November 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on November 2, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5416375676&z=1250249030
Richland's newest furniture store, Mor Furniture For Less, will be opening within the next 10 days. The company remodeled the former Circuit City building at 1430 Tapteal Drive. The store near Kohl's is the first Mor Furniture for Less in the Tri-Cities. The next closest is in Spokane, which is among the 21 locations in seven states the company lists on its website. The building permit was issued Sept. 26. The remodel of the 34,000-square-foot building cost about $250,000, said Rick Simon, Richland's development services manager. The store was built in 2000 for Circuit City and closed in 2009.
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October 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Legal on November 1, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5409833585&z=1250249030
Five more North Mississippi furniture manufacturers claim they've suffered financial losses from an alleged international price-fixing conspiracy.
Monday, they filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court. Similar lawsuits were transferred to a northern Ohio federal court where more than a dozen other cases are before what's called a multi-jurisdictional court.
Filing the latest legal actions are The Rose Hill Co. Inc. of Okolona, Tupelo Foam Sales Inc. at Belden, Life Style Furniture Co. Inc. and Family Home Furnishings LLC of Okolona and Dykes Industries of Mississippi Inc. of Okolona. They insist they were sold foam for their furniture-making
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October 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on November 1, 2011
Sleep Train will add 21 Sleep Country USA and Mattress Discounters stores in the Pacific Northwest.
The new locations in western Washington, eastern Washington and western Idaho will bring Sacramento, Calif.-based Sleep Train's store count to 255.
Sleep Country USA will expand its brand east of the Cascades into new markets with 14 new stores in Ellensburg, Spokane, Yakima, Wenatchee, Richland, Kennewick, Moses Lake, and Lewiston, Wash.; and one store in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Mattress Discounters will make its debut in the Northwest through the acquisition of America's Mattress to open five new stores located in Puyallup, Lynwood, Covington, Silverdale and Tacoma, Wash.
"We are continually looking for strategic growth opportunities that allow us to reach new communities," said Dale Carlsen, CEO of Sleep Train Inc. "Through the acquisition of Mattress Outlet and Americas Mattress, Sleep Train Inc. is expanding rapidly into new regions with over twenty stores, bringing local customers quality sleep products and a superior shopping experience. We are also excited to be able to help the at-risk youth in these communities through greater reach and impact of our celebrated Foster Kids Program."
The Sleep Train Inc. acquired Mattress Outlet from owner Ken Mullinax and America's Mattress from Jon Mullinax to broaden the reach of its employee-owned Sleep Country USA and Mattress Discounters brands. The new stores will be open before the end of the year.
"My staff will have the opportunity to join one of few employee-owned companies in the United States, and become part of an exceptional team that represents one of the Northwest's most respected, trusted brands," said Ken Mullinax, owner of Mattress Outlet. "The community will also benefit from the company's award-winning Sleep Country Foster Kids Program that supports foster children and their families through six annual donation drives each year."
This is the third acquisition for Sleep Train, which recently acquired Christian's Mattress Xpress, adding three new Sleep Train stores in Fowler, Visalia and Fresno, Calif. Combined, the philanthropic efforts of the Sleep Train Enterprise brands have donated more than 700,000 important material items such as clothes, shoes, school supplies, pajamas and gifts during the holidays, and $2 million in cash to foster organization partners for foster children in the region.
October 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on November 1, 2011
Auburn University brought industrial design students to October High Point Furniture Market with reclaimed teak furniture vendor Groovystuff.
Auburn decided to fund a trip for the students that covered travel, lodging, and daily expenses, allowing the students to miss classes to attend the market in order to give the students exposure to and experience in the home furnishings industry.
"Being at market gives us an opportunity we would never receive in the classroom," said one student, Rachel Jones.
The industrial design students from Auburn came to Market as participants in the Groovystuff Design Challenge. Groovystuff showed the students' 1:4 scale models and product presentation boards. Each student from professor Tin-Man Lau's industrial design course at Auburn University entered the Groovystuff furniture design challenge in hopes of being endorsed by the celebrity endorsed Dick Idol brand. The designs were displayed in the Groovystuff showroom at the Suites at Market Square, G-1025 for the week of Market, where voting was open to all market attendees.
"It would be difficult for us to be able to experience anything like High Point Market anywhere near Auburn University," said student Chelsea Byers. "That's why we were excited to be offered such an incredible opportunity when we found out we would be allowed to come up and see all we could at the market free-of-charge."
October 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on November 1, 2011
Doug Belleville, owner of St. Louis furniture store STL Beds, has become the first certified Greenleaders Sustainable Training graduate in the St. Louis market.
Greenleaders training was created by the Sustainable Furnishings Council in order to help furniture retailers better educate their customers about the availability and benefits of sustainably produced furniture and accessories. STL Beds also is an SFC member.
"Oftentimes people know very little about green initiatives," Belleville said. "They do the best they can, purchasing organic food, recycling aluminum cans, and possibly even participating in a local recycling program. The first step is seeing what kind of impact each of us have on the environment in which we all live."
For more than four years Belleville has researched sustainable green home furnishings and has put in a plan to educate others in sustainable furnishings as well. In addition to becoming the first Green AP certified furnishing salesman in St. Louis, he has expanded his company product selection to include eco-friendly mattresses and bedroom furniture.