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November 8,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 9, 2011
The International Sleep Products Association is a founding member of the Product Management Alliance, a group promoting free-market solutions to product stewardship.
Product manufacturers and trade associations from a wide range of industries joined to launch group, and ISPA participated because its advocacy efforts will support the interests of the mattress industry. Alliance members share a common belief that all parties in the supply chain share responsibility to effectively manage a product throughout its life cycle. The group will advocate for voluntary, market-based solutions to these issues and incentives for increased recycling and sustainable design.
Product Management Alliance founding members represent the mattress, carpet, electronics, toys, paper, packaging and transportation materials, plastics, personal goods and pharmaceuticals industries. Christopher Hudgins, ISPA vice president of government relations and policy, will serve on the board of directors.
"As more states consider policies to address the disposal of mattresses, we will work with decision makers to educate them on the benefits of product management systems that recognize voluntary programs and spread responsibility among all parts of the manufacturing and distribution process," Hudgins said. "Inefficient and costly mandatory programs for product disposal should be avoided, and flexible market-based systems that will achieve more economical results should be encouraged."
The Product Management Alliance will monitor and examine the economic and commercial impact of public policy initiatives that mandate so-called "extended producer responsibility"programs that shift the costs of product collection and recycling solely to the manufacturer. The Alliance will also work with experts in industry and government to develop consistent policies for recovery, take-back programs and other extended producer responsibility models.
November 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 8, 2011
Furniture retailer
Hillside Contemporary Furniture will celebrate 38 years in business with a grand re-opening celebration today at its newly remodeled and remerchandised 50,000-square-foot store in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
The event runs this afternoon from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. and will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a number of local officials. The retailer will also be serving crepes from
What Crepe.
After being in this building for seven years, we felt that it was time to freshen things up, said Jeff Selik, president of Hillside. Detroit has been through a lot, many businesses have closed, but weve stayed strong, stayed the course, and were here to stay. We are proudly presenting new galleries, with dedicated walls and display features that have never been seen before in the United States. Were really proud of what we have created.
November 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 8, 2011
Home furnishings retailer
Haverty Furniture Cos. (
NYSE: HVT and
NYSE: HVT-A) has declared a one-time cash dividend on both share classes of $1 par value common stock.
The dividend is payable Dec. 2 to shareholders of record at the close of business Nov. 18. The rate is $0.12 per share on outstanding shares of common stock, and $0.1125 per share on the outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
"We are pleased that our strong cash position and operational results allows us to return cash to the stockholders," said Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer. "Our plans are to pay dividends when performance creates the appropriate opportunities while maintaining sufficient capital for our planned initiatives."
Havertys has paid a cash dividend in each year since 1935.
The retailer operates 119 showrooms in 17 states in the South and Midwest.
November 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 8, 2011
Three furniture stores recently opened galleries for Hickory at Home's Panama Jack Convertibles Collection of futons and frames.
At Suzy's Furniture, St. Mary's, Pa., a ribbon cutting was conducted by several members of the store's management and staff, along with Niles Cornelius, general manager of Hickory at Home.
"The Panama Jack Convertibles Collection Gallery represents the relaxation and freedom of a tropical lifestyle that brings you closer to nature," Cornelius said. "Hickory at Home's luxuriously and leisurely designed futon mattresses and frames further enhance Panama Jack's identification with a more comfortable, more natural lifestyle."
Eddie Alala Jr., southeast territory manager for Hickory At Home, was on hand at the ribbon cutting at America's Mattress, Roxboro, N.C., along with store principals Brian Cole, Adam Cole, and Americas Mattress Owner Larry Cole.
"The Panama Jack brand is the perfect fit for Hickory at Home's line of environmentally friendly futons and frames," Alala said. "Few other furnishings embody that relaxed tropical lifestyle as beautifully as futons do."
Ragan Smith of Hickory At Home, was at the Garden City Furniture ribbon cutting in Garden City Beach, S.C., along with store owner Dianne Ray and her son Joey.
The Panama Jack Convertibles Collection launched at October High Point Furniture Market.
Hickory at Home is the consumer products division of furniture and bedding component vendor Hickory Springs, Hickory, N.C.
November 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on November 8, 2011
AmericasMart Atlanta has promoted Mary Sullivan Harper to senior vice president of leasing for AmericasMart Atlantas Building Two permanent gift showrooms.
"Mary brings to our business a poise and perspective well suited to the diverse demands of the gift arena," said Jeffrey L. Portman Sr., president and CEO of AmericasMart Atlanta and its AMC Inc. parent entity. "She has earned and sustains the respect of her customers and colleagues through trusted counsel and decisive leadership across years of hard work. Her spirit and commitment shine through in every endeavor."
Sullivan Harper began her AmericasMart tenure with responsibility for the sales, leasing and management of AmericasMart Building Two, primarily in the gift category, which anchors closely aligned collections also housed in Building Two, including home accents, stationery and tabletop.
In March 2009, she assumed additional responsibility for the leasing of the tabletop category on floors eight and nine and oversaw Tabletops restaging and repositioning as the Living and Entertaining center.
She most recently directed the relocation of showrooms affected by the reconfiguration of the 9th-floor corridor, which opened in July 2011, and currently is managing the 8th-floor corridor reconfiguration scheduled to open in January 2012.
Harper also played a significant role in the planning for and leasing of AmericasMart's newest entity, Building Two West Wing, which opened in January 2009.