reported that they perceive little difference between the service qualities of general and specialized carriers, or they lacked information about specialized carriers.
February 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in licensing on February 8, 2012
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5890081106&z=1250249032
It's staff meeting time for the biggest retail brand you've never heard of, which at Kathy Ireland Worldwide means marching up the hills outside Santa Barbara to the eponymous founder's mission-style home for a corporate version of "I'm OK, You're OK." As the coastal air tempers the bright California sun, 15 staffers dressed in casual black sprawl on the plush sofas or sit cross-legged on the floor. An Academy Award rests nonchalantly on an end table, lending a surreal touch. "Don't ask about the Oscar," one of Ireland's confidants says to me furtively. (It was from another fashion diva
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February 7,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on February 8, 2012
from http://www.cnbc.com/id/46317014?__source=RSS*tag*&par=RSS
Specialty mattress maker Select Comfort Inc. said Wednesday its profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter, and the company's shares jumped in after-hours trading.
The company forecast a profit of $1.32 to $1.40 per share in 2012, while analysts were expecting $1.32 per share, on average.
Select Comfort stock surged $2.70, or 9.9 percent, to $29.87 in late trading. The shares reached an annual high of $28.91 on Tuesday, and declined 3 cents to $27.17 during regular trading Wednesday.
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February 6,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on February 7, 2012
from http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-07/news/31032936_1_magazine-street-big-easy-decorating
Even before Bryan Batt hit it big with his portrayal of art director Sal Romano in the AMC hit series Mad Men, hed already learned the lesson Sal experienced the hard way: Have a backup plan.
Knowing that the fortunes of an actor are anything but reliable, Batt had already established a rewarding side career. In 2003, four years before Mad Men, he and partner Tom Cianfichi opened Hazelnut, a home accessories and gift store, on New Orleans' Madison Street.
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February 6,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on February 7, 2012
Brando Enterprises has been awarded a $356,000 judgment in its lawsuit against Ashley Furniture for unauthorized sale of a line of furniture under the "Brando" name.
Brando Enterprises, Los Angeles, owns all intellectual property rights of the late actor Marlon Brando.
Brando Enterprises filed the action last June against Arcadia, Wis.-based Ashley in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleging violation of California's post-mortem right of publicity statute and trademark infringement.
"Obviously we are very pleased with the result," said Larry Dressler of Brando Enterprises. "The judgment sends a clear message that infringers of Marlon Brando's name and image will be pursued to the fullest extent, and forced to pay substantial damages."
Brando Enterprises also has filed a similar suite against Seffner, Fla.-based furniture retailer Rooms to Go.