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March 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in on March 25, 2013
from http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/03/25/2931861/lynden-furniture-maker-greg-klassen.html#storylink=rss
Life's pretty good for furniture maker Greg Klassen.
His daily commute to work takes, oh, about 10 seconds as he walks from his house to his backyard studio. That makes it easy to spend extra time with his wife and his two young daughters when he's not pursuing the profession he loves - making by hand desks, tables, benches and other wood pieces that display their grain patterns and colors in fine, heirloom fashion.
Now his life is even better.
Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/03/25/2931861/lynden-furniture-maker-greg-klassen.html#storylink=rss#storylink=cpy
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March 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 25, 2013
Alicia Mendez has joined furniture retail buying group Contemporary Design Group as executive director.
She takes over for Sandie Garrett, who has helped lead the organization for the past 27 years. Garrett is leaving to pursue other interests.
Mendez is based at the San Diego-based organizations headquarters. She brings with her a strong background in marketing and creating business relationships. The CDG organization, founded in 1983, added five new retail members in 2012 and soon will announcing the addition of two more retail members.
The Contemporary Design Group is a $100 million-strong performance/buying group with retail members in more 35 cities from coast to coast.
March 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on March 25, 2013
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association has named North Central Home Furnishings Representatives Association its Chapter of the Year.
The award will be presented at the 79th annual IHFRA Presidential Gala and Awards Dinner to be held on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the International Home Furnishings Center ballroom, 11th Floor of Green Wing.
The North Central Home Furnishings Representatives Association was established in 1935. Over the years, the club has been very strong, but had recently deteriorated to the point of inactivity. In 2009 a group of representatives decided to revive the chapter membership. The first year, North Central had 20 diehard members. The second year, the chapter built back to more than 30 members. In 2012 North Central had a roster of 48 members, and is on track to meet its goal of 55 members in 2013. Doug Baines, president of NCHFRA, attributes the growth to a strong national benefits program along with a strong list of local benefits as well.
North Central organized the first furniture-related golf outing with the Furniture Dealer/Rep Golf Classic. In addition, NCHFRA hosted a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka and also hosted a suite at the Minnesota Twins baseball game. To bolster its roster and support fellow representatives, North Central hosts functions at High Point Market twice a year and at Las Vegas Market once a year. North Central also hosts a local furniture market twice a year. The NCHFRA Annual Meeting is held at one of the oldest golf and social clubs on Lake Minnetonka.
We are growing and having fun doing it, Baines said.
For more information on the IHFRA Presidential Gala and Awards Ceremony, contact the IHFRA office at 336.889.3920 or by e-mail. Reservations also can be made online here.
March 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 25, 2013
Outdoor furnishings supplier Treasure Garden will open a showroom at the upcoming High Point Market.
The showroom is located at 2600 Showplace.
"Treasure Garden's decision to add High Point Market to our trade show schedule was motivated by the growth we are seeing in traditional furniture retailers adding outdoor products to their stores," Jeff B. Dorough, vice president, sales and marketing. "As the High Point Market is aware of this trend and promoting the category to their large number of national and international buyers, we see it as a beneficial platform for our products."
With the decision to show in Showplace, the company hopes to capitalize on the number of outdoor manufacturers already showing in the building's temporary spaces.
"Our investment in our multiple trade show efforts within the past three years, including the redesign of our permanent showroom in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, has been a part of our overall company goal to tap into new and diverse markets," said Margaret Chang, COO. "With the addition of The High Point Market, we are exposing our products to another growing segment of outdoor consumers."
March 24,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Internet on March 25, 2013
High-end furniture vendor Habersham has launched an app to better showcase its custom cabinetry capabilities and furniture line to the trade and consumers.
Designed and developed by Xtern Software using its "App-A-Log" base solution, the new Habersham iPad app provides an e-catalog and order-entry platform for sales representatives, designers and dealers while serving as an e-catalog for designers and consumers too.
"Our new app offers wonderful benefits to our trade and consumer audiences alike," said Matt Eddy, CEO of Habersham, Toccoa, Ga. "For the trade, the app makes working the line even easier by offering quick, easy access to furniture, cabinetry and finish images for presentations and other business needs. It also provides a convenient, portable showcase, reduces the need for additional catalog printing and will soon help streamline the sales process too. For consumers, the app takes them beyond the offerings on our website - providing a more extensive representation of our line, with detailed views, innovative sharing options and other features."
Users can browse through Habersham's furniture, cabinetry and finishes in brilliant, high-resolution images. A special "pinch-to-zoom" capabilities give viewers the opportunity to see the handcrafted detailing much more closely than possible through the company's Web site. A search tool helps quickly locate specific pieces. In addition, a wish list tool allows viewers to create lists of favorite items that they can then share.
To help fine-tune the sales process, trade customers can access the full e-catalog and soon will be able to place orders through the app. In addition, photo stacks can be created and shared via e-mail for presentations and other needs.
As the Habersham team will be frequently adding new designs, finishes and photography to the app, all users are encouraged to utilize the "Update" option on the introduction screen when they first launch.
Looking ahead, Habersham and the engineering team at Xtern Software are working on future features and additions to bring to phase two of the app, which will be launched later this year. Priced at $2.99, the Habersham App is available on the App Store.