August 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Rugs on August 19, 2011
The board of carpet industry trade association Carpet and Rug Institute has approved a new organizational structure for CRI.
CRI represents the manufacturers of 95 percent of the carpet made in the United States, their suppliers and aligned industries.
According to John Wells, president of Interface Americas and chairman of the CRI board, the changes, effective Sept. 1, will increase CRI's effectiveness and allow for greater efficiency in addressing issues facing the carpet industry.
A key component of the restructuring is the streamlining of CRI's committees. The new plan eliminates committees and issue management teams in favor of multi-functional panels assigned to address each of three main categories: product performance and standards, deselection, and extended producer responsibility and issues involving the Carpet America Recovery Effort. Each panel, which will comprise representatives from member manufacturers with marketing, technical and government relations expertise, will be charged with identifying critical issues facing the carpet industry. When necessary, panel members may vote to form short-term task groups that will deal with target issues quickly and effectively and then disband.
The board also approved the formation of the Strategic Issues Leadership Council, a high-level executive group charged with liaising between the panels and CRI's board of directors and policy committee. SILC members will be tasked with communicating with their respective board members on the multiple issues facing the carpet industry and finding the talent needed within the industry to develop the necessary solutions.
"We undertook the reorganization with the expectation that the carpet industry would continue to devote time and resources to dealing effectively with critical issues, and to ensure that our trade association use those resources as efficiently as possible," Wells said.
"Without question, the new organizational structure will make CRI a more focused and effective organization," said CRI President Werner Braun. He added that membership lists for the SILC and panels are currently being populated.
August 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Motion Upholstery on August 19, 2011
Hendrick Construction Inc. has won a contract to build
high-end seating maker Ekornes' first U.S. manufacturing facility, located in Morganton, N.C.
Ekornes ASA is the largest furniture manufacturer in Norway and sells products all over the world. The Morganton plant, which will assemble components shipped from abroad, is scheduled to start production in early 2012. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2011.
"This is an exciting project that will have a lasting impact on the region, and we're on a fast schedule to finish construction and open the plant," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction(http://www.hendrickconstruction.com/), Charlotte, N.C. "We're proud to be building Ekornes' first manufacturing facility in North America."
Hendrick Construction is renovating a 100,000-square-foot warehouse to create the space for Ekornes. About 90,000 square feet will be used for manufacturing, and the remaining space will be converted to offices, employee break areas and a showroom.
Ekornes plans to create 58 jobs and invest $1.3 million during the next three years in Morganton. Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $30,464 plus benefits.
August 17,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Financial Reports on August 18, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5087112433&z=1250249027
Target Corp. is benefiting from the economic downturn, while other retailers are getting battered by it.
The discounter posted second-quarter profit and revenue that beat Wall Street estimates in part because of a growing frugal trend among Americans who are concerned with job security and other economic woes.
Target said although cost-conscious customers in general are making fewer shopping trips overall to save money on gas, they're increasingly coming into its stores for their one-stop shopping needs. Target said profit rose 3.7 percent to $704 million, or $1.03 per share, for the quarter that ended July 30.
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August 17,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on August 18, 2011
Furniture Classics Limited has partnered with Ronald Geilen of Geilen-Wolters NV Belgium and Aeternus Asia.
Beginning this month, Furniture Classics has assumed sales and distribution of the industrial Aeternus collection introduced during the April
High Point Market. The collection is of urban industrial styled, steel and iron, accents and occasional in a variety of finishes.
"This is a multi-faceted partnership, said Michael Ricks, president of Furniture Classic. Ronald has known my father and me for some years, and we have admired his eye for good product and design. Not only will we partner on the existing product line, but Ronald will also assist us in design and development of new products moving forward."
After test marketing part of the line in Atlanta and Las Vegas this summer, Furniture Classics plans to expand the Industrial collection into what is tentatively being called the Heavy Metal collection.
I have exhibited in High Points Market Suites for several years with my product lines, Geilen said. This is a welcome opportunity to focus on more creative endeavors and leave the sales and marketing to a growing enterprise such as Furniture Classics. We share a sense of youthful enthusiasm and together strive to become better, more effective, and more innovative while aiming to surprise and delight our customers."
Geilen, the 4th generation in business, with more 20 years of personal experience dealing in antiques and sourcing has worked in Europe, Indonesia and India. Based in Riemst, Belgium, he opened an office in India last year.
Furniture Classics Limited is a Norfolk, Va.-based import marketing company supplying solid wood antique reproductions at middle to upper middle price points. The Two Palms Casual division offers a diverse range of indoor and outdoor casual furniture. Both brands are distributed through lifestyle specialty stores, full service furniture stores, the interior design trade, mass merchants and casual furniture specialists.
August 17,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Accessories on August 18, 2011
Dallas Market Center and Accessories Resource Team, the decorative accessories trade association, have announced the 23rd annual ARTS Awards finalists.
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Jan 18-24. The awards will be presented during a gala event on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the ARTS Awards new location, the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Finalists in the Accent Furniture category include: Baker, GuildMaster Inc., Ibolili, Phillips Collection and Stein World.
Area Rugs: Jaipur Rugs Inc., Safavieh and Surya Inc.
Decorative Accessories: A&B Home, Creative Co-Op, PORT 68 and Sterling Industries.
Home Textiles: Home Treasures, Lacefield Designs, Pom Pom at Home and Textillery Weavers.
Lighting Fixtures: Corbett Lighting, Hinkley Lighting Inc., Hubbardton Forge, Kichler Lighting and Schonbek.
Outdoor Living: Antonini Outdoor North America, Emissary Trading Company, Foreside Home & Garden and Loloi Rugs.
Permanent Floral: American Best, Artistry in Silk, Direct Export Co. Inc., NDI and The Ivy Guild Inc.
Portable Lamps: Barbara Cosgrove Lamps, Currey & Co., Sonneman A Way of Light, The Bradburn Co. and Worlds Away.
Tabletop: Beatriz Ball Collection, Chalkboard China, TAG Ltd., The GG Collection and Vagabond House.
Wall Decor: John Richard, Leftbank Art, Propac Images, Stylecraft Home Collection and Wendover Art Group.
National/Key Accounts Sales Representatives: Anne Jarboe, jdouglas; Heather Steeley, Taylors on Ten; and Joshua J. McDowell, JM Group/Restoration Hardware.
East/Atlantic Sales Representatives: Jennifer Jackson, jdouglas; Robin Clarke, Southern Accessories Today; and Sue Kinard, Fine Art Lamps.
Midwest/Southwest Sales Represetatives: Cindy Rogers, CSR Associates; Derek Ricketts, CODARUS; and Richard Alan, Richard Alan & Associates.
West Sales Representatives: Angie Zabritski, Homestyle; Michelle Korthuis, Elements in Decor; and Mickey Lang, California Marketing Associates.
Product Designers: J. Michael Sandel, GuildMaster Inc.; Jason Phillips, Phillips Collection; Luca Rossi, Antonini Outdoor North America; Randal Weeks, Aidan Gray Home Inc.; and Tom Caldwell, Currey & Co.
International Retailers: Casa Palacio, Mexico City; Design Lighting, Surrey, British Columbia; Luminaires & Cie Inc., Laval, Quebec; Spectro Lighting Group, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Vaughan Electrical Supply Co. Ltd., Woodbridge, Ontario.
Rising Star Retailers: Colorado Villa Decor, Parker, Colo.; Melissa Jeffrey Home, Boerne, Texas; and The Mercantile, Atlanta, Ga.
Furniture Stores: Laurie's Home Furnishings; Tomball, Texas; Seaside Home, Coronado, Calif.; and The Arrangement Distinctive Interiors, Dallas, Texas.
Home Accent Stores, East/Atlantic: G&G Interiors, Knoxville, Tenn.; The French Basket, Florence, Ala.; and The Miller House, Stephens City, Va.
Home Accent Stores, Midwest/Southwest: Charley & Bella's; Marshall, Texas; MECOX, Dallas, Texas; and Rustic Hutch, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Home Accent Stores, West: Bella Casa, Portland, Ore.; Gardenology, Encinitas, Calif.; and Jak Home LLC, San Francisco, Calif.
Lighting Showrooms, East/Atlantic: Cleveland Lighting; Lyndhurst, Ohio; Elements - Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings, Carle Place, N.Y.; and Southern Lighting Gallery Inc., Augusta, Ga.
Lighting Showrooms, Midwest/Southwest: Lighting by Fox, Glenview, Ill.; Passion Lighting, Grapevine, Texas; and Southern Lights, Burnsville, Minn.
Lighting Showrooms, West: Hacienda Lighting, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Light Bulbs, Etc./Lightstyles, Costa Mesa, Calif.; and Valley Light Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz.
"Congratulations to all the ARTS Awards finalists," said Bill Winsor, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. "It is an honor each year to celebrate the industry's finest manufacturers, retailers, product designers and sales reps."
The 23rd annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by Contract Lighting, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, HFN, Home Accents Today, Home Fashion Forecast, Home Lighting & Accessories, Overcoffee, Residential Lighting and the Sustainable Furnishings Council. For additional information regarding the ARTS Awards, please contact Lindsey Villarreal at 214.655.7654 or by e-mail.