Archive for February, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
MicroD software and services now fully support the furniture industry standards for electronic commerce developed by the Furniture Industry Data Exchange (FIDX) Committee.
The standards developed by FIDX, which is jointly sponsored by AHFA, NHFA and HFIA, use XML technology to define product catalogs, purchase orders, order acknowledgements, invoices, advance ship notices, bills of lading, etc. Steve DeHann of NHFA currently serves as Chairman of FIDX and Ron Martell, MicroD Chairman, is Chairman of the FIDX working group. Formal FIDX meetings are held semi-annually in Charlotte or Greensboro and Internet based meeting are held on an as needed basis. The standards are posted on the FIDX web site at www.fidx.org and all industry participants are invited and encouraged to participate in FIDX.
To promote fast and easy adoption of the new standards, MicroD launched the “Fast-FIDX” standards adoption program under which MicroD is offering to publish an initial FIDX compatible product catalog at no charge for up to ten casegoods and accessory manufacturers. This offer does not include custom products or catalogs that are subsequently updated. Ken Curtis, MicroD’s VP of Sales and Marketing states “We have been publishing electronic product catalogs since 1988 and are very pleased that an industry standard is finally available. This will eliminate the Beta/VHF format incompatibility problems once and for all. Since the standard uses XML (Extensible Markup Language) technology that many companies are not currently familiar with, we are offering to publish initial catalogs at no cost for companies who provide text and graphical product data which we will translate and format to conform to the FIDX standard. Instructions for preparing the required text and graphical data are available on our web site at www.microdinc.com”.
MicroD, Inc. develops and provides integrated Internet and desktop-based software products and service solutions known as Full Circle™. These solutions range from electronic catalogs and room-planning software to Internet-based business-to-business (B2B) communications software and services for a wide range of companies in the furniture, trucking and other industries. Copyrighted under the brand names of PreVue and Exim Commerce, MicroD’s products are the preferred choice of major companies such as Ethan Allen, Thomasville, Bassett, Broyhill, La-Z-Boy, Kittles Furniture, Boyles Furniture, etc. To learn more about MicroD’s products and services, visit their web site at www.microdinc.com
February 28th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
The Business Journal (www.bizjournals.com) reports that Russell Turner of Thomasville, Ga., a licensee for furniture manufacturer Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., is in the process of opening five stores and a distribution center in the High Point, NC Triad area. Stores in Greensboro and Winston Salem are already under construction. The distribution facility site has yet to be chosen.
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The Cincinnati Business Courier reported that, “The Kroger Co., which has historically limited its local lineup of stores to its namesake brand, is introducing its first out-of-market concept to Cincinnati this summer with two mass-merchandise Marketplace stores.” The article went on to say that the new concept to be rolled initially in two stores, “combines traditional groceries with nationally branded furniture, linens and dinnerware but not fashion-centered items such as apparel.”
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An interesting article in “Seattle Pi” that details information on Costco Home Stores can be found at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260826_retail25.html.
The article looks at the enormous success of recent Costco Home Stores and also at their policies on furniture margins (higher than their 14% maximum for other product catetories), and plans for future expansion (possibly in Billings, Montana, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Portland).
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The San Francisco Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com) recently carried an article that looked at the effect of the Las Vegas Furniture Market on the S.F. Mart’s show traffic and occupancy rates. It also looks at, “plans to revitalize the venerable 1937 Art Deco building at 1355 Market St., and the other players are not entirely pleased — particularly with “Gifts on Six,” a new strategy setting aside the building’s sixth floor for knickknacks, wall items, pet products, stationery and the like.”
It seems that this strategy is ruffling feathers at the nearby Gift center and causing concern among the organizers of the Gift Show held at the Moscone Center.
February 28th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
SATRA recently welcomed members of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) to its Technology Centre in Kettering, Northants, England. Mike Spencer, AMUSF Chief Executive, together with 14 other AMU members from the Midlands took part in a tour of the SATRA laboratories.
On show was the latest technology in chair and bed testing, as well as the evaluation of cabinet finishes, flammability testing of foams and upholstery covers and performance testing of upholstery covers.
SATRA expert Sue Winckle, with 30 years experience in testing leathers and textiles, gave a presentation and explained some of the more common types of customer complaints with upholstery covers. She also discussed the various techniques available for reducing complaints through proper material testing before purchasing.
The group also visited SATRA’s state-of-the-art chemical and analytical technologies laboratory, where products and materials can be checked for a vast range of hazardous substances. Hosting the visit was John Shipman of SATRA’s furniture testing centre, who gave a short presentation discussing how to ensure products are designed and produced accurately first time and some information on the SATRA services available. The importance of correct material and product specifications was emphasised together with the relevance of performance testing to verify quality at various stages in the supply chain.
For more information go to www.satra.co.uk
February 28th, 2006
— Furniture Today
Event aims to promote promising designers
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — George Little Management, producer and manager of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, is inviting designers to enter a juried competition in connection with the show.
The competition, called ICFF Studio, will be a part of the annual fair, which takes place May 20-23 in New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
ICFF Studio was conceived to help promising designers with prototypes hook up with the ICFF’s manufacturer exhibitors and the media. GLM and Bernhardt Design are jointly managing the competition.
The deadline for entries is March 15. Submissions should be from designers working on product categories exhibited at the ICFF: indoor and outdoor furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bath. Submissions must include an entry form, photos of as many as three product prototypes, and supporting information including a biography.
Selected designers win a spot to display their prototypes at ICFF Studio, an area with individual booths on the exhibition floor. Winners will be announced April 3.
For more information, visit www.icff.com/icff_2006_studio.pdf, or call (914) 421-3317.
February 28th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture recently donated over 100 bedspreads to two local furniture banks, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless Furniture Bank in Lynn and the Central Mass Housing Alliance Donations Clearing House in Worcester. The bedspreads, which had previously been used in furniture displays in Bernie & Phyl’s stores, will be given free to any person in need of a warm blanket. This donation is one of many that Bernie & Phyl’s regularly makes to organizations serving needy populations across the region.
“When we decided to replace all of the bedspreads in our stores, we thought it would also be a great opportunity to help people in need,” said Bernie Rubin, co-founder and chairman of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We are happy that our bedspreads will not only keep people warm, but will help make people’s housing accommodations seem more like a home.”
Through its Donations Assistance Program, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless provides thousands of families making the transition from homelessness into permanent housing with furniture and household goods free of charge. Since 1985, the Donations Clearing House has provided free donated furniture and household goods to over a 1,000 families per year who have been referred by area shelters, neighborhood centers, and health and human service agencies.
Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is the largest independent furniture retailer in Massachusetts. In 2004, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture received the prestigious Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence, which is given to companies that embody the highest ethical standards. In 2002, the company was named “Retailer of the Year” by the National Home Furnishings Association, which is the highest honor in the retail home furnishings industry. The company ranks 61 among the Top 100 furniture stores in the country according to Furniture/Today magazine. Based in Norton, MA, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has six stores in New England: Braintree (50,000 s/f); Nashua, NH (86,000 s/f); Raynham, MA (55,000 s/f); Saugus, MA (50,000 s/f); Westboro, MA (42,000 s/f); and Weymouth, MA (Bedding and Clearance Center).
February 28th, 2006
— Furniture Today,
Italian costs seen too high
LOS ANGELES — Living room and dining room importer Sigla Furniture has moved its production from Italy to China, with the new factory beginning work by the end of this month.
The 300,000-square-foot factory is finished, said President Ben Bakian, and the line will start once the last machine arrives from Italy.
Sigla, which began as an upholstered chair importer more than 20 years ago, had been buying chairs from Fratelli Da Como, which also supplied Chateau D’ax, hospitality company Shelby Williams Inds. and European contract furniture companies.
Bakian said that as much as three years ago, the owner of the family business, Damiano Da Como, was complaining about the high production cost in Italy. More than a year ago, Sigla bought out Da Como and began preparing to move the manufacturing to China.
Damiano Da Como, whose family has been in the chair business 45 years, agreed to move to China to oversee the factory in Dongguan City.
The Italian factory was 20,000 square feet, and the China facility is 15 times as large. Part of the building will be used for warehousing, which coupled with the company’s Los Angeles distribution center, will enable Sigla to offer fast shipping to retailers, Bakian said.
He added that the additional space is necessary to handle the expected growth of both upholstery and case goods sales.
Sigla began by selling unfinished chair frames to U.S. manufacturers. Ten or 12 years ago, the company added finished goods, and about three years ago, it expanded its line. Its products now include sofas, loveseats, occasional tables and dining room cases.
A sofa that would retail between $2,400 and $2,500 out of the Italian plant will now be priced at $1,499, Bakian said.
“The labor cost is about $27 an hour in Italy versus $150 per month (in China),” he said. Shipping costs also are lower — the freight from China to Los Angeles for a mixed container is $2,000 to $3,500, he said, while the same cube from Italy was costing about $5,000.
Bakian added that while some Chinese factories demand large orders of thousands of pieces, Sigla would be willing to run a hundred pieces for a retailer. He said that with Da Como overseeing the plant, retailers can feel comfortable about the quality of its products.
Another complaint Bakian has heard about Chinese factories is that designs are stolen and sold to competitors. Sigla guarantees that its private-label pieces will be exclusive.
Sigla will show at the April High Point market in its showroom at 114 S. Elm St.
February 28th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
After more than one year of ongoing construction, Coconis Furniture has finished the final phase of the most comprehensive expansion and remodeling project ever in its 78 year history. Over 20,000 square feet of the original warehouse has been converted to showroom that now totals 65,000 square feet.
A new state-of-the-art off site warehouse located adjacent to the store was completed in the summer of 2005.
In addition to the added showroom, new customer conveniences have been included to make the shopping experience even more enjoyable: a “Kid’s Cottage” play area designed to keep the younger shoppers entertained and “Ol’ Paul’s Café,” featuring light snacks and refreshments for the hungry and thirsty customer. To further enhance the ambience of the store, a large “Welcome” waterfall was added at the entrance and two stone fireplaces were constructed in the main areas of the showroom. America’s newest Flexsteel gallery was also added to showcase an array of high quality upholstered furniture collections.
The addition and remodeling represents the largest expansion Coconis Furniture has ever completed since it originally opened in Zanesville, circa 1927, as the Zanesville Furniture Company.
The building site where Coconis Furniture exists today encompasses a city block that was once occupied by: the South Zanesville Post Office, the South Zanesville Police and Fire department, a Doctor’s office, a neighborhood grocery and 5 residential homes. Coconis Furniture is owned by third generation family members; Randy and Paul Jr. Coconis and fourth generation family members; son, Chad Coconis and daughter, Erin Coconis Shatto.
The Coconis Furniture Story
Sometime in early 1900, Nick Coconis, founder of Coconis Furniture, came to America from Tenadus, Greece to find freedom and happiness. He arrived on a merchant ship at Ellis Island and made his way from New York City to East Liverpool, Ohio where he opened a small restaurant. This is also where he met his future wife Stella.
Over a period of several years, Nick was able to save enough money to fund the passage of his younger sister and brother from Greece to America.
In 1927 he moved to Zanesville and opened a small second hand furniture store in the downtown named “The Zanesville Furniture Company.” Later in 1953, 2nd generation sons, Paul and Don Coconis, took over the business and a new store was built at its present location in South Zanesville. The store’s name was also changed to “Hallmark Furniture”.
The store remained in business until 1960 when it was converted for a short time to a restaurant called the Burger House. In 1961 the furniture business was reopened under the name “Furniture Discount House”.
In 1981 3rd generation sons of Paul Coconis, Randy and Paul Jr. Coconis took over the business and changed the name to Coconis Furniture, Inc.
Today after several expansions Coconis Furniture has grown to become one of Ohio’s largest family owned furniture stores. The store’s history continues with 4th generation family members, Chad Coconis and Erin Coconis Shatto as they are involved in the business today.
February 28th, 2006
— Furniture Today
Offers low price in-home consultation
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – City Furniture has launched an effort to bring affordable interior design services to its customers.
The Dianne Davant Academy of Design, in a 150-square-foot space inside the Wellington, Fla., store, is the first step in a program that is expected to be rolled out in all 21 City Furniture stores within a year.
Consumers can buy three packages of interior design services — priced from $295 to $695, in keeping with City’s midpriced product line. That buys in-home consultation, shopping assistance and other services.
“The concept is to take great interior design and make it easy and affordable for most homeowners,” said Keith Koenig, president of the Top 100 chain.
Most people think interior design help would be too expensive, he said. But he adds that City salespeople tell him that only a small percentage of their customers are confident in their ability to develop well-planned interiors.
“The truth is, (design advice) is not too expensive, not any more expensive than getting someone to do your taxes or a lawyer to do things that a professional should do,” Koenig said.
City rolled out its Academy of Design in Wellington in December and is “very encouraged so far,” he said.
He said the service has led to some big sales — City’s average store ticket is less than $2,000, but the average from Academy customers is more than four times the norm. One designer made a $23,000 sale.
The plan is to introduce the Academy of Design gradually. Koenig expects the service will be in about six stores by the fall and probably in all City stores within a year.
Dianne Davant is a well-known interior designer with offices in Florida and North Carolina. Koenig and his wife know Davant socially, and she did interior design work on their home. Davant’s work has appeared in shelter publications, and her celebrity clients include former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula and former Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese.
She recently joined City as a director and vice president and is setting the design direction for the academy, including helping select and train staff.
“Dianne happens to be a dear friend and someone I greatly respect and admire,” Koenig said. “Her authority in the design community is significant and helps build our credibility.”
He said City spent more than $1 million developing the academy — on everything from point-of-sale materials to systems to investments in training and recruitment. The company worked with IBM to build an infrastructure, including a Web site and in home-consultation materials, available through the laptops that designers take on house calls.
In the Wellington store, TV screens mounted in the Design Academy area show an educational video about the services in which a spokeswoman says, “Interior design is no longer an exclusive undertaking for the affluent.” She walks consumers through the steps and tells what they get for their money, using before-and-after illustrations of all three packages, with real academy clients.
The service has a money-back guarantee. “I don’t think we’ve refunded anybody,” Koe-nig said.
City and the designers it employs split the package fees. Although the designers receive a commission on items their customers buy from City or its six Ashley Furniture HomeStores, users of the service aren’t obligated to buy there and can ask the designers for help at other furniture stores.
Davant doesn’t expect that to happen very often.
“We do think that City Furniture offers such a wide variety of looks that clients will be able to find probably most of what they need there,” she said.
Koenig and Davant acknowledge that some other furniture stores in the area offer designer services for free, but say that in general, this competition is aiming for a much more affluent customer base. They also say that stores that delve into the midprice range might say in-house services are free, but consumers would end up spending less money at City even after the service fee.
“Why do most people fear using interior designers? Because they know nothing is free,” Koenig said. “If I’m offering a free service, that cost gets built into the product one way or another.
“What we’re combining is a very affordable package of interior design service with a superior set of deliverables — all the way to a printed budget at the first meeting,” he said. “We feel we have reinvented the interior design process — not for the very high-end customer that Robb & Stucky caters to, but to the thousands of homeowners that have nice homes but are afraid of hiring an interior designer.”
February 28th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
Jane Hamley Wells (JHW), an emerging name in upscale contemporary outdoor furniture wholesale and distribution based in Chicago, announces the appointment of Mark C. Daboul as National Sales Manager.
In his new position, Daboul will work directly with JHW President and founder, Jane Humzy, as the company expands its national sales and distribution efforts.
With the addition of Daboul, JHW continues to reinforce its ongoing commitment to providing the interior design and architectural community with the world’s finest upscale indoor and outdoor furniture.
“Our business has grown significantly over the past year and we’re thrilled to welcome Mark Daboul to lead our national sales team,” said Humzy. “Mark brings a wealth of experience in international furniture sales which will help our company continue to offer the freshest, most innovative international designers and lines exclusively to our U.S. customers.”
Prior to joining JHW, Daboul most recently worked as the National Sales Manager for Germany-based Schieder-US, the world’s third-largest furniture manufacturer and Europe’s largest furniture retailer. During his more than six year tenure with the company’s U.S. operations, Daboul was responsible for opening new Top 100 accounts in domestic markets, employee training, managing customer service efforts, coordinating point-of-purchase marketing and extensive product development for the High Point, Koln and Copenhagen markets. Daboul has also worked as a manufacturer representative for the RVC West Furniture Group based in Los Angeles handling Flemex (Belgium), VanPraett (Belgium) and Vejle (Denmark) lines, as well as US upholstery manufacturer, Hiatt of Hawthorne.
February 27th, 2006
Larry Thomas — Furniture Today
Dealer traffic modest but steady
TUPELO, Miss. — Order pads and fax machines are in heavy use here this week as this city’s furniture market is solidifying its reputation as an order-writing event for promotional and mid-priced goods.
Many exhibitors said traffic doesn’t appear to be as heavy as at a typical Tupelo winter market, but said the new Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule and the proximity to last month’s Las Vegas market may have altered traffic patterns.
The only period in which many showrooms were slammed with dealers was Wednesday afternoon — the second half of opening day. Otherwise, traffic appeared to be modest but steady.
Order writing, however, has been anything but modest. Producers said dealers were anxious to get their hands on promotional merchandise for tax-refund season.
“We wrote some very good orders with both the majors and some smaller dealers,” said Tim Connors, vice president of sales and marketing at Collezione Europa. “The order-writing was way up over last August.”
Thomas “Chopper” Russo, vice president of merchandising at Union City, was enthusiastic.
“We wrote more business during the first day of the Tupelo market than we did during the first day of the Vegas market,” he said.
While numerous Top 100 retailers and representatives of major buying groups roamed the halls, exhibitors said most shoppers were small and mid-sized dealers from the Southeast, the Tupelo market’s traditional base.
“We saw a lot of dealers from states like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana,” said Michael Campbell, president of leather upholstery importer Leather Italia USA. “And we don’t see those people in High Point or Las Vegas.”
Louisiana-based Fraenkel Corp. reported similar traffic patterns, noting that replacement furniture for homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is starting to drive sales in some areas.
“Our business has been super,” said Jim Burress, Fraenkel’s vice president of merchandising. “Ninety percent of the people who came into our showroom placed orders.”
For the second consecutive show, market organizers encouraged exhibitors to develop a program of “Tupelo only” specials for dealers who placed orders, and the program appears to have met with success.
“It makes the buyers feel like there is a real reason to shop here,” said Lynn Davis, president of Davis International.
February 27th, 2006
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