April 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on April 15, 2011
Registration for the just-ended Spring High Point Furniture Market was down from last year's event.
The High Point Market Authority released numbers today that showed 72,121 people registered to attend, and of those, more than 43,141 were buyers. The 72,121 registered dropped from the 77,705 people registered for the spring market last year. The spring Market drew more than the fall market which had just over 71,000 registered.
Brian Casey, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, said nearly 9,000 registrants were first-time attendees to the show. "We have worked hard to attract new buyers to Market Week, and our marketing efforts truly paid off at the April Market," he said.
In many cases, retail inventories have been depleted, so we saw that the appetite for buying was stronger than weve seen in recent markets, Casey said. We also noticed a significant change in attitude. People are seeing signs of improvement in the economy and they are more upbeat in their outlook, both about their businesses and the Market itself. Business was brisk and this Market has positioned us well for future growth."
More than 3,000 international buyers representing 1,215 buying organizations registered for the Market, as did about 13,000 interior designers.
Casey who will be leaving his post at the end of this month reflected back on the last five years.
"This Market was a great finale for what has been an amazing five years here in High Point," Casey said. "The Market Authority will continue with its successful and popular marketing campaign that is specifically targeted to retaining existing buyers, reaching new national and international attendees, and promoting the Market as a destination for interior designers."
April 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on April 15, 2011
Registration for the August 1-5 Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market is now open, including 'Quick Reg,' which allows returning attendees to register a single click.
Quick Reg allows retailers, designers, media and industry professionals planning to attend Summer 2011 Las Vegas Market to plan in advance and register online in order to receive their badges before the show. Exhibitors of World Market Center can register in their WMCommunity profiles. When registering, attendees also are encouraged to book their hotel rooms through World Market Center Las Vegas' online hotel block to ensure discounted rates.
All users who have a WMCommunity profile qualify to use Quick Reg. When users log onto their WMCommunity profile and click "register" on their dashboard, a confirmation page will be displayed.
The Quick Reg system also applies to previously-registered attendees who are planning to attend the upcoming Gift+Home show in August.
First-time registrants attending Market in August can visit lasvegasmarket.com and benefit from a streamlined registration process. Once registered, the Quick Reg feature will automatically be available to a buyer when returning to any future Market.
Upon registering, buyers are encouraged to take advantage of Las Vegas Markets expanded online WMCommunity. This custom portal enables users to update their preferences, manage a portfolio of favorite exhibitors, connect with exhibitors they want to see through appointment-scheduling features, manage their at-market event schedule and much more.
World Market Center Las Vegas has also negotiated discounted rates with 20 leading Las Vegas hotels providing tremendous savings at some of the city's most prestigious and new resorts. Nightly rates are as low as $49 and include properties both on and off the Las Vegas Strip. Discounted hotel rates available through www.lasvegasmarket.com include:
Aria @ $169
Ballys @ $55-$105
Bellagio @ $159
Caesars @ $139-$169
Cosmopolitan @ $135
Golden Nugget @ $49-$139
Hilton Grand @ $82-$102
Mandarin @ $245
Mirage @ $109
Monte Carlo @ $72-$112
NYNY @ $79-$139
Palazzo @ $179
Paris @ $89-$139
Planet Hollywood @ $89-$139
PH Towers @ $99-$179
Stratosphere @ $52-$92
Treasure Island @ $79-$119
Trump @ $104-$139
Vdara @ $139
Wynn @ $159-$199
After registering, Market attendees are invited to sign up to attend President Bill Clinton's keynote speech, sponsored by World Market Center Las Vegas and the iComfort Sleep System by Serta.
April 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on April 15, 2011
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. honored outgoing High Point Market Authority CEO Brian Casey with a special Appreciation Award.
The award recognized Casey's exemplary service and dedication to the IHFRA and was presented at IHFRA's April 1 Presidential Gala in High Point.
"Brian has been a friend to the rep ever since he came to the High Point Market Authority," said IHFRA Past President Richard Gillispie, who presented the award to Casey. "When Brian Casey came to his first IHFRA Board of Directors Meeting, he listed to the pent-up concerns and frustrations of the reps and discussed solutions to their issues. At the end of the meeting, both parties knew they had an ally in each other. Brian implemented the High Point Market Authority Rep Ambassador program shortly thereafter and has continued to be a strong supporter and friend to the rep."
April 14,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on April 15, 2011
The late Todd Figi, patriarch of a gift industry family and the founder of Figi Giftware, will receive an Icon 2011 Lifetime Achievement Honor.
His wife, Norma Jean "Jake" Figi, will accept the honor on his behalf at the July 14 Icon Honors ceremonies, which together with the ICON 2011 honorees will feature Grammy-winning singer Kenny Loggins, in conjunction with the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.
Figi, who died Jan. 9 at 66, first made his mark on the industry more than 40 years ago when he created namesake Figi Giftware, which became a leading gift company, manufacturing everything from photo frames and wall decor to refrigerator magnets. The company would eventually employ more than 200 sales representatives and operate factories in the United States, Mexico and China.
As defined in the Icon Honors charter, the Lifetime Achievement Honor "recognizes a single individual demonstrating distinguished advancement and enduring industry impact over the course of a career."
"Todd Figi and the gift industry are synonymous," notes George Kacic, vice president of Ganz, GHTA board chairman emeritus and an Icon Honors founding partner. "The company he created, the products he conceived and produced and the sales organization he built literally laid the foundation for the industry as we know it. Todd's mark on who we are is indelible and enduring."
Figis passion reached beyond the gift business. He was chairman of the board of trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, president of the San Diego chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization and served as chairman of the California Gift Association. Figi was also active in many local and national charities, and was frequently recognized by the mayor of San Diego for his commitment to the city and its quality of life.
Tickets for the July 14 dinner celebration and full Icon Honors details can be found here.
April 13,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on April 14, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4509343730&z=1250249032
Rose's Stores Inc., a national discount chain, opened two stores in the Pittsburgh region with plans for five more within the next 18 months.
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