Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
February 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on February 8, 2011
Home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel has partnered with
Finnish textile and design company Marimekko to roll out more than 20 in-store shops across the U.S. and Canada over the next three years.
The rollout will being this spring in Crate and Barrel stores with the four debut locations in New York on Madison Avenue, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition to the physical locations, a Marimekko e-commerce shop will be added to the Crate and Barrel Web site.
In the home specialty and department store chain category, Crate and Barrel will have exclusive rights to retail Marimekko interior decor products in the U.S. and Canada. These product offerings will include ceramics and glassware, pillows, placemats and by-the-yard fabric, joining Crate and Barrel's existing licensed Marimekko bedding and bath collections.
"We are pleased to have this opportunity to expand our relationship with a brand we deeply admire and with which we have such an important history," said Barbara Turf, Crate and Barrel CEO and presdient. "The Marimekko Shop at Soho has been well received and we look forward to introducing this vibrant, joyful collection to many more of our customers across the U.S. and Canada."
Crate and Barrel and Marimekko first collaborated in the early 1960s.
"The new contract with our long-time partner Crate and Barrel is a truly significant step for Marimekko," said Mika Ihamuotila, Marimekko president and CEO. "Crate and Barrel's stores are in the best locations in their cities and they are very well-known and successful, so in them Marimekko will have excellent opportunities to reach new audiences interested in original design."
February 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on February 8, 2011
Furniture industry executive Lawrence B. Platt has been named chairman of the
Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors.
Platt, president and CEO of
The Platt Collections, has been a board member since 1999.
During his tenure on the board, Platt chaired the medical center's Discovering for Life fundraising campaign from 2005 to 2010. The campaign raised $357 million for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's research endowment. He will serve as chairman during construction of the Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion, a 450,000-square-foot facility that will integrate clinical care and scientific research, allowing physicians to bring scientific breakthroughs directly to patients. Construction on the facility started in October 2010.
Platt has held several leadership roles in the Los Angeles community as a member of the Founders of the
Los Angeles Music Center, the Fraternity of Friends,
the Young Presidents Organization, the
World Presidents Organization, and a former member of the Board of Trustees,
American Jewish Congress.
Platt has a series of goals for his three-year tenure as chairman. He announced plans to launch a new fundraising campaign that will build on an endowment that guarantees the economic viability of Cedars-Sinais research enterprise.
"Our strength lies in remembering that everything we do is ultimately for our patients. It is their stories that define who we are. It is their triumphs that matter most," Platt said during his inaugural remarks. He expressed confidence that the board of directors will provide strong leadership during a time of regulatory uncertainty for healthcare institutions and help Cedars-Sinai thrive financially while maintaining superb patient care.
We were deeply impressed by Larrys ability to reach out to our community and build a campaign that yielded truly spectacular results, said Art Ochoa, senior vice president, community relations and development at Cedars-Sinai. This really sets the stage for what I know will be a fruitful chairmanship.
Larry has a deep commitment to the compassionate mission of medicine and he leads with enviable vision and energy," said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai. "Our medical center leadership couldnt be more thrilled to partner with him in the years ahead.
February 6,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on February 7, 2011
Transitional turmoil in Egypt has not interrupted production at the Scott Thomas Furniture manufacturing facility there, the company announced Friday.
Scott Hamed, president of the Aurora, Ohio-based high-end wood furniture vendor, returned from the company's Alexandria plant on Thursday from a regularly scheduled visit to Scott Thomas' factory outside the Mediterranean port of Alexandria in a private free zone that benefits from special security and other considerations to manufacturers for importing and exporting within the zone.
Even during the political transition, employees of the factory are continuing to work regular hours.
"Egyptians work hard and their families depend upon a weekly paycheck," Hamed said.
While production continues on schedule, the company anticipates some shipping delays as the political disruption is resolved.
"We hope to resume regular shipping schedules within a short time period," Hamed said.
Scott Thomas Furniture has been manufacturing furniture in Egypt since 1992, reported that it's off to a good start in 2011, with year-to-year orders up 300 percent.
Hamed saw the popular efforts to oust Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak first hand.
"I was right there on the streets," Hamed said. "It was very exciting to witness this historical moment."
Hamed's journey home took five days, and you can read about his travel odyssey here.
February 6,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in sourcing/importing on February 7, 2011
Delta Trade Finance, a specialist provider of payables finance programs for companies purchasing from China, has opened a New York office.
Trade finance and asset-based lender Tony Brown, who joined the company as managing director of U.S. sales, is based in the New York office. Brown previously held executive management positions with First Capital, GMAC Commercial Finance, MTB Bank and Manufacturers Hanover Corporation.
"I am delighted that someone of Tony's experience has joined us to drive the group's expansion," said Delta Trade CEO Lionel Taylor. "We will continue to recruit experienced finance industry professionals to strengthen our business development teams in Europe as well as continuing to build on our strong presence in China."
The New York office joins existing locations in London and Los Angeles, and deep regional footprint in China where its Chinese subsidiary, Delta (Tianjin) Supply Chain Financial Service Ltd. is one of the only foreign-owned finance companies to have been granted a local factoring license.
"Our presence gives us a unique insight into the marketplace and enables us to create finance solutions that satisfy the needs of buyers and suppliers alike," Brown said. "Working closely with importers and Chinese suppliers, we pay sellers in advance while delivering unsecured extended payment terms for creditworthy importers. The result is a potent and profitable partnership that reduces risk to both parties, improves cash flow and, ultimately, strengthens trading relationships."
Delta Trade Finance is part of the Three Delta group of companies, an investment management business focusing on the banking and real estate markets.
February 6,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on February 7, 2011
The Associated Press will test a mobile version of the preprint circulars that newspapers insert in their weekend sections, AP announced Friday.
The iCircular mobile advertising solution differs from other online coupon and shopping solutions in that it focuses on driving customers into local retail stores and providing them tools to manage their shopping lists. A rich media ad module, newspapers can incorporate iCircular into their mobile Web sites or apps.
"The level of interest in this by retailers is very high," said Mary Junck, president and CEO of Lee Enterprises and chairman of AP's Revenue Committee. "In my experience in calling on large retail customers, this is one of the most enthusiastic receptions I have seen. They are impressed by the features and functions, and by the fact that the idea comes from the newspaper industry."
Circulars that are inserted into newspapers continue to be highly effective marketing vehicles for retailers, reaching about 80 million customers a week. But retailers are also seeking ways to reach the 28.4 million readers who already access news on a mobile device--a number that is growing rapidly.
iCircular would be an extension of the preprint circulars now inserted into newspapers, only on smartphones. It would allow retailers to target by ZIP Code the customers they want to reach. Retailers can highlight their offerings by product and product category and consumers could view the offerings in a variety of ways. In addition, customers could search for particular products, create shopping lists and share deals with friends.
Over the next four months, AP will build out the product for market testing, with a pilot group of publishers and retailers.
"AP is working to create an industry mobile ad solution," said Jane Seagrave, AP chief revenue office and senior vice president. "We are eager to work with retailers and newspapers who are interested in participating."
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the worlds population sees news from AP.