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January 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on January 21, 2011
Supplier
Home Meridian International has opened a 330,000-square-foot distribution hub near Los Angeles.
The facility in Redlands, Calif., will be fully operational by Monday, Jan. 24, and is situated near Pacific ports and at the nexus of interstates 10 and 15. The company said it will reduce transportation costs and shorten delivery times to its customers in large population centers on the West Coast.
The most directand therefore the most efficientglobal model is to move inventory from Asia directly to Los Angeles," said George Revington, president and CEO of Home Meridian International. "Virtually every major non-home furnishings retailer uses this model because it reduces time as well as transportation and handling expenses, and therefore eliminates waste. At a time when our competitors are closing warehouses, we are investing in high velocity inventory and superior logistics. This move makes us more competitive and responsive.
Lamont Hope, chief operating officer for HMI, said the company imports more than 10,000 containers a year and the need to be close to ports and accessible to its largest customers is crucial.
"We are in the global logistics business," Hope said. "We have evolved from a legacy furniture company to a global design, sourcing and marketing company."
Hope said the proximity to the port will allow the company to be flexible in container flow, as well as give the company a larger outbound distribution carrier pool.
"Weakness in the economy allowed us to negotiate very favorable rates for a brand new facility in an ideal location," he said. "Far more than simply a warehouse, this distribution center will be the hub of our freight negotiations and logistics. In an increasingly global economy, the ability to efficiently track and transport goods is a key differentiator that lowers costs, reduces waste and makes us the preferred provider.
The company's former warehouse was located in Phoenix, which is where Samuel Lawrence Furniture was founded.
"This new warehouse will save us a significant amount in drayage," said Doug Townsend, chief financial officer. "Further, it will reduce freight costs and delivery times to customers on the west coast by two days."
Townsend said the increased space and improved systems integrated into SAP will improve HMI's efficiency and improved the company's speed to market. "It will also provide us with enough space to create a permanent showroom," Townsend added.
HMI is headquartered in High Point, N.C., and operates distribution centers on both coasts. It is the parent company of
Pulaski Furniture,
Samuel Lawrence Furniture, Samuel Lawrence Hospitality,
Creations baby furniture and Prime Resources International.
January 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on January 21, 2011
The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) has partnered with
Fifth Letter, a design studio in Winston-Salem, N.C., to create the 2011 Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards campaign.
Fifth Letter will be producing an advertising campaign, call-for-entries materials, winner showcase booklet, presentation materials and a branding refresh for the awards.
The Pinnacle Awards, in its 16th year, is the premier design award in the retail home furnishings industry. The purpose is to promote better design quality and to encourage the recognition of furniture designers within the industry. The awards are intended to celebrate designs that are produced in large numbers for sale to consumers through retail stores.
Were pleased to be partnering with Fifth Letter to promote the Pinnacle Awards, said Steve Hodges, president of ASFD. We look forward to the strengths they bring to help us grow competition entries and general interest in ASFD.
Were incredibly excited about the opportunity we have to work with ASFD on their most high-profile campaign, said Elliot Strunk,creative director of Fifth Letter. We look forward to seeing what were able to create together.
Founded in 1981, the American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) is dedicated to excellence, innovation, education and originality in the practice of furniture design. ASFD serves as the unified voice of the furniture design community, advocating professional practice and integrity at all times. ASFD seeks to demonstrate the value of design to the furnishings industry.
Founded in 2005, Fifth Letter is a multi-faceted design studio with a client list that includes
UNC Greensboro,
SECCA and
The Wooden Group.
January 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on January 21, 2011
Bedding supplier Spring Air International has joined the
Specialty Sleep Association, and the company plans to introduce a line of beds that will meet the association's Environmental and Safety Program.
Rick Robinson, Spring Air president, said he expects the Back Supporter beds to be available to retailers as early as the end of March and will be introdcued at the summer 2011
Las Vegas Market. Our decision to join SSA and its Environmental & Safety Program is a statement of our companys position on environmental respect, consumer health and safety, and truth in product labeling, Robinson said. "As a major trade and consumer mattress brand, we believe in being demonstrative about what we think is right and what we value.
SSA surveys show that consumers favor eco-friendly products and most retail sales associations think green certification is an advantage on the sales floor.
"Our objective will be to capture those environmentally conscious consumers, to provide our retailers with 'greener' mattress products based on substantiated information, and to offer those benefits under the umbrellas of the Spring Air and Back Supporter names," Robinson said. "In look, feel and value, our certified beds will be extremely competitive with other non-certified products on the retail floor.
SSA's Environmental and Safety Program requires producers to meet any one of three increasingly more stringent adherence levels for consumer and environmental safety.
Robinson said the new Back Supporter line will likely be designed to qualify under more than one level of the standards.
"Spring Air's plan to create mattresses that meet the environmental and safety requirements of the program is a strong statement about its commitment to telling the truth in green marketing," said Dale Read, SSA president. "We're very enthused about the company's decision to join and to get behind this environmental consumer education program."
January 20,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on January 21, 2011
The student design competition sponsored by
Groovystuff has moved forward, and the final projects by the students in the Interior Design and Graphic Designs programs at the
Art Institute of Las Vegas are posted and open for comment.
Industry folks are encouraged to go online to the
Groovystuff Fan page and vote for their favorite student design.
All participants in the voting will be eligible to receive a prize package from
Warner Music Group, mailed to them from the label that includes:
¢ The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts DVD (3 DVD Set).
¢ A prize package of Grammy nominated Artists from the 53rd Grammy Awards
¢ Plus Music from the Warner Music Group 2011 New Release Catalog
Student winners of the popular vote online, combined with the votes from the buyers and industry professionals attending next week's
Las Vegas World Market will receive a $500 cash award. The final winning design will be the one with the top sales from July 2011 through January 2012 and that designer will not only win a $1,000 cash prize, and inclusion into the exclusive celebrity endorsed
Dick Idol Legends collection, but also a permanent 1 percent royalty on all future sales of the product.
Miniature models of the designs will be on display in the Groovystuff Las Vegas showroom B0135 at the Market.
January 19,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Store Openings on January 20, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z3957190510&z=1250249029
M.H. Alshaya Co. has opened Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids flagship retail stores at The Dubai Mall.
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