Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 25,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Dining on February 26, 2013
Whitewood Inds. casual dining division, John Thomas Furniture, is holding a finish face-off contest through March 29.
The contest encourages customer input on new finishes and paint stain finishes the company will incorporate into its custom finish program, John Thomas Select.
Customers who currently use the Select program are encouraged to submit an wood chip or paint swatch sample of a finish and/or paint stain color they would like to see added to the program. Samples will be returned per customer request at the contest's completion, and the number of submissions per customer is not limited.
Voting will take place during the April High Point Market April 18-22. Three winners will selected and announced on April 23.
Winners will be able select the name of the new finish and/or paint color. Three winners will be awarded gift cards to a national online retailer in the following increments: 1st place, $500; 2nd place, $350; and, 3rd place, $150. They will also be recognized after the Market.
Entries must be received by March 29 for consideration. Submissions should be sent to: Whitewood Inds. Attn: Marketing Dept. - Finish Face-Off
100 Liberty Dr., Thomasville, NC 27361
For additional information, e-mail Jamie Brendle or go online.
February 25,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on February 26, 2013
Furniture retail buying group Furniture First is moving its High Point Market showroom to the International Home Furnishings Center.
The showroom is located in space G770 of the IHFC. Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First, said growth in membership and programs made the move necessary.
At the market, the group will feature two private label mattress collections. Mattress 1st, made by Serta, features innerspring and wrapped mattresses that appeal to the promotional market. Health 1st mattresses feature memory foam and gel-infused memory foam. "Being able to offer two private label mattress lines gives Furniture First Members the unique ability to not only be competitive, but to achieve higher margins" said Andrew Kauffman, director of mattresses.
Other merchandise categories will be featured in the showroom as well.
"The new High Point showroom will feature a collection of exclusive fabric combinations from our Cozy Life private label brand," said Tony Moretti, vice president of merchandising, adding that the five frames in the showroom will feature exclusive step-up fabrics and blend-down seating. "We will have coordinated occasional tables, area rugs and accessories to complete the looks."
Furniture First owns, controls and supports the private labels they are featuring with free-standing Web sites, Facebook pages, tagging and point-of-sale materials.
"We have found that private labels help our retailers differentiate their stores and maintain their margins," said Ron Page, senior director of merchandising. "It's no coincidence that our private label programs have grown as our retailers see more and more competition coming from the Internet."
The group will also feature American-made Amish case goods, as well as a domestic wall and media unit program that offers exceptional values that rival imports. Other merchandise features will include 2013 Black Friday gift items that will be strong promotions for the fall selling season.
Furniture First will hold its general membership and annual meeting April 22 at 8 a.m. in the IHFC Club Ballroom on the 11th floor. The 2013-2014 board of directors will be elected at the members-only meeting.
February 25,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on February 26, 2013
from https://newsdesk4.moreover.com/click/?p=Qy84MjUzMjM0MjY5Jm49TkFQQ08&a=MTM1MTE2MzgzMzM&f=TmV3cw&s=cmljaHhtbA&u=YWNyZW5zaGF3QG5hcGNvLmNvbQ&c=TkFQQ08&i=MA&e=TW9uZXluZXdz&d=1989&t=1
U.S. consumer confidence picked up much more strongly than expected in February as Americans shrugged off earlier worries over fiscal policy and tax increases, a private sector report showed on Tuesday.
The Conference Board, an industry group, said its index of consumer attitudes accelerated to 69.6, from a downwardly revised 58.4 in January, handily topping economists' expectations for 61. It was the highest level since November.
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February 25,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Retail Technology on February 26, 2013
from http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/what-the-pros-know/decorating-apps#slide-1
The best apps carry the same traits as well-designed interiors: beauty, function, and inspiration. And Elle Décor has put together a list of top-performing, must-have apps every interior designer should have on their tablet.
Check them out.
Read Full Article...
February 25,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on February 26, 2013
from https://newsdesk4.moreover.com/click/?p=Qy84MjU1Njk5NjY0Jm49TkFQQ08&a=MTM1MTQyMzM0NzQ&f=TmV3cw&s=cmljaHhtbA&u=YWNyZW5zaGF3QG5hcGNvLmNvbQ&c=TkFQQ08&i=MA&e=RWxsZSBEZWNvcg&d=1989&t=1
The best apps carry the same traits as well-designed interiors: beauty, function, and inspiration. And with the right combination of apps, your iPad becomes one of the most versatile tools at your disposal. We asked seven interior designers - and one...
Read Full Article...
February 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on February 25, 2013
Phillips Collection founder Lawrence Phillips died Feb. 8 at age 95.
Phillips was born in New York in 1917 and attended Brooklyn College where he graduated at the age of 19. He went on to serve his country in Germany during World War II, where his platoon was among the first U.S. troops to liberate the concentration camps.
He came back from the war to join a fledgling dress business with his father and brother. They evolved into manufacturing and began to travel to Hong Kong in the late 60s. At this point, Larrys wife, Shirley Phillips, joined the company and together they started selling to high-end department stores such as
Bloomingdales.
Running a factory in Hong Kong kept the pair traveling around the world. They would collect beautiful objects from exotic countries such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos. Friends would visit their home on Long Island and be enthralled by the wonderful furniture and décor pieces, not only by the design and craftsmanship but by the stories Larry and Shirley would tell. The iconography, motif and trips through the jungles of Indonesia to reach the one village that was carving stones with a magic moving center into what they call the Kalimantan Egg. As they developed a sophisticated eye for antiquities, they became prominent New York dealers in Asian fine arts. They sold to the Met, LACMA, Chicago Art Institute, British Museum and the Stuttgart Museum.
They saw great opportunity to bring this global style to the furniture industry and asked their son Mark and his wife, Julie, to join them on a trip around the world. And so in 1983, Phillips Collection was founded.
Larry Phillips is survived by wife, Shirley Phillips; sons Mark and Michael Phillips, and their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Phillips' grandson Jason Phillips, vice president and creative director at Phillips Collection, High Point, said his grandfather was ever one to shy away from connecting dots, "even if they are 12,000 miles apart."
"If you asked Larry Phillips what he was, hed say a 'business man,'" Jason said. "If you asked anyone who knew Larry what he was, the answer would be more like tastemaker or visionary.'"
February 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on February 25, 2013
Bedding supplier Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE: TPX) posted an update to investors regarding its impending acquisition of Sealy Corp. (NYSE: ZZ)
The deal is now expected to close next month.
According to the release, Sealy's information statement has been cleared by the Securities and Exchange Commission and was mailed to shareholders Friday.
Under the merger agreement, the mailing must occur at least 20 days prior to closing of the deal. This step is expected to be satisfied March 14. With respect to Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance, the extended waiting period for Federal Trade Commission review expires March 8.
The proposed closing next month is contingent on the HSR clearance.