November 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on November 13, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5464181520&z=1250249027
The square and surrounding area has had its fair share of ups and downs recently, but one of its longest-tenured owners is doing his best to give the area a little boost and keep it looking good. Sam Ramsey, owner of Ramsey's Furniture, remodeled the outside of his main store and store annex on Clark Street, the first major remodeling since Ramsey bought the store from his father in 1964. The most obvious changes are the additions of columns to the entrance of both stores and the painting of the "Ramsey's Furniture" sign to blue.
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November 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 11, 2011
The third annual National Home Furnishings Month, sponsored by
International Market Centers, broke records after expanding this years industrywide retail campaign to a large American demographic: renters.
More sweepstakes entries, more dealer participation and more Is It Home Yet? fans marked this years campaign results.
The month-long Is It Home Yet? promotion, which ended Sept. 30, added a new twist to the consumer-targeted promotion by expanding the grand prize, which previously only offered mortgage payments for one year, to now include rent to the offer.
By increasing its participation base to renters, and executing a more targeted social and Internet campaign, IMC called it the most successful National Home Furnishing Month to date, drawing nearly 118,000 entries, an 11 percent increase compared to last years campaign.
The official site drew 128,814 unique visitors and 316,780 page views.
The program was designed to drive sales to participating retailers and offer consumers advice on home décor. Since inception, the campaign has been offered as a complimentary service to retailers. This years campaign attracted 15 percent more stores than last year.
The Is It Home Yet? Facebook fan base in 2011 increased to 51,396 at the conclusion of the campaign, a 20 percent growth in Likes over last years campaign. The campaign also received an above average click-through rate on web-based media this year. Out of all the consumers who entered the sweepstakes, 45 percent said that when shopping for furnishings they would mostly seek expert advice and information in stores and 32 percent said they would use the Internet.
For the third year in a row, the National Home Furnishings Month delivered a powerful punch of excitement and engagement for retailers and consumers, said Bob Maricich, chief executive officer of International Market Centers. By expanding the sweepstakes to include renters as well as homeownerscoupled with greater retail partnerships and marketing supportparticipating stores reached an unprecedented number of followers and new shoppers through a united message and compelling sweepstakes offer.
The average American adult spends between 25 and 40 percent of their income on housing. Maricich said the sweepstakes aims to lighten the load for a family, and at the same time, stimulate interest in other facets of the home, namely purchases of furnishings during the ever-important fourth quarter.
In addition to a motivated consumer audience, participating stores have found National Home Furnishings Month to be addititive to their fall sales numbers, said Maricich.
The dealers said this was a great tool that they used as an ice breaker over the Labor Day Weekend, said Kerry Lebensburger, president of
Ashley Furniture. Consumers loved the opportunity to join in the sweepstakes, and it was a great promotion to have over this historically important weekend.
Isidro Ramos at
Ramos Furniture used the promotion as a new marketing tool for his store.
I was very excited to be part of the event to gain more traffic, thus allowing the consumer to learn about our great deals on quality furniture," he said.
Reed Crawford of Mckeesport, Pa., received the grand prize, and will collect $24,000 cash in one lump sum or $2,000 paid out every month for 12 months.
My wife and I currently have a mortgage, but due to recent financial woes, were about to move to a rental, said Crawford. This prize money means so much to us. Well be able to get a head start on renting, with our security deposit and first months rent, and well use it to help pay for the move. We plan to also buy new furnishings for our new home, too.
November 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 11, 2011
Home furnishings retailer
Mor Furniture for Less kicked off the grand opening this week of its 22nd showroom just in time for this Veteran's Day, typically a heavy promotion weekend for retailers.
The Southern California based company is expanding into an all-new market with the store in Tri-Cities, Washington.
After remodeling a former Circuit City store, Mor Furniture for Less now occupies retail space formerly empty for years and created 25-30 jobs for residents of the area. The new furniture store neighbors Kohl's Department Store and the Columbia Center mall and is one of the largest furniture stores in the Tri-Cities region. Other Mor Furniture for Less locations in the state include the Spokane and Seattle furniture stores, the latter being the company's largest at 120,000 square feet in size.
Mor Furniture for Less, established 1977, operates 22 furniture stores in seven states.
November 9,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on November 10, 2011
Home furnishings retailer
Ikea plugged in four electric vehicle charging stations at its Carson, Calif., store as part of its partnership with
ECOtality.
This initiative represents the second such project for the retailer in the U.S. Installation also is planned at seven other Ikeas in the Western U.S. To charge an EV at IKEA Carson, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their
Blink InCard (RFID card), plug the charger into the charging site, and then shop and eat at their leisure in the IKEA store while the vehicle is charging.
We are thrilled at how these electric-vehicle charging stations further the sustainability of IKEA Carson, and now are available to the public, said Maike Buhmann, Carson store manager. We appreciate the support of ECOtality and Southern California Edisonour partners in helping facilitate and promote the use of EVs in Southern California.
November 9,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on November 10, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5454751172&z=1250249029
Northbrook, Ill.-based Crate & Barrel is getting a new look at the top. Barbara Turf, whose merchandising acumen helped to shape the distinctive style and substance of the home furnishings retailer for four decades, is stepping down as CEO in April, the company announced Thursday. Turf took the helm four years ago after founder and longtime CEO Gordon Segal retired. Sascha Bopp, who currently serves as chief operating officer, will assume the top post at the privately-held company. Marta Calle, who heads up CB2 -- the chain's younger-skewing division -- will take over the number two slot as president,
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