August 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on August 11, 2011
Dallas Market Center has launched the second annual The Next Big Give contest, a search for retailers who give back in their communities.
"It's amazing to see the many different ways retailers are serving others and their communities," said Cindy Morris, COO of Dallas Market Center. "Last year's winners inspired us, as well as other retailers. We look forward to hearing more stories of generosity."
Ten finalists will be announced on Jan. 9, and two winners on Feb. 14. Winners will receive a complimentary trip to March Market in Dallas (March 22-25), including round-trip airfare from anywhere in the continental United States and three nights' hotel stay.
While at Market, The Next Big Give winners will be recognized during The Inspired Event, a cocktail party benefiting a charitable cause. The winners will share their stories of giving back in hopes to inspire other retailers to do the same.
Retailers may nominate themselves or be nominated by a manufacturer, a sales representative or customer. The application is available here. Deadline for applications is Dec. 9.
The contest is open to specialty retailers operating their stores in the continental U.S. The finalists and winners will be selected by a panel of industry experts and Dallas Market Center representatives. For additional information on the contest visit
here or e-mail here.
August 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on August 11, 2011
The Piedmont Furniture Club will hold its 25th annual golf tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Thomasville N.C., Wednesday, August 31.
Piedmont Furniture Club is the local Piedmont North Carolina division of the Virginia/Carolinas Chapter of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association.
This year the Piedmont Furniture Club will honor Fred and Jeff Murrow of Murrow's Transfer with a donation targeting pediatric oncology research at Brenner Children's Hospital.
Fred and Jeff Murrow have been supporters of IHFRA for many years, and participate regularly in local Piedmont Furniture Club events and social activities. Both are battling cancer and have asked that the donation in their honor from Piedmont Furniture Club's golf tournament be given to Brenner ChildrenÃs Hospital to aid cancer research for years to come.
For more information on the Piedmont Furniture Club golf tournament or become a sponsor or make a contribution to Brenner Children's Hospital in honor of Fred and Jeff Murrow, contact Jennifer Sova by e-mail; or by phone at 336.285.0194.
August 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in sourcing/importing on August 11, 2011
The U.S. Department of Commerce has applied a 41.75 percent duty to 30 Chinese manufacturers in its administrative review of 2009 wood bedroom shipments from China.
In its preliminary ruling earlier this year, DOC had set that "separate rate" at 16.24 percent.
Manufacturers receiving the 41.75 percent duty include:
* Dalian Huafeng Furniture Co., Ltd./Dalian Huafeng Furniture Group Co., Ltd.
* Baigou Crafts Factory of Fengkai
* Cambridge Furniture Co., Ltd., Glory Oceanic Co., Ltd.
* Cheng Meng Furniture (PTE) Ltd., Cheng Meng Decoration & Furniture (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
* COE, Ltd.
* Dongguan Bon Ten Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Dongguan Great Reputation Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Dongguan Hero Way Woodwork Co., Ltd., Dongguan Da Zhong Woodwork Co., Ltd., Hero Way Enterprises Ltd., Well Earth International Ltd.
* Dongguan Kin Feng Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Dongguan Liaobushangdun Huada Furniture Factory, Great Rich (HK) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
* Dongguan Singways Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Dongguan Sunshine Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Eurosa (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., Eurosa Furniture Co., (PTE) Ltd (Eurosa)
* Garri Furniture (Dong Guan) Co., Ltd., Molabile International, Inc. Weei Geo Enterprise Co., Ltd.
* Hong Kong Da Zhi Furniture Co., Ltd., Dongguan Grand Style Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Hualing Furniture (China) Co., Ltd., Tony House Manufacture (China) Co., Ltd., Buysell Investments Ltd., Tony House Industries Co., Ltd.
* Jardine Enterprise, Ltd.
* Longkou Huangshan Furniture Factory.
* Meikangchi (Nantong) Furniture Company Ltd.
* Nanhai Baiyi Woodwork Co. Ltd.
* Nanjing Nanmu Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Season Furniture Manufacturing Co., Season Industrial Development Co.
* Shenyang Shining Dongxing Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Shenzhen Shen Long Hang Industry Co., Ltd.
* Wanhengtong Nueevder (Furniture) Manufacture Co., Ltd., Dongguan Wanengtong Industry Co., Ltd.
* Winny Overseas, Ltd.
* Xilinmen Furniture Co., Ltd.
* Zhangjiagang Zheng Yan Decoration Co. Ltd.
* Zhangjiang Sunwin Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd.
* Zhong Shan Fullwin Furniture Co., Ltd.
In its final determination, DOC assessed a China-wide rate of 216.01 percent on bedroom shipments. That rate applies to 12 manufacturers who DOC said did not provide information proving they deserved the separate rate of 41.75 percent.
August 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 11, 2011
Home furnishings buying group MEGA Group USA said it will launch expanded services and named the keynote speaker for its August 25-28 convention in Nashville, Tenn.
Germantown, Tenn.-based MEGA Group USA, will expand WebFronts Premium Plus Program to include mattress and bedding; and launch fleet management software in partnership with
EnGenX at the gathering, where
social media expert Jeff Korhan will serve as keynote speaker.
After launching WebFronts Basic in 2007, MEGA Group USA introduced WebFronts Premium Plus this past March in San Antonio. WebFronts Premium Plus provides MEGA Group USA dealers an industry-leading web presence featuring unlimited product catalogs, advanced merchandising and pricing tools, an unlimited dual shopping cart and quote request system, advanced SEO techniques, automated rebate centers and product comparison capabilities for the Appliance, Furniture, Electronics and Lawn and Garden Industries. Now MEGA Group USA is expanding the offering to include mattress and bedding.
More 100 dealers have adopted WebFronts Premium Plus since its introduction five months ago and launched new sites. This new WebFronts technology platform is appropriate for dealers whose businesses are part or entirely mattress and bedding.
"We are excited about the addition of Mattress and Bedding to the WebFronts Premium Plus program," said Scott McFarland, director of Information Technology for MEGA Group USA. "Our mission is to provide every necessary business and marketing tool to make our dealers successful and profitable. Having an aggressive web presence is vital in today's marketplace and this expansion now provides all of our dealers the marketing power they need to compete successfully online."
Fleet management software is the other new business service dealer members. MEGA Group USA teamed with EnGenX to provide dealers the ability to constantly track delivery and service trucks and the ability to maximize routes, monitor speed, RPM, idle times and off hour activities plus more. The Web-based solution integrates with dealer's existing software application and can be fully customized to suit individual dealer needs.
"One of MEGA Group USA's distinct advantages is the breadth of business services that we offer our dealers," said Mallory Parker of MEGA Group USA. "This new fleet management software offered by EnGenX gives our dealers yet another major resource designed to make their business even more profitable."
This year's convention in Nashville, themed "Stay Connected. Be Connected," will focus on further educating dealers' on Web marketing. In addition to training workshops on MEGA Group USA's WebFronts Premium Plus program, the buying group will also be conducting informational sessions on social media that include tips, techniques and best practices.
The featured speaker for this years convention is Jeff Korhan, an expert in social media who will address the dealers Saturday morning, August 27, prior to the show opening. Korhan is a new media marketer, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a top-ranked blogger who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners maximize their Web visibility, reputation, and referrals with social media and Internet marketing.
Korhan began his career as a Fortune 50 sales and marketing manager with an MBA. He later started and operated a landscape company that was twice named Business of the Year in one of the fastest growing communities in the country.
"Bringing someone in of Jeff's expertise and experience is perfect for our dealers," said Rick Bellows, president of MEGA Group USA. "Online and social media marketing is critical to their success. As a leader in Web marketing, it is our responsibility and passion to continue to bring our dealers the knowledge they need to compete online. Having Jeff Korhan speak to them is just another example of our dedication to help our members grow in all aspects related to web marketing."
MEGA Group USA has 1,600 retail members in 2,500 store fronts throughout the United States.
August 10,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on August 11, 2011
Contemporary, transitional furniture vendor Sitcom Furniture will build its Asia presence as it opens a new showroom and Shanghai office during Furniture China next month.
The new showroom and office will be the headquarters for Sitcom's Asia operations, advancing the current presence in Asia. Stockton Weikel, who was named senior manager of sourcing & quality control for Sitcom this year, will head the new office. He brings six years of Asia manufacturing sourcing and supply chain management experience to the company.
Sitcom will celebrate its new space with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the new showroom during a reception on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 4-7 p.m. in the Soho Building, 501 Li Yuan Road, Building A7, room 7403 of the Luwan District.
Oakland, Calif.-based Sitcom currently has more than 100 employees and works with more than 30 manufacturers throughout China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Malaysia.