Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Youth, Juvenile Furniture on March 1, 2011
Case goods vendor Magnussen Home Furnishings will launch its first youth and second bedroom program, "Next Generation," at High Point Furniture Market next month.
Next Generation is positioned as offering fashionable furniture solutions that reflect a family's changing and growing lifestyle that are "Made to Grow" and "Built to Last." The name "Next Generation" was chosen to reflect not just youth, but also the second and third bedroom tie-in that the furniture styles in this program offer.
The Next Generation program includes 10 mid-priced new collections, each offering twin and full-sized beds; and companion pieces include a dresser, mirror, nightstand, chest and media chest as well as a student desk, chair and hutch. Many groups also will have bunk beds, captain's beds, vanities, storage mirrors and storage cubes.
Three of the program's groups reflect designs are based on existing bestselling master bedroom groups and the remainder of the groups are original designs. Styles cover a broad range of styles including casual cottage, modern, traditional, rustic and transitional made with a mix of cathedral cherry, cathedral mahogany, quartered oak, quartered walnut, bamboo and birch veneers and hardwood solids. Individual groups will be offered in finishes that include painted white, black cherry, mahogany and dark walnut to name several. features have been incorporated into certain pieces for convenience and storage and include a charging station, on/off button for lighting and a nightlight feature on all nightstands, underbed storage, and an optional trundle bed.
Sample retails include twin beds from $299 to $399; nightstands from $149 to $249; and dressers from $399 to $599.
CEO Richard Magnussen believes this program is an opportunity for the company to tap into a category he views is on the rise in terms of consumer interest and sales. Produced in Vietnam, it also ties into the company's strengths in sourcing and logistics. For example, the bedrooms can be shipped as part of Magnussen's QuickFlex 250 program, which allows multiple groups to mix on a single container with master bedroom.
"I am excited about this because Magnussen wants to broaden its overall categories of home furnishings," said Magnussen. "We think this is a category that will line up well with our logistics and quick ship program and will give our sales team a broader offering."
February 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in licensing on March 1, 2011
Furniture retailer American Signature, LeBron James Family Foundation and Hewlett-Packard have teamed with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade to remodel its Teen Room.
The remodel includes new furniture and computers and will culminate in a dedication on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
"American Signature, along with LeBron, has joined in enhancing the Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide," said American Signature Inc., Chairman and CEO, Jay Schottenstein. "We're proud to be a part of his vision to provide quality furnishings, study spaces and casual sitting areas in the centers. For the Miami remodel, we're thrilled to have HP join with American Signature in remodeling the Teen Room with their donation of computers."
From American Signature, the donation includes casual seating arrangements, such as sofas and chairs; as well as tables for group study and games, desks and chairs for personal studying and computer use; along with appropriate storage units. HP donated HP Compaq 6000 Pro All-in-One Business PCs and HP TouchSmart 9100 Business PCs.
"Many of the American Signature pieces included in the remodel are from our HomeCourt by LeBron James Collection," said Schottenstein. "The workspace, chairs, locker storage units and night stands turned end tables, are all a part of the HomeCourt collection designed by Savannah and LeBron."
In addition to outfitting the Teen Room, American Signature is offering the chance for one Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade member to win a HomeCourt bedroom makeover.
February 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 1, 2011
Case good vendor Magnussen Home Furnishings is launching a complete furniture retail home store concept for the Chinese market.
Along with a new international product marketing program, Magnussen will present "The American Dream Home," a complete home furnishings store concept with bedroom, dining room, occasional, upholstery and accessories in its new showroom at the
International Famous Furniture Fair this month in Dongguan, China.
Magnussen's showroom will emulate its flagship store's smallest format of 1,900 square feet. The largest store format, 3,000 square feet, will be displayed at an additional showroom across the street that will be used as a model store. That location will be used to debut product introductions throughout the year. The Dongguan showroom also will be used for global sales and marketing to other retailers in many countries including the Middle East, Asia, Russia, just to name a few that visit the China show twice a year.
Magnussen, New Hamburg, Ontario, hopes to grow international sales to around 30 percent of its total business over the next three years while achieving double digit growth in current markets.
Magnussen plans to open its Chinese flagship store in Shanghai in May and plans an 100 additional home stores over the next three years in all of China's major cities with populations of at least 5 million people. These stores will be exclusive for the Chinese market only. Product for the Chinese market will target the top income earners and will range in middle to upper price points.
Matrix Marketing, Magnussen's exclusive partner for China, will market the company's American products in Asia. Matrix Marketing President Richard Zhu will be responsible for franchising, sales, and marketing for Magnussen's product in China.
International sales and product marketing for all other countries will be similar to North America, where Magnussen sells product to retailers that balance their retail presentation. International sales and marketing for Magnussen will be lead by Trung Hong, a Magnussen team member from Vietnam who is an experienced sales manager and who speaks five languages. He has long experience marketing and selling American products in Asia.
Magnussen's Asian Distribution Center in Vietnam, which can ship mixed container to China and Korea and many other countries including North America in 10 days from receipt of order, will be central to the international program.
Richard Magnussen, CEO, believes Magnussen's excellence in supply chain management will play a large role in giving international customers a wide variety of product selection with a quick-ship program to maximize their turns and limit risk of buying too much inventory.
"Our management team believes this global approach for our company is risk management of our local economy from a given region while leveraging consumer market growth in countries like China, India and many others," he said. "Also, more volume allows us to strengthen our value and service to all our customers worldwide."
February 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 1, 2011
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association will honor Kevin Sauder with its Pillar of the Industry Award.
Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder Woodworking Company, Archbold, Ohio, will be honored at the 17th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala Monday, April 4.
The Pillar of the Industry Award goes to an industry leader who has distinguished himself with creative work and effort to improve, enhance and benefit relationships among representatives and other segments of the industry. This person's actions and deeds have shown commitment to the home furnishings industry, community, and to mankind.
Following the completion of his Bachelor's degree from Miami (Ohio) University and MBA from Duke University, Sauder joined Northern Telecom in business systems and marketing in Raleigh N.C. Three years later he returned to Sauder Woodworking as sales and marketing manager for the newly formed Office Products Division. Kevin was named vice President of marketing and sales in 1992, and president in 1999. Kevin has received the Advertising Age Marketing 100 Award and the Northwest Ohio Twenty-Under-Forty Leadership Award.
Sauder Woodworking Company is a 76-year-old family business that is North Americas largest manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture. Subsidiaries include Sauder Manufacturing, which produces contract furniture for the worship, university, and health care markets; Progressive Furniture Inc., an importer of wood case goods; and Sauder Global Sourcing, a California-based importer of RTA furniture and task seating.
Sauder is a director of the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the Farmers and Merchants State Bank and the Archbold Ohio Chamber of Commerce. In addition he serves on the Board of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network and is past president of the Asperger Syndrome Coalition U.S.
The Furniture Industry Awards Gala will be held on Monday, April 4, in the IHFC Ballroom on the 11th floor of the International Home Furnishings Center's Green Wing. IHFRA and the National Home Furnishings Association sponsor the event. For reservations, contact the IHFRA Office at 336.889.3920, or e-mail for more information.
February 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 1, 2011
The Southern Home Furnishings Association will hold its 2011 annual conference June 12-14 at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The "conference is an excellent opportunity for retailers to come together, learn together and share best ideas while networking with industry peers," said SHFA President Gary Woodham of Colfax Furniture & Mattress, Greensboro, N.C.
Kerry Jo Richards, an independent social media marketing coach based in Washington, D.C., will lead the opening workshop, "Making Sense of the Social Media Revolution," on Monday 13. The interactive program will focus on the basics of social media--what it's all about, why (and if) you should participate, the "rules" of social media, and where to start.
An update on current legislative issues that impact the retail home furnishings industry is set for Tuesday morning, June 13, followed by retailer-to-retailer roundtable discussions.
The conference registration fee is $49 for each SHFA member and guest. Non-members, as well as members who have not attended a conference in the last 3 years, are being offered complimentary registration and one free night's stay at the host hotel.
Call 800.888.9590 or e-mail for details.
The Southern Home Furnishings Association is a regional affiliate of the National Home Furnishings Association. SHFA serves furniture retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.