Daily News Archive
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April 1,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on April 2, 2013
Forty-one presidents and CEOs of the most recognizable companies in the furniture industry are battling proposed cuts in state funding for the High Point Market Authority.
A coalition of furniture leaders sent a letter Monday to North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger calling for full funding of the Market Authority. New N.C. Governor Pat McCrory's proposed budget would cut the state's contribution to the organization, which is responsible for organizing and running the April and October High Point Furniture Markets, by 52 percent next year.
In the letter, the furniture coalition asked for the state to provide $2 million in funding for the HPMA--$1.2 million in transportation funds and $806,478 in marketing funds. Roughly one-third of the HPMAs budget comes from state funds. Another third is raised through a 15 cent per square foot self-imposed showroom tax that the 2.200 exhibitors and 100 High Point showrooms pay on 11 million-plus-square-feet of showroom space. The final third is raised through local governmental bodies, with the City of High Points annual contribution of $1 million making up the lions share.
We have a wonderful public-private partnership, with the local government, private enterprise and the State of North Carolina all contributing a fair share of our budget, said Doug Bassett, the President of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. and the volunteer chairman of the High Point Market Authority.
In 2011 and 2012, the state of North Carolina contributed between $1.6 million and $1.7 million in funding for the HPMA. McCrorys state budget released last month proposed cutting that funding by more than half by 2014, to $800,000. The state would zero out funding for the HPMA after 2014.
The leaders of the furniture industry believe this partnership is working beautifully and is a key reason that the High Point Market has been able to maintain its status as the most important furniture market in the world, Bassett said. We believe it would be a mistake for the state to end such a successful partnership with the furniture industry and with the Market. After all, the Markets economic impact is $1.2 billion and the furniture industrys impact on the NC economy is over $8 billion.
"We are very fortunate that we have many advocates in the legislature who are strong supporters of the HPMAs funding. Both Speaker Tillis and President Pro Tempore Berger have been strong supporters of both the furniture industry and of the Market. Based on our conversations with them and with dozens of other legislators, we are hopeful that the budgets they develop in the legislature will extend the successful partnership that we have cultivated with the State."
The letter points out that High Point Market generates roughly $40 million in tax receipts versus the states $2 million investment, or a 20-fold return on its investment.
This return is directly related to the 80,000 visitors that the furniture market attracts to North Carolina for up to one week, twice each year, the letter notes.
The leaders of many of the furniture industrys most powerful and famous companies signed on to the letter, including the CEOs of Bernhardt, Century, La-Z-Boy (which includes the American Drew, Lea and Kincaid brands), Furniture Brands International (which includes the Broyhill, Drexel Heritage, Thomasville and Lane brands), Bassett, Hooker, Samson Marketing (which includes the Legacy Classic, Craftmaster and Universal brands), Stanley, United, Vaughan-Bassett and Vanguard.
The 41 companies and brands represented on the letter lease more 1.5 million square feet of showroom space in High Point and directly employ more than 9,000 people in North Carolina. These companies create thousands of additional jobs in North Carolina indirectly through their suppliers and through the significant economic activity these companies generate at High Point Market.
All five of the chairmen in HPMAs 12-year history signed the industry support letter: Vaughan-Bassett Furniture President Doug Bassett, Samson Marketing CEO Kevin OConnor, Vanguard CEO John Bray, Hooker Furniture CEO Paul Toms and La-Z-Boy Casegoods President Steve Kincaid.
The furniture industry leaders make clear that the success of the High Point Market has in turn made North Carolina furnitures epicenter. In their letter, they point out that as the economy and the housing market improves, a vibrant High Point Market increases the chances that new furniture industry jobs will be created in our State, and not elsewhere.
Over the last 30 years, once vibrant furniture shows in San Francisco, Dallas and Chicago have all closed their doors, so the future success of the High Point Market is not guaranteed. The state legislature is expected to develop its budget over the next sixty to ninety days.
April 1,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on April 2, 2013
Lifestyle furniture vendor Abbyson Living has partnered with Stylution Corp. to double its production of upholstery and case goods.
The move follows Abbyson's recent expansion of its marketing team and addition of more than 350 new products.
Through the partnership, Stylution will increase its production facility in China to 550,000 square feet, with a capacity of 1,200 containers per month to the United States.
We are always looking for ways to improve our service to our retail partners, said Doddy Rafieha, vice president of Abbyson Living, Los Angeles. "We are greatly expanding our product offering starting in 2013, and our partnership with Stylution will be fundamental in exceeding our clients needs as demand continues to grow. Our e-tailer partners will benefit greatly from our variety and vast inventory, while our growing list of big box retailers will further draw from our renewed container program."
Stylution was founded in 1973 by Jack Chen and employs 1,600 people.
There will be a great synergy in partnering with Abbyson, and we are very excited about what the future holds, said Alex Chen, vice president of Stylution and son of the founder. We are a family business, and so is Abbyson. This partnership is ideal and happened very naturally, giving our TOP philosophy (Trust, Outperform, Perfect) greater meaning.
The Abbyson partnership with Stylution was signed during Stylutions 40th anniversary celebration in March, which included 2,000 guests.
Abbyson Living has high-quality and affordably priced living room, dining and bedroom furniture for more than 30 years.
April 1,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on April 2, 2013
Dana Andrew, vice president of global marketing and communications with International Market Centers, will be leaving her post April 19 to start her own marketing firm in the San Francisco area.
Through her company, she will continue to collaborate with IMC as a senior marketing and communications advisor. IMC will make additional organizational changes to accommodate Andrew's departure and new role at a later time, according to Bob Maricich, CEO of IMC.
Andrew, who is relocating with her family to be closer to her husband's base of operations, started with the Las Vegas Market before the market was built.
"Having been on the ground floor of something so transformative for the home furnishings industry, and a project that reenergized downtown Las Vegas, I acknowledge the amazing advantage of timing when I met the visionary founders of World Market Center 13 years ago," she said. "They placed their faith in me to lead the marketing of this world-class enterprise and to launch Las Vegas Market in 2005-and it's truly been my privilege to work alongside them, the talented team they assembled and our dynamic partners."
Maricich credited Andrew with her role at the World Market Center since its inception 10 years ago.
"Under her tenure, from the ground up, she established and oversaw all marketing and public relations strategy for the Las Vegas Market as well as produced game-changing marketing initiatives and market events," he said. "She has been recognized numerous times as an industry influencer and thought leader. In 2011, I asked her to play a key role in the formation of IMC, leading the new company's PR launch and marketing integration. In the time I have worked with Dana, I've come to appreciate her passion and skills both as a strategist and team leader."
April 1,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on April 2, 2013
Upholstered furniture manufacturer Massoud Furniture has launched a new and improved Web site.
Featuring a fresh new look, cleaner interface and larger photographs, the mobile- and tablet-friendly site includes a number of advanced search capabilities and user-friendly tools that make it easier than ever for trade and consumer audiences to explore the upholstered furniture manufacturer's extensive selection and service offerings.
Dallas, Texas-based Massoud wants to use the site to fully showcase the evolving looks, trend-driven styles and custom capabilities of its growing line.
"Our new site helps visually tell the story of how Massoud has evolved," explains Chuck Massoud, CEO. "Creative Director Ronna Griest has brought a whole new attitude to our line--adding a fresh twist to the classic styles that have defined Massoud for much of its 50-year history. The new site offers a great showcase of how well these new styles, colors and trend-driven designs have been integrated into our collection of classic looks and bestselling designs--all packaged together with convenient search options and countless other user-friendly features."
Highlights of the new site include a new look featuring rotating views of the company's new advertising campaign, the home page offers quick, easy ways to search Massoud's furniture, fabric/leather and custom choices. The viewer can also quickly access the company's social media sites, including its Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Houzz, YouTube and Vimeo pages.
Another new feature, "The Look" trend report is also accessible from the home page. Featuring regular reports from Massoud Creative Director Ronna Griest, this section will highlight her thoughts on the latest trends in color, design, textiles and more.
By clicking the "Furniture" menu item at the top of the screen, users will be able to quickly see thumbnail photos of the entire line--categorized in a range of styles, including sectionals, sofas/love seats, sleepers, "what's new" and others.
Once they select a category, viewers can then drill down even further by searching that particular category by type, material, width, height and depth. From there, click on a specific thumbnail to see a larger image complete with a zoom feature for more detailed views. Full product information, including dimensions, standard, covering, base options and more, is also featured with the image.
By clicking on "Fabrics & Leather," the viewer can search through countless thumbnail images by pattern, color and grade. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger view with zoom capabilities and full product detail as well.
The "Custom Choices/Design to Fit" navigation takes the viewer through the six-step Massoud customization process--starting with selection of cushion style and depth and moving to selection of the furniture piece, its arm, base and back style, and finally to choosing the fabric/leather application.
In addition, an updated dealer locator helps consumers quickly locate a local retail resource for Massoud designs.
For Massoud's trade partners, the site features a dealer login portal to the password protected section of the site where they can: access individual orders to check details ranging from production to shipping status; view fabric, leather and trim inventory; check yardage availability, roll status, fabric details and fabric grades; order cutting samples; submit customer service requests and more.
April 1,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on April 2, 2013
Bedding retailer Sleep Train has helped California's foster children sleep cozier with the collection of 28,317 items during its annual Pajama Drive for Foster Kids.
The collection is an 85 percent increase from last year's donation event, collecting more than 13,000 additional pajamas.
"The foster children we support at our agency often face a difficult road ahead of them. The uncertainty of what's to come can make it challenging to fall asleep," said Tom Alexander, president and CEO of Fred Finch Youth Center. "A simple item like new pajamas helps ease that anxiety, especially when a foster child knows it comes from a community who cares about them. We're very grateful to offer that to our kids, thanks to generous donations from the Sleep Train community."
With six donation drives throughout the year, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sleep Train aims to help foster families as they seek to quickly replace essential items foster children must often leave behind, including pajamas, shoes and clothing. Sleep Train has also kicked off its annual Shoe Drive for Foster Kids and is collecting donations of new shoes in all sizes - toddler through adults - through May 5.
"Shoes that fit are not just a necessity for running, playing and walking to school. New shoes are something every child gets excited about, and they give foster children the feeling of normalcy, allowing them to fit in amongst their peers," said Patty Boles, executive director at Straight From The Heart. "We can't wait to see the look on our kids' faces when they get to pick out a new pair of shoes at the end of Sleep Train's Shoe Drive!"
To celebrate the start of its Shoe Drive, Sleep Train is hosting a Shoe Drive Kick Off contest on its Facebook page, offering its social community the chance to vote in a "Tug of War" challenge for their favorite shoe styles and win weekly prizes. Starting today, those interested in participating can visit the Sleep Train Facebook page for more info.