Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 29, 2011
Fabrictech International is offering the bedding industry research on health and societal cost impacts of pollen, dust, mold, dust mites, bacteria and bedbugs.
While the numbers are readily available to people looking to research and pull together the critical statistics on the significant growth of serious allergies and asthma, this organized industry presentation presents what Fabrictech called "the stark realities and extent of these issues." It also places a real overall healthcare cost, dollar value and human cost to these illnesses in an easy-to-read, summary form.
"Our intent with this research compilation is to present the facts and figures to retailers and consumers so they can take positive steps to reduce the incidence of allergies and often, resultant asthma caused by conditions related to mattress and top-of-bed products," said Fabrictech President and COO Jeff Bergman. "Knowledge is power. Who in our industry would have really known that allergies are the fifth most chronic disease in America costing $7.9 billion? Or that 20 million Americans have dust mite allergies? Or that allergic related asthma is the most common type of asthma? Or that 11 people die from asthma every day, which is 4,000 deaths each year, half of which are allergy related?"
As much as they are a nuisance, Bergman said bedbugs pale in comparison to the health impacts of allergies and asthma.
"We do not discount the bedbug problem; however the research has uncovered that not one death has been directly attributed to bedbugs, and even human pathogens identified with bedbugs have not shown any statistic transference to humans," he said. "Bedbugs are simply a small problem compared to the real costs for medical care, lost work days, lost school days, and even deaths due to the incidence of allergies and asthma."
The research will be offered in a power point presentation to senior executives at both the International Sleep Products Association and the Specialty Sleep Association just prior to the Las Vegas Furniture Market. The presentation will be offered to retailers attending Market at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, in World Market Center building B, 16th Floor, World Forum.
July 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on July 29, 2011
The Next Generation-NOW will host a "Chatter Over Cocktails" reception Tuesday, August 2 at the Las Vegas Furniture Market.
The cocktail reception will run 5-6 p.m. in the One-Six Club on the 16th Floor of World Market Center's Building B.
During the reception, mentors from past generations will be on hand to share their stories and offer advice to the up and coming generation of the home furnishings industry.
"Networking and communication are two of the tenants of growth in the furniture industry," said Next Generation-NOW Committee Chair, Nick Gates of Gates Home Furnishings. "Without listening and talking to our peers about current issues, new ideas and even our frustrations, it would be impossible to make any significant strides forward in this industry. This generation not only has its peers to turn to but a sea of individuals from our previous generations."
Sponsored by FurnitureDealer.net, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served as attendees enjoy great conversation and views of the Las Vegas skyline.
RSVP for the Next Generation-NOW event on the group's Facebook page.
July 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on July 28, 2011
New orders for furniture from retailers remained flat in May compared with the prior-year month, according to the latest Furniture Insights survey.
But the news might be better than at first glance, according to High Point accounting and consulting firm Smith Leonard, which conducts the monthly survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
May 2011's flat performance compared with May 2010 followed an year-over-year increase in orders written in April of 16 percent.
"As we noted in last month's report, the dates of the April market in High Point were thought to have an impact on the April results in that the 2011 market was much earlier in the month," Smith Leonard Managing Partner Ken Smith said in the survey report. "This, we thought, allowed more market orders to be written in April 2011 than in April 2010. Adding both April and May together, the results were still very positive for both months combined."
Combining April and May 2011 new orders were 8 percent higher than the same two months a year ago. Year-to-date, new orders were up 5 percent, down from 7 percent through April, but Smith again attributed that to early market orders).
Shipments rose 6 percent over May of 2010 and were up 8 percent over April 2011. The 3 percent increase year-to-date compares with a 6 percent increase through May 2010.
"We expect there may be some market orders that will take some time to get through the system," Smith noted.
Backlogs fell 2 percent from April, but remained 3 percent above May 2010. This compared to a 6 percent increase in backlog reported last month.
Receivable levels rose only 3 percent in May compared to May 2010, much more in line with the 3 percent increase in
year-to-date shipments.
"Last month receivables were up 8 percent which was not in line, but we assumed it was a timing issue," Smith said. "Apparently it was."
Inventories were up 11 percent in May 2011 over levels a year ago. April inventories were up 14 percent.
"While the inventory levels appear to be somewhat high, we remember that many companies got caught short on inventories in the first part of the year in 2010 as orders and shipments had exceeded expectations," Smith said. "We expect inventory levels to become a bit more in line as the year goes on. Yet, inventories will still need to be watched."
Factory and warehouse employment stayed about even with April levels, but fell about 2 percent from May 2010 levels. May 2010 employee levels were 1 percent higher than May 2009.
Factory and warehouse payrolls rose 6 percent from April and were up 1 percent from last May. Year-to-date, these payrolls were up 2 percent over the same period a year ago, the same as they were in April. Last year, payrolls were up 10 percent over the same period in 2009.
In summary, Smith said results for May and April 2011 were "very positive."
"While May orders were flat, we compared both April and May in order to account for earlier market dates. This resulted in almost an 8 percent increase in orders over the two months," he said. "According to the government reports, retail sales in furniture and home furnishings stores remained a poor performer compared to all 13 categories that are tracked for the 6 months ended June 30, 2011. Sales at auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 12.9 percent for the six-month period, so at least sales for some large ticket items are improving. But, we know that financing has something to do with that overall picture.
"We continue to hear the same story from most that we talk to. Business (orders) will pick up for a few days or even a week, then fall off again. We continue to believe that consumers' confidence will not improve until all the negative news from Washington ends (or will it ever?)."
July 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on July 28, 2011
Tickets are moving briskly for City of Hope's National Home Furnishings Industry's Northeast Sept. 10 Cruise for Hope around Manhattan.
"I am deeply moved by the difference being made by the extraordinary City of Hope scientists and caregivers in the ways life-threatening diseases are researched and treated, says City of Hope Honoree Simon Kaplan, of Value City New Jersey and Ashley Furniture Homestores of New Jersey, and who recently toured the City of Hope hospital campus in Los Angeles and met with staff. "Knowing that we can raise a significant amount of money to enhance these efforts and help give families their lives back is humbling and inspiring."
Chaired by Patrick Cory of Cory Home Delivery, the gala cruise on the Cornucopia honoring Kaplan is the Northeast Committee's inaugural event to raise funds for life-saving research and treatment programs for cancer and other life-threatening diseases at City of Hope, one of only 40 Comprehensive Cancer Centers accredited by the National Cancer Institute.
The Saturday evening cruise will feature a tour of the skyline, dining, dancing, and entertainment, as well as stunning views of lower Manhattan including the first completed sections of the new World Trade Centers, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island, South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge. The program will include an official memoriam to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, as well as Mr. Kaplans military service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1945.
"Honoring Simon and commemorating this enormous event in the life of America will truly bring home City of Hope's mission to our friends on the East Coast," Cory said. "We are all deeply affected by the work that City of Hope does. There's no place like it anywhere else in the world."
For information and reservations, contact Beth Stern at City of Hope by e-mail or at 626.560.9432.
July 27,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on July 28, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z5008551457&z=1250249030
A court-appointed attorney will help resolve pending claims Furniture Deals and Steals, which abruptly closed its six Wisconsin retail stores this summer.
Read Full Article...