June 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Business Strategy on June 17, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4855701394&z=1250249027
Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea has decided to boost security measures at all of its European outlets following several recent explosions.
"Among other things, we're going to have an increased number of visible guards," Ikea spokesperson Camilla Meiby told the TT news agency. Three Ikea stores in the Netherlands, Belgium and France were forced to evacuate customers on May 30th after explosions occurred at each store within hours of each other. The first blast
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June 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in on June 17, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4854976599&z=1250249030
The former site of Lacks Home Furnishings soon may have a new owner, with the Buffalo Gap Road property under contract but a deal not yet finalized, according to the company selling the property for the bankrupt retailer. "We are in the, I guess, infancy stages," said James Avallone with DJM Realty, adding, "we're excited about the potential buyer." Avallone declined to comment on who the buyer might be, except to say, "it will be definitely a tenant that the area would be receptive to." The deal could become public within a month or so, he said. "They could
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June 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on June 17, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4854759949&z=1250249030
Modern furniture retailer West Elm will open its first store in Washington this fall at the 2201 Westlake office and condominium complex along the Seattle Streetcar line. West Elm, a unit of Williams-Sonoma, will be one of the few national retailers in the South Lake Union area. It will move in across the street from Whole Foods ? a neighbor it knows fairly well. Abigail Jacobs, director of public relations for West Elm, said the New York-based company also has a store across from the Whole Foods headquarters in Austin, Tex. "Our customers are loyal to it," she said.
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June 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on June 17, 2011
Import container cargo volume should remain level with last year through July, say the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
According to the latest Global Port Tracker report released Thursday by the NRF and Hackett Associates, volume at the nation's major retail container ports should resume increases later this summer.
"With rising gas prices and challenges in the labor and housing markets, consumer spending has slowed and retailers have adjusted their inventory levels accordingly," NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. "We are confident long-term consumer demand will grow, and that imports will pick up significantly in the fall."
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.22 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in April, the latest month for which numbers are available. That was up 12 percent from March and 7 percent from April 2010. It was the 17th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.
May was estimated at 1.27 million TEU, only one-third of 1 percent over May 2010. June is forecast at 1.33 million TEU, a 1 percent increase from a year ago; July at 1.39 million TEU, up one-half of 1 percent from last year; August at 1.47 million TEU, up 3 percent; September at 1.49 million TEU, up 12 percent; and October at 1.54 million TEU, up 19 percent. August through October are traditionally the busiest months of the year as retailers stock up for the holiday season.
The first half of 2011 is forecast at 7.2 million TEU, up 5 percent from the first half of 2010. Global Port Tracker forecasts only six months beyond actual numbers, so a forecast for the full year is not yet available. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16 percent increase over 2009.
"2011 is turning out to be an uncertain year for shipping," Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. "The good news for the coming few months is that inventories are too low, which will generate shipping demand as the supply chain moves to re-stock, albeit cautiously."
Global Port Tracker covers the U.S. ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.
June 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 17, 2011
Award winning architectural and interior designer and HGTV television host Vern Yip and multichannel retailer HSN have partnered to launch Vern Yip Home.
The exclusive Vern Yip Home collection at St. Petersburg, Fla.-based HSN will feature his signature, unique design Lotus and Medallion (a symbol of his family's history and design aesthetic) available on a bedding line. The collection will also include furniture, window treatments, rugs, lighting and decor items.
"Balancing work and family life has inspired me to continue my quest to create easy solutions for everyday problems," said Vern Yip. "Together with HSN, my goal is to simplify the challenges of the home space while bringing to life its personality and embracing functionality."
"Vern is amazing to work with. The combination of his sensibility, style, and exceptional designs are qualities that HSN customers will fall in love with," said Nancy Caplan, senior vice president of merchandising for HSN. "At HSN, we are excited to provide the viewer a unique opportunity to connect with Vern on an intimate level and learn home design tips from a recognized expert."
Also, as part of HSN's 34th birthday festivities, HSN is launching a sweepstakes contest today that includes two round-trip airline tickets to St. Petersburg, FL, a two-night stay at the historic Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, a personal home design consultation from Vern Yip and a $5,000 room makeover.
Vern Yip will debut his new home collection and announce the sweepstakes winner on HSN on Tuesday, July 26.