September 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on September 29, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5263395359&z=1250249027
Delonte West has a job. One a lot more like yours than his last one as point guard for the Boston Celtics. Throughout the lockout West has tweeted about getting a job at Home Depot was the big one, but there have been other efforts. Then Wednesday came these tweets: Applied at Regency Furniture, need¦
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September 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on September 29, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5262974471&z=1250249029
Robert Loughlin, who painted a square-jawed man he dubbed "the brute" around New York City and sold vintage furniture to art world stars, died Tuesday. He was 62. Loughlin was fatally struck by a car near his home in North Bergen, N.J., as he crossed a major thoroughfare on foot.
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September 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Store Openings on September 28, 2011
Home furnishings retailer West Elm will open a new store next week in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood.
The 15,000-plus-square-foot store, West Elm's first in Washington, opens Oct. 6. It features a number of unique design details, including a living wall and an art installation designed specifically for the location by Seattle-based artist Justin R. Lytle.
"We are big fans of the distinctive art and design scene in Seattle," said Jim Brett, president of West Elm. "We've been waiting for the perfect location for our first store in the city. The growing South Lake Union neighborhood is the ideal spot."
The new Seattle store will open with the brand's Fall/Winter assortment which is grounded in a rich autumnal color palate, and incorporates a mix of natural materials. The collection features entertaining and furniture collaborations with designers Mary Matson and Paul Loebach. At opening, all full-priced dining furniture--tables, chairs, stools, bars and dining storage--will be 15 percent off.
West Elm worked closely with acclaimed interiors and home furnishings designer Thomas O'Brien of Aero Studios to create an open, inviting and entertaining shopping experience at the Seattle store. The store's associates are trained to help customers realize and create their personal style at home, and the store includes an updated Design Lab, where customers and associates can collaborate on space planning and decorating projects.
Like other West Elm stores, the Seattle location is designed using green materials and includes low-energy lighting, low-VOC paints and reclaimed hardwood floors. The store will house or have access to the brand's complete assortment, making it possible for shoppers to bring home new looks immediately or arrange for quick-turnaround delivery.
To celebrate the store opening, West Elm will host a benefit on the night before the public opening to honor the nearby Cornish College of the Arts. The event will mark the official unveiling of the art installation created for the store by Cornish alumnus and acclaimed Seattle artist, Justin R. Lytle.
West Elm, part of Williams-Sonoma Inc., has 35 retail stores.
September 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Customer Service on September 28, 2011
GE Capital's Retail Finance business has renewed its agreement with Select Comfort Corp. to provide consumer financing programs.
The program includes around 400 Select Comfort stores, online at sleepnumber.com and Select Comfort's direct marketing operations. The four-year extension of the Sleep Number Card will allow Select Comfort to continue to provide long term financing options with additional offers and discounts for cardholders.
The servicing arrangement between GE Capital and Select Comfort dates back to 1999 and has produced double-digit increases in new cardholder accounts and sales growth over the past two years. The new agreement will help drive growth for many years to come.
"Select Comfort is focused on providing an outstanding customer experience and we believe GE Capital is an important part of that value proposition," said Paul Boeckman, vice president of sales for GE Capital's Retail Finance business. "We are excited to continue our long-standing relationship with an industry leader and be a part of Select Comfort's growth plans."
September 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on September 28, 2011
Gift for Life will honor Jenny Hammons, George Kacic, and Brandwise founders Todd and Jannetta Litzman at its 20th Annual Party for Life, Jan. in New York City.
Gift for Life is the gift, stationery and home decor industries' primary charitable organization.
Jenny Hammons will receive the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award, which recognizes sustained philanthropic endeavors benefitting the industry. The Award is named for industry benefactor Bert Tonkin, president of Western Exhibitors. Hammons is a gift industry veteran and owner of Jenny Hammons/Company, which consists of West Coast-based sales organizations servicing the gift and home-decor markets in Northern California and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. She is a former chair of the board of Gift for Life.
George Kacic will receive the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to a special recipient who has had an abiding impact on the industry through leadership and generosity. Kacic's has a 35-year career in the gift and home-decor industry. Currently, he serves as Vice president of GANZ USA. Over the past nineteen years, he has helped make GANZ one of the top "go-to" gift companies in the world. Kacic is serving as the Advisory Board Chairman for AmericasMart; he is a member of the Gift for Life Board; he served six years on the Gift & Home Trade Association's Board, acting as president, chairman emeritus and, most recently, an Icon Honors founding partner; and he is the current co-chair for the GHTA Annual Conference.
Brandwise and its founders Todd and Jannetta Litzman will receive the Trailblazer Award, which recognizes an industry pioneer for outstanding achievement and significant contributions, as well as creative products and ideas with lasting impact. For more than 14 years, Brandwise has driven the innovation of technology in the gift and home industry by listening to its needs and consistently creating and providing solutions and tools to help suppliers and sales reps sell more, increase efficiencies and, in effect, enhancing the retailer's buying experience. The company continues to provide new technology to help automate each step in the sales channelfrom showroom floor to the road, from back office functions to executive business intelligence and online.
"Strong leadership, decades of hard work, and passionate support for the industry are the shared values of our honorees," said Leslie Nathan-Street, chair of the Gift for Life board. "We recognize their tireless energy and their generosity."
Gift for Life's 20th Annual Party for Life, benefiting DIFFA, is set for Jan. 29, at The Boathouse at Central Park. Individual tickets are $125, and sponsorships ranging from $500 through $25,000 are available. For details, contact Steven Williams by e-mail or at 212.727.3100.