Daily News Archive
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November 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in Legal on November 3, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z3631823480&z=1000247453
Century Furniture has settled a trademark infringement lawsuit against several partieds it accused of selling furniture using the Century name.
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November 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on November 3, 2010
Furniture Brands International (NYSE: FBN) will close its Appomatox, Va., plant and transfer production to plants in Lenoir and/or Thomasville, N.C.
The move is part of St. Louis-based FBI's restructuring of product lines serving contract and ready-to-assemble furniture customers.
Moving forward, FBI will source those lines from its domestic production and from contractors in Latin America and Asia.
The Appomatox plant will close early next year. This manufacturing realignment, which will result in more efficient overhead absorption and allow for a blended sourcing strategy for contract and RTA customers, will result in restructuring charges totaling approximately $7 million with annual cost savings of approximately $5 million.
"Our manufacturing philosophy for the RTA and contract businesses is the same we've used for our core residential furniture production--consolidate facilities to rationalize overheads, obtain logistics synergies, and take advantage of our scale and global supply chain," said Ray Johnson, senior vice president of global supply chain. "By doing this, we can deliver to our customers the highest quality products at the most competitive costs."
November 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on November 3, 2010
Retail consultant Mike Root will offer a free webinar on Thursday that offers furniture retailers strategies for building business in a stagnant economy.
Root, president of Get Customers Right Now, created the Webinar based on interest in his High Point Furniture Market presentation, "The #1 Secret to Grow Your Business in a Down Economy." Considering the fundamental shift that has occurred in the marketing of home furnishings businesses toward new media solutions, furniture technology and marketing expert Sev Ritchie of The Kaleidoscope Partnership will join Root as a co-host of the webinar.
A few of the topics to be discussed include:
* Expanded tips and tricks to get to listed on the first page of Google.
* 9 best ways to use personalization in marketing to make it stand out.
* Effective use by furniture stores of social media marketing through vehicles such as Facebook and Twitter.
* Measuring investment in new media to get a return
* Steps to build an integrated marketing system that will not overwhelm furniture retailers' resources or time constraints.
Root and Ritchie will share specific strategies that are working, along with low-cost solutions that retailers can use easily and effectively. Where appropriate they also will offer recommendations of resources for saving time and money getting started.
The free webinar is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. EST. Furniture retailers can register online and find more information here. Or for more information, contact Mike Root by e-mail or telephone, 402.391.2166.
All attendees will be entered into a drawing for a free IPAD or $500 Gift Card to be given away on the webinar.
November 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 3, 2010
The Specialty Sleep Association has created a "small exhibit" area for the upcoming Las Vegas Furniture Market, Jan. 24-28.
The area in the center of SSA's showroom, WMC-C1350, is designed for companies that may just need a small display area at market. Companies with their own space in Las Vegas also can use the location for increased exposure during market.
Each 7-foot-by-12-foot space in the small-exhibit area costs $1,500.
For more information, contact Tambra Jones at the Specialty Sleep Association by e-mail or telephone, 559.868.4187.
November 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 3, 2010
Furnishings retail buying consortium MEGA Group USA has awarded Bobby Garrett of Garrett Mattress & Furniture in Milledgeville, Ga., two Mac Motion recliners.
Garrett won the chairs in a drawing High Point Furniture Market last month. The contest, which saw more than 100 dealers register, was a highlight of MEGA Group's first exhibition at High Point, where it said it converted more than 15 percent of the buyers that visited their showroom into new MEGA Group USA members.
"We were excited to show at High Point Market this year," said Jerry Honea Director/COO for MEGA Group USA. "Being our first time to have a space, we were uncertain what to expect. The traffic to our showroom and the ability to talk to a number of buyers and have them become new MEGA Group USA members far exceeded our expectations."
Primary High Point market focus for MEGA Group USA was its new Paula Deen Home By Serta Mattress Collection that is exclusive for MEGA Group USA members.
GE Money, one of MEGA Group USA's business service vendor partners, was in MEGA Group USA's space all week working with current members on consumer financing needs and meeting with prospects to explain the many benefits that GE Money offers.
"Having GE Money in our space and working with our members was extremely valuable," Honea said. "It provides our dealer members time to spend one on one with GE Money and work together to provide their customers the very best financing available."
MEGA Group USA has 1,500 retail members in 2,500 store fronts throughout the United States.