June 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on June 22, 2011
The American Home Furnishings Alliance and Assured Products Group have teamed for software to help members manage environmental and safety laws.
APG gives regulators, vendors, retailers and consumers 24/7 access to compliance documentation, including chain of custody, general conformance certificates, Lacey Act documentation and more. All parties can verify product compliance on the web, via smart phone or in the store.
"Members will easily be able to produce certificates tied to specific products or production runs with supporting information for regulatory agencies and customers, while managing and archiving information in a secure-access, controlled environment," said AHFA Vice President Bill Perdue. "This industry first 'compliance advisor' program maintains up-to-date information on what needs to be done for compliance--and will save our members the time, expense and confusion of interpreting compliance requirements on their own."
Members will receive tailored solutions based on their size, business focus and supply chain challenges, all at significantly discounted annual rates.
"This partnership gives AHFA members, as well as their customers, piece of mind," said James Chester, CEO of APG.
APG's Assurance & Authentication program offers the following:
* General Certificates of Conformity (GCC) and Certificates of Conformity (CoC): A factory creates the certificate in the APG system, and it becomes available online to retailers, suppliers and regulators.
* CPSIA registration: The product registration page can be embedded in the manufacturer's Web site, simplifying the customer notification process in the event of a safety advisory or recall.
* Simplified record-keeping: The Assurance & Authentication program keeps companies in compliance with the law at all points in the supply chain, from production to product registration. With all documents safely stored in the APG system, there is no need to worry about an audit--all documentation is in one place.
* Compliance advisor: The compliance advisor module tells companies which tests are needed for various products, according to the current law.
* Records management: All GCC, CoC and testing certificates are stored in one place for access by interested parties. This also simplifies long term record retention.
* 24/7 access, worldwide: Manufacturers, retailers and the end consumers can verify product authenticity, origin and compliance via a smart phone or text message. All relevant information is tied together.
"Assurance is much more than compliance," Chester said. "It provides a path to better business practices, satisfied investors and customers and, ultimately, more revenue and market share as you increase supplier and consumer confidence, transparency and predictability in your product and brand."
June 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on June 22, 2011
Seven new showrooms are set to debut at this week's Dallas Total Home & Gift Market at Dallas Market Center.
The June 22-28 Market will feature the following exhibitors in new spaces: Ambiance Home Decor, World Trade Center, space 10025; FlowDecor, WTC-6290; The French Bee, WTC-567; Gold Eagle, The Plaza, space 1F117; Source One Marketing, Trade Mart, space 949; Stone Lighting, TM-3327; and Studio A, WTC-6078.
"We are pleased to welcome new partners to Dallas Market Center," said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. "The addition of these showrooms, as well as many other fresh resources across our campus, provides attendees with more buying options than ever before."
June 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 22, 2011
Art Van Furniture has launched "Arf Van" dog furniture, a new line of furniture for man's best friend.
Arf Van includes a collection of fashionable, durable dog beds in a variety of styles, designed to blend with most interior design tastes.
It's estimated, one out of two homes in Michigan has a dog as a pet. Reportedly, Americans spend $41 billion a year on pets, and 42 percent of dogs now sleep in the same bed as their owners. That being said, Art Van Furniture offering dog beds that provide comfort to pets and design appeal to pet owners is long overdue.
"Let's face it, most of us who have pets look at them as a part of the family," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture, Warren, Mich. "So, why shouldn't we treat them as such? We're known for selling everything for the home, including mattresses, patio furniture, flat screen TV's, even flooring. Why not add great beds for the family dog?"
The line features 13 easy-to-clean designs, in styles and prices range from $29.99 for the faux suede covered "Diva Pet Bed" to $429.99 for the stylish "Beau Dog Bed", which features nailhead detailing and an exposed hardwood frame.
Arf Van dog beds are available in a variety of fabrics and colors and feature removable zippered covers for easy care. In addition to beds and pads, the Arf Van collection also offers pet storage end tables and wooden two-piece pet stations for water, food and storage.
June 21,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on June 22, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4875943929&z=1250249027
Salem, Ore.-based JR Furniture U.S.A. agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by Oregon's Attorney General alleging the company violated the state's Fair Trade Practices Act. Justice Department spokesperson Tony Green said more than a hundred consumers filed formal complaints with the agency over its business practices. "Those complaints range from offers of free groceries that turned out to not be free to charging re-stocking fees on furniture people didn't accept because of damages or arriving late," Green said. He added that the $50,000 is to pay for restitution for customers who can document the company owes them money and
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June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on June 21, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4869236538&z=1250249029
One year ago, the demand forecasting process at RoomStore looked quite different than the streamlined process that the furniture retailer utilizes today. Recognized as one of the top 30 furniture retailers in the United States, RoomStore strives to maintain high customer service levels at each of its 69 stores. However, reliance on only "green bar" reports for its inventory planning process caused the company to be in a constant over- or under-stock situation. In order to improve forecasting and inventory management, RoomStore decided to research automated supply chain planning software. The furniture retailer needed an affordable and easy-to-use solution
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