July 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Display on July 20, 2011
AmericasMart has honored 46 exhibitors at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market with the Visual Display Award.
Twenty-nine permanent showrooms and exhibitors in 17 temporary product collections received the award, which recognizes excellence in visual presentation, use of space, product placement and overall composition. Judging was conducted and winners selected by independent design and retail visual merchandising experts with decades of combined experience.
The July 2011 Visual Display Awards winners for permanent showrooms in Building 1 are: Old World Christmas, Best of Floor, Holiday, Floral & Home Decor, Floor 20; Season's Direct Imports, Best of Floral, Holiday, Floral & Home Decor, Floor 19; Accent Decor, Best of Floor, Holiday, Floral & Home Decor, Floor 18; Winward International, Best of Floor, Holiday, Floral & Home Decor, Floor 17; Midwest CBK, Best of Floor, Holiday, Floral & Home Decor, Floor 16; Port 68, Best of Floor, Home Accents & Furnishings, Floor 14; Cyan Designs, Best of Floor, Home Accents & Furnishings, Floor 13; Classic Home, Home Accents & Furnishings, Floor 12; Royala Pacific Designs, Best of Floor, Furniture & Home Accents, Floor 11; Barreveld, Best of Floor, Home Accents & Fine Linens, Floor 10; and Design Legacy, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 9.
Building 2 permanent showroom winners include: Homestyle, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 18; Two's Company, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 17; The Simblist Group, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 16' One Hundred 80 Degrees, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 15; Select Artificials, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 14; The Yankee Candle Company, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 13; Arty Imports, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 12; The Roundtop Collection, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 11; Peacock Park Design, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 10; K. Hall Studio, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 9; Home Essentials and Beyond, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 8; City Paper Company, Best of Floor, Gourmet/Housewares, Floor 7; Brownlow Gifts, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 6
Building 2 WestWing honorees are: Fancy Home Products, Best of Floor, Living. Outdoor/Indoor The Gardens, Floor 10; Jackson Pottery, Best of Floor, Living. Outdoor/Indoor The Gardens, Floor 9; La Crema Coffee/Lynne's Whim, Best of Floor, Gourmet/Housewares, Floor 8; High Wind Productions, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 7; Silvestri, Best of Floor, Gift, Floor 6
Design Legacy by Nancy Price in HD Home took Best of Show honors among temporary exhibitors.
Other temporary exhibitors winning best-of-category Visual Display awards include: Arcadia Home, Home Accents/Home Furnishings (Floor 7); Teresa Alecrim Lda., Fine Linens/Home Textiles (Floor 7); Adams Furniture USA Inc., Home Accents/Home Furnishings (Floor 8); Rebecca Ray Designs, High Design (Floor 2W); Oh, Sugar!, Gourmet (Floor 2W); Mr. Bird, Birding and Backyard Nature (Floor 2W); The Hammock Source, Living. Outdoor/Indoor. The Gardens/Coastal Lifestyles (2W); Adventure Furniture/Comfy Feet/College Covers LLS., Collegiate (Floor 2W); American Oak, Holiday/Floral/Baskets (Floor 3); Ian Nicholas Designs Inc., Handcrafted Design (Floor 3); Jessie Steele, Living & Entertaining: Gifts, Tabletop and Accessories (Floor 3); Apple Park, Childrens World (Floor 3); Beauty Prophet/Kneipp, Body & Soul (Floor 3); Haul Couture, Boutique (Building 3); Envirosax, Jewelry & Fashion Accessories (Floor 3); Brittany Fuson Paper, Paper Boutique (Floor 3); and P.L.A.Y., Pampered Pets (Floor 4).
July 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on July 19, 2011
Sealy, Furniture First and Rowe Furniture have come aboard as early supporters of City of Hope's Northeast Cruise for Hope around Manhattan.
The Sept. 10 event in support of one of the nation's leading research, treatment and education centers for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, will honor Simon Kaplan, president of Crest Furniture.
"It is really heart warming to see how our industry is getting behind this important cause and our event," said Patrick Cory, managing partner at Cory's 1st Choice and chairman of City of Hopes Northeast region. "We are seeing commitments and expressions of interest from all corners of the industry, from suppliers, manufacturers and retailers, which we believe due to the high regard Simon is held by his peers in the industry."
The Saturday evening cruise will depart from Shipyard Marina in Hoboken, N.J., and feature fine dining, dancing and entertainment. Guests aboard the Cornucopia Cruise Line yacht will see expansive views of lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island, South Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge. On hand for those who are interested will be tour guides to answer questions and present a history on the stories behind the sights.
The cruise, which will coincide closely with the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, will incorporate a memorial in its program.
Proceeds from Cruise for Hope will support life-saving research and treatment programs at City of Hope. Nearing its centennial, the institution has been a model for scientific discovery and compassionate care for those facing cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Among many breakthroughs, City of Hopes research has led to new, more effective therapies. Numerous cancer drugs, including Herceptin and Rituxan, and synthetic human insulin used by millions worldwide with diabetes, are based on technology and research pioneered at City of Hope.
In addition to Cory, event co-chairs include: Russell Bienenstock of Furniture World; Chris DeLisa of Cory 1st Choice Delivery; Bill Hartman of Furniture First; and Edward Massood of Thomasville Home Furnishings of New Jersey.
To register for Cruise for Hope or inquire about sponsorship, contact Beth Ida Stern, senior director of development, City of Hope, at 213.241.7192.
July 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on July 19, 2011
The Buildfax Remodeling Index showed May as the month with the highest level of remodeling activity since the Index was introduced in 2004.
The report released Monday showed continued month-over-month gains for every region of the country, with data demonstrating that consumers are continuing to invest in remodeling, even as home prices continue to dip and unemployment continues to rise. The latest BFRI also showed that residential remodeling activity registered the 19th straight month of year-over-year gains, demonstrating that many Americans are continuing to remodel their current homes, rather than purchasing new homes.
The May 2011 index rose 22 percent year-over-year, and for the 19th straight month, to 124.3, the highest number ever in the index to date.
"Through the first five months of 2011 we have seen impressive gains within the remodeling index and May has continued that trend with a record setting month," said Joe Emison, Vice President of Research and Development at BuildFax, Austin, Texas. "Even with the continued struggles in the economy, the remodeling industry has been a bright spot, as consumers look to make upgrades to their current homes, rather than purchasing a new residence. Based on the trends from the first months of this year, we expect to continue seeing strong gains from coast to coast."
All regions were up month-over-month, with the Northeast up 9.8 points (12 percent), the South up 7.3 points (7 percent), the Midwest up 16.3 points (18 percent), and the West up 8.7 points (7 percent). Even though the Midwest was up month-over-month, it continues to lag the other regions (as it has for the past three months) in year-over-year performance, down 10.6 points (11 percent) year-over-year. All other regions were up year-over-year, with the Northeast up 7.2 points (9 percent), the South up 9.5 points (10 percent), and the West up 20.7 points (21 percent).
July 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on July 19, 2011
Ashley Furniture has renewed its long-term lease at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Ashley, Arcadia, Wis., signed a deal this week to keep its 146,000-square-foot showroom on the 15th floor of World Market Center's Building B, and to add a new 20,000-square-foot showroom for the Winter 2012 Las Vegas Furniture Market.
"We are proud to continue moving forward with International Market Centers, renewing and growing our space in Las Vegas," said Todd Wanek, owner and chief executive officer of Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. "Ashley Furniture has been a staple at World Market Center Las Vegas for more than four years and we're excited at the opportunities that this continued partnership will bring. The Las Vegas Market continually delivers exceptional results for our brand and we are committed to continued success with IMC."
"This renewal and expansion solidifies our great partnership, highlighting the value this national brand finds in the Las Vegas Market," said Tom Mitchell, home furnishings president of International Market Centers, parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas. "International Market Centers is confident that through joint ventures with well positioned and established brands like Ashley Furniture, we can continue to deliver exceptional markets in both Las Vegas and High Point that buyers are compelled to attend."
Ashley Furniture has held the entire fifteenth floor of Building B at World Market Center Las Vegas since the building opened in January 2007. This new agreement will also expand its total space with a new 20,000-square-foot merchandised showroom for Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, with opportunities for more growth in the future.
"Ashley Furniture is a tremendous partner, both for their recognition as a brand and industry leader, as well as a mainstay for new and returning buyers to attend our Markets," said Robert Maricich, chief executive officer of IMC. "We look forward to our continued mutual successes with Ashley in August and into the future."
July 18,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 19, 2011
Fabrictech International has launched a new consumer and retailer-focused Web site to help consumers find the right mattress and pillow protection systems.
With a focus on health and wellness, and not simply the mattress and pillows, Fabrictech's new site looks to provide tools and the options to choose the ideal bedding protection. Fabrictech International designs, engineers and manufactures mattress, pillow and box spring protectors and encasements, with a wide selection of increasingly protective products offering solutions to a variety of health and comfort issues that sleepers may experience.
Whether a consumer is exploring the Fabrictech Web site for encasement product research and then planning to shop at a store, or whether intending to purchase online using the shopping cart, the new site clearly addresses each product's potential option focusing on dust-mites, allergens, moisture (body fluids) and bedbugs. A consumer can click on a specific category or concern and learn about the key issues, and also receive a product recommendation from Fabrictech.
The company also offers consumers a "Virtual Protection Assistant" to further help shoppers (and retailers) to find the perfect protector for that situation. This feature leads the online customer to a series of five specific questions covering body temperature, bacteria, odors, fungi, moisture, stains, allergens, dust-mites and bedbugs. When a customer answers these questions and submits the results, with a click of a button, Fabrictech's virtual assistant then will offer the consumer an easy to understand recommendation to address the issue(s) selected by the customer.
"Our goal with this Web site is not only to offer the most innovative and clinically tested 'people protection' products to our customers," said Sean Bergman, vice president of sales and marketing, "but to make the shopping process simple and easy. We want our customers to have a sense of confidence and to know they have chosen the right product. We also want to help our retail partners so they can better serve their customers and increase sales and margins."
The fully re-engineered Web site also draws prominent attention and education to Fabrictech's newest technology-driven health and wellness protection products featuring the Celliant oxygenating system, which helps reduce pain, speeds healing and allows for better sleep. The Pure Care Advanced Antibacterial Silver Protection system also is highlighted for customers seeking proactive bacterial reduction protection.
The new site also offers a "Mix and Match" section that allows consumers to create their own perfect sleep environment protection system. The site lists a variety of advanced packages, including: "Total Allergy Protection," "Total Bedbug Protection" and a "Total Health and Wellness" selection.
Additionally, the site gives participants the option of clicking on a store locator within the site to direct online shoppers to the closest retailer in their area. The site is a reference for both consumer and retailer alike, and a selection guide for all who may have questions about the correct "people protection" product available.
Fabrictech International will be showing at the Las Vegas Furniture Market August 1-5 in World Market Center, space C1532.