Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
September 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on September 19, 2011
Indoor/outdoor furnishings and decorative accessories vendor Seasonal Living has redesigned its Web site to expand usability for its dealers and clients.
New features include rapid-glance side bars for product overview, product sorting tools, a merchandise magnification tool, detailed product information with tear sheets, a product scaling tool and care instructions. In addition, the site lists sales representative contact information, complete costing with the companys suggested retail price points, current inventory levels, shipping information and product warranties.
"Seasonal Living is excited to launch a brand new Web site with a host of features that makes ordering products from us a breeze," said Gary Pettitt, CEO and creative director. The redesigned Web site showcases the complete range of Seasonal Living merchandise and allows customers to build orders online with multiple tools for accessing product specifications.
Retail buyers and consumers also can engage with the Seasonal Living's Facebook Page to stay abreast of the latest news, trends and events.
September 17,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 18, 2011
Home furnishings retailer
Ballard Designs will introduce Ballard Designs Plus, the company's first application designed specifically for the
iPad.
The application allows users to interact with Ballard Designs in a new way using touch. Content is organized by easy-to-navigate chapters so users can move from inspiring, fully decorated room scenes to detailed product shots with a flick of the finger. Imbedded product videos add to the interactive experience.
"We developed Ballard Designs Plus to give our customers who own iPads an enhanced shopping experience not possible with any other media," said Ballard Designs president, Ryan McKelvey. "They can still be inspired by beautiful rooms like they are with the catalog, but the unique presentation allows them to see the handcrafted details and special features of the product like never before. It's like seeing Ballard Designs in high-definition."
The application is Internet-enabled, allowing customers to purchase featured items directly from the company's Web site, download new issues, and receive alerts when new content or special offers become available. Future releases will focus on specific product groups and decorating ideas, including upholstery and home-office organization.
"Ballard Designs Plus has everything our customer needs to satisfy her decorating cravings," McKelvey said. "And with her iPad, she can have an exciting, tactile shopping experience with us anytime, anywhere."
Ballard Designs Plus will be available for download from the iTunes App Store Tuesday.
September 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on September 16, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5207273994&z=1250249027
U.S. consumer sentiment inched up in early September, but Americans remained gloomy about the future with a gauge of expectations falling to the lowest level since 1980, a survey released on Friday showed. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment edged up to 57.8 from 55.7 the month before, which had been the lowest level since November 2008. It topped the median forecast of 56.5 among economists polled by Reuters. "Overall, the data indicate that a renewed downturn in consumer spending is as likely as not
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September 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on September 16, 2011
More than 300 Indonesian and U.S. home furnishing executives gathered at the foot of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge to launch a new partnership between the Massindo Group and Therapedic International.
Massindo, a leading Indonesian mattress manufacturer serving more than 1,000 retailers, now has the Therapedic license for the world's fourth most-populous nation.
The executives from Indonesia gathered at Crissy Field Park for the announcement after a week-long itinerary in which guests and their families traveled to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. At the event, guests were treated to gourmet cuisine and entertainment was provided by the Insomniaczzz, a classic rock band comprised of CEOs of many of the leading sleep products companies and suppliers in the United States, including Gerry Borreggine, the CEO of Therapedic International.
"We wanted a stage that was nothing short of spectacular to announce our new partnership with Therapedic International," said Massindo Group CEO Jeffri Massie. "The Golden Gate Bridge is an American icon and the most fitting back drop for this historical moment in our company's history. It is also a symbol of the important business and cultural bridge we are hoping to build between our two companies."
"Indonesia is a key market for Therapedic as we grow globally so we are thrilled to be working with the Massindo Group to expand our brand," Borreggine said. "This partnership places our products in more than 1,000 furniture and bedding stores in Indonesia. It was an unforgettable event and everyone in attendance left excited to introduce Therapedic to their customers."
With manufacturing facilities in ten different cities in Indonesia, Massindo Group is one of the leading furniture and bedding manufacturers in the country and one of the fastest growing brands in the region.
Therapedic currently has more than 50 manufacturing licensees on six continents, in locations including: Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Trinidad, Jamaica, Ecuador, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, Dubai, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia.
September 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on September 16, 2011
ZAAR Design Center has moved into the former Drexel Heritage upholstery factory at the corner of West Ward Drive and Green Street.
Ruth Olbrych, the creative force behind ZAAR Design Center, which offers a year-round High Point presence for home furnishings exhibitors, has initially leased approximately 12,000 square feet on the first floor of the massive, 300,000-square-foot factory space from building owner Metropolitan Warehouse and Delivery.
Olbrych's company, Antiques by ZAAR, a purveyor of Chinese antiques, will show here for the Fall 2011 High Point Market along with three other exhibitors: Bellascenda, a producer of high-end lift furniture for flat-screen televisions; The Kat Burki Collection, specializing in custom upholstery and luxurious items for body, bath, and boudoir; and Total Design Source, introducing a custom line of upholstered chairs.
Metropolitan Shipping, which maintains offices in the building, will offer shipping and storage services.
ZAAR Design Center also will make product available to the design community throughout the calendar year. Antiques by ZAAR, is a member of the High Point Design Center, an association of to-the-trade showrooms that open on the second Wednesday of each month during non-Market times.
"As an exhibitor at the bi-annual High Point Market since 2004, I believe it not only makes sense to have a presence at the Market, but for those that base their businesses here to make themselves available to designers and retailers year-round," Olbrych said. "It's my contention that High Point needs to be continually rethinking what High Point is and what it can and should be: a global center for design."
Positioned as a complement to the showroom association, the location of the ZAAR Design Center (directly across from the Spirit Center, and the home of the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival), places it outside the high-rent districts of downtown High Point--making it an ideal incubator for small businesses and an affordable, yet easily accessible, High Point address.
The location features 300 secure parking spaces which will be free to Market-goers this Fall. Continental breakfast will be provided for visitors parking here each morning. The Center will be served by two shuttle services to transport buyers and designers to the downtown area.
ZAAR Design Center will be served by the independent Centers of High Point shuttle service, in addition to the High Point Market's Go-Anywhere shuttles.
Finally, in light of the changing face of the High Point Market, Olbrych also is marketing the ZAAR Design Center concept to companies that currently show in the multi-tenant buildings with a "store, ship and sell" service.
"Many companies that show in the major, multi-tenant buildings downtown have found that those buildings are not conducive to opening showrooms to the design trade during non-Market times," she said. "For this reason, companies that wish to maximize their investment in the High Point Market can transfer showroom samples here following the bi-annual shows, and we will represent their products throughout the balance of the year to the design trade. Simply put, it does not make sense to leave products in showrooms with the lights turned off for ten months out of the year when the inventory could be turning a profit in between Markets."
Companies that maintain showrooms downtown during Market, but also have product available to show/sell at ZAAR Design Center between Markets include Fortunata, a producer of fine Italian ceramics; Touchwood UK, which offers exquisite hand-made case goods and antiques; and Cabeen Originals, solid wood furnishings crafted from reclaimed lumber.