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October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on October 14, 2010
The oldest of
High Points Market buildings has undergone a refurbishing over the last six months. As part of the
International Home Furnishings Center's ongoing capital program, the Main Wing will greet Market features a number upgrades inside and out.
At the Main Street entrance, the antique terrazzo with its "The Heart of Furnitureland USA" logo has been resurfaced to its original state. Overhead, a new canopy sign replaces one that had existed since the 1970s.
"We were excited to take on this project," said David Lees, president of
LOF Graphics, the High Point company responsible for the new sign design and installation. "With the new design, we are capturing the feel you get on the Commerce Street and Green Drive entrances with the brushed aluminum panels and the IHFC logo, bringing that look to Main Street."
"Visitors will see a lot of updates to the interior of the building, as well," said Tom Mitchell, IHFC's president and CEO. "We expect our exhibitors to refresh their showrooms each market, so we too must invest substantially in refurbishing our building for our attending buyers."
Approaching its 90th year, the Main Wing was called the most significant real estate venture in the city's history when it was proposed in 1918. With a construction price tag of $1 million, the Main Wing, then called the Southern Furniture Exposition Building, was completed in 1921. Within 18 months the new property was fully leased, and the furniture trade show was on its way to becoming the worlds largest and most influential.
Mark Silver of
Suburban Construction, the company handling the remodeling of the Main Wing lobby said, "Visitors will see all new flooring with porcelain tiles, updated restrooms and a new cherry reception desk."
With all the new up-fits, the IHFC and their contractors have been careful to remain consistent with the Main Wings early-20th century style. "There's so much history in the Main Wing," Mitchell said. "We're proud of it and want to keep that personality intact while tying it in with the entire IHFC complex."
October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on October 14, 2010
Furniture retailer American Signature has partnered with the Miss America Organization to launch a girls' youth furniture collection.
American Signature, Columbus, Ohio, is the parent company of furniture retail brands Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture.
The Miss America furniture collection by American Signature, designed in collaboration with the Miss America Organization to represent the goals and legacy of the almost 90-year-old pageant, will launch in Columbus on Oct. 25 at a launch event featuring Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron.
Elements of the iconic Miss America crown and the Miss America Organization logo were integrated into the elegant and whimsical design for this collection of girls' bedroom furniture. Design features include pearlized, white painted finish with silver tipping; customized hardware featuring rose carved knobs and jewel-like accents; quality construction including dove-tailed drawers; and removable crown feature on bed headboards to allow customizing as girls' style changes.
Beds include "Crowning Touch" with detailed with carved roses and a detachable crown; and "Majestic," featuring a stylized Miss America logo in the headboard and footboard. In addition to several unique storage pieces, the collection includes the "Boudoir" fully upholstered chair with a heart-shaped back, pleated skirt and sequin accents.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, American Signature Inc. has more than 125 stores in operation under the American Signature Furniture and Value City Furniture brands.
The Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence. The Miss America Competition program was developed by the Miss America Organization to provide opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community.
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Organization and its state affiliates made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.
October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on October 14, 2010
Ira Fishman has joined memory foam mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global in the new position of executive vice president of sales.
Fishman, who in a 23-year career went from sales associate to vice president of merchandising for bedding retailer Sleepy's, is responsible for development and launch of Anatomic Global's new retail programs, working with new retail partners and providing sales support to Anatomic Global retailers. Fishman is based in New York.
"Ira played a critical role in the building of the nation's largest sleep products retailer because he has a keen sense of product merchandising and possibly more importantly, tremendous insight into what motivates the customer to buy," said Corona-Calif.-based Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. "We are excited that he will be working with our dealers as a resource to help them generate more traffic and sales."
Fishman was recruited to the company by President Jeff Scorziell, himself a former retailer who had admired Fishman's work for many years.
"Bringing on board someone of Ira's stature affirms Anatomic Global's commitment to our retailer partners," Scorziell said. "We believe that having strong retailer experience to back up our merchandizing and training efforts will help support our retailers to maximize profitability with our products."
Fishman began his career in the sleep products industry as a sales associate at Sleepy's in 1987 when it had 35 locations. He was quickly promoted to run the chain's top-producing store for several years before another promotion to vice president of sales and them ultimately to the role of vice president of merchandising and lead buyer for the chain, which had grown to more than 700 stores and topped $700 million in sales.
"Anatomic Global has developed a unique product merchandising strategy and story to tell consumers that I believe will resonate with retailer sales associates in our industry," Fishman said. "There is a flood of non differentiable visco in the market right now, but Anatomic Global has something unique; a real opportunity for the right retailers who know how to deploy and sell it on the floor."
Fishman will focus on sales force training as well as the development of new products and point-of-purchase materials to help retailers and their retail sales associates move product.
After adding 140,000 square feet of production and distribution space to its Southern California facility earlier this year, the company increased its workforce 30 percent as well.
October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on October 14, 2010
Furniture specialty carrier Cory Home Delivery has named Chris De Lisa to the new position of vice president of sales and marketing.
In his new role, Chris will be responsible for marketing, public relations, and new business development.
De Lisa started his career with MSO Furniture, his familys business, in Fairfield, N.J., after which he was a regional territory manager with Standard Furniture, as well as Albany Industries. He then became vice president of sales for Home Line Furniture Industries of Philadelphia. He currently is president of The Greater New York Home Furnishings Association, treasurer of the International Home Furnishings Representative Association, member of the Tri-State Home Furnishings Association, and sits on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Furnishings Association.
"We are delighted to have Chris on board to spearhead new business," said Pat Cory, managing partner of Cory Home Delivery, Secaucus, N.J. "Chris's expertise in the industry and his ability to establish long-lasting relationships with clients and venders align perfectly with the Cory philosophy.
"Chris's hiring is a significant step in our drive to capture additional market share. There is a tremendous amount of new business opportunities available today. Gaining market share is one of our top priorities."
Cory serves many of the top 100 furniture, appliance, and electronics retailers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The company dispatches a modern fleet of 500 customized vehicles daily delivering more than $2.1 billion of consumer products to more than 1.6 million consumers annually.
October 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on October 14, 2010
The Sustainable Furnishings Council has several events planned for High Point Furniture Market, which starts Saturday.
The leading green organization in home furnishings now includes over 400 members and will be man a booth to meet more prospective members at Showplace #1019.
Market starts Saturday evening for SFC with its customary mixer at founding member The Phillips Collection, 5-7 p.m., in IHFC-C202.
On Sunday night, 5-6 p.m., Copeland Furniture will host a free presentation in its Showplace 5100 showroom. The talk will cover highlights on the latest trends in sustainability pertaining to the furniture industry, including new legislation regarding formaldehyde emissions, sourcing legal wood and pre-packed CFL bulbs; and insight into current consumer understanding and interest. Two other SFC members, American Leather and Revco International, have showrooms adjacent to Copeland.
On Monday at noon in Ballroom B of the IHFC's Green Wing, TV designer Angelo Surmelis will discuss affordable, accessible design. Surmelis is a founding leaders of the SFC's DESIGNINGreen team of celebrity designer spokespeople who support the organization's national "Why not?" consumer print campaign. The event is co-sponsored by IFDA Carolinas, IHFC and the SFC.
Wrapping up on Wednesday, SFC will stage a live presentation of the GREENleaders Certified Sustainability Training, a 6-hour exam course (6 ceu) that provides the knowledge and accreditation to become expert in green residential. Written and presented by a LEED AP, this industry first has already graduated around 450 students. It is intended for manufacturers, reps, retailers and designers, and offered for $299, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact admin@sustainablefurnishings.org for registration details.