May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on May 2, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4575683736&z=1250249027
Home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma is relocating its call center to a multi-use development in The Colony, Texas.
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May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Business Strategy on May 2, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4575614034&z=1250249030
PBteen, the home furnishings arm of Williams-Sonoma that caters to teens and tweens, will now be available internationally to customers in more than 75 countries for the first time through a partnership with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, the leading provider of international e-commerce services and infrastructure to U.S. retailers.
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May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on May 2, 2011
Retailer furniture orders were flat in February compared with the same month last year, according to the Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture vendors.
In February 2010, new orders were 13 percent higher than February 2009 so the February comparison was to a reasonably
good month last year. New orders rose 22 percent higher from January. Year-to-date, new orders were even with the first two months of last year when orders were up 9 percent over the first two months of 2009.
February shipments fell 2 percent from February 2010, but rose 7 percent from January levels. Year-to-date, shipments were even with the first two months of 2010, when they were up 5 percent over the same two months of 2009. Almost half
Backlogs increased 12 percent over January with orders exceeding shipments in dollar terms. Backlogs were 5 percent
lower than February 2010, compared with a 6 percent decline in the January to January results.
February 2011 receivables were even compared with February 2010, in line with the year-to-date shipments. Inventory levels were 15 percent higher than last February, compared with a 12 percent increase reported last month.
"The good news is that inventories actually fell 3 percent from January," said Ken Smith, managing partner of the High Point accounting and consulting firm Smith Leonard, which produces Furniture Insights. "The increase over last year continues to reflect the fact that as business picked up in the early part of last year, inventories were a bit too lean. So in anticipation of improved business, inventories were beefed up (particularly by importers). Then in the latter part of the year, business fell off again for many, so inventories were too high.
Furniture factory and warehouse employment was down 2 percent from February, and stayed even with January. Payrolls were up 2 percent over February 2010 reflecting higher orders for February. Year-to-date, payrolls were 2 percent higher than last year at this time, when they were 3 percent lower than the first two months of 2009.
"While new orders and shipment results were not as positive as we would like to see, considering we were comparing to some decent results last year, the results were not all that bad," Smith said in summary. "Also, considering how bad the weather has been so far this year, the results really would not seem to be bad at all. We heard at Market that some retailers in the Northeast actually were not able to open some days for the first time in recent memory. Even when some were open, that kind of weather is not conducive to furniture shopping.
"On a bright note, the recent High Point Market appeared to be one of the best in quite some time. While order writing is not what it used to be, we heard several reports that order writing was the highest since 2007. While registrations were reported to be down, most of the exhibitors we talked to at Market were pleased with attendance. The new Market dates also seem to be working well as attendance seems a bit more spread out now. While that may not create the excitement of a real opening day, we hear that people like having more time with their customers. "
Encouraging retail results in March should hopefully give legs to a better "mood" at market; and Smith noted that a report from NAR on existing-home sales had what appears to be really good news for home furnishings.
"As we noted earlier, the report said the typical monthly mortgage payment for the purchase of a median-priced existing-home is only 13 percent of gross household income, the lowest since records began in 1970," he said. "This should mean that there are more disposable dollars for consumers to spend. While some is probably saved and clearly some is for gas and other staples, hopefully some will be left over for furniture."
May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 2, 2011
Art Van Furniture has completed a $6 million investment in it's PureSleep bedding departments and freestanding stores.
The Warren, Mich.-based retailer has opened three mattress stores under the Art Van PureSleep stores, and the investment affects 34 Art Van PureSleep departments. In addition, the company plans to open a fourth free-standing store in Brighton, Mich.
"Art Van Furniture is the trusted leader in restorative sleep," said David Van Elslander, vice presdient of merchandising of merchandising for the retailer. "Along with proper diet and exercise, quality sleep is the foundation for better health. When all three of these elements come together, it creates a successful equation that results in improving your overall health and lifestyle and the best possible sleep is obtained by having the right sleep system."
May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 2, 2011
Natural and organic bedding vendor Natura World has introduced a new latex mattress program at The Brick stores.
The Allure Latex mattress line, featuring a six-inch core of eco-friendly plant-based foam for support and topped with six-inches of premium Talalay latex, builds on the success of Natura's pillow program with Canada's largest full-line furniture retailer.
"We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with The Brick for several years, starting with a few pillows, then doubling that number to six sku's, and now moving into mattresses," said Cambridge, Ontario-based Natura World President Ralph Rossdeutscher. "The Brick program is another example of increasing consumer interest in natural and organic sleep products, and we are happy to assist this important retailer provide them to their customers."
The Brick Group is based in Edmonton, Alberta.