Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on July 13, 2011
Furniture components vendor Hickory Springs has named Drew Sweeney to a new position, national director of sales & new business development for metal products.
In this newly created role, part of a company-wide realignment strategy, Sweeney focuses on the continued national sales growth of Hickory Springs' recliner, sleeper product, metal tubing and stamped parts lines. He also will expand the company's sales force to generate additional business and increase product diversification within the tubing and stamped parts markets.
Sweeney joined Hickory Springs in 1999 and has held various positions within the company, most recently general manager of Hickory Metal.
"Drew's key contacts within the home furnishings industry will serve the company well as he works to strengthen our relationships with the industry's top accounts," said Dwayne Welch, executive vice president and chief sales & marketing officer of Hickory Springs. "We are fortunate to have Drew's experience and expertise guiding these all-important revenue streams for the company."
July 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on July 13, 2011
Bedding retailer Mattressman has unveiled a new Web site to showcase its line of mattresses and futons.
The Belmont, N.H.-based retailer prides itself on catering to consumers with all budgets.
The new site features content with information about the economy, premium, luxury, memory foam and latex mattresses as well as its futons. Using the site, visitors can learn about current Internet specials.
New Hampshire-based Danconia Media created the Web site using a content management system that can be used to add, remove and modify content quickly.
Mattressman plans to build out the site with additional content in the coming months and continually update its web specials.
The retailer was founded in 2001 by Bob DiPietro and Karen Whiston-DiPietro. Prior to opening the store, Bob DiPietro managed two regional mattress chains, and Karen ran
Hearth & Home Furnishings for two decades.
July 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on July 13, 2011
Stefan Van Rooyen has joined Stanley Furniture (NASDAQ: STLY) as the company's second international sales manager.
Van Rooyen joins Ann Surratt to oversee all management functions of the international sales department, including support of international sales representatives around the world as well as management of house accounts. He reports to Kevin Bowman, vice president of sales for Young America; and to Glenn Prillaman, president and CEO, who currently assumes responsibilities for Stanley brand sales.
A native of South Africa and former officer of their Air Force, Van Rooyen came to Stanley with extensive experience in sales and management. He honed his operations and logistical skills working with a leather upholstery manufacturer. Most recently, he served as sales executive for the nation's largest commercial flooring contractor.
"We are honored to have Stefan join our Stanley team," said Prillaman. "We have expanded our sales operations over the past few years and he brings with him a wealth of management and sales experience that will benefit our entire company."
Van Rooyen attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Guilford Technical Community College, where he earned a degree in Speech and Communications.
July 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on July 13, 2011
Bedding tele-retailer 1800Mattress.com has partnered with
A Good Night Sleep for its first annual Bedder Dream Big Fundraiser in Los Angeles on July 23.
A Good Night Sleep is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the benefit of a good night's sleep by supplying beds and bedding essentials to people making the transition from homelessness into permanent housing.
1800Mattress.com is offering a donation and discount program to benefit A Good Night Sleeps "Drive to 500"--an initiative to provide a minimum of 500 beds to clients and partners of AGNS in the next year. Since its 2010 launch, AGNS has donated 246 new mattresses to people moving into permanent housing.
Now through Sept. 30, customers can make a donation to AGNS and then receive discounts on mattress purchases from 1800Mattress.com. For donations between $25 and $99, they will receive a coupon for 10 percent savings on their next mattress purchase. Donations between $100 and $199 will net a customer 15 percent coupon savings, and anything over $200 will receive 25 percent coupon savings.
"We're thrilled to support an organization like A Good Night Sleep, with whom we have the same mission: providing quality sleep," said Julian Acker of 1800Mattress.com. "We urge our customers to make a donation so that those in need can get the proper bedding to enjoy healthful sleep for years to come."
"1800Mattress.com has been with us from the beginning offering 360 degree support and expertise to our clients," said Josh Helland of A Good Night Sleep. "This generous discount program for our donors shows their full commitment to this cause. We couldn't ask for a better partner and it's exciting to see the evolution of this relationship over the past year."
Donations can be made via 1800Mattress.com here.
July 12,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Mattresses on July 13, 2011
Thanks to opposition from the International Sleep Products Association and other groups, the Rhode Island Legislature adjourned last week without passing a potentially expensive mattress recycling bill.
The bill would have required mattress manufacturers and retailers operating there to participate in an "extended producer responsibility" (EPR) program. An EPR program makes manufacturers responsible for funding and operating a system for collecting and disposing of consumer products at the end of their useful lives. The Rhode Island legislation would have required the mattress industry to develop such an EPR program specifically for mattresses discarded in that state.
"This is a significant victory for our industry," said ISPA President Ryan Trainer. "ISPA supports efforts to promote the proper disposal of used mattresses, but the Rhode Island legislation would have set a bad precedent. ISPA believes that used mattress recycling efforts must develop and evolve on their own without the interference of costly and impractical state mandates."
ISPA provided testimony opposing the bill and met with influential legislators and agency staff to educate them on the economic harm that legislation like this would have caused mattress manufacturers and retailers. To help defeat the legislation, ISPA also enlisted the assistance of its members, mattress retailers and other industries that manufacture consumer products targeted by EPR efforts like this in other states.