Archive for April 11th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
As one of our country’s best-loved artists, Terry Redlin aims to expand his Americana-inspired collection of home furnishings at the Spring 2006 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC through his growing furniture line with case goods importing company Austin Gray and a new lighting and accessories program with StyleCraft.
For more than 45 years, Redlin has captured the heart and soul of the American spirit on canvas through his serenely nostalgic and heartwarming scenes of rural America and wildlife.
In fact, his artwork has been so broad in appeal that Redlin was voted “America’s Most Popular Artist” for eight consecutive years in U.S. Art magazine.
This same spirit is now captured in his namesake line of home furnishings that offers Main Street America great family heirloom styling at excellent values.
Austin Gray’s spring expansion builds on the success of the new company’s debut in 2005 highlighted by the launch of the Terry Redlin program. The American Portrait and newer Boulder Ridge collections have performed particularly well at key retailers including RC Willey, Furniture Outlets USA, Rose Furniture, and Knoxville Wholesale, among others. In addition, new accounts including Zimmerman’s and Fingers Furniture are also now coming on board. This spring, Austin Gray will introduce a fourth Terry Redlin bedroom group called Golden Retreat. This new group is constructed with blends of mappa burl and prima vera veneers over alder solids and features traditional styling with a vibrant golden finish like the vivid sunset over a country lake featured in Redlin’s painting. Line extensions for the Boulder Ridge collection include dining room, home office, and home entertainment furniture featuring darker walnut and burl veneers and hardwood solids. In addition, the rustically elegant American Portrait collection will be expanded to include a bar and bar stools featuring cherry veneers and hardwood solids. Austin Gray also offers Terry Redlin leather upholstery and accent chairs.
In spring, Terry Redlin is also expanding his lifestyle program through a new partnership with StyleCraft Home Collection offering a comprehensive lighting and decorative accessory line. StyleCraft, of Hernando, MS, is a leading provider of lamps, tabletop accessories, wall art and accent furniture sold to furniture stores and national home décor retailers across the country. As of this spring, StyleCraft is combining all its High Point, NC showrooms under one roof at 130 South Main St. to better offer retailers one-stop shopping for a wide variety of home decor products. Mike Kennedy, StyleCraft President, said, “We’re excited to be launching the Terry Redlin program since Americana-inspired looks are not currently a major part of our product portfolio.” Lighting and accessory groups to be introduced include themes directly inspired by Redlin’s paintings including the American pioneer, the outdoors and wildlife, and the west. Rich patinas and a variety of materials including wrought iron and faux leathers provide a look of rustic elegance that will help bring Redlin’s vision of Americana into consumer’s homes.
The majority of Redlin’s original oil paintings (over 150) are on display at the $17 million Redlin Art Center, located in Watertown, South Dakota (see www.redlinart.com).
For more information about Austin Gray or to set up an appointment to preview the Terry Redlin furniture line, please contact Ron Crouch at (336) 885-4729, e-mail rcrouch@austin-gray.com.
April 11th, 2006
Furniture Today,
Display will highlight cutting-edge design
LAS VEGAS — A display at the July market here will show the latest designs in furniture, lighting and decorative accessories from Italy.
The World Market Center and the Italian Design Agency will bring the I.DoT — for Italian Design on Tour — exhibit to the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring about 100 contemporary pieces. Another 30 pieces will be shown in an adjacent exhibit called IDCS, for Italian Design Classic Selection.
I.DoT’s products will be contemporary, while IDCS will focus on updated versions of retro contemporary styles from the last century. A panel of design authorities from around the world will select the products to be shown in the I.DoT exhibit.
“We see our international exhibits as a window to the world — enabling our visitors to enjoy cutting-edge design trends alongside U.S. exhibitors, so we are particularly pleased to welcome the I.DoT and IDCS,” said Tim Branscome, the World Market Center’s director of international development.
In the Convention Center, the products will be presented in two distinct settings designed by internationally known Italian architects Denis Santachiara and Paola Navone.
I.DoT was founded in 2001 in Venice with the involvement of the Milan Chamber of Design and the support of the Italian government. In addition to the juried product, the display also will include the works of 10 young designers recognized with an award named after Almerico D’Angelis, the late architect and co-founder of the I.DoT project.
The summer Las Vegas market is set for July 24-28 at the World Market Center and the Pavilions tents on the WMC grounds, and July 25-28 for temporary exhibits in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Online registration is available at http://www.lasvegasmarket.com/, as is information about discounted hotels.
April 11th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
Sleep Country USA, the Northwest’s largest seller of premium mattresses, announced the beginning of its 2nd annual New Clothing Drive to benefit area foster children. Growing out of clothes is a common problem for kids.
For more than 23,000 Northwest foster kids, replacing these clothes is also a problem. With National Foster Care Month quickly approaching in May, Sleep Country USA aims to almost double the number of new clothing items it received last year, targeting 5,000 gifts of new pants, new tops and packaged undergarments in all sizes from infants to teenagers.
“Children that enter foster care often do so with few or no personal items,” said Nancy Underwood Long, Washington state community resource coordinator, Families for Kids. “In these cases, the kids are thrilled to have the opportunity to obtain items like new jeans, shirts, socks and undergarments - items that most people take for granted. While these may not be items the kids need to survive; it is critical for them to not have an additional area in which they are ’different’ from their peers. By providing these children with new clothes, Sleep Country USA is assisting in contributing to a sense of self-worth and self-esteem.”
Sleep Country USA created the Sleep Country Foster Kids giving initiative in response to the growing needs of Northwest area foster children. Beginning in 2005, the Sleep Country Foster Kids program has been able to procure tens of thousands of items that help to fulfill the children’s key material needs.
“It’s hard to imagine that there are children and families in our community living without the wherewithal to replace clothing that has worn out or become too small,” said Terry Horsley, executive vice president of marketing and merchandising, Sleep Country USA. “The success of our first New Clothing Drive was tremendous, providing 3,100 items of clothing. This year, we hope the awareness around National Foster Care Month and our efforts to promote the drives will enable us to exceed this number by almost double.”
Beginning April 10, 2006, and running through May 21, 2006, Sleep Country USA encourages residents in both Washington and Oregon to bring new clothing items to any one of the company’s more than 50 stores. To find the Sleep Country USA closest to you, please visit www.sleepcountry.com and use the store locator or call 1(888) 88-Sleep.
About Sleep Country USA
Sleep Country USA is the No. 1 mattress seller in the Northwestern United States, with more than 50 retail stores throughout Washington and Oregon. The company was founded in 1991 and features top-quality brand-name mattresses and premium adjustable beds, futons, and wood and metal accent beds. An industry visionary, Sleep Country USA strives to help every customer “choose well to live well.” The company is active in its communities, hosting ongoing events that benefit the areas more than 23,000 foster children. For more information about Sleep Country USA or Sleep Country Foster Kids, please visit www.sleepcountry.com.
April 11th, 2006
Clint Engel
75,000 square foot building under way
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. — Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea will relocate its North American corporate offices late this year to new space next to its Conshohocken store — one exit down Interstate 476 from its current location in Plymouth Township.
The three-level, 75,000-sqare-foot headquarters is under construction on four acres along Alan Wood Road on the southwestern side of the 325,000-square-foot Conshohocken store, which replaced Ikea’s Plymouth Meeting store in January 2003.
When it opens in November or December, the facility will replace the roughly 60,000-square-foot current office and be home to about 350 employee in various departments including retail management, sales, marketing, retail expansion, distribution and purchasing.
Ikea said the new space “will accommodate the company’s current structure and allow it to meet the professional and technological needs that have arisen in the past 20 years.”
Ikea began leasing space at it current location in 1986, gradually increasing it square footage until it acquired the property in 1995.
“While we conceptually are the same company we were 20 years ago, the size and functionality of our organization and office needs have grown and changed,” said Pernille Lopez, Ikea North America president. “It is exciting to have a new office that we can plan from the ground up — with plenty of meeting rooms, technological amenities and a more efficient use of space.”
The company would not disclose its investment in the new building.
Ikea operates more than 230 stores in 33 countries, including 27 in the United States and 11 in Canada.
April 11th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
FKI plc, a major international diversified engineering group, announced the launch of Hickory Hardware, a company that will specialize in decorative and functional hardware programs.
The new company will be headquartered in Portland, TN, and will continue operations in Grand Rapids, MI and Rice Lake, WI. “The hardware industry has seen a great deal of consolidation as well as many new competitors over the past few years,” said John Westendorf, Hickory Hardware president, in making the announcement.
“To successfully compete in this arena, we will be combining the strengths of five great brands under the Hickory Hardware umbrella. This will allow us to offer some of the most comprehensive decorative and functional hardware programs in the industry, geared to satisfy the needs of our customers.”
Hickory Hardware will comprise the following FKI companies:
•Belwith International, Ltd., supplier of cabinet hardware, functional hardware, security hardware and door and bath hardware to the retail and wholesale distribution markets
•Faultless Caster, designer, manufacturer and distributor of casters and other mobility products worldwide
•Keeler Brass Company, designer and producer of customer decorative hardware for the OEM furniture and cabinet markets.
•Madico, Inc., provider of floor protection products, including felt leg tips and caster cups through a network of retail partners in Canada, the United States and Australia
•Wright Products, supplier of a full-line of storm- and screen-door hardware, and a complete collection of high-quality solid-brass entry door locksets with coordinated interior door locksets.
“We have a heritage of superior craftsmanship and design and we will build on those strengths as we move forward,” said Westendorf. “Our goal is to become the recognized leader in the decorative and functional hardware market. We will do this by combining our foundational skills with a new commitment to low-cost, high-volume, market-driven programs.”
For media information, contact Chuck Hester, APR, director of public relations, Koroberi, Inc., by phone at (919) 960-9794 ext. 24 or by e-mail at chuck@koroberi.com.
About Hickory Hardware Hickory Hardware brings together some of the finest hardware companies in the world. The company designs, manufactures and markets decorative and functional hardware to the retail, wholesale distribution and OEM furniture and cabinet maker markets under the brand names Belwith International, Faultless Caster, Keeler Brass, Period Brass, and Wright Products.
About FKI plc FKI plc is a major international diversified engineering group. It is a world leader in its specialized business areas of automated logistic solutions, lifting products and services, hardware, and energy technology products. As examples of a wide product range, the company designs and manufactures, sortation and conveying equipment for airport, parcel and warehousing activities, window hardware (such as fittings, locking mechanisms, handles, and hinges), anchor lines for oil rigs, ropes for suspension bridges, and generators for power stations.
April 11th, 2006
Furniture Today,
Market goers will be offered the Market to Mall Discount Card
HIGH POINT — The International Home Furnishings Market Authority has teamed with Oak Hollow Mall and other local organizations to offer a discount shopping card for people attending the spring and fall furniture markets.
The card, dubbed the Market to Mall Discount Card, will offer discounts of up to 50% at participating mall merchants. It will be available at many area hotels and restaurants, and at the office of the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Representatives of the High Point Chamber of Commerce also will distribute the card to attendees when they arrive at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro.
“We know how important it is to keep the market in High Point,” said Vickee Armstrong, general manager of the mall. “And as a good corporate neighbor, we are excited to be able to offer special shopping for our market guests.”
She said the mall, which is north of downtown High Point, will remain open until 10 p.m., one hour later than usual, from Thursday, April 27, through Saturday, April 29, to accommodate marketgoers. Shoppers at the mall during the extra hour can register to win a shopping spree.
“This is a wonderful gesture by the merchants at Oak Hollow Mall,” said Judy Mendenhall, outgoing president of the Market Authority. “The mall’s management has taken the lead in extending hospitality to our market visitors through this effort, and we are deeply grateful for this support.”
April 11th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association will give long-time member and former president Craig Cleveland its highest honor, the Harold Braun Distinguished Service Award.
Criteria for the award is: To be presented to an IHFRA member in good standing who through his individual efforts and abilities has distinguished himself on behalf of IHFRA and has enhanced and benefited the image of the home furnishings representative.
Craig began his career in the furniture industry in a retail store in Valdosta GA. What started as a part time job ended up as a career. Craig began his career as a manufacturer’s representative in Florida working for several companies, including Richardson Brothers with whom he enjoyed 17 years of service. Craig is now with GSC International and Mac Motion.
For many years, Craig worked tirelessly for the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association. He served as the legislative chairman from 1995 to 1999. During that time he worked with many other IHFRA members to lobby congress to enact legislation that would benefit the self employed. With the hard work, dedication, and support of other sales representatives many accomplishments were achieved. These included the reinstatement of the home office deduction, increased deduction for health insurance, and a larger depreciation allowance for office equipment and software. Craig served on the IHFRA Executive Committee and was the 63rd President of IHFRA in 2001.
Craig has also been very active in the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Association. He is Past President of the Florida HFRA, National Chairman of Rep Pac (a political action committee developed to lobby congress for the rights of sales representatives), member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Furniture Market promoted by Larry Karel, and former member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Retailers Association.
Craig and his wife Susan have two daughters and reside in Indialantic, Florida. They are licensed foster parents and have devoted much time supporting and nurturing homeless children.
Craig Cleveland, CHR will be presented the Harold Braun Distinguished Service Award at the Twelfth Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala on April 27, 2006. The Gala is sponsored by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association and the National Home Furnishings Association.
April 11th, 2006
— Furniture Today,
VP of sales for eastern region
CLAREMONT, N.C. — Case goods and occasional producer Progressive Furniture continues to grow its staff, adding industry veteran Dan Ide as vice president of sales for the eastern region.
Progressive, owned by Sauder Woodworking, acquired Royal Patina in July and has added three executives since then — Tamara Evans, vice president of occasional, entertainment and casual dining for Progressive and its Woodlands Designs division; Dan Kendrick joined as vice president for domestic products; and Ide.
While Royal Patina is operated as a subsidiary, Ide will be responsible for implementing business plans for both Royal Patina and Progressive to meet growth expectations, according to Rick Stroud, executive vice president of sales and marketing, to whom Ide reports.
Ide joins the company from Orleans, where he was vice president of national accounts for the past year. Previously, he worked for Relax-R, Simmons, Pennsylvania House and Riverside Furniture.
April 11th, 2006
By: Furniture World Magazine
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association has named Mike Massood and George Massood of MGM Transport recipients of the Pillar of the Industry Award.
Criteria for the Pillar of the Industry Award is: To be an industry leader who has distinguished himself with creative work and effort to improve, enhance and benefit relationships among representatives and other segments of the industry.
By his actions and deeds he has shown himself to be truly aware of the importance and security of the working representative.
These attitudes, combined with one’s commitment to the home furnishings industry, one’s community and mankind, have earned him the title “Pillar of the Industry”. The Metropolitan Furnishings Association of New Jersey nominated Mike and George Massood of MGM Transport for this prestigious award.
After Mike and George completed tours of duty in the U.S military, they formed MGM Transport Corporation. The two began to carve a niche in the furniture industry. They founded their business upon the same values with which they were raised. They treat their customers with honesty, fairness and uncompromising dedication to reliability. The brothers quickly developed relationships with many of the furniture industry’s leaders and began to actively support industry associations and endeavors. Their commitment to these organizations gave them great insight and understanding into the transportation issues that retailers around the country face. MGM has grown from a single-truck operation into the leading furniture carrier in the United States.
The Massood family is involved in fundraising for cancer research at St. Joseph’s Hospital with its annual Massood Foundation Golf Tournament. MGM Transport also sponsors the St. Joseph’s annual hospital charity ball and a variety of other events throughout the year. In addition, MGM Transport is active in community service initiatives and emergency relief efforts. The company also donates its services during natural disasters.
Mike and George Massood will be presented the Pillar of the Industry Award at the Twelfth Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala on April 27, 2006. The Gala is sponsored by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association and the National Home Furnishings Association.
April 11th, 2006
Clint Engel
Revitalization efforts to begin
WOODBURY, N.Y. — Levitz Furniture has secured a three-year, $89 million credit line and will begin opening stores as part of its post-bankruptcy revitalization effort.
The revolving credit facility through Banc of America Securities and Back Bay Capital Funding replaces a $55 million facility dating from December, when Levitz — formerly Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. — was purchased by Prentice Capital with Great American Group for about $92 million.
Prentice subsequently closed some 34 stores and dismissed Levitz top management. Tom Baumlin, who previously had worked with Prentice, was named interim CEO and is now CEO of the retailer, which has about 78 stores, primarily in the Northeast and on the West Coast.
“This is an important milestone as we begin to aggressively implement our revitalization plans for this respected brand,” Baumlin said in a press release. “We have further expanded our liquidity position, roughly doubling the company’s potential borrowing ability to ensure we have ample funds to continue to execute our vision to make Levitz Furniture the premier specialty furniture retailer in the markets in which it competes.”
Baumlin, who most recently operated his own consulting firm, Achilles Research, could not be reached for additional comment.
Before Achilles, Baumlin was CEO of Norstan Apparel Shops, which operates the Fashion Cents retail chain. He also spent five years with retailer Footstar, where he was senior vice president of finance, and several years with Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group.
He began his business career as an entrepreneur and has launched three companies, including College Concepts, a wholesaler of licensed apparel.
Levitz said it is opening stores in Paramus, N.J., and in New York City’s Staten Island and the Bronx this spring; in Summerlin, Nev., in early summer; and in Murrieta, Calif., in the early fall. A permanent Valley Stream, N.Y., store will replace a temporary location in late fall.
In addition, Levitz is renovating stores in Elmhurst, N.Y., Paramus, N.J., and Anaheim and Victorville, Calif.
“This is the most recent of many important markers we have hit since we bought the assets of Levitz from bankruptcy,” said Prentice Managing Director Jonathan Duskin. “We have surpassed every major objective we have set since we’ve owned the company.”
LHFI filed for Chapter11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 11, owing furniture industry creditors more than $61 million.
Duskin said Levitz’s new management “has made tremendous strides in only a few months, restoring trade confidence and rebuilding the Levitz consumer franchise…. We are confident all our partners will prosper as we deliver on our promise to reinvigorate this great retailer.”
In a letter sent in March to suppliers, Levitz highlighted initiatives it has implemented since the acquisition, including aggressive advertising and customer research.
The retailer said it expects to have some type of advertising, mostly television, almost every week this year, and said sales have exceeded expectations in five of six recent weeks.
Levitz also said it has made headway on the merchandising side, “selecting and promoting exciting new lines.” Costs are “being aggressively attacked,” it said, noting that poor-performing stores have been closed, corporate overhead is down and that costs have been cut at the store level through rent concessions and other means.
The company also pointed to a better financial structure with the just-announced credit facility and Prentice’s commitment to put more than $75 million into rebuilding and repositioning the company.
For the most part, suppliers said their first impressions of the new Levitz have been favorable.
J.B. Davis, president and CEO of Kluassner, said his company has been impressed with Levitz management, both the new people and those who remained from the old regime.
“We’re doing a nice job with them, and we look forward to growing our business with them,” he said.
Kevin O’Connor, president and CEO of key supplier Legacy Classic, said he is also impressed with the early steps. He had just been through the soft-opened, 53,000-square-foot Staten Island store, and said it was bright and colorful, with furniture displayed in appealing lifestyle environments that addressed a variety or consumer tastes.
“Prentice appears to be willing to put money where its mouth is,” O’Connor said. “There’s more money being spent on accessories, store décor and layout, and making it easier for a consumer to shop.”
He added that Levitz’s “principles have come in as people who understand retailing — not necessarily furniture retailing — and are applying some good business principles, but also not being so smug that they’re saying they know how to run a furniture business. For that, they’re turning to the talent they have both kept on and acquired.”
Jeff Cook, president and CEO Magnussen Home, said Levitz appears to be making a “conscientious effort to get a handle on operating costs” through moves such as closing poor-performing stores.
“We understand they have a couple of years of very difficult decision-making ahead,” Cook added. “We look forward to following that process” and developing a relationship with the new Levitz team.
April 11th, 2006