June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in economic news on June 21, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4869497469&z=1250249030
Canadian retail sales rose by 0.3% to C$37.4 billion in April but were flat, unchanged from March, when motor vehicles and parts sales are excluded, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday. The results overall were below the expectations of analysts for an increase of 0.5% on the month, and well below the consensus estimate of a 0.5% growth excluding motor vehicles and parts sales. In fact, excluding sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales in April were flat. Economists were looking to the retail report for evidence of whether household spending in Canada was declining, holding
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June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Case Goods on June 21, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4871756051&z=1250249029
A fire on Tuesday forced an evacuation at Thornwood Furniture's Phoenix manufacturing facility.
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June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Upholstery on June 21, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4868170172&z=1250249032
Davie County appears to be the Triad's only shot at landing a major economic-development project that could create up to 550 jobs. Terry Bralley, president of the county's , said Monday that a "furniture-related company" is considering Davie, along with other sites in North Carolina and the Southeast. "We've been working this project for the past 60 days, and as far as I know, no one else in the Triad is involved at this stage," Bralley said. Other economic developers contacted in the Triad said they could not discuss whether they are in negotiations for the project. Bralley said
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June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 21, 2011
Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) has named Rose Marie Bravo to its board of directors.
Bravo was chief executive officer of
Burberry Group from 1997 to 2006 and then served as vice chairman until 2007. She is credited with turning Burberry into a leading global luxury goods brand. Bravo was president of
Saks Fifth Avenue from 1992 to 1997, with responsibility for merchandising, marketing and product development. Prior to Saks, she held a number of positions at R.H. Macy & Co., including chairman and CEO of the I. Magnin Specialty Division from 1988 to 1992. She currently serves on the boards of
The Estée Lauder Cos. and
Tiffany & Co. Bravo was named the most powerful woman in fashion by
Time Magazine in 2004, and she was included in the
Forbes list of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2005.
Rose Marie Bravo is an icon in the retail world, said Adrian Bellamy, chairman of the board of directors. As Williams-Sonoma continues its global expansion, we are confident that Rose Marie will play a key role in guiding our success.
Williams-Sonoma has six different merchandise brandsWilliams-Sonoma,
Pottery Barn,
Pottery Barn Kids,
PBTeen,
West Elm and
Williams-Sonoma Home. The brands are marketed through 589 stores, six catalogs and six distinct Web sites.
We are thrilled to have Rose Marie join our Board, said Laura Alber, president and CEO of Williams-Sonoma. She brings insight, leadership, retail expertise and extensive international experience to our company.
Bravo said she was delighted to be a member of the board.
With a history of over 50 years of shaping high-end kitchen and home furnishings retailing, the company is poised for an exciting future," Bravo said. "I look forward to helping Williams-Sonoma reach its long term vision, including its continued international growth.
June 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on June 21, 2011
Ron Cooper, director of sales & marketing at Profit Management Promotions, has joined the Greater New York Home Furnishings Association's executive board.
Cooper has more than 25 years' experience as a retail store owner and marketer of bedding and home furnishings products. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of PMP's business development program, as well as ongoing customer relationship management. His activities include coordinating the firm's involvement in industry trade shows and special events, as well as advancing the firm's thought-leadership initiatives via seminars, public relations, and other forms of market outreach.
Ron began his career in the waterbed industry as sales manager for Royal Waterbeds in Irvington, N.J.
In this role he was responsible for establishing waterbed departments in specialty sleep shops, while coordinating all aspects of product distribution, inventory control, and customer service. He also designed a comprehensive turn-key program offering for waterbed sales that was marketed to traditional retail bedding outlets.
Following this position, Ron replicated the turnkey business model in forming his own company, Flotation Design. He forged new contractual relationships with vendors that had been affiliated with the now-defunct Royal Waterbeds brand and steadily grew Flotation Design over a seven-year period. From 1997 to 2004, Ron operated Big's Bedrooms in Yonkers--a youth-bedroom store that became recognized as one of the industry's leading outlets in terms of in-store design and revenues per square foot.
Ron actively participates in all major national and regional trade events attended by home furnishings industry professionals. He and his colleagues at PMP are members of the National Home Furnishings Association, the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, and multiple regional groups serving the home furnishings market.
Cooper holds a degree in Business Management from Pace University in New York.
"Ron will be a great asset to our association with his extensive retail background, as we try to grow our membership to include more retailers from the Greater New York market," said GNYHFA President Abraham Feinblum.