Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
September 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on September 20, 2011
Lincolnton Furniture, the case goods producer started by industry veteran Bruce Cochrane and other executives, will show its wares at High Point Market in a showroom in the IHFC.
The showroom will be located in the Commerce Wing at C659.
Cochrane has said the timing is right to bring furniture production jobs back to the United States. The company is producing in a former Cochrane Furniture factory that the company sold in the 1990s.
"But there has been a world of change in furniture manufacturing since then," Cochrane said. "And we will be outfitting Lincolnton Furniture with the very latest in technology. We are talking about a facility as good as any in the world."
Cochrane is president and CEO; Bruce Hric is chief financial officer; and Phillip Null is vice president of manufacturing.
"Our brand position is real simple: we're going to make solid wood furniture in America and it will be guaranteed for life," Cochrane said.
The company will showcase five design families in bedroom and casual dining at the market.
"We're planning five bedroom collections, a casual dining collection that is more eclectic, reflecting Shaker, Arts & Crafts, Americana, rustic casual," Cochrane said. "You'll see some crossover chairs between Shaker and Americana...different styles of legs. Consumers and designers are really mixing and matching today. If they want to be matchy-matchy, we can satisfy them. But we can also indulge their inclinations to be individuals."
Products feature Appalachian hardwoods of cherry, maple and oak. We have the unique opportunity to deliver an environmentally friendly product to market. Using sustainable resources and proven low impact, environmentally friendly materials will give us a very green footprint," Cochrane said. "But the ultimate green story is that we will be making solid wood furniture right here in America that will last a lifetime.
September 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on September 20, 2011
The Revivo family and their business partner in Revco International, Greg O'Neal, have launched a new case goods brand, Revolution Furniture Corporation.
The Revivos and O'Neal have more than 30 collective years of experience in the furniture industry and 11 years of owning and operating their independent overseas factory. The concept behind Revolution Furniture Corp. is the creation of a technologically innovative and progressive furniture manufacturing partner to create goods tailored to customers' specific business needs.
"By analyzing our growth over the past two years, it became glaringly obvious that our manufacturing partnerships which utilized our factory as if it were their own factory, from design to finish and cost procurement, were overwhelmingly successful, efficient and economical," said O'Neal, vice president of design and marketing for the new venture, which has U.S. offices in Los Angeles. "RFC was created in order to put more energy behind this evolutionary business concept."
Over the past few months Revolution Furniture Corp. already has transitioned its existing customer base toward the new brand and its new digital sales tools.
"Though our factory foundation was already built on efficiency, via component driven manufacturing theories, we have implemented many technologically driven tools to help us provide our partners with customized products which do not require costly overseas factory visits," O'Neal said. "Through the use of AutoCAD, 3D imagery, and Skype, we have been able to produce accurate, precise and more efficient sample making and production, thus making our overseas factory as far away as your keyboard."
Revolution Furniture Corp. will be marketed to efficiently serve the domestic and international retail, interior design, and hospitality/contract design partnerships. This month, RFC launched a new Quick Ship Program in order to get imported product quicker to the end consumer as well as a new digital Product Guide, which provides partners with a more efficient product reference tool.
September 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on September 20, 2011
The International Casual Furnishings Association named Apollo Award winners at last week's International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market.
The Apollo Awards recognize retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings. Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service. Winners in two categories, singe store and multi-store, were selected from a group of 10 finalists through an online ballot.
Fruehauf's Patio & Garden of Boulder, Col., was the single store winner. Summer House, Tukwila, Wash., was the multi-store category winner.
The Design Excellence Awards competition recognizes products for their overall design, as well as their marketability, innovation, color, construction and imaginative use of materials. Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. co-sponsors the awards. Category winners included: Cast Metal, Atlanta Lounge Chair by Woodard Landgrave;
Complementary Casual Products, Apple Martini Stone Table Top by Veneman Collections; Fabric, Heritage-Sunbrella Performance Fabric, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics; Outdoor Lighting, Joi Powered by Thermologi by Caframo Ltd.; Outdoor Rugs/Carpeting/Flooring, Ravella Disco Orange by Liora Manne for Trans-Oceans Imports Company; Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials, Amari High Back Lounge Chair by JANUS et Cie; Resin/Fiberglass, Ineo Extension Table by Grosfillex; Shade Products, Plantation Max Cantilever by Dougan Clarke for TUUCI; Tubular Materials: Azore 34-inch Square Table by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture; Wood Furniture, Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture; Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum, Jax Stationary Lounge Chair by Scott Coogan for Woodard.
The Lillian B. Winchester "Best of Show" award, selected from among the 11 category winners listed above, went to the Ventura Deep Seating Swivel Rocker by Povl Eskildsen for Gloster Furniture.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the casual furniture industry and to their individual communities. The 2011 honoree was Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. of Telescope Casual Furniture.
Vanderminden, now 83, was a teenager when he began designing products for Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty, the company founded by his grandfather in 1903. For more than 60 years, he created innovative product, machinery, process and plant designs that transformed both the company and, eventually, the entire outdoor furnishings industry. His designs helped the company win many awards over the years, but the 2008 Design Excellence Award for his popular Windward Sling Collection design is worth special note, since the designer was not only in his 80s, but also by this time was suffering from macular degeneration, a disease that renders him legally blind. Vanderminden was named to Telescope's board of directors in 1967 and became executive vice president of the company in 1971. He was CEO from 1989 until 2001, when he was named chairman of the board.
One manufacturer was honored in each of eight categories for the design and quality of their products, along with their merchandising, customer service, ethics, communications and trade relations. Winners were: Tropitone, Tubular Materials Furniture; O.W. Lee, Wrought Iron/Aluminum; Laneventure, Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials; Jensen Leisure, Wood Casual; Treasure Garden, Shade Products; Alfresco Home, Complementary Casual Products; Pride Family Brands, Cast Metal; Trans Ocean, Outdoor Carpeting/Rugs/Flooring; Seaside Casual, Resin/Fiberglass.
From among the eight category winners listed above, Tropitone was named "Manufacturer of the Year." Both the category winners and the Manufacturer of the Year were selected in online voting.
The Sales Representative of the Year award recognizes an outstanding sales representative within the casual furnishing industry. Candidates were selected based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge and product training expertise. The 2011 winner, selected from three finalists and determined through online voting, was Gary R. Deane of G&R Deane Associates.
Following a 25-year career with United Parcel Service, Gary joined his brother in business as a sales representative for the indoor furniture industry. After a few years on the road, he decided to devote his future to the casual furniture industry. He currently represents four manufacturers: O.W. Lee, Lloyd Flanders, Treasure Garden Umbrellas and Gold Crest Cushions.
September 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on September 20, 2011
Market Square & Suites has lined up its events schedule for the Oct. 22-27 High Point Furniture Market.
Daily social events during Market include: sweets in the Suites at Market Square, 2:30-4:30 p.m., in
Suites at Market Square, SALON and Market Square; and afternoon receptions, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Suites at Market Square, SALON and Market Square, with complimentary beer, wine, and specialty drinks.
Social events on Sunday, Oct. 23, include: Mimosas & Brunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Suites at Market Square, featuring mimosas, Bloody Mary's, food and live jazz; The Belgian Flax and Linen Association Reception, bars stationed throughout Market Square & Suites, featuring Belgian chocolates, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; and Belgian-style beer and wine, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; David Easton Launch Celebration and Book Signing, 3-4 p.m., Safavieh showroom, Market Square #120, featuring renowned architect and interior designer David Easton and rug maker Safavieh introducing Easton's new Indian Sojourn collection of ikat carpets for Safavieh Couture with a celebration and book signing, along with wine and Indian-inspired refreshments; Market Square Courtyard Party, 7-9 p.m., featuring live music, heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine.
Social events the rest of the week include: UPCYCLE Artistry Runway Show, 7-9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, hosted by DSTRIPPED Magazine, ITMA, and Market Square & Suites, featuring designers from the apparel, footwear, jewelry, furniture and set design industries coming together to show their creative solutions for discarded fabric Swatches, and live entertainment, food, beer and wine; Market Square Courtyard Party, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7-9 p.m., Market Square Courtyard, featuring a live deejay and complimentary food, beer & wine; and Courtyard Cookout, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7-9 p.m., Market Square Courtyard.
On the educational side, Monday, Oct. 24, Dan Barsanti and Patricia Healing, owners and principle designers of HEALING BARSANTI and HB HOME, will discuss their choice of Belgian Linen for a wide range of applications in their expanding businesses during "Discover the World of Belgian Linen," Market Square #272, 9:30-11 a.m., featuring Belgian-style refreshments and oor prizes awarded; sponsored by Libeco Home and Libeco-Lagae Inc.
Click here for a list of previously announced educational seminars sponsored in the Antiques & Design Center at Market Square.
September 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on September 20, 2011
High Point will be a energetic music venue during the
Fall High Point Market with a number of bands taking center stage, including
The B-52s, which kick off market Saturday, Oct. 22.
The opening night concert and celebration is co-sponsored by the
International Market Centers and
High Point Market Authority.
Doors open for the concert at 7 p.m. at Center Stage, next to the transportation terminal and the celebration runs until 9:30 p.m.
We really wanted to share our excitement and enthusiasm for being part of the High Point Market with everyone, said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. What better way than to throw a huge celebration with one of the best party bands of all time.
Other musical acts set to take Center Stage during the market Oct. 22-27 include
The Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, former lead vocalist of Jefferson Starship. Starship perform Sunday, Oct. 23.
Monday, Oct. 24,
The Fabulous Swingin' Richards will entertain with a mix of dance music.
Doors open for all concerts at 7 p.m.
IMC will also sponsor the High Point Market Kick-off Party on Friday, Oct. 21 at Center Stage. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.