December 8,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on December 9, 2010
Las Vegas Design Center will host the annual Interior Design Society National Conference, Jan. 22-23, to coincide with the Las Vegas Furniture Market, Jan. 24-28.
"Our goal is to exceed the expectations of design professionals by not only serving as a comprehensive, state of the art home furnishings resource but also as a hub for timely, relevant educational and entertaining programming and events," said Las Vegas Design Center Vice President Randy Wells. "We are thrilled about our partnership with IDS and the opportunity to share the experience of Las Vegas Design Center and Las Vegas Market with their membership."
The 2011 IDS National Conference begins with a semi-formal awards ceremony at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, the host hotel, on Saturday, Jan. 22. An intensive workshop on Sunday, Jan. 23, at Las Vegas Design Center will offer put-in-play business strategies and leadership insights, including how to grow a business using green products, what it takes to satisfy challenging clients, and how to launch a social media marketing initiative. A focused keynote address by luxury market consultant and author Steve Nobel will tackle a timely topic: marketing to affluent shoppers.
The conference will conclude with a products preview and cocktail reception with HGTV's Monica Pedersen, 5:30-7 p.m. on Sunday. Then, attendees can attend the Winter 2011 Las Vegas Market.
"The timing and location of the conference is ideal for residential interior designers," said IDS CEO Pamela White. "Following the awards program and a day of presentations, our attendees will be able to source new home furnishings during Las Vegas Market. Ultimately, we've partnered with Las Vegas Design Center to create an event that will help our interior designer members to stay ahead of their competition and thrive in this economy."
December 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on December 8, 2010
Elizabeth Edwards, owner of
furniture retailer Red Window, has died after a long battle with cancer. She was 61.
Edwards, also the estranged wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards, had been battling the disease for six years. Elizabeth Edwards opened her store on Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill, N.C., in June 2009, and she had been a regular attendee to the High Point Furniture Market.
Edwards was a passionate supporter of health care reform, an accomplished author and mother to four children, one of whom preceded her in death.
December 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Customer Service on December 8, 2010
Furniture retailer Arhaus Furniture and Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) have renewed an agreement for private label credit card services in Arhaus retail stores.
Cleveland, Ohio-based Arhaus operates 35 stores in 14 states and plans to open four additional locations in 2011. Arhaus designs and sells its handcrafted, artisan furnishings in stores as well as through its website at Arhaus.com. Arhaus has been an Alliance Data client since 1992.
Dallas-based Alliance Data will continue providing private label credit card services, including account acquisition and activation, receivables funding, card authorization, private label credit card issuance, statement generation, remittance processing, marketing services and customer service functions as part of the "Archarge" credit card program. Program benefits include flexible financing options and online account management for Arhaus cardholders, as well as customized messaging in monthly billing statements.
"We look forward to continuing our 18-year partnership with Alliance Data, and truly value the private label credit card services the company has provided to Arhaus through the Archarge credit card program," said John Reed, CEO of Arhaus Furniture. "Arhaus is passionate about providing superior, high-quality home furnishings and expert design consultation. With Alliance Data's approach to customer service aligning nicely with our customer care philosophy, we're able to deliver meaningful value to our customers through this card program. The Archarge program is an important extension of our brand--one that helps to ensure we'll continue to be our customers' retailer of choice when it comes to fine furniture and accessories."
December 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 8, 2010
Little Rock, Ark.-based
Hank's & More Fine Furniture has opened a new 92,000-square-foot store in Rogers, Ark.
Twenty-five percent of the showroom is dedicated to manufacturers' galleries.
The timing was right to build a store large enough to have furniture for everyone, for any budget, said Hank Browne, chairman and owner.
The retailer opened a 75,000-square-foot store in West Little Rock, Ark., two years ago, and Browne said public reception was "tremendous."
"Our customers appreciate going to one place to find hundreds of brands and price selections," he said. "Now, with 92,000 square feet, we have filled this store with even more of the most beautiful furniture I have ever seen under one roof.
The $11 million project was completed in nine months. The retailer is closing two storeson in adjacent Bentonville, Ark., and another in Fayetteville, Ark.and will bring employees from those stores to the new location. The store has also hired 20 new employees.
I will have managed stores for Hank's Fine Furniture for 25 years in February, and I have never been happier with the quality of our new hires," said Stuart Skiles, manager of the new Hank's & More. "They all have the 'whatever it takes' attitude which is the mission statement of our company. We work together as a team and thats the key to Hank's success for 35 years.
Hank's, a 35-year-old retailer, operates 15 stores in five states.
This is the most exciting project yet; to have the ability to choose the best product from all of our manufactures and to showcase the furniture in beautiful open room settings is wonderful," said Mary Browne, president of Hank's, and primary architect of the stores layout, displays and merchandise. "We have some exclusive furniture galleries that folks in Arkansas have never seen before. Our vendors have worked to get us new product we only saw at the
October (High Point) market a few weeks ago to our floor for this grand opening.
December 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on December 8, 2010
High-end contemporary home furnishings vendor Phillips Collection has a new competition that asks entrants for lifestyle photographs showcasing Phillips products.
The contest runs from Tuesday through Dec. 30, and the winner will receive a $250 voucher.
To enter, participants must submit a high resolution digital image, minimum 8.5 inches by 11 inches, to creative@phillipscollection.com. FTP or file transfer sites such as wetransfer.com also are accepted. Participants must include their name and contact information in the submission. There is no fee required to enter the competition, and there are no limits to the number of submissions per participant.
Judging will begin with a design panel that will choose a selection of finalists. Selected photographs will be posted on the Phillips Collection Facebook fan page. Judging of the final photographs will be done by Phillips Collection fans on Facebook by way of voting. Photography with most votes will be declared winner. Voting runs Jan. 3-Jan. 10.