November 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 15, 2010
International aid agency World Vision has partnered with the humanitarian initiative WorldBed for relief in earthquake-stricken Haiti.
The international charity is collaborating on a national promotion to help deliver 200,000 emergency field beds to Haitians displaced by the Jan. 12 earthquake. While nearly 10 months has passed, the basic needs of children and families in Haiti are still significant, especially following the recent outbreak of cholera.
World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, with operations in nearly 100 countries, including Haiti, will use the easily transportable cot-sized, waterproof WorldBeds to provide disaster relief to children and families affected by typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters around the world.
"With so many Haitian children and families still living in makeshift housing, these beds will meet an essential need, and we're grateful that WorldBed can provide for these affected families," said Steve Scranton, World Vision's national director of cause related marketing.
To date, WorldBed has delivered more than 14,000 field beds to Haiti with the aid and contributions of dozens of organizations, ranging from single-location retail outlets to large retail chains, major furnishings industry suppliers and world renown philanthropic and disaster relief groups.
WorldBed's major sponsor and manufacturer is Corona, Calif.-based Anatomic Global. Other sponsors include, Overstock.com, the Consumer Product Group at Leggett & Platt, Ergo Customized Comfort, Relax The Back, FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Brookwood Companies, Beds, Beds & More, A Bedder Bed and Wright Label, Lyon Credit Services, Specialty Sleep Association and Chicago Tape and Label.
November 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 15, 2010
Italian bedding manufacturer Magniflex entered North America's hospitality sector program at the Nov. 13-16 International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Show, New York.
"We are very excited about bringing our deep experience serving major hotels in the European market to the hotel industry," said Magniflex Global Sales Director Marco Magni. "Consumer interest in the Magniflex brand has been very strong as a result of our significant investments in the brand over the past few years. We are well positioned to deliver the same great service and craftsmanship to hotels seeking to elevate the guest experience with enhanced mattress comfort and made-in-Italy quality."
A timely introduction for the North American market is the company's Protetto line, the first Oeko-Tex certified bed bug-repelling mattress. Harnessing the power of plant-based insect repellants, the Protetto Mattress features the first mattress cover treated with a microencapsulated formulation of lemon and eucalyptus to be introduced in North America.
"We have been working on developing this type of product for a few years but decided to bring it to the forefront now after receiving significant interest and requests in the U.S.," said Magni. "There is a real need for solutions from the bedding industry right now, and as a manufacturer at the forefront of advanced fabric technologies, we felt compelled to develop and offer a viable option for the North American market."
November 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on November 15, 2010
The Carolinas Chapter of the International Furnishings & Design Assn. saluted long-time member Dr. Richard Bennington with a tribute dinner last Tuesday evening.
The event was held in the Wilson Ballroom of the recently constructed Plato S. Wilson Hall on the campus of High Point University.
Bennington, the Paul Broyhill Professor of Home Furnishings Marketing at High Point University, was honored by a host of speakers from the university, the home furnishings industry and IFDA. They included Eric Gatton of La-Z-Boy; Scott Miles of Havertys; Joseph Carroll of McNeill Communications Group; Dr. Dennis Carroll, Dr. Elizabeth Dull, Dr. Richard Hargrove, and Dr. Jim Wehrley, all of High Point University; and Dawn Brinson and Susan Connor from the Carolinas Chapter IFDA.
Many former students who have gone on to successful furniture careers attended the dinner to pay homage to the professor whose mentoring, they said, proved invaluable as they transitioned from college to the working world. More than a dozen current students also came out to honor Bennington, who founded the home furnishings programs at High Point University in the early 1980s.
The Carolinas Chapter IFDA conceived the tribute dinner as a way to recognize Dr. Bennington for years of dedicated service and support to that organization and to the furnishings and design communities.
"Dr. Bennington has helped the IFDA in countless ways," said Susan Connor, Carolinas Chapter president. "He is too modest to wave his own flag, so we thought we would do it for him."
Bennington has served as president, benefit sale chair, and as a member of the Chapter's executive board. The Chapter has raised more than $200,000 in scholarship money through the benefit sales.
Additionally, Bennington is author of the textbook, "Furniture Marketing, From Product Development to Distribution," and a research study, "Current Merchandising Practices by Furniture Manufacturers." He has been a speaker and panel member for the Furniture Market in Madrid, Spain and a Judge for the International Furniture Design Competition in the Peoples Republic of China.
November 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on November 15, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z3734368958&z=1150248697
U.S. retail sales rose for the fourth straight month, climbing 1.2 percen in October, as consumers flocked to auto showrooms and made more purchases online.
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November 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in economic news on November 13, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z3729275206&z=1150248697
U.S. consumer sentiment rose more than expected in early November and hit its best level since June, helped by a slightly better economic outlook and early holiday sales, a survey showed on Friday.
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