Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 17,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Rugs on March 18, 2011
Capel Rugs has named Kim Walker sales associate at its Atlanta showroom located in Merchandise Mart, Space 6F2.
Most recently, Walker was showroom manager and salesperson for Atlanta-area design firm Utmost Interiors, where she handled sales, visual merchandising, purchasing and a range of marketing responsibilities. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has six years of extensive marketing and interior design experience.
In her new post at Capel, she reports to Vice President of Sales Allen Robertson. Her duties at the Atlanta showroom include developing new marketing initiatives to increase designer attendance and sales.
"We are excited to welcome Kim to our Atlanta team," said Robertson. "Interior designers are an increasingly important source of sales for Capel, and Kim's experience in the design world will help us guarantee we are meeting the needs of designers as customers."
March 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on March 17, 2011
Mike Norman has joined furniture supply chain specialist Zenith Global Logistics as general manager for home delivery.
The new post is part of Conover, N.C.-based Zenith Global's continued expansion of home delivery operations throughout the United States. Norman will be responsible for managing delivery team training, day-to-day operations, and customer service.
Norman Most recently, Norman was distribution and customer service manager with Classic Moving & Storage, also of Conover.
"Our home delivery business unit has steadily expanded over the last year, including the addition of three new hubs in Atlanta, Dallas and San Antonio," said Jack Hawn, president and CEO. "We needed a hands-on, results-driven manager to ensure our operations and delivery teams maintain our high service and quality standards. Mike Norman brings two decades of direct experience in the 'final mile' of furniture transportation and a track record of increasing customer satisfaction rates. He understands that the delivery and setup of furniture in a consumers home is actually an extension of the retail buying experience, and he knows whats necessary to make that experience a positive one."
Norman reports to Harry Varn, vice president, logistics; and David Alioto, executive vice president, home delivery services.
"I look forward to supporting Zenith Global as it differentiates itself from the competition in the area of home delivery," Norman said. "To me making the final mile of furniture logistics a success is like rolling out the red carpet for a VIP. The delivery team handling the service must demonstrate that level of care for the consumer, her home and her purchase. I look forward to supporting Zenith Global as it continues to do this within the furniture industry."
March 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Youth, Juvenile Furniture on March 17, 2011
Stanley Furniture's Young America youth furniture brand will launch a national marketing program touting its focus on producing the safest furniture for children.
The new program, which Stanley (NYSE: STLY) says is first of its kind, is design to support retail partners by raising parents' awareness of the Young America brand with parents and emphasizing its safety, especially with new and expectant parents.
The program will launch with new full-page and small-space print advertising campaign in select national baby and parenting magazines. The campaign highlights the companys exclusive SafeT3 design that provides three levels of safeguards--safety engineered, safety built, and safety certified--for product and environmental safety, certified by an independent expert.
One ad, titled, "Safe. Its the New Beautiful.", highlights the fact that beautifully designed furniture should also be safe and showcases images from the company's Mix collection. The second ad, titled "Safety first. Second. And Third.", puts direct focus on the fact that a baby's safety is the company's primary concern.
"Peace of mind is the ultimate goal when raising a child," said President and CEO Glenn Prillaman. "So we go to great lengths to ensure we manufacturer the safest products available. Working with partners such as Intertek and Greenguard ensures we are delivery what the customer is demanding."
In addition to the print campaign, an online advertising program is designed to help parents discover Young America's Web site, where they can explore products and get helpful information to aid their search for furniture and find a Young America store near them. Beginning this month, visitors to the Web site who sign up for the YA Club will receive a free subscription, for one year, to American Baby or Baby Talk magazines. Young America also has partnered with obstetricians via a touch-screen information campaign in doctors' offices. The campaign will run from March through September.
"Last Fall we made a commitment to our retail partners that we were going to begin to introduce consumers to the Young America brand," said Director of Marketing Neil MacKenzie. "Today we are delivering on that promise."
Additional elements of the program for qualified retailers include enhancements to the companys Web site and a full complement of collateral and point-of-purchase materials.
March 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 17, 2011
Ready-to-assemble furniture major Bush Furniture is returning to High Point Furniture Market for the April 2-7 show.
Bush, Jamestown, N.Y., will showcase the kathy ireland Office by Bush Furniture line, along with new office and entertainment items and collections from its my|space, Bush Signature and Workplace Solutions branded portfolios in Space 941 of the International Home Furnishings Center's Wrenn wing.
Also at Market, Bush will unveil expansions to kathy ireland Office by Bush Furniture with pieces that provide a complete family work and play environment.
"We are very excited to be back at High Point Market and showcase our latest designs," said Bush CEO Jim Sherbert. "With the new addition of our kathy ireland Office by Bush Furniture line and our commitment to value, High Point presents us with a great opportunity to meet with retail home furnishings buyers and introduce them to the many benefits of our products."
March 16,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on March 17, 2011
Home furnishings professional network WithIt will hold its annual professional conference August 23-25 at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel in Raleigh, N.C.
With the theme "Wisdom, Work, Wealth: Winning Insights to Reshape Your World," the conference looks to attract furniture, bedding and furnishings industry professionals in the manufacturing, retail and design segments. Attendees will learn how to develop and fine-tune their leadership skills, network with industry peers and honor WithIt's 2011 leadership awards finalists.
In "Elm Street Economics," a keynote by Mike Anderson, vice president of consumer insights at The Center for Sales Strategy, attendees will gain perspective about how consumers' purchasing priorities and buying behaviors have changed in response to the recession.
"Rather than focus on Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, businesses can thrive in the recovery by focusing on Elm Street, a 'place' that can be found in nearly every city in North America," Anderson said.
Shannon Schultz, principal of Schultz Consulting Group and founder of the Affinity Leadership Group, a new business launching this month, will share leadership and business insights with attendees.
"The most successful executives know that an organization needs leadership at every level, and the best organizations are the ones that invest in leaders," Schultz said.
Conference attendees can participate in pre-conference workshops, such as the GREENLeaders: Certified Sustainability Training Course by the Sustainable Furnishings Council; and "Choose Your Colors and Understand Your Life!," a workshop conducted by Margi Kyle, The Designing Doctor.
"Success in any career depends on it," Kyle said, "and it all begins with the color to which your eye naturally gravitates."
On Aug. 24, finalists in WithIts prestigious leadership awards will be honored and the winners will be announced. Nominations are being accepted until April 15. Both WithIt members and non-members can nominate an industry professional by completing the form at WithIt.org.
Sponsorship opportunities for all segments of the conference are available. For more information, contact WithIt Executive Director Sara Lyke by e-mail or at 336.880.2188.