Daily News Archive
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December 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on December 22, 2010
High-end furniture vendor Marge Carson has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against case goods supplier Philippe Langdon over design knockoffs.
The lawsuit alleges the intentional copying of numerous original designs and design elements found in several successful Marge Carson collections, including Bordeaux, Les Marches, Pacifica, Palladian, Perugia, Segovia, Umbria and Vouvray.
"Marge Carson prides itself in elegant and original designs, created exclusively for us by some of our industry's top designers," said Will Sharp, president of Marge Carson, Rosemead, Calif. "We must aggressively protect the design integrity of our collections, and ensure our retailers that they will not be subjected to design knock-offs."
Many of Marge Carson's designs and brands are protected by the intellectual property laws governing design patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade dress.
The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court in Greensboro, N.C. Marge Carson seeks an injunction to stop all U.S. sales, the manufacture and importation of the infringing furniture and compensation in the form of attorney's fees and damages incurred from such sales.
December 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 22, 2010
Home furnishings retailer Home Expressions is set to for the grand opening of new Stanley Furniture Young America Signature Shop in its Fountain Valley, Calif., store.
Home Expressions has dedicated 1,300 square feet to the store-within-a-store concept, which focuses on providing consumers with a thorough and meaningful Young America shopping experience. This gallery-like setting is ultimately designed to display Young Americaʼs best selling styles in the most consumer friendly conditions.
"Opening a Young America Signature Shop represents the next step in our effort to create a compelling, branded shopping experience for our infant and youth customers," said Home Expressions owner John Pham. "Our unique arrangement will help us educate customers about the importance of safety, quality and selection--all of which are associated with Young Americaʼs brand promise."
December 20,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on December 21, 2010
Bedding supplier Sealy Corp.
(NYSE: ZZ) recently opened its first production facility in China.
The venture, Sealy China, is jointly owned and operated by Sealy and a licensee, Sealy Australia. The 100,000-square-foot factory outside of Shanghai represents a milestone for Sealy China and underscores Sealy's commitment to the Chinese market. This action reinforces the company's strategy to expand in high growth international markets.
"We are very pleased to open this new production facility and believe we are well positioned to grow the Sealy brand in this dynamic market," said Larry Rogers, Sealy president and CEO. "Sealy now has a robust and growing distribution network of 20 retail stores in 16 major Chinese cities and our long-term objective is to build Sealy into the number one bedding brand in China."
"In addition to producing bedding for Chinese consumers, this new plant will also manufacture mattresses and foundations for our contract hospitality business in Mainland China," said Simon Dyer, Sealy of Australia CEO and Sealy China general manager. "Our next step is to open a research and development center in Shanghai in early 2011, which would be Sealy's first research facility in Asia and will enable Sealy China to develop new products specifically for Chinese consumers and better serve our dealers and consumers in the region."
Sealy China has been operating retail outlets and distributing imported Sealy products since early 2009. The expansion and building of this production facility is the culmination of successful retailer relationships and partnerships as well as early retail successes in the Chinese market.
December 20,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 21, 2010
Home furnishings retailer Raymour & Flanigan has partnered with Kathy Ireland to add upholstery to its 86 furniture stores.
The association expands kathy ireland Home's upholstered furniture product into Raymour & Flanigan's stores. The retailer currently sells case goods, rugs and home accessories from the kathy ireland Home line.
Ireland is CEO and chief designer of kathy ireland Worldwide, a $1.5 billion a year lifestyle design firm. As part of the collaboration, Ireland will also become a contributor to the Raymour & Flanigan design magazine. Her contribution to the publication will put to use her knowledge in home design and offer readers insight on how to keep the home fresh, exciting and new with affordable furniture and ideas.
"Raymour & Flanigan is thrilled to be partnered with the world-renowned brand, kathy ireland Home. Kathy's vision of finding solutions for families, especially busy moms aligns perfectly with our vision," said Raymour and Flanigan's CEO and President Neil Goldberg. "We strive every day to find the right products at the best value for our customers, and to enhance the furniture buying experience. Our dedication to exceeding customer expectations has been the bedrock for our six decades of success. Combined with highly trained sales professionals and a three-day delivery guarantee, Raymour & Flanigan Furniture sets the industry standard for the most-satisfying furniture buying experience. We believe it's these combined values and vision of both kathy ireland Home and Raymour & Flanigan that will make a great partnership and tremendous product offering for consumers."
kathy ireland Home will be available at Raymour Flanigan in the first quarter of 2011.
"It is a great joy and privilege to partner with the genius team at Raymour and Flanigan," Ireland said. "We have talked for years about expanding our relationship and finally, it is happening. The group of innovators at Raymour and Flanigan, practice ethics, quality, customer service and a genuine commitment to fashion that is rare. We are excited by this extraordinary teaming of values and corporate cultures. Their belief in kathy ireland Home is humbling to everyone at our company."
December 20,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on December 21, 2010
Brownlee Currey has been named president of home furnishings and accents vendor Currey & Company. He succeeds Barry Wabler.
Brownlee, the son of Atlanta-based Currey & Company Founders Robert and Suzanne Currey, grew up in Atlanta Georgia and graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. After finishing college, he worked five years for home furnishings retailer Crate & Barrel in Chicago and Detroit. He returned to Atlanta in 2001 to work for Currey & Company where he has worked in every department in the company. His previous position was heading the recently created contract and international sales department.
Currey & Company designs and manufactures lighting fixtures, lamps and accessories as well as furniture, which has recently been added to the line. It has facilities in Atlanta, the Philippines and China. There are Currey & Company showrooms in High Point, Dallas and Atlanta with a national sales force of 36 representatives.