August 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 16, 2011
Furniture and bedding components vendor Hickory Springs has announced four promotions in its foam division.
David Duncan has been promoted to vice president of the Western Foam Division. He has overall sales and operational responsibility for the foam division's operations in Ft. Smith, Ark.; Owensboro, Ky.; Arlington, Texas; Platteville, Wis.; Commerce, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. Duncan began his career with the company 18 years ago as a sales trainee, was promoted to sales manager, then to operations manager for the company's Cleveland and Superior Foam operations in Tennessee. Most recently he was national product manager for bedding foam.
Mike Holliday has been promoted to vice president of the Mid-Eastern Division. He continues to have sales and operational responsibility for the company's Hickory, N.C., foam and fiber locations; and now is responsible for foam operations in Cleveland, Volunteer, and Morristown, Tenn. Holliday has been with the company for 12 years as general manager of the Hickory foam and fiber operations.
Scott Williamson has been promoted to general manager of the Mid-South Region. He has sales and operational responsibility for the foam division's Mississippi operations. Williamson began his career with Hickory Springs 18 years ago as a sales trainee and most recently held the position of area sales manager.
Todd Councilman has been promoted to general manager of the Southeast Region. He has sales and operational responsibility for the foam division's High Point, N.C.; Pinetops, N.C.; Americus, Ga.; Ocala, Fla.; and Olympic Products locations. Councilman has been with the company for five years and most recently held the position of commercial director for Olympic Products, located in Greensboro, N.C.
"These promotions are part of an aggressive campaign to make sure Hickory Springs and its foam division are in a position to pursue new growth and diversification," said Buster Mann, senior vice president of foam operations for Hickory Springs, Hickory, N.C. "I'm confident these individuals will bring the same level of dedication and excellence they have shown throughout their respective careers with Hickory Springs to their new areas of responsibility."
August 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on August 16, 2011
The June BuildFax Remodeling Index shows that even as the economy struggles and home sales sag, the remodeling industry is a bright spot from coast to coast.
The June 2011 index rose 23 percent year-over-yearand for the 20th straight monthin June to 129.5, the highest number ever in the index to date.
The report revealed month-over-month gains for most regions of the country, with data demonstrating that consumers are continuing to invest in remodeling, even as the stock market dips and unemployment remains high.
"The first half of 2011 brought pain to many sectors of the economy including home sales and jobs, however Americans continue to invest in remodeling, sending the BuildFax Remodeling Index to a new all-time high," said Joe Emison, vice president of research and development at BuildFax, Austin, Texas. "With so many Americans unable to sell their current home, it is apparent that they are planning on staying in their current residences and are making renovations and upgrades."
August 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in licensing on August 16, 2011
Interior designer, author and makeover television personality
Libby Langdon has partnered with
Braxton Culler to produce her first licensed furniture collection.
Braxton Culler is a service-oriented, fourth-generation furniture company that has been, in some ways, one of the industrys best-kept secrets, said Braxton Culler, president of Braxton Culler Inc. We see the decision to partner with Libby Langdon to produce a licensed furniture collection as a bold marketing move that will both broaden our product offerings and introduce our company to new, and growing constituencies of customers.
Set for introduction at the
High Point Market this fall, the upholstered furniture collection encompasses sofas and occasional chairs, as well as upholstered headboards, benches, ottomans and dining chairs.
Stylistically speaking, the collection reflects the needs and desires of my clients. Its easy and elegant for everyday, Langdon said. The key words are sleek, transitional and clean-lined. Time after time, I find that my clients dont want anything too modern, but they do like fresh, updated silhouettes that are not too fussy or formal.
A veteran of makeover television, from HGTVs Small Space Big Style, to FOXs Design Invasion, Langdon is currently Rachael Rays go-to makeover guru on
The Rachael Ray Show, and day-kover expert on NBCs Open House.
Working in makeover television has allowed me to travel across the country going into real peoples homes and seeing how America really lives, Langdon said That has been an invaluable learning tool. Its fascinating to see that there are common threads between my makeover clients and my private clients, and all of that information has helped me in developing my furniture collection.
Like many interior designers, Langdon has long looked to Braxton Culler to produce stylish and affordable furnishings for her clients. In creating this line, it was important to me to partner with a company that manufactures quality furniture at excellent price points, Langdon said. Ive specified Braxton Culler products in my own projects for years, so this collaboration was a great fit. We already had a wonderful working relationship, and designing a furniture collection was a natural extension.
Brack Culler, vice president of Braxton Culler, said Langdon saw a need in the company's line for upper-end looks for younger customers.
We knew that her talent, combined with her fun, down-to-earth style, which allows her to connect immediately with people, would be a terrific fit for our family-run business," he said.
Langdon has worked on design projects across the country and has a significant client base between Long Island and New Jersey.
"Even with the state of the economy over the last few years, my business has never been busier, and I believe its because I offer my clients beautiful, chic rooms at a smart, affordable price," she said. "I think interior design should be fun, easy and accessible, and most of all I want to give people the tools, support and encouragement to design the most beautiful, functional and practical spaces that they can, no matter the challenges or the size. Im incredibly excited to be collaborating with Braxton Culler to bring this vision to life."
Langdon founded Libby Interiors Inc. in 2003 and has completed numerous residential and commercial design projects across the country. Her first book, "Libby Langdons Small Space Solutions", offers her innovative and inexpensive design ideas to help small space dwellers live large. In addition to the Libby Langdon for Braxton Culler, Langdon will also unveil a rug collection at market this fall Libby Langdon for Tiger Rugs.
Upholstery and wicker producer Braxton Culler was founded in 1975 and remains family run in Sophia, N.C.
August 15,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 16, 2011
Furniture retailer
Furnitureland South and the
PGA TOUR Wives Association have joined forces to renovate two spaces for Family Service of the Piedmont.
The makeovers are being performed in the lobby of the Slane Service Center in High Point, and at one of the organizations battered womens shelters.
The lobby of the Slane Service Center is the first point of contact for clients in need of services offered by
Family Service of the Piedmont. The Battered Womens Shelter provides a home to a number of women and children who have fled violent and abusive domestic situations. Furnitureland South is refurbishing the shelters living room/TV area as well as the childrens playroom - both common areas that are used daily. These rooms will receive new furnishings, fresh wall coverings, and will provide an updated, more comfortable environment for clients seeking shelter.
We are pleased to partner with the PGA TOUR Wives Association to make a difference in our community through Piedmont Family Services, said Jason Harris, executive vice president of Furnitureland South. We hope that these makeovers provide better environments for those in our community who seek these services in times of crisis. We are grateful to the PGA tour families for choosing Furnitureland South.
The before and after photos of the room makeovers will be revealed in a special presentation to members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association during Furnitureland Souths annual Price is Right event, now in its 15th year. Furnitureland South hosts the wives of Wyndham Championship players, who participate in a game modeled after the popular television show The Price is Right. Emceed by CBS commentator Peter Oosterhuis, the game provides a fun opportunity to play for home furnishing prizes, and to show common support for a worthy cause. The event will be held Wednesday in the Furnitureland South Education Center.
August 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Financial Reports on August 15, 2011
Furniture retailer Leon's Furniture reported second-quarter 2011 sales of C$209.3 million, a 2.4 percent drop from the prior-year period.
Net income for the three months ended June 30 fell 5.9 percent per common share to $11.1 million.
For the six months of 2011, Toronto-based Leon's total sales were $400.9 million were off 4.1 percent compared with 2010's first half; and net income of $21 million was down 9.1 percent.
Same store corporate sales decreased by 4.1 percent compared to the prior year. Comparable store sales are defined as sales generated by stores that have been open or closed for more than 12 months on a yearly basis.
Leon's attributed the second-quarter decrease in sales mainly to a lower average selling price than the prior year.
So far this year, the furniture retailer has opened four additional stores. Leasehold improvements have just been completed on a new leased premises of 76,000 square feet in Guelph, Ontario, with a grand opening scheduled for late August 2011. Construction is underway on a new 84,000-square-foot facility in Regina, Saskatchewan, with a scheduled grand opening for the fourth quarter of 2011; and grand openings of new 40,000-square-foot stores in Mississauga, Ontario, and Rosemère, Quebec, are scheduled for this fall.