Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
December 26,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Closings on December 27, 2010
Three Montana Ashley Furniture Homestores will close, the Great Falls Tribune reported Sunday.
The closures include Ashley Furniture Homestores in Great Falls, Helena and Missoula. The franchise group closed stores in Kalispell and Bozeman earlier this year.
"We've struggled to make this work, but ultimately, the stores have been struggling since 2007-2008," Jed Heggen, one of the franchise owners said in the report. "It came to the point where we needed to be made a decision. It's a sad deal."
A Sleep City mattress store located in the same 40,000-square-foot building as the Great Falls store will remain open.
An Ashley Furniture Homestore in Billings under different ownership will remain open.
December 26,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on December 27, 2010
Mattress manufacturer Restava is donating $1 to Feeding America for every mattress sold until Jan. 31.
According to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in the U.S., one in six Americans struggles with hunger. Its network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
A Restava spokesman said the company chose an American charity because it is an American company, with American workers who take pride in and love their country. Every dollar donated to Feeding America helps provide seven meals to men, women and children facing hunger.
In addition to Restava's $1 donation, the company will match customer donations up to $10 to Feeding America. For a single mattress sold, that could total a donation of $21, which would feed 147 Americans.
In addition to the Feeding America effort, Restava employees volunteer at food banks and kitchens that feed the hungry, and help collect clothing and toys for needy American children. Restava will be proactive in its mission to feed and clothe disadvantaged Americans.
December 22,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 23, 2010
Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings is expanding into two markets Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Plans to grow the Gabberts brand across the upper-Midwest were part of the plan in late 2008 when
HOM Furniture acquired the retailer.
The new locations will capitalize on the infrastructure, buying power, distribution network, service footprint and marketing strength of HOM. Using the resources of the Design Studio inside Gabberts' 63,000-square-foot store in Edina, Minn., will offer a higher level of design services in the new markets.
We see many opportunities to deliver Gabberts design expertise and product selection to more customers across the five-state upper Midwest service area," said Rod Johansen, HOMs president and CEO. We will continue to honor and leverage the 63 years of Gabberts brand heritage and an award-winning interior design team to markets currently underserved at the premium level.
Both new Gabberts locations will adjoin HOM Furniture showrooms. The Sioux City store will occupy an expanded second level of the HOM Furniture showroom in a recently renovated department store. Gabberts will have a new store front adjacent to the newly expanded 80,000-square-foot HOM Furniture in Sioux Falls.
Construction is underway at both locations, and grand openings are planned for early spring 2011.
December 22,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Closings on December 23, 2010
Home furnishings, appliance and electronics retailer Rosa's Home Store will close its four Western New York stores early next year.
Planned Furniture Promotions will manage store liquidation sales for Buffalo-based Rosa's, which on Dec. 9 filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.
All customer deposits made prior to the Chapter 11 filing will be honored.
"This was the most important aspect of the bankruptcy filing," said Dean Rallo, president of Rosa's Home Store. "Rosa's didn't want this bankruptcy to negatively impact our loyal customers, so we worked very closely with our legal team and the bankruptcy court to put our customers first."
Store customers with open orders will receive instructions for completing their orders.
"We're proud to have been chosen by Rosa's, an institution in the community, to assist the company in this difficult time," said Tom Liddell, senior vice president of Planned Furniture Promotions. "We look forward to assisting Rosa's complete the many customer orders that were placed prior to the Bankruptcy filing and conducting a sale that will benefit the company, its vendors and creditors, and many local customers."
Rosas Home Store operates three locations in Buffalo and one store in Niagara Falls. The stores will be closed for a short period, to complete an inventory and prepare for the liquidation, followed by the public sale early next year.
December 22,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 23, 2010
Urban Furniture Outlet, formerly Contract Liquidators, has has relaunched with a new name, new ownership and new website.
The 20-year-old New Castle, Del., family owned and operated furniture and mattress store has recently been taken over by Nicholas Urban, son of the founder the late Richard Urban.
"We wanted to carry on the family name and reflect what we do, bring our customers quality furniture and mattress at factory direct prices," said Nicholas Urban. His vision for the business is simple--keep costs low, keep prices low; and buy truckloads of furniture and mattresses from across the U.S. and all over the world and offer them to customers at factory direct prices. Vendors include Ashley Furniture, Simmons, Crown Mark, and more.
In addition, Urban Furniture Outlet has launched a new website and social media presence on Facebook. Customers can now browse photos of merchandise, read reviews, create a wish list, and soon even purchase items online.