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January 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on February 1, 2011
High-end furniture manufacturer Theodore Alexander will move its High Point Furniture Market showroom to a larger space at 229 W. Russell St.
The new location, currently housing Theodore Alexander's U.S. office, which will be completed in time for October Market, offers 50,000 square feet of showroom display versus 40,000 square feet at TA's current 301 Steele St. showroom. Renovations began in January. The new showroom will allow greater flexibility in the future as Theodore Alexander continues to build on the success of its current offerings, as well as expand into other home categories.
The new setting also will include on-site parking, market shuttle access, nightly dinner service and other complimentary amenities and services for visitors, consistent with a luxury brand experience.
"Retailers will really appreciate this new location, since the layout will be easier to shop, navigate, and maneuver," said Russell Towner, president of Theodore Alexander US. "Our expanded displays will give them a better perspective on the depth and breadth of our product offerings as well as provide fresh merchandising ideas for how our products might be presented in their own stores."
Towner said Theodore Alexander's new High Point showroom is part of a larger agenda to strengthen the wood and upholstery producer's global positioning as a leading luxury brand.
"We believe having a comfortable and enjoyable experience will positively influence our relationships with all our retailers, but particularly with our discerning international visitors," said David Parker, vice president of international sales.
In 2011, the company will debut a new worldwide brand strategy with a comprehensive website, logo and marketing materials designed to enhance its identity as a source for stylish, inspired furniture that is hand-crafted for todays busy lifestyles.
"In all of our marketing and communications, we will emphasize our core strengths," said Towner. "They include highly original designs, finest quality construction, and details and sophistication that go far beyond the expected."
January 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on February 1, 2011
Furniture retail giant Ikea awarded Kyria Henry of Round Hill, Va., a year-long sabbatical for her paws4vets program through its Life Improvement Sabbatical project.
Paws4vets trains and pairs service dogs with veterans needing assistance.
Henry won the sabbatical, worth $100,000, after a month-long online public vote. She will share her experience over the course of the year on the Life Improvement Web site. Additionally, IKEA is donating $46,844 to Save the Children's U.S. programs, $1 for every vote cast in the contest.
"We commend all who participated in this contest, as it has been truly touching to see the passion and commitment so many have to improve the lives of others," said Leontyne Green, marketing manager, IKEA North America. "We look forward to helping Kyria to advance her endeavor and to share her story with the world to inspire others."
In 1999, at just 12 years old, Henry founded paws4people foundation, and later in 2008, the paws4vets program. The contest prize will bring more resources to the program, providing psychiatric service dogs to assist retired and active-duty military veterans as a tool to ease emotional, physical and psychological traumas and help them return to civilian life.
"I am truly humbled by the voters' response to paws4vets in the Life Improvement Sabbatical Contest," said Henry. "The cause is near and dear to my heart and this prize will help the organization extend our reach to more of those who could benefit from our programs."
In addition the year-long sabbatical, Henry will receive a trip to a spa resort in Phoenix, Ariz., to participate in a one-hour life coaching session with O, The Oprah Magazine's life coach Dr. Martha Beck. She also will be featured in advertorials in the April and July issues of O, The Oprah Magazine. The public can also continue to follow Ms. Henry throughout the year as her project is chronicled on thelifeimprovementproject.com.
IKEA also awarded a $1,000 IKEA gift card prize to the four finalists in the contest: LaJuana Moser, California City, Calif., of bags4kids, a program giving personal care products, toys and other necessities to foster children in California; Ralph Johnson, Hempstead, N.Y., a science teacher helping to bring the wonders of science to students in New York communities; Philip Filner, Lutherville, Md., a retired scientist looking to renovate an unused greenhouse to help Baltimore's Northwestern High School's students; and Elizabeth Woods, Waxhaw, N.C., of Soul Windows, a support group and online community of resources, forums and retreats for others experiencing loss.
January 31,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on February 1, 2011
Koelnmesse, the organizers of the
imm Cologne, has restructured its management team responsible for the furniture markets.
Frank Haubold has been named director of imm Cologne and
LivingKitchen, reporting to Koelnmesse CEO Gerald Bose. Haubold has been with the company for more than five years and will retain his title of product manager for
Interzum, the German-based show for suppliers of furniture manufacturers.
Haubold oversaw last month's debut of the imm Cologne LivingKitchen show that focused on kitchen appliances, fixtures and cabinets.
"During his time at Koelnmesse, Frank Haubold has put Interzum back on track for success and played a major role in the start-to-finish victory of LivingKitchen," Bose said. "I am convinced that, with the new organization centered around Mr. Haubold, we will greatly enhance our compellingness and customer friendliness and be able to consolidate our position as the world's leading platform for the furniture, interior design and supplier industries."
In addition, Dick Spierenburg has been named creative director for the show organizer.
"In his role as consultant and creative director, Mr. Spierenburg will help us expand our competency and create and develop new presentation formats and events, especially in the field of design," Bose said. "He has already proven his expertise with the concepts for
Pure Village and Pure Textile and in my opinion was absolutely spot-on again this year."
Udo Traeger, former vice president of furniture and interior design, has left the company to pursue other interests. His last day was Monday.
"Mr. Traeger played a major role in implementing the visionary concept fort the imm Cologne and LivingKitchen; the recent success of the dual trade fair imm Cologne and LivingKitchen is down to his efforts," Bose said. "Koelnmesse would like to thank (him) for the successful teamwork of the last few years and wish him all the best and every success for the future."
January 30,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on January 31, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r3996009239&f=10761
Consumer spending rose more than expected in December to post the sixth straight month of gains as households banked on savings to fund purchases, according to government data.
Read Full Article...
January 30,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on January 31, 2011
Two chairs took the "gold" in the third annual One Good Chair competion at Las Vegas Furniture Market last week.
Eric Tong's Zpine chair received the grand prize and Juan Mercado's RE_Flex chair won in the People's Choice category in the contest co-sponsored by World Market Center Las Vegas and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
This year's them, "Minimum|maximum," challenged designers from around the world to create a chair that managed to preserve natural resources while also amplifying human delight. The goals of the competition revolved around minimizing material, production, shipping and assembly while maximizing comfort, utility, durability and beauty. Sustainable Furnishings Council members, including Phillips Collection and Handy Living, created prototypes of some of the finalists' designs.
The grand prize winner, Tong, who hails from London, England, created the winning Zpine chair using a honeycomb core (also known as "cellular structure"). The piece converts seamlessly between a chair and a chaise, collapsing with ease. Tong said he chose honeycomb for its magnificent strength-to-weight ratio and because it's inexpensive, sustainable and biodegradable. He received a $4,500 cash prize that he will apply toward the manufacturing and marketing of the chair.
Tong said that he chose the material for his chair after seeing it for the first time in a factory in China. He loved it for its economical value, but also its aesthetic. Manufacturers approached Tong immediately following the competition awards program to discuss manufacturing his winning chair.
Juan Mercado of Jackson, Mich., won the Peoples Choice award by more than a 30 percent margin. The chair can be used as a sleek modern desk chair or a comfortable reading/rocking chair, depending on the owner's mood. Its design is simple yet sophisticated, and requires minimal packaging and space for shipping.
Mercado was excited to see the prototype from Phillips Collection and to win People's Choice. He added that manufacturers have approached him and he looks forward to the next step, whatever it may be.
More than 360 participants submitted entries in the competition, representing both professional and amateur designers. Five finalists mastered the seeming paradoxical challenge of celebrating abundance while doing more with less.
The final jury included television host, writer and producer Sarah Backhouse of "Planet 100" on the Discovery Network's Planet Green; Shashi Caan of Shashi Caan Collective; Kira Gould, director of communications with William McDonough + Partners; and Zem Joaquin, founder and CEO of ecofabulous, an online source for eco-conscious lifestyles. The jury selected the grand prize, or "Judges' Choice" winner, while the public voted for People's Choice.
Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, said she was delighted with all of the entries and is currently researching creative ways of promoting the winners.
"The caliber of the winners' designs says a lot about design talent, and the competition itself," said Inglis.