Archive for August 23rd, 2007
by Anne Jungen | Lee Newspapers
Five people are accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of newly manufactured merchandise from Ashley Furniture in Arcadia, Wis.
Charged with conspiracy to commit felony theft in Trempealeau County Circuit Court were Rena and Jeffrey Back, 42 and 46 respectively, of Taylor, Wis.; Casey Reininger, 23, and Devin Kolve, 20, both of Hixton, Wis.; and Henry G. Johnson, 42, of Merrillan, Wis.
Jeffrey Back, Kolve and Johnson worked in Ashley’s shipping department, according to the criminal complaint.
July 15, the Backs, Reininger and Kolve unloaded between $40,000 and $60,000 of stolen furniture from a semi-truck and trailer at the Backs’ house, according to the complaint.
In an attempt to conceal half of the furniture, the Backs and Reininger hauled it to a storage unit in Jefferson County on Aug. 9, where they were arrested by sheriff’s deputies while unloading, according to the complaint.
The Backs, Reininger and Kolve were released on signature bonds, while Johnson posted his $2,500 cash bond Thursday. Johnson’s next court date is Aug. 24, with the others returning to court Aug. 30.
Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or ajungen @lacrossetribune.com.
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August 23rd, 2007
Property abuts Cabela’s in Town of Polk
By TOM DAYKIN
Plans for a 56,000-square-foot Ashley Furniture store near the Cabela’s outdoor gear store in the Town of Polk are proceeding, with Ashley recently completing its purchase of the development site.
Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. bought a 5.3-acre site from Cabela’s for an undisclosed price, said Andy Stefanich, who brokered the transaction for CB Richard Ellis Inc.
Ashley plans to begin construction as soon as possible, Gary Colby, Ashley’s senior real estate manager, said Wednesday. Ashley hopes to open the store by February, Colby said.
Ashley was initially denied zoning permission for the store by the Germantown Village Board, which was using its extraterritorial zoning authority.
But the board in May approved the plans after Ashley addressed concerns about storm water management and other issues.
Ashley has opened several large furniture stores throughout the nation in recent years.
In the Milwaukee area, the continuing expansion by Ashley and other chains that operate large furniture stores has heightened competitive pressure on smaller furniture retailers, forcing some to close.
Ashley, in addition to being a retailer, is one of the nation’s largest furniture manufacturers. Like other furniture store chains, Ashley also imports an increasing volume of furniture from Chinese manufacturers.
The Cabela’s store, which opened a year ago, draws customers from throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It was expected to help draw additional retail development to its location, which is where U.S. Highway 41 and U.S. Highway 45 split. That site straddles the Town of Polk and the Town of Richfield.
August 23rd, 2007
Bookshelves And Beds Are Doing the iPod Shuffle
By Terri Sapienza,Washington Post Staff Writer
As soon as Kerry Triffin spotted a bed crafted from New Zealand rimu wood at a New York design show last year, he wanted to carry it in his Connecticut furniture shop. His wife had a different idea.
She pointed to another bed from the same collection, made of the same sustainable wood but equipped with a Bose surround-sound speaker system and an iPod docking station.
“She said, ‘That’s the one that’s going to sell,’ ” Triffin says now. “And she was right.”
Six years ago, the iPod was still weeks away from its debut. Today, the little (and always getting littler) portable music player reigns over the media industry and, increasingly, our lives.
People take their iPods to the office, to the gym, into the shower. The devices have infiltrated the fashion industry, with jeans, jackets, shirts, belts, gloves — even underwear — being designed to accommodate them. Greg Joswiak, vice president of iPod Product Marketing, said the iPod has spawned “a vibrant ecosystem” of more than 4,000 consumer products, from protective cases and speaker systems to wireless remote controls and earphones. According to Apple, more than 70 percent of new-model U.S. cars offer iPod connectivity. Soon, airlines will offer in-flight docking ports to power and charge the devices.
Now, the furniture industry is getting in on the act.
No longer restricted to entertainment centers and home offices, iPods and other portable electronic devices are finding places to plug in all over the house: in beds and chairs with built-in speakers, lamps designed with docking stations and living room tables that double as universal charging stations. There’s even a toilet tissue holder that will charge and play an iPod, and — at the other extreme — a $14,000 dining table with a built-in dock.
“It’s clearly indicative of how important music is in our lives and how synonymous iPod has become with the way people enjoy music,” Joswiak said. “It’s for customers to have music wherever they are.”
Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Home Furnishings Alliance, said there has been a rise in tech-friendly furniture at the past several High Point Markets, the largest furniture trade show worldwide, with pieces that integrate the iPod-compatible docking stations now being introduced into the mainstream.
Like almost every tech-savvy consumer innovation, it all starts with teens. Many furniture manufacturers begin by testing the tween and teen markets, where iPods and cellphones are now as common as notebooks and backpacks.
Earlier this week, Target launched a collection of upholstered headboards for teenagers with built-in speakers from Skyline Furniture, an Illinois manufacturer. The headboards start at $199 and are compatible with any MP3 player. If the design proves popular, Skyline plans to introduce similar tech features in its chairs and benches.
This is a design path Skyline has explored before. Back in the ’70s, the company manufactured sofas and headboards with integrated eight-tracks. “They were relatively successful,” said Skyline designer Meganne Wecker, laughing at a technology that now seems quaint. “Not like the iPod, but they sold pretty well for the time.” (At 28, Wecker is far too young to have actually worked on eight-track designs, but she heard about them from former employees.)
Pottery Barn also went after the youth market first, with an MP3-compatible chair and shelving unit sold through PBteen last year. Based on the success of those two items, this summer the company launched its Smart Technology collection, an entire line of furniture and accessories designed with all portable electronics in mind: bulletin boards with speakers; tabletop universal charging stations; organizational cabinets with hidden power strips; desks with integrated outlets, phone and Ethernet jacks, and USB ports.
Also this summer, Aspenhome, a furniture manufacturer in Phoenix, launched a line of multi-tasking furniture, including night and end tables with drawers for recharging devices, filing paperwork and storing printers and laptops.
But perhaps nothing rivals the iPod enthusiasm represented by the $14,000 Concerto table by furniture designers Nicholas Lovegrove and Demian Repucci. Shaped like a grand piano, the high-gloss white dining table has speakers under the middle leaf and an iPod docking station near the center so the host can control dinner music without having to get up.
With the dramatic look and price tag, the tables aren’t exactly flying out the door, Lovegrove said, but the iPod factor has given the designers visibility in markets they hadn’t previously reached, from music organizations to devout Mac users and bloggers. “The addition of the iPod has brought the table to another level entirely,” Lovegrove said. “It has opened an incredible amount of doors.”
But while designing furniture with integrated technology can seem a smart business move, there are risks involved.
“When you incorporate technology, it can take over,” Lovegrove said. “We wanted to make a beautiful piece of furniture primarily, not a tech piece. There is a fine balance. . . . We didn’t want [the table] offered in a Sharper Image.”
Not that Lovegrove and Repucci are complaining. In fact, they have built on their iPod-fueled visibility by offering recipes for use with their table, which can be found on their Web site, http://www.concertotable.com. A playlist of downloadable dinner music is also available — from iTunes, of course.
The chief danger in designing home furnishings around technology is the inevitability that the bed or dining table will be rendered obsolete by the very technology it’s built around. How long will it be before the currently innovative video-gaming chairs with speakers, surround sound and wireless capabilities wind up on Craigslist alongside the hulking TV armoires made unnecessary by flat-screen technology?
“There’s probably going to be a time in the not-too-distant future when we look back at these items and they will look passe,” Hirschhaut said. “There’s always going to be something new.”
August 23rd, 2007
Furniture Today,
Deal expands foam supplier’s European presence
RICHMOND, Va. — Carpenter Co., a major supplier of foam cushioning for furniture and bedding, has acquired Dumo NV, a Belgian manufacturer of urethane foam.
The acquisition expands Carpenter’s presence in Europe, where it has factories in Denmark, Sweden, England, France, Germany and Poland.
“Dumo is a great acquisition for Carpenter,” said Ed Malechek, executive vice president. “It is a very good company with talented and dedicated people.”
He said Dumo has a large factory in Roeselare, Belgium, as well as converting operations in Holland, France and Germany. The company is a major supplier of urethane foam for the furniture, bedding and automotive markets in Europe, he said.
Hendrik Kesteloot will remain as managing director of the acquired company, which is now known as Carpenter-Dumo. Freddy Vermeulen will remain in charge of sales and marketing.
August 23rd, 2007
Clint Engel — Furniture Today,
Detroit retailer closed its three stores last week
DETROIT — A lender says it will request that a court appoint a receiver for Furniture Express, a retailer that closed its three Detroit-area stores last week.
The Romulus, Mich.-based retailer, which had 10 stores at its peak, said in a press release this week that its lender, Comerica, “seized all operating funds, leaving Furniture Express no choice but to close it doors immediately.”
It said the action occurred during negotiations with the bank and referred calls from creditors, suppliers, customers and employees to Comerica.
Sara Snyder, a Comerica spokeswoman, confirmed that the Furniture Express stores closed Aug. 17. She said the Detroit-based bank is asking Wayne Country Circuit Court to appoint a receiver and that the “receiver establish a procedure to address the questions of customers and creditors.”
“We also are asking (for) the receiver to take control of the furniture inventory and the buildings,” she said. Asked if the stores will be liquidated, Snyder said that’s up to the receiver. She declined to elaborate on Comerica’s business relationships with Furniture Express or answer additional questions.
The midpriced Furniture Express, led by President Bob Berman, had three remaining stores in Warren, Taylor and Clinton Townships, Mich., according to a report by The Detroit News. It operated 10 stores as recently as early 2006 and was named among Furniture/Today’s Beyond the Top 100 furniture stores in the 2005 report with estimated sales of $25 million to $29.9 million.
Berman could not be reached for comment.
The Detroit News report quoted a consultant and friend of the Berman family, Paul Bensman, who said Bob Berman was distraught and worried about employees and customers. Berman “had hoped the bank would be more sympathetic because the furniture industry has been hit so hard by recession,” Bensman said in the report.
The newspaper also noted that a former Furniture Express store on Eight Mile was acquired and converted to Park Furniture earlier this month.
August 23rd, 2007
Will offer only imported products
PONTOTOC, Miss. — Midpriced upholstery and imported case goods resource Brookwood Furniture is closing its upholstery manufacturing operations here and will source its product from China.
The shutdown is expected in the next 60 days and will idle some 100 employees.
The 40-year-old company said in a news release, “Like many manufacturers, Brookwood has faced increasing input, operating and transportation costs while the upholstery category is under price pressure at retail. The company could have chosen to degrade the product by putting a lesser construction or materials choice beneath the cover, but felt that unfair to a loyal customer base and its expectations for quality and value.”
The company also said that in recent years it has seen “consistent” losses from the manufacturing operation, “and the current depressed business climate has heightened that reality.”
In March, the company said it would only import product it couldn’t make competitively through its own manufacturing operations.
Formed earlier, the company’s Timothy Scott International division offers fully upholstered seating from Asia. The company’s wood line is called Aubrey Nichole Designs and was established in the last two years.
Brookwood said previously that it is taking advantage of the 20 years of overseas design and sourcing experience of President Phil Hood, who became a principal in the company two years ago.
August 23rd, 2007
— Furniture Today,
Jerry Tan to serve as secretary general
MANILA, Philippines — The ASEAN Furniture Inds. Council has named Nicholaas De Lange as president of association, which was formed in 1978 to support and promote the interests of furniture producers in the Pacific Rim.
De Lange, president of Philippines-based case goods manufacturer Ligna Designs, will serve a two-year term. He also has served as president of the Chamber of Furniture of the Philippines.
He replaces Dato Yong Seng Yeow, president of the Malaysian Furniture Inds. Council and immediate past chair of the AFIC. In a statement, De Lange said he was honored to be given the responsibility and to be able to take on such a dynamic role in the industry.
“AFIC will remain an active player in increasing intra-ASEAN trade and continue to enhance our members’ competitiveness amidst intense global competition,” he said in the statement.
One of his first actions in the new role has been to appoint Jerry Tan, vice president of the Singapore Furniture Inds. Council, as secretary general of the AFIC for the 2007-2009 term.
August 23rd, 2007
By: Furniture World Magazine
Las Vegas Design Center Showcases Wall Upholsterer to the Stars
Presentation is Part of Monthly LVDC “First Friday” Program
Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center, a resource in Las Vegas for the interior design community, will present “A Stitch Above the Rest” with Dean Robert Jones. The event will occur on Friday, September 7, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at 495 South Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas as part of the Las Vegas Design Center’s monthly “First Friday” program.
A not-to-be missed shopping day for local and out-of-market design professionals, “First Friday” at Las Vegas Design Center features educational opportunities, unique showroom specials, hospitality and other exclusive offerings for the trade.
Dean Robert Jones, a well-known wall upholsterer, has been linked to the most recognized names in interior design as well as some very notable clients. Jones said he plans to show numerous photos of completed projects as well as tangible samples of wall upholstery and techniques such as leather button tufting.
He will show everything from home theaters to bedrooms and discuss do’s and don’ts regarding fabrics along with acoustical benefits and durability of wall upholstery, which he calls “one of the most elegant things you can do to your walls.”
Jones recently completed work in Barbra Streisand’s home and has also done projects for Cher, Eddie Murphy, Tom Selleck, Christina Aguilera and the late Michael Landon.
From the Grand Ballroom of the Century Plaza to the homes of the Sultan of Brunei to celebrities’ private residences, Dean Robert Jones has become the name one looks for.
Jones is often called upon for his opinions regarding fabrics for wall upholstery in different areas, including drapery weight and upholstery weight fabrics along with leathers.
His artistic diligence also includes special order pillows, ottomans, furniture and window treatments. Crafted with skill and artistry, each of Dean Robert Jones’ design elements undergoes a customization process of designer selected fabrics, leather and trims and is in keeping with the high standards set by Jones’ conscientiousness to craft and client care.
Join Dean Robert Jones on Friday, September 7 as he shares with the audience how his diligence to craft and client keeps his niche of design, “one stitch above the rest.”
Jones’ seminar will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, on the 16th floor of Building B, at Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center.
On Friday, October 5, 2007, the Las Vegas Design Center will present “A Retrospective Encompassing a Life in Art, Ceramics, Film and Sculpture” with Paul Maxwell. Not only had Maxwell established himself as an artist of national importance, but, more importantly, he was one of the few artists who developed a new medium for his art. During this “First Friday” event on October 5, Paul Maxwell will present a retrospective that will encompass his life in art, ceramics, film and sculpture.
To R.S.V.P., please e-mail lvdc@lvdesigncenter.com or call (702) 599-3093. On-site seminar registrants will be asked to make a $20 donation to Safe Nest.
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center (495 South Grand Central Parkway) is the first of its kind, year-round, professional design resource in Las Vegas. Offering 400,000 square feet of the newest products, trends and styles in furniture, lighting, floral, accessories, rugs and wall décor.
World Market Center is a trade only facility. To access The Design Center at World Market Center please consult a design professional.
The Winter 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for January 28 to February 1, 2008 at World Market Center’s Buildings A, B and Pavilions and tradeshow at the MGM Grand Hotel.
About World Market Center
World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade. World Market Center produces the semi-annual Las Vegas Market, held every January and July, and is the fastest growing home furnishings trade show in the world. World Market Center is now leasing the third building to a broad cross-section of the home furnishings industry. For more information World Market Center, and to find out about leasing or exhibiting opportunities, visit the website at www.LasVegasMarket.Com or call 888-WMC-SHOW (962-7469).
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August 23rd, 2007
By: Furniture World Magazine
Kincaid Furniture Company has selected The Media Matters, Inc., to develop and facilitate new marketing initiatives. Bob Lemons, senior vice president of sales and marketing, expressed enthusiasm about working with the agency to increase awareness of Kincaid’s products. “We are celebrating 60 years of providing quality furniture for consumers throughout the world. With our longevity come challenges of keeping our brand fresh with consumers and consistently leveraging our brand equity with the trade. Highly recommended, we met The Media Matters team, and believe their expertise in our industry will help us achieve our goals,” stated Lemons.
Positive word-of-mouth (WOM) and referrals are cited by many experts as the most meaningful endorsement for products and brands. With an emphasis on consumer and trade public relations, as well as advertising programs and special events, Kincaid will focus on increasing awareness of its 20-plus collections. With one of the longest ongoing licensing agreements in the furniture industry, Kincaid also produces Laura Ashley Home and will promote the brand in its media outreach throughout the coming year.
Kathy Wall, president of The Media Matters says, “We look forward to presenting Kincaid to editors and journalists. With a wide array of trend worthy designs and endless custom upholstery options, Kincaid is a perfect resource for lifestyle and home editorial.”
About Kincaid: Founded in 1946, Kincaid Furniture Company is the nation’s leading manufacturer and marketer of solid wood furniture. Kincaid’s growth is based on a commitment to quality solid wood case goods, fashionable upholstery, and the best service the industry has to offer. Kincaid Furniture Company is part of La-Z-Boy Incorporated’s family of companies. For more information on Kincaid, please visit www.kincaidfurniture.com.
About The Media Matters: The Media Matters, Inc., based in central North Carolina, has served a wide array of international clients including home furnishings manufacturers, retailers, and well-known brands. A full-service marketing agency, they specialize in public relations, advertising, brand strategy, and event planning for companies whose products are primarily supported by female consumers. For more information visit www.themediamatters.com.
August 23rd, 2007
By: Furniture World Magazine
The PONTOTOC PROGRESS reported that Upholstered furniture manufactuer, “Brookwood Furniture Company Inc. will cease operations at its plants in Mississippi within 60 days.”
The closing, says the article will affect 100 employees.
See the entire article at:
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=249316&pub=5&div=News
August 23rd, 2007
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