Archive for August 21st, 2007
The remaining stock of one of the region’s largest importers and wholesalers of garden furniture is to go under the hammer in Scunthorpe.
The sell-off will include everything from top quality teak chairs and tables to parasols, gazebos and picnic hampers.Paul Cooper, from CJM, the firm organising the auction, said: “The furniture is being sold off following the decision of a large group to close down its division operating in this business.
“They have been around a long time but like a lot of other people they have been badly hit by the shocking weather which has cut demand for this type of furniture.”
Tomorrow’s auction at CJM’s centre on Brigg Road will also see the equipment of a collapsed Grimsby catering firm - Freshney Pasties - go under the hammer.
Mr Cooper said: “Freshney Pasties was part of a franchise operation and it hit trouble when its parent company went under. Overnight its supplier was no longer there.
“We’ve now been sent the equipment for disposal, everything ranging from the Italian-style coffee machine, to the panini press and including some very smart heated display units and even the cold room, which has been dismantled and is now flat-packed.
“It is expensive, good quality, commercial catering equipment which is in excellent condition.”
The auction also includes some valuable woodworking equipment, forklift trucks and a number of vans.
In all the sale extends to almost 600 lots.
Viewing sessions are today 1pm-7pm and tomorrow from 8.30am until the start of the sale at 10am.
Catalogues are available from CJM or can be downloaded free of charge from the firm’s website www.cjmasset.com
August 21st, 2007
Furniture Today,
Keeps operating with new financing
NETTLETON, Miss. – PeopLoungers, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, will continue operating despite an effort by a Mississippi bank to get the motion furniture producer to sell its assets.
Attempting to force a sale was the Bank of New Albany, which has a lien on PeopLoungers’ land, equipment and building here. But the company argued in federal bankruptcy court recently that it is in the best interests of all to keep the business operating.
The company also told the court that Capital Business Credit is providing several million dollars to keep it going and said it opposed the sale.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo quoted Peoploungers attorney Craig Geno as saying, “The lender has agreed to support us during this time frame, and we’d like to see how we do on our own without worrying about pressure to sell. Now, if a really good offer comes through, we’ll certainly consider it, but we want to continue to operate. And we’ve got a chief restructuring officer who has a lot of experience.”
In its filing for Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. bankruptcy code, Peoploungers said it owed it top 20 creditors nearly $5.7 million. The company’s sales are about $50 million, down from $94 million in 2003.
August 21st, 2007
Furniture Today,
Says bank seized operating funds
DETROIT — Furniture Express here said it has closed all of its locations.
The Romulus, Mich.-based retailer said in a release that its lender, Comerica, seized all operating funds, leaving Furniture Express no choice but to close it doors immediately.
It referred calls from creditors, suppliers, customers and employees to Comerica
The company, led by Bob Berman, had three remaining stores, according to a news report.
August 21st, 2007
Furniture Express announced that it has closed all of its locations after actions taken by Comerica Bank. The company said that while negotiations continued, Comerica seized all operating funds, leaving Furniture Express no choice but to close it doors immediately.
The company advises all creditors, suppliers, customers and employees to call Mr. Ernie Zarb at Comerica Bank at 313-961-8201.
According to the DETROIT NEWS (http://www.detnews.com), “the company closed three of its remaining showrooms in Metro Detroit area… leaving 100 employees without jobs.”
At one point the regional chain had 200 employees and over $30 million in sales.
August 21st, 2007
ScienceDaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com) reported that, “A mysterious epidemic of thyroid disease among pet cats in the United States may be linked to exposure to dust shed from flame retardants in household carpeting, furniture, fabrics and pet food, scientists are reporting in a new study.”
The study says that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which are also found in some mattresses and several cat food brands, have been linked to hyperthyroidism in cats, but not in humans.
The small scale study did not separate out the effects of PBCE dust and dietary sources, but did postulate that grooming behavior in cats increases risks due to exposure to PBDE as much as 100- fold.
August 21st, 2007
Michael J. Knell — Furniture Today,
Canadian upholstery resource will pay some in full, give others share of profits
TORONTO — The creditors of Canadian upholstery maker and importer Distinctive Designs last week approved its restructuring proposal.
“By a vote of 98% in favor they demonstrated their belief in our proposal for improving business going forward,” said Paul Polding, vice president of sales for North America, in a letter to the company’s retailers in Canada and the United States.
The proposal, signed by Distinctive Designs President Alan Kornblum, promises to pay all creditors owed less than C$1,500 in full. Those owed more than C$1,500 will be issued payment certificates giving them a pro-rata share of the company’s profits over the five-year period 2008 to 2012.
Polding said the company’s immediate priority is to implement new product programs and win back floor space on retail floors. “I hope to convince you of the powerful improvements we have made with the reformulated product and merchandising strategy we unveiled at the Toronto Summer Furniture Show,” he said in his letter.
In mid-July, Consolidated Mercantile, a Toronto-based merchant banking and management company that owns 50.3% of Distinctive, said it would sell its stake. Kornblum is the other major shareholder.
In a release Consolidated said, “Distinctive’s sales for the six months ended June 30, 2007, continued to be impacted by a difficult retail environment due in part to the rise of the Canadian dollar and by competitive market conditions, primarily from offshore manufacturers.”
Consolidated said it is continuing to evaluate strategies that will allow it to sell its stake in Distinctive. DDFI, the operating company encompassing Distinctive Designs, has assets valued at C$8.8 million, including C$3.1 million in accounts receivable and C$4.4 million in inventory, and debts totalling C$6.8 million.
August 21st, 2007
By: Furniture World Magazine
The High Point Market Authority announced that. “with more than 2,000 exhibitors launching tens of thousands of new products, across some 12 million square feet of showroom space, every seasoned buyer knows that making the most of the High Point Market requires good planning. But charting a productive trip to Market just got easier thanks to the newly upgraded online “Market Planner” tool on the High Point Market website.”
The Market Planner tool, they say, which goes live this week, will enable both seasoned buyers and first-time visitors to research exhibitors and events prior to Market, then select and save showrooms and events they don’t want to miss to their personal Market Plan. The tool can be found by logging on to www.highpointmarket.org, clicking on Planning Your Visit, and then the Market Planning icon.
“Buyers can search and map their route by company name, showroom building or product category and create a pdf file that they can email to associates and/or print out to carry along in High Point, complete with a map of shuttle routes that serve the sights they most want to see,” relates Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive of the High Point Market Authority. “With such a vast array of constituents, all with varying requirements, the Market Planner tool tailors the High Point Market to the personal needs of each attendee.”
This season, the Market Planner has been upgraded to include designations that indicate whether an exhibitor is small-retailer friendly and/or designer friendly, whether the exhibitor is a container-only supplier, has a US warehouse and/or whether the exhibitor has minimum-order requirements.
“Buyers responded very positively when we created a printed Market directory with these designations and many suggested that we marry these designations to the Market Planner function on the website,” Casey says. “The result is a user-friendly, time-saving tool that will help attendees quickly identify the showrooms they most want to visit. Every Market-goer’s time is precious and, as always, we want to do all that we can to help everyone make the most of their visit to High Point.”
About the High Point Market Authority: The High Point Market Authority is the official sponsor of the High Point Market: The World’s Home for Home Furnishings. Featuring more than 2600 exhibitors and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from more than 110 countries, the High Point Market is the driving force of the home furnishings industry.
August 21st, 2007
Furniture Today,
At least 24 showrooms to open for High Point event
HIGH POINT — The High Point Market Authority and 16 manufacturers are sponsoring next week’s premarket here.
Each of the companies made a financial commitment to cover hotel costs and transport retailers around the city and to and from the airport — with additional support from three real estate owners here. They also have social events planned Monday and Tuesday evenings.
While the two-day event is sponsored by the 16 exhibitors, some other companies are planning to open their doors as well.
The sponsors are:
American Drew, showing in the International Home Furnishings Center, C-926
Bernhardt Furniture, IHFC, D-601
Hammary Furniture, IHFC, D-104
Hooker Furniture, IHFC, W-1047
Kincaid Furniture, IHFC, H-1204
Lea Inds., IHFC, C-934
Legacy Classic, Plaza Suites, C-100
Magnussen Home, IHFC, M-1010
Progressive Furniture/Royal Patina, PS, 400
Pulaski Furniture, IHFC M-330
Riverside Furniture, IHFC C-302
SLF (Samuel Lawrence Furniture), 220 Elm, 220
Stanley Furniture, IHFC, C-1158
Universal Furniture, 2622 Uwharrie Road
Vaughan-Bassett Furniture, IHFC, C-1000
Wynwood Furniture, PS, 407
Among the other manufacturers planning to open their doors are:
Bassett Mirror Co., IHFC, G-170
Cresent Fine Furniture, Hamilton Square, 204
G&J Styles, 212 N. Main St.
Glen Arbor, IHFC, M-531
LeatherWorks, Furniture Plaza, 100
Ligna, IHFC, H-541
Ligo, National Furniture Mart, 703
Modus Furniture, IHFC, M-931
August 21st, 2007
Flood victims who would like damaged furniture collected free of charge are urged to contact Cotswold District Council by the end of August.
The council has announced the deadline for the widely-used service as demand has started to tail off.
Since collections began on 23 July, requests for help have been received from more than 600 households.
To date, 213 tonnes of flood-damaged furniture and more than 200 fridges and washing machines have been taken away.
The council’s waste partner SITA has been providing the service - with help from members of staff from the Cotswold Leisure Centre which is currently closed due to flood damage.
Cotswold District Council waste manager Scott Williams said: “The free collection has been very well-received and the calls have revealed just how widespread the flood damage has been in the Cotswolds.
“We have visited households across the entire district - from Weston-sub-Edge in the north to Tetbury in the south.”
Also on 31 August, the council will remove the temporary plastic bottle recycling banks it installed in Cowley, Coberley and Ullenwood, where water supplies were cut off during the emergency.
The council estimates a total of half a tonne of plastic has already been collected from the three sites.
August 21st, 2007
Furniture re-use groups in some parts of England are coping with submerged warehouses and contaminated goods, as the floods bring unprecedented demand for refurbished furniture and appliances.
But there are concerns within the sector about a lack of warehouse space and whether demand for goods can be met if the heavy rain continues.
The Furniture Re-use Network, the national umbrella organisation for 13,000 people involved in charitable re-distribution of unwanted items including furniture and electronic goods, is trying to link up its members who have an excess of items in some parts of the country with those supplying flooded areas.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com today, Paul Smith, chief executive of the FRN said: “The FRN is coordinating a response for the homes affected by the floods through our 400 reuse organisations, working with local authorities and flood relief associations.”
“Some of our members are potentially losing money because they are putting out the furniture for free. However they feel it is their duty and within their remit to respond to the disaster,” Mr Smith added.
However, one of the key difficulties is that in areas of highest demand for refurbished furniture, including parts of Gloucestershire and in Hull, some re-use groups have found their own warehouses caught by flood waters.
FRN members normally handle around 2.5 million items a year, but expectations are that high levels of demand for re-used goods will continue long after the water levels subside. “We are doing as much as we can, however we expect there will be a greater need in the coming weeks when the water subsides and people return to their homes,” the FRN chief said.
South and Midlands
Furniture re-use organisations tend to be located close to socially deprived areas, where distribution of goods is usually targeted at low-income families. As a result areas like Oxford only have limited coverage from re-use groups.
Mr Smith warned that that if the heavy rain was to continue as predicted, there would be “demand problems” around the Thames valley.
However there is work being done in the south west, including the SOFA project in Bristol, which is now coordinating a clearance of bed mattresses from leisure company Center Parcs, which are being distributed to flooded areas in the south east and south west.
We are doing as much as we can, however we expect there will be a greater need in the coming weeks when the water subsides.
Paul Smith, FRN
In areas such as Warwickshire, Worcester and Gloucester, the priority is getting clean water supplies through to those cut off from supplies, so demand for furniture is not yet as high. However Roundabout, which caters for the Worcestershire and Warwickshire areas, said that it is expecting a significant increase in demand when people start returning home.
The North
In the North of England, there is a demand for items such as beds, cookers and fridges for areas where the floods have begun to subside and people are already moving back into their homes.
The Furniture Resource Centre in Liverpool is supplying furniture to the housing association in the Yorkshire area for people who haven’t got insurance. However, Mr Smith added: “Funnily enough there is a bigger demand for furniture from people who do have insurance, as they will have a while to wait for their insurance to come through.”
In terms of supply Mr Smith said there are lots of refurbishment groups in the north and in Hull taking in items, where there is now a fast turnover for furniture. “As quickly as the organisation is getting donations they are being distributed,” he said.
Lack of warehouse space in Hull has been adding to the difficulties of storing donations.
Flooded warehouses
In Gloucester, The Furniture Recycling Project’s white goods warehouse and its furniture warehouse on the Gloucester docks have been flooded out. The organisation says it needs more vehicles and crew to “deal with the demand”.
Eternal Benefits in Hull is working on one warehouse rather than two because of flooding, and Cheltenham Reclaim has also been ’slightly flooded’ but has lost stock and is looking to replenish its stocks.
The flooding also raises questions about the hygiene of the stock as Mr Smith explained: “The flood water has the potential to be contaminated from sewage, therefore we will be unable to reuse the furniture and it will have to go to landfill or back to the reprocessors.”
Mr Smith said: “The network’s general view is not to put things out unless you are absolutely sure they are hygienic, however we have no official advice from environmental health officers as yet.”
August 21st, 2007
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