Furniture & Beds Info

New face of Childrens Lighting

2011-06-06T06:08:00.000Z

To completment any well decorated childrens bedroom, you need some fun, fresh lighting. Whether you are after a simple table lamp or a full on ceiling fixture to make your little girl like a princess!

The website Childrens Night Lights 4U offers a huge range of night lights, ceiling lights, wall lights, and table lamps for both boys and girls. They vary for ages 1-12. So whether your boy is a football fan, or if you little girl loves the jungle animals, they have something for you. Check out their full range of lighting on the website.

The range has lights for any budget. Don't forget to check out the fantastic light switch covers too. They are a particular bargain!

WEB LINK: www.childrensnightlights4u.co.uk

Home Furnishing Changes 2009!

2009-02-12T22:32:00.001Z

All this economic gloom and doom has many of us craving a quick pick-me-up. And home furnishings designers might have just what we need to bring some color back into our lives this spring.

Perfect for the season of renewal, striking oranges, reds, greens and blues will be on trend in everything from table linens and flatware to sofas and area rugs. And following closely in the footsteps of the models on the fashion runways, purple hues will calm us while yellows will make us feel warm and sunny.

Shocking orange napkins on a dark cherry dining table loaded with sparkling white china are sure to have that mood-lifting "wow" factor. But we say don't stop there, go big when you go home. Getting a great piece of colorful furniture that will change the mood a little and give a refreshing lift to the entire room.

source: www.nj.com

Royal Mail Furniture Upgrades

2009-02-10T15:12:00.000Z

The news comes days after it emerged that the postal service intends to cut thousands of front line jobs, and has been condemned by unions.

The shopping list of items approved by Royal Mail bosses includes £100,000 worth of Italian chairs and walnut desks costing £6,000 a piece, according to documents seen by the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Boardroom seats each costing £700 for the service's senior executives have also been requested, it is claimed.

Around 200 Royal Mail managers and staff will move to the refurbished offices in Unilever House by the River Thames on the Embankment in central London in May. The 30,000ft space will replace the postal service's current headquarters in east London.

Documents sent to potential contractors include requests for high-end furnishings from designers including Davison Highley, Italia and Kusch and Co, the newspaper claims.

Last month the Royal Mail announced a jump in profits to £255 million – more than £900,000 day – for the nine months to the end of December, but the service wants to slash thousands of jobs as part of cost-cutting reforms ahead of its planned part-privatisation.

Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union said: "It's disgusting that while postmen and women are being forced out of the business, this money is being spent on plush offices."

A Royal Mail spokesman confirmed that it had set aside hundreds of thousands of pounds to pay for new furniture, but said that bosses had not been spared the belt tightening.

"We have reduced the size of our HQ team. It's now leaner and more efficient," he said.

From Telegraph

Funky Oak LP Storage

2008-10-29T19:29:00.002Z

If you are into old LPs or you like DJing and have lots of records to store, why not get a stylised piece of oak furniture to store it all.

text from CNET, "Records are skinny things, but once you have more than 100 or so they start to take up a lot of space. Some vinyl philes just leave them on the floor, or lean them up against furniture. Yuch! The nice folks at Atocha Design build gorgeous hi-fi furniture. Each piece is made to fit your needs, contact Atocha Design to get a price quote. Finish options run to American Maple, Walnut, Oak, and Bamboo; handles are solid brass. Atocha Designs are hand crafted in the U.S.A."

Serbia to show Germany the furniture future!

2008-09-23T17:59:00.003Z

Today the Serbian Investment and Expert promotion Agency (SIEPA) said it will bring Serb furniture companies to the German furniture exposition hel in Bad Salzuflen from September 21–25.

There will be a Serbian stand, with companies specialising in oak, pine and other timbers, to start gathering place of trend setters across Europe in timber industry.

Dalas and Eurosalon will show off their range of wood furniture for offices, kitchens and hotels, whilst furniture manufacturer Kolarevic will present its products which are mostly made of oak and cherry tree.

Why Serbia? Well Serbia is rich with forests and makes 70% of its furniture from wood. This has made it an ideal candidate for natural living room and office furniture production.

With Serb furniture exports growing rapidly, the trend of "new" Serb companies spreading across looks set to follow.

French Furniture makes a stir

2007-05-23T10:55:00.000Z

French furniture from the first half of the 20th century — whether Art Deco or 1950s pieces — has never been so sought after. That’s why examples are turning up in the “Important 20th-Century Design” sale on Sunday at the Wright auction house in Chicago, and in New York sales on Thursday at Phillips, de Pury & Company, on June 5 at Christie’s and on June 19 at Sotheby’s.

Nonetheless, Maison Gerard, a Greenwich Village gallery at 53 East 10th Street specializing in 20th-century French furniture, caused a stir last week when it opened an eclectic show of 35 French antiques from the 1940s.

Information from: www.interiordesign.net

Sofa World Record in UK

2007-05-17T10:35:00.000Z

May 13, 2007 Marek Turowski broke the Fastest Furniture Land Speed Record by driving a high speed sofa at 92mph. The previous record, 87mph, was set in 1998.

The record attempt was witnessed and verified by a representative of The Guinness Book of World Records and the feat will appear in the next published edition! The record was broken at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Lutterworth Leicestershire, on a two mile long 60 metre wide racing straight normally used to test top-secret specialist Ministry of Defence projects. The sofa was built by Edd China who held the existing record. Edd said:
“It’s been sad to see my record beaten, but world records only have real value when they’re challenged. And at least I still have the constructor’s title to boast about.”

Hilarious project. Who decided that they want to race a sofa?

Furniture Sales down in April in USA

2007-05-11T09:57:00.000Z

In America, furniture sales dropped 0.7% in April compared to March, according to report published b SpendingPulse, who are a retail data service of MasterCard.

Whilst this is only a small drop from one month it follows a 1.3% drop between February and March. The continuing slump in the housing market has a lot to do with the challenges facing the furniture industry, analysts say.

SpendingPulse data comes from sales activity logged by MasterCard and estimates based on other methods of payment.

Information from: www.bizjournals.com

Tips For Garden Furniture Cleaning/Presevation

2007-05-03T15:24:00.000Z

With a few simple steps, you can keep your outdoor furniture looking fresh and new for many years. The American Home Furnishings Alliance offers the following care and maintenance tips:

Aluminium frames:

Clean with mild soap and water. For non textured surfaces, apply an automotive wax every few months. On textured finishes, periodically apply baby or mineral oil. Occasionally spray oil lubricant on chair swivels or glides.

Tempered glass tabletops:

Clean regularly with a soft cloth, a mild detergent and warm water. Buff dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Commercial glass cleaners also may be used.

Outdoor wicker:

Vacuum gently or brush with a soft bristle brush. Hose off every few weeks and clean periodically with mild detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Vinyl straps:

Wash with mild detergent and warm water, using a soft sponge or cloth. Rinse thoroughly. To remove scuff marks, apply toothpaste or gentle abrasive and rub gently with a dry cloth. To remove mildew, use a solution of warm water, mild detergent and bleach (no more than one-quarter cup to 3 gallons of water). Apply vinyl protectant to the straps after cleaning.

Sling furniture:

Wash with mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Cushions:

Vacuum as needed to remove organic material and prevent decay. Clean by sponging with mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Air dry. If mildew occurs, use a solution of one-cup bleach and a squirt of detergent per gallon of water. Scrub with a sponge or soft brush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and air dry.

Wrought iron and steel:

Clean with warm, soapy water. To maintain the gloss on non textured surfaces, apply automotive wax. On textured finishes, periodically apply mineral or baby oil. If rust develops, clean area by sanding lightly, then wipe thoroughly and apply touch-up paint (usually provided by the manufacturer).

Hardwoods: Clean with mild detergent and water. Rinse well. Some manufacturers recommend an occasional application of oil. Pine, oak and cedar should be stored for the winter. Painted woods will require painting every year or so.

Umbrellas:

Wash covers with mild soap and water, using a long-handled brush. Spray silicone on the joints of wire frames. Use wax or furniture polish on wooden umbrellas.

Information from: www.app.com

Furniture Row work Starts

2007-04-26T12:32:00.000Z

Construction has started on the 625,573-square-foot Building 9 at ProLogis Park 70 in Aurora.

Building 9 will be a national distribution centre for Furniture Row Cos. of Denver when it’s finished later this year. Furniture Row owns the building and the 35 acres of land it occupies.

Furniture Row has more than 330 furniture stores in 31 states. Its stores operate under the names Sofa Mart, Oak Express, Bedroom Expressions and Denver Mattress.

he ProLogis Park 70 industrial park, owned by publicly traded real estate investment trust ProLogis of Colorado, is located at Interstate 70 and E-470 in Aurora. The park opened in 2004 and will be able to accommodate 2.5 million square feet of industrial space when it’s fully built. Current occupants include General Motors Corp. and Mastercraft Cabinets Inc.

Based in Aurora, ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) is one of the world’s largest builders, owners and managers of distribution centers. The company has operations in 81 markets in North America, Europe and Asia.

ProLogis unveiled the plan for Building 9 in January.

Information from: www.bizjournals.com

How To Buy Office Furniture

2007-04-24T15:06:00.000Z

Many small businesses have the issue of where to get the best deals for basics like stationary and furniture. Bea Quirk comments that "Redesigning your office and buying new furniture is expensive. To get the best value, make sure you develop a good relationship with a furniture dealer."

The obvious benefits to doing this, is if you can get a rapport with a dealer, they can personalise you with good deals knowing full well that they will get your sale again and again. Plus it gives you the confidence of knowing you won't get ripped off.

Quirk confirms this saying "And although price is certainly important, don't make it the driving factor in your decision. The most important thing you should be looking for is a relationship. "

If you are getting a good deal from a continuous relationship, they are gaining as they are getting commission off you, whilst you get the benefits of lower prices and a friendly honest answer whilst dealing with something you are constantly going to have to get.

Info from: Charlotte Business Journal - April 6, 2007 by Bea Quirk

Furniture Brands change debt agreements

2007-04-23T13:59:00.000Z

Furniture Brands International Inc. has agreed to put up some property as collateral, according to a regulatory filing Thursday.

In exchange for modifying the debt covenants to loosen restrictions on its required debt-to-earnings ratio, Furniture Brands put up as collateral its personal property, including accounts receivables, cash, inventory and intangible goodwill.

This gives the firm expanded borrowing power. The company cut its sales projections March 14, saying it expects its first-quarter net sales to drop nearly 15 percent.

The amendments to the covenants expire June 29, and the company said it will try to negotiate additional, more permanent amendments or refinancing prior to that deadline.

In the SEC filing Thursday, Furniture Brands said it reduced Holliman’s 2007 base salary by 25 percent to $694,000 from $925,000, effective April 16. The firm did not offer an explanation for the pay cut.

St. Louis-based Furniture Brands International Inc. manufactures furniture under the Thomasville, Henredon, Drexel Heritage, Maitland-Smith, Broyhill and Lane brands.

Published April 20, 2007 by the St. Louis Business Journal bizjournals.com

Furniture inspired by frescoes

2007-04-19T15:27:00.000Z

Janet Setterland is not sure where in the pantheon of fine arts and crafts her new decorative-painting enterprise belongs. Her work could be characterized as trompe l’oeil for furniture and features a Mediterranean theme that is very popular.

A painter and furniture restoration enthusiast, Setterland was awestruck after entering the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, in 2005 and gazing at the frescoed walls. On the flight home she decided to quit her office job and start a business painting and decorating furniture by hand.

The daughter of a furniture store owner in Canada, Setterland studied art and design and refurbished several homes in Southern California with her husband, Chuck, an engineer.

Five years ago, she made the prototype of her line. She needed a small table for a kitchen nook and made one from a metal base and wooden top Chuck built for her. She painted it and told her husband, “I think we can market this thing someday.”

She now offers the bistro table (shown above, $1,200) as the centrepiece of her J Setterland Designs line. It comes in either black and cream or red and mustard.

The Uffizi frescoes inspired her to design a series of decorative panels (shown below, right) featuring urns, leaves, ribbons and fruits on wood with metal frames. They come in two sizes, for $500 and $600, and can be hung as singles or in a series.

Setterland, who works out of her home in Healdsburg, also turns out single pieces when she gets hold of an antique with potential (wine cabinet, directly right; $1,900).

She paints in acrylic and applies glazes for richness and sheen. “I like to use metallics as well,” she said. “I love to take old furniture and transform it.”

Her work is feature on her Web site, but she is always interested in doing custom projects.

Find J Setterland Designs at Le Jardinet in Danville, Season of the Vineyard and Rued Winery in Healdsburg, and Winterbranch Gallery in San Francisco, and at www.jsetterlanddesigns.com.

Information from: www.sfgate.com

Home Office Furniture Tops £410m in 2006, UK

2007-04-17T15:12:00.000Z

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c54148) has announced the addition of The UK Market For Office Furniture 2007 to their offering.

The research took place during the period from December 2006 to February 2007 and this report presents the findings from that investigation.

The broad categories covered in this report are as follows:-

- Seating

Including adjustable and non-adjustable task seating, secretarial seating, executive and reception seating, manufactured from wood, metal or other materials. Upholstered seating is also included.

- Workstations, desks and tables

Including workstations, secretarial and executive desks and tables of all types and drawing office equipment; products are constructed from wood, metal or other materials.

- Filing cabinets and other storage equipment

Including specialist products for drawing offices; products in this category are mainly of metal or wood construction.

- Other office furniture

Including miscellaneous furniture not specified elsewhere and usually manufactured from metal or wood. Screens form a major product group within this category.

The project also covered contract furniture, defined as products within the above categories usually with specific design characteristics and often manufactured for particular clients. The author has also updated earlier information to make the data comparable and to enable companies to make full use of the findings.

The scope of the current project has also been widened to include office furniture products supplied to all non-office locations, with the main criteria used being the products themselves, rather than the end use category.

The market under review is the UK market comprising the following geographical areas:-

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Methodology:

The project was carried out using the following research methods:

- Desk and bibliographic research

- Telephone interviews

- Personal interviews

- Analysis of evaluation of information

The initial stages of the survey consisted of desk research, which was used to extract and collate published information on the market under review and to obtain details of manufacturers and suppliers and the products currently available. Desk research was also used to evolve a suitable sampling frame for personal and telephone interviews.

Telephone interviews are the most economic means of obtaining basic information and are most useful when the data being collected is of a standardised nature. Accordingly this method was used to obtain the bulk of information in this research project. In addition, a number of personal interviews were carried out in those circumstances where the information required was of a more complex nature.

A summary of the interviews carried out during the course of this investigation is shown in Appendix II.

Chapter Outline:

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

3. THE UK ECONOMY

4. MARKET SIZE AND STRUCTURE

5. THE DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE

6. THE COMPETITION FROM IMPORTED FURNITURE

7. MAJOR MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS

8. THE FUTURE FOR OFFICE FURNITURE

APPENDICES

I - Boundaries of the Standard Regions

II - Summary of interviews carried out

DETAILS OF CHARTS PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT

Chart 1 - The UK market for office furniture

Chart 2 - The UK market for office furniture by product group

Chart 3 - The UK market for office furniture by distribution outlet

DETAILS OF TABLES PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT

Table 1 - Gross Domestic Product in the UK

Table 2 - Gross operating surplus of private companies and surplus of public corporations

Table 3 - Value of office construction and repair by contractors in Great Britain

Table 4 - Total sales of office furniture

Table 5 - Total market for office furniture

Table 6 - Annual producer price changes for office furniture

Table 7 - Total sales of office furniture at current and constant prices

Table 8 - Indices of sales of office furniture

Table 9 - Share of total office furniture market held by individual product groups

Table 10 - Total sales of workstations, desks and tables

Table 11 - Total sales of office seating

Table 12 - Total sales of seating by product type

Table 13 - Share of the total seating market by product type

Table 14 - Total sales of office storage

Table 15 - Total sales of office storage by product type

Table 16 - Share of the total storage market by product type

Table 17 - Total sales of other office furniture

Table 18 - Total sales of office furniture by product group

Table 19 - Geographical location of installation of office furniture

Table 20 - Total UK market for home office furniture

Table 21 - Total UK market for home office furniture by product type

Table 22 - Sales of home office furniture by distribution channel

Table 23 - Total UK market for systems furniture

Table 24 - Total UK market for office furniture by distribution outlet

Table 25 - Total imports and exports of office furniture

Table 26 - Total imports of office furniture by product group

Table 27 - Leading manufacturers and suppliers by market share

Table 28 - Forecasts for the UK economy

Table 29 - Forecasts by the Treasury

Table 30 - Value of new orders by type of work

Table 31 - Estimated future size of the office furniture market

Table 32 - Estimated future size of the office furniture market by product group

Table 33 - Estimated future size of the systems furniture sector

Companies Mentioned:

- Bisley Office Equipment Ltd

- DAMS International Ltd

- EFG Matthews Office Furniture Ltd

- Gresham Office Furniture Ltd

- Herman Miller Ltd

- Kinnarps (UK) Ltd

- Logic Office Group plc

- Lucas Office Environments (UK) Ltd

- Martela plc

- Morris Office Furniture

- Ofquest Ltd

- Orangebox Ltd

- Paragon Business Products Ltd

- Senator International Ltd

- Steelcase plc

- Verco Office Furniture Ltd

- Wilkinsons Furniture Ltd

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c54148
Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
press@researchandmarkets.com

Donald Trump's Celebrity Furniture

2007-04-12T08:18:00.000Z

With the theme song from his reality television show "The Apprentice" blaring in the background, Donald Trump strode into a showroom at the world’s biggest furniture trade show and started to brag about, of all things, his sofa.

“Trump Home furniture offers consumers a tangible way to experience the luxurious Trump lifestyle for themselves … even if they can’t afford millions for one of my properties,” Trump said. “Now the public can not only wear my clothes, they can sit on my couch.”

Should Trump’s over-the-top bombast not suit your personal style, how about a couch from model Cindy Crawford? Or a couple of chairs from teen stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen? Such boldface names are all over furniture today, and some touted at this spring’s International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., are among the increasing number whose fame isn’t rooted in the business of hearth and home.

The furniture industry has very few consumer recognizable brands — less than 10 by most measures — so manufacturers bring celebrities on board to help draw consumers into stores, said Jerry Epperson, an industry analyst with Richmond, Va.-based investment banker Mann, Armistead and Epperson.

“America appears constantly fascinated by the famous, often without regard to their talent or ability,” Epperson said. “A celebrity identity gives consumers some comfort and reinforcement that someone else has chosen the item, too.”

Such famous-name furniture isn’t new — think Martha Stewart. Other celebrity lines that have sold well include that of American Realist painter Bob Timberlake and a collection named for fashion designer Liz Claiborne, both sold by Lexington Home Brands.

But several of the more recent celebrities to enter the market are like Trump, who bring their name to the business as much as a designer’s touch or artisan’s eye. They include Crawford, whose furniture collection debuted in late 2005, and the Olsen twins, whose second collection will hit stores this spring.

Epperson said for celebrities, launching a furniture line associates their name with fashion and the home — and brings in some profits. Among the first to enter the market was former Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit model Kathy Ireland, who in 1998 added furniture to the apparel, accessories and jewelry now sold by Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

In 2003, the last year from which figures from her privately held company are available, her collections with Standard Furniture brought in $500 million — at the time half of her company’s annual sales.

“We started with socks in 1993, and people laughed at us,” Ireland said. “I’m humbled by our brand’s success.”

Such well-known celebrity names attract consumers who generally don’t spend a lot of time shopping for furnishings, said Mary Frye, president of the Home Furnishings International Association, a Dallas-based trade group.

“It’s like being a political candidate,” Frye said. “Sometimes they get elected not because you side with them on their political issues, but because you recognize the name.”

This spring, Trump was the rookie at the furniture market in High Point, about 90 miles west of Raleigh, where 70,000 people gather every six months to do business in more than 12 million square feet of showroom space. He met in nearby Thomasville with more than 350 buyers, all eager to hear him talk about his venture into the furniture business.

“The thing I really do know is furniture,” Trump said. “I buy it for all my properties and will buy this furniture for my future properties.”

Trump’s name famously adorns his skyscrapers and hotels, as well as vodka, menswear and accessories. But the mogul said he has done more that just lend that name to Lexington Home Brands — he opened up his personal homes and luxury properties to designers from the privately held company so they could be inspired by his larger-than-life style.

“I can’t put my name on something I don’t love,” he said.

Trump Home’s Westchester line is formal, with burled woods, brocades and leather, while the Central Park line has a modern flair with Art Deco-influenced accents. Both are in the middle of Lexington’s price range, with a Central Park rectangular dining room table set to cost about $1,595. A similar Westchester table will cost about $1,795.

While celebrities usually have the final say in how their products look, some are more hands-on than others. Timberlake’s insistence that furniture from his original line be made in the United States temporarily shut down production last year. Ireland said she listens and seeks guidance from her customers in creating her products.

“I think it’s exciting that the home industry is starting to look like Hollywood,” Ireland said. “But customers are the ones who have to determine if these are real brands or not.”

Indeed, there have been some notable failures. Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. dropped its Elvis Presley collection just 18 months after its debut in 2002. Company spokesman Doug Bassett said the typical Elvis fan loved the furniture, but couldn’t afford it.

“As we like to say, ‘Folks, Elvis has left the building,’” Bassett said. “The collection was a successful promotion, but just like Elvis, we wish it would have lasted longer.”

The key, Epperson said, is mixing the identity and the appeal of the celebrity with the affordability and attractiveness of the product.

“No one will buy ugly or overpriced furniture because someone’s name is on it,” he said.

Information from: www.insidebayarea.com

I think Donald Trump is awesome. As long as his sofas and other furniture keep in good taste he is sure to succeed.

Furniture trade in Dubai booms

2007-04-05T10:29:00.000Z

In the Middle East the Dubai furniture trade is now considered to be one of the largest markets in the region. This has mainly been due to population explosion, and the increase in wealth in the area. This has allowed positive growth in the region as people want to buy fashionable furniture and make them show off their wealth. The UAE's furniture products are either locally manufactured or imported and the market offers a variety of products; however the most traded products are home, office, school and hospital furniture.

In 2005, Dubai’s total furniture foreign trade amounted to Dh 2.7 billion, &0% Imports, 25% re-exports and only 5% Exports.

The Dubai statistical survey of 2000 and the Ministry of Economy census of 2005 indicated that the total number of housing units has increased by 41.4% from 2000 to 2005 with 205,500 units. And certain types of properties have boom, with villas increased by almost 100 per cent, while flats increased by 48 per cent during the same period.

This large increase in residential housing units has helped spur on this booming furniture trade, which has allowed for more and more furniture retailers. The year 2006 accounts for 2,965 furniture companies; of which 82.5% are traders and 17.5% are manufacturers.

There is a positive correlation between increased housing and furniture market. As Dubai grows, with its increased tourism and financial business, this correlation looks set to continue to benefit the furniture market.

With an expected population growth rate off 7%, the furniture market can expect great growth in Dubai, especially with the $143 billion in real estate projects looking to be spread out across the country.

Information from: www.wadi.ae

New Line of Designer Furniture for Flat Screen TVs

2007-04-04T10:38:00.000Z

A worldwide manufacturer of furniture and accessories, has announced a brand new full line of furniture and stands for retail designed for brand new flat screens and multimedia systems.

“The market for flat screen TVs continues to grow exponentially,” noted Ken Auld, VP Sales for Bazio, the manufacturer of these units.

“Many companies are rushing in to fill the demand for attractive furniture to hold large flat TV screens. The big difference is that we’re the factory for the largest line of contemporary furniture for all sizes of LCD and plasma screens. Our full selection will make it hard for competitors to match our product offering in design and pricing.”

There are a load of styles available, mostly glass, metals and in a variety of colours, Black, Silvers, High Gloss and Merlot finishes. Also available are some wood models that are available in black, dark oak and light oak finishes.

Retail offerings from Bazio will include 42″ stands that are up to 44″ wide and hold all 42″ TVs with an MSRP range from $169 to $269. Bazio stands for 50″ TVs are up to 54″ wide with retail pricing from $189 to $299. 60″ TV stands are up to 66″ wide with prices from $229 to $329. Delivery of new products to dealers and distributors will start in April, with excellent profit margins provided.

“In the near future, Bazio will be adding even larger 72″ and 84″ stands mostly in wood models,” added Auld.

They have a variety of objects, from solid wood piece of cabinetry that provides a traditional look with glass windows in front of spacious room for accessories units to corner pieces in black and silver; with plenty of room for a large flat screen TV on top and shelf space underneath for a wide variety of connected electronic devices.

SOURCE: Bazio, A Division of Kinfine USA

Environmentally Friendly Furniture

2007-04-03T13:17:00.000Z

Global warming is an issue which affects us all, and is in the news virtually everyday. Celebrities and the government are all telling us to drive hybrids, and rightfully start recycling much more. So should furniture manufacturers and retailers care? Yes. And there are great savings to be had by doing so.

For Tim Zyto, a Montreal furniture manufacturer and retailer, read a story in Time magazine that asked this seminal question: “Should we be worried about global warming?”

Zyto was very worried after reading it. “I was so shocked, I almost fell over,” he said. “Global warming is a man-made problem and all our consumption is part of the problem.”

But what to do?

He remembered hearing that such rock groups as Coldplay and the Rolling Stones were buying carbon offset credits through a British company to compensate the planet for their jet travel.

The company, Zyto learned, was The Carbon Neutral Co., set up a decade ago to help businesses measure, reduce and offset their carbon dioxide emissions. Starting with the premise that climate change affects the whole planet, businesses can finance environmental mitigation projects around the world and offset their own environmental footprint through Carbon Neutral.

So Zyto chose to help finance a tree-planting program in Uganda and a methane gas recapturing program in Pennsylvania to offset his company’s emissions after learning that his company, Montauk Sofa, produces the equivalent of 1,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually through its energy use and consumption.

Zyto, who started Montauk in 1995, has built it into a manufacturer of high-end sofas and armchairs with stores in Montreal, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Boston and San Francisco.

“I wanted to grab the fashionable customers, so we’ve always had our stores in industrial spaces,” he said.

The Montreal location on St. Laurent Blvd., near St. Zotique St., was the first furniture store in the neighbourhood and it kickstarted a trend, attracting other stylish furniture purveyors.

Zyto, who has a degree in sociology, learned about furniture making while working at his father’s firm, Biltmore Chesterfield, before it went bankrupt.

“I’d always wanted to be in the furniture business and had contacts at The Bay and IKEA,” he said. “But I knew it would take a long time before I would be able to sell the big stores furniture.

“So in 1992, I decided to build sofas and sell them directly to the public, and when I started Montauk, it was a one-man show,” he said.

“I had $800 and I would build and deliver the sofas on the roof of my car. At that time, I was selling them for $300 or $400, and self-financing the business.”

The company produces its wares in Montreal and sells them in stores across North America.

Zyto said that once he’d decided to buy into a carbon offset program, he contacted Jacqueline Kuehnel, the Canadian representative of The Carbon Neutral Co., who arranged with Pinchin Environment of Mississauga, Ont., to do an assessment of Montauk’s environmental “footprint,” or the impact of the firm’s operations.

Pinchin studied the energy consumption of electricity and telephone use, along with materials used to build the sofas and the effect of shipping the finished products across the continent. The verdict was that Montauk was producing 1,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Zyto chose two projects - one in Uganda, the other in the U.S. - that have been set up to mitigate environmental problems. Carbon Neutral invests Montauk’s money - between $32,000 and $40,000 a year - in them.

In addition, Zyto said he’s working on making his company as environmentally responsible as possible by sourcing green materials.

“It’s impossible to be totally green all the way through,” he said. “We still use energy to produce our products and to ship them.”

Kuehnel said there are engineering models that assess a company’s energy consumption and waste.

Carbon Neutral outsources the assessments to Pinchin Environmental, which evaluates all energy the business uses and also factors in the impact of such things as business travel by staff and daily commuting.

“That can be translated into how many tonnes of carbon is being poured into the environment. You can footprint just about anything,” she said.

Kuehnel said companies that have environmental assessments can choose to mitigate operations by, for instance, switching to alternate forms of energy use. “What they can’t reduce, they can offset,” she said.

The price to companies that buy carbon offset credits is between $18 and $25 Canadian per ton of carbon dioxide, “with forestry projects at the low end of the cost scale and wind farms at the top end,” Kuehnel said. One of the challenges for businesses that want to do their bit for the planet, she said, is finding suppliers that are also on board the green train.

“It’s difficult for businesses to find immediate solutions because of the supply chain,” she said. “A business can decide it does not want to produce carbons but also understands you can reduce only to a certain point.”

She said the company invests in such projects as reforestation, climate-friendly energy initiatives and methane capturing.

Zyto, for example, has chosen to invest in methane capturing at Gateway Coal Mine in Pennsylvania.

But, Kuehnel said, “there’s a strong attachment to forests among clients. People relate to forests better than they relate to methane flares.”

She acknowledged “there’s no magic bullet” in saving the planet from environmental disaster. “This is a complex issue and we have to tackle it on many fronts,” Kuehnel said.

She said the push to voluntarily buy carbon offsets often comes from visionary CEOs. “It’s an additional cost for industry, so it usually comes from a values point of view.”

Montauk’s Zyto is The Carbon Neutral Co.’s first Canadian client.

“He’s one of the early adopters,” Kuehnel said. “Canada is about three years behind (Britain) in terms of companies measuring their emissions. This is all open frontier right now.”

And Zyto is leading the charge. He’s aware that going green is as good for business as it is for the planet, and has decided to brand his company as carbon neutral. Montauk’s latest advertising campaign features ads depicting sofas that say: “Take a seat. Take a stand.”

“We sell thousands of pieces of furniture every year and I think customers would be thrilled to know that this furniture doesn’t have an impact on the environment,” Zyto said.

“If someone is going to make a lifestyle choice, they can also make an environmental choice at the same time.”

Information from: www.canada.com

Obviously it is a tough decision for furniture manufacturers to go all out and green. Cost is the obvious thing that people worry about. However the savings are there to be made. Tuning off shop lights at night will save you effectively a 1/3-1/2 off your electricity bill. Using less paper by printing less will also cut down on costs. Both of these would help the environment, whilst saving you money, yet cost nothing to implement.

New Furniture = Increase in House Prices

2007-04-02T13:36:00.000Z

When it comes to selling your house, many people like to give it a new paint job, and generally do a spring clean out to tidy up areas. however the most efficient way of making things look clean and looked after is by buying new furniture, especially centre pieces such as sofas, and dining tables. Estate Agents suggest to make a number of changes, such as replacing antique furniture with pieces of a different style. The whole idea behind this being updating old tired pieces / unique styles to make it more appealing to a broader spectrum.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 39 million Americans — or about 14 percent of the population — changed addresses in 2005. While that is one of the lowest rates in more than 50 years, long-distance moves are becoming slightly more common, the bureau reports.

One San Francisco resident, Michele Spitz and her two siblings couldn’t be persuaded to go the same route to sell her parents’ home after they died. “We were encouraged to consider painting and removing carpets and what have you,” she said. “But it’s quite a luxurious home on Marina Boulevard. It’s dated, but it’s a unique property on a unique street.”

Spitz, who has worked in real estate marketing and sales support for many years, said she didn’t see the need to plunk down $15,000 or $20,000 on upgrades. Her instincts proved correct: The house was on the market for only 3 1/2 weeks before it was bought by someone who had previously lived in the neighbourhood. “Granted, she’ll probably gut the house, but even if she hadn’t been the specific buyer, the home had shown quite well,” Spitz said.

The contemporary house had been gutted by her father when he purchased it in 1990, so it needed some updating, she said. Spitz said they rearranged some decorative items and removed some small pieces, but they were generally content with the home as it was.

“We didn’t depersonalize it like most people would,” she said. “There was an entire photo gallery on the top floor, and we decided to keep those photos.”

At first, the agent thought the photos might be distracting, but after several showings, she agreed that they added warmth to the home. Obviously leaving a personal touch WILL be appalling to a minority, hence why you have to make the decision of whether to go for a minority who may love your house, versus a lot of people who will just like it if it is depersonalised, but will very rarely fall in love with it. Either way the furniture of a home being sold, has to be correct looking for the type of house that it is. There is no point putting in cream leather sofas, with minimalistic dining tables and furniture into a country cottage. It needs warmth, wood etc.

Either way a house with furniture of either kind is much better than a cold looking empty house, as it helps give the buyer a sense of imagination.

Information from: sfgate.com

Mattress sale - buy a replacement mattress online

2007-03-30T15:00:00.000Z

Suite Success is offering an incredible range of mattresses, all available to buy online in their spring sale right now! All the different types of mattresses are for sale, some at incredible prices. There are a variety of styles from "normal" pocket sprung mattresses to super comfort and technologically advanced memory foam mattresses. In fact, whilst older pocket spring mattresses were made with materials such as wool, cotton, or silk, many of them now incorporate all new visco elastic memory foam. Suite Success offer mattresses from all the top brands, including Silentnight, Sleepline, Airsprung, Beauty Sleep and more. The great thing about all these top brands is they all are competing for your sale, which means higher quality mattress comfort! This means more comfort allowing you to get a better nights sleep, and enjoy feeling more refreshed in the morning! The best thing about it is that it also can help back problems by providing you with extra support. the benefits of these mattresses to someone with back problems is unparalleled. Other similar systems on these types of mattresses are called posterpeadic, posture sprung, and flexcell.

However as mentioned Memory foam mattresses are the new king of quality mattresses. Three different types of foam are used, Polyurethane foam, Latex foam and memory foam. All these foams are also used in combination with springs. The UK mattress market seems to be following the European mattress manufacturer trends and making more and more foam mattresses. At Suite Success, Breasley provide three different types of memory foam mattresses.
As previously mentioned they offer superb support for backs, and allow you to relax and enjoy other more interesting things in your life, instead of worrying if you are going to get a good nights sleep. Because of their increased popularity, memory foam mattresses are no longer a luxury expense. The prices have tumbled which can be seen at Suite Success who sell them from only £119.99

All these mattress are in stock at Suite Success and ready to be delivered via express delivery!

Kathy Ireland Worldwide Receives First Manufacturer of the Year Award from Furniture Industry’s ‘’HELP1UP'’ Charity

2007-03-30T12:37:00.000Z

Kathy Ireland Worldwide, the $1.5 billion/year design and manufacture firm founded by the Lifestyle Designer whose name it bears, today (March 29) was designated first recipient of the Manufacturer of the Year Award from the furniture industry’s HELP1UP and The National Furniture Bank Association. The honour was presented at the awards breakfast launching the start of the High Point Market, one of the world’s largest furniture sales gatherings in High Point, N.C.

Ms. Ireland received the award not only for her extraordinary furniture sales success, but for her leadership in philanthropy generally, and in launching the HELP1UP program which will provide furniture to over 100,000 needy families each year.

The lifestyle designer, who was dubbed by Forbes Magazine “super-model-turned-super-mogul,” works with the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) to initiate HELP1UP which is supported by the home furnishings industry’s retailers, manufacturers, representatives and service companies. The effort… completely free, socially responsible and environmentally friendly… provides a used furniture removal service for the general public, delivering those goods directly to families in need.

Kathy, who serves as National PTA Ambassador for Youth, and is an active supporter of Athletes and Entertainers for Kids, Feel the Children and The Special Olympics stated:

“Our team at Kathy Ireland Worldwide is extremely humbled to receive this acknowledgement of our brand. Our company shares this honour with each of our cherished manufacturers and customers, who join KI Home and make it possible for us to fulfil our mission of “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.”

“We share this honour with every team member at KIWW and with the generous visionaries who serve HELP1UP, as the Board of Directors at the National Furniture Bank. No child in America should have to sleep on the floor.

“No family should be forced to live without furniture. HELP1UP and The National Furniture Bank is making a difference. We are grateful to be a small part of that great difference,” said Kathy.

About Kathy Ireland Worldwide: Kathy Ireland Worldwide (KIWW) is the design and marketing firm founded in 1993 by CEO and Chief Designer, Kathy Ireland. The primary mission of KIWW is “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Forbes Magazine reported that KIWW is a “design empire which grosses over one billion dollars annually in retail sales.” This year Newsweek noted, “Annual sales run to $1.4 billion.” KIWW products include flooring, rugs, home furniture, office and entertainment furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, window coverings, bedding, mattresses, candles, apparel, jewellery, blankets and top of bed. In 2000, KIWW began expanding its mission and consumer needs, with the addition of speciality brands, presenting “Design Ambassadors” ACafé by Chef Andre for food and entertaining, J du J cultivated by Nicholas Walker for outdoor living and garden inspirations and The Quilts of Gee’s Bend whose original works of art from rural Alabama are the Genesis of unique designs for home. The original Quilts of Gee’s Bend gained international recognition through museum tours around the world.

For more information please visit www.kathyireland.com.

UK Market for Kitchen Furniture

2007-03-29T12:18:00.000Z

In the UK the kitchen furniture market is fiercer than ever. There have been modest increases in both volume and value terms in the period since 1999, even increasing sales in 2005 which differs versus the trend for household furniture generally. Competition has remained fierce throughout the industry, and several smaller companies have also gone into receivership.

£4860m of total sales was reached in 2005, compared to £4995m in 2004 and £4850m in 2003. Total industry sales declined by 2.6% in 2005, with producer prices increasing by around 1-2% during the year. Total sales of kitchen furniture reached £1100m in 2005, compared to £1070m in 2004 and £1040m in 2003; the kitchen furniture group accounts for 23% of the total household furniture market.

n volume terms the total number of fitted kitchen furniture installations has increased slowly in recent years, reaching over 1,020,000 units in 2005, compared to 974,000 units in 2004 and 938,000 units in 2003.

Imports of kitchen furniture totalled £81m in 2005, compared to £77.4m in 2004 and £78.2m in 2003. The penetration rate for such products within the UK market is currently almost 7.5% in value terms. Total sales of kitchen furniture are expected to reach £1140m in 2006 and £1190m in 2007, compared to the level of £1100m achieved in 2005.

More Info / Source: http://www.bharatbook.com/

Green Furniture Makers

2007-03-28T10:46:00.000Z

In all forms of products, being green is something more and more consumers are looking or in their products. From green cars, to usage of environmentally friendly recycled paper.

A newly formed group of furniture manufacturers are using the trend to help the furniture industry get green and lessen its environmental impact. This week in the GreenStyle Pavilion at Market Square, they’re promoting their ideas at the High Point Market .

“I think that the green building (movement) has been a big drive of green furniture,” said Daphne Hewitt, a spokeswoman for the Rainforest Alliance.

In terms of marketing it is simple. If people are going out of their way to make their homes more environmentally friendly, i.e. by using efficient materials and objects such as light bulbs in their house, they’re going to want the same from their furniture.

Hewitt’s organization is a co-founder of the newly established Sustainable Furniture Council. The nonprofit council was created to promote sustainable practices within the home furnishings industry.

The council hopes to give manufacturers the information to help them change their ways, said Susan Inglis, the council’s executive director.

The council now numbers more than 40 paying members, Inglis said. Each of which must be committed to sustainability and demonstrating that within their business. Cooklin understands that being eco-friendly and sustainable is a gradual process, but the payoff can be huge. There are very large financial gains to be made.

“Sustainability, if it’s just used as a marketing tool, doesn’t get you much,” said Bill Perdue, vice president of environmental, safety and health standards for the American Home Furnishings Alliance.

Perdue runs the AHFA’s Enhancing Furniture’s Environmental Culture program, which helps companies develop and maintain environmentally friendly practices. He comments that not just thee final product but the process of making the product should be sustainable.

“You don’t stop environmental impact at the finished product, you stop it at the source,” Perdue said. Stanley Furniture Co., a Virginia-based manufacturer, is Perdue’s model for a company that pushes itself to be sustainable. Dave Maddox, Stanley’s director of engineering, said the company decided several years ago to work to protect the environment.

Stanley Furniture reduced fuel consumption by 20% at one plant, whilst at another plant a recycling program cut wastes by 56% between 2000 to 2005.

By getting rid of such waste, all companies, not just furniture manufacturers, can not only help the environment, but also save money.

Children's Furniture is changing

2007-03-27T13:04:00.000Z

Kids furniture is growing up. Given children's cravings for the latest fashions, and for ways to express their individuality, it is no surprise that when it comes to buying kids bedroom furniture, they want their bedroom to do the same. Manufacturers agree, and are giving them what they want. Kids furniture of today is becoming more "grown up" and customisable, just like how mum and dad want for their won furniture.

Robin Campbell, marketing services manager for Young America, Stanley Furniture Co.’s youth furniture brand, agrees and also attributes the evolution to young people’s increased exposure to design trends.

“I think they’re just more demanding in what they want ... They know what they want, and they want it now.”

This is so much so that a recent survey by the American Home Furnishings Alliance showed that, children's taste is one of the biggest influences behind parent's buying kids furniture, joint top with price. Both coming in front of function.

What many kids want is choice in their bedroom furniture. This is obvious, as in ever thing children have now a days is down to choice, from customisable trainers to personalised chocolates. Choice is becoming more and more common in youth furniture.

Andrea Berryman, who owns the store Cribs to Kids in Hudson, Ohio comments, “They want to customize ... They want to be able to order it (furniture) in cherry, maple, white." All of their furniture is available in at least four, and as many as 20 finishes.

In the UK we have seen similar things with another new line of kids bedroom furniture and objects with the Build-A-Bear product range where customers can design and create their own teddy bears.

The good thing about this type of customisation from a parents point a view, is that colours can be changed easily as the children grow with their furniture. Pink and lavender drawer fronts can become plain white someday, making the furniture suitable for a guest room or a first apartment. Traditional designs but with personalised colours allow the change from teenager bedroom to guest bedroom to be as simple as buying new drawers. Parents are looking for timeless furniture that will remain useful long after their offspring have left childhood behind.

Source: www.miamiherald.com

Asko Opens in Hungary

2007-03-23T10:30:00.000Z

German furniture giants Asko have opened their first furniture store in Budapest, Hungary for a cool 5 million Euros. Akso plan to open eight other furniture stores across Hungary in the next three years. These will cost up to 40 million Euros.

Located in Savoya Park, the new Asko is 7,000sqm. It was chosen due to its local nearby large stores such as the hypermarket.

the German Furniture company has six shops in Germany, four in Slovakia, and nine in the Czech Republic. Asko claim its sales are higher than kika, Austria's top selling furniture store, in both Czech Republic and Slovakia. Akso hopes it can get a strong foothold in Hungary too

Asko's market research has shown that whilst in Western Europe, beds, sofas and other furniture is more like a fashion, in Hungary, dining furniutre for example is usually bought for a lifestyle, The life cycle of a basic piece of furniture in Western Europe is six years versus 20-2 years in Hungary. However, that per capita spending on furniture is the highest in Hungary in Central Europe. Asko believes one of the reasons is that Hungarians have also started to care more about the style of their home.

Information from: www.portfolio.hu

Pamplona Awards Street Furniture Contract

2007-03-22T16:19:00.000Z

FCC subsidiary Cemusa, has been awarded the contract to supply an automated bike hire service and numerous advertising and information panels over a 12 year period by the Pamplona city government in Navarra, Spain.

Cemusa see this as being an important step as Pamplona is the first city to implement Cemusa’s bicycle hire system, as well as being the companies first concession in Navarra. They will install five bike rental venders, but also 50 "oppi" advertising panels, 50 advertising hoardings, 3 electronic panels, 40 time and temperature panels and 29 free expression panels.

This should revitalise Pamplona's old town furniture, with a mixture of modern touches with Cemusa's work.

Underground Contemporary Furniture Store!!!

2007-03-21T13:33:00.000Z

A Danish designer has decided to open up a furniture store underground!

By Design Direct has opened in the Interstate Caves at the SE corner of Interstate 435 and 23rd Street. The small matter of a shop with no windows has added to the design flair, by having the caves give a ultra modern backdrop to the stores sofas, beds, dining furniture and bedroom furniture.

The store is the collective collaboration of Henrik Svendsen, who closed his Danish Inspirations store in 2004, and Peter Kristensen, a former manger at Danish Inspirations who is now a sales manager at the new By Design Direct store. They have over 40 years in the furniture trade between them.

Furniture Exports estimated to grow 7-9% in 2007 in Malaysia

2007-03-20T15:54:00.000Z

Largely driven by their demand for wooden furniture, industry predicts Malaysia's furniture exports are set to increase 7 to 9% this year, at the recently concluded Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) 2007.

At present 80% of total exports are from wooden furniture, mainly rubberwood. Malaysia is the ninth leading exporter of furniture in the world, with an export value of $2.28 billion in 2006.

One issue with this prediction is Malaysia's reliance on the US (up to a third of it exports). The US currently has a surplus of homes in the market, whilst other issues raise from rising mortgage prices, which could decrease credit for consumers.

Despite this, the Malaysian furniture market looks to be set for a strong year.

Fire Burns Old Furniture Company in Alto

2007-03-19T13:28:00.000Z

Almost 70 firefighters from throughout Habersham and Banks counties spent much of Wednesday night battling a fire at Hartford House Handcrafted Furniture in Anderson Village near Alto. Firefighters received the call shortly before 8 p.m., and by the time they got their the building was already 40% in flames.

“The water situation was pitiful - absolutely pitiful,” said Cain on Thursday. “It was almost lack thereof.” Water had to be shuttled from hydrants on the Demorest Water System because the Baldwin water lines serving the complex didn’t provide sufficient pressure to support the firefighting effort. “If we’d have had adequate water pressure, I think there would have been a different turnout,” Cain said.

“They were blacking the fire pretty good, then that lapse in water let the fire build up pretty good,” Cain said. “That’s when some of those chemicals and things in the back started exploding.”

Hartford House was destroyed in the blaze.

“It’s a total loss - there’s nothing salvageable,” Cain said.

Two firefighters were checked out on the scene by Habersham Emergency Medical Services for heat exhaustion.

Northeast Georgia Fabric centre, located next door to the Hartford House Christmas Shop, sustained smoke and water damage. Firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof to provide vertical ventilation in order to contain the fire.

Hartford House began in 1988, when Sarah Smith wanted a small place to display the few pieces of handcrafted furniture she had sanded, stained and hand rubbed. Sarah Smith and her husband Allen own the business.

The more than 14,000-square-foot store featured furniture and home decor showrooms, a workshop for furniture finishing, a year-round Christmas shop and a gift shop.

Information from: www.thenortheastgeorgian.com

Furniture Industry 2008 Forecasts / 2007 Reports

2007-03-16T09:38:00.000Z

The “2007 Worldwide Household & Institutional Furniture Manufacturing Report” has been announced by Research and Markets. Featuring a 2007 and 2008 forecast, the Household & Institutional Furniture Mfg. report comments on the size of the furniture industry (sales, establishments, employment) for the 47 largest world countries. The report also includes industry 5-year historical trends industry sales, establishments and employment and estimates on tables, shelves, cabinets, chairs, beds and bars.

These reports provide the most current and cost-effective demographic data and market reports for the largest U.S. and World industries. The reports are estimates and forecasts based on proprietary economic model which provides data that is timely, accurate and cost effective (as compared with more expensive primary research and survey information.)

World reports and World Industry & Market Outlook provide predictions of the size and shape of the largest industries in the worlds largest countries. These predictions are produced by a proprietary economic model that is based on a number of sources and factors:

1. The size and characteristics of the largest U.S. industries (based on Census statistics, inflation and industry trends).

2. The relative size and characteristics of other countries (based on GDP, population and per capita income).

3. The proportion of economies based on manufacturing, services, agricultural and resource industries). This data is mostly from the CIA World Factbook and the Economist.

4. Local currency estimates are based on U.S. sales estimates and the most current currency exchange rates.

5. NAICS codes (North American Classification System codes) are used in each industry definition in order to aid report users in clarifying and standardizing the definitions of each industry between different countries.

Countries Mentioned in the report are:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c52147

Brazilian Furniture Exports Increase to £3.49bn

2007-03-15T14:10:00.000Z

With a massive 17.2% increase on 2005, the Brazilian furniture exports totalled 14.13 billion Brazilian Reais (around £3.49 billion) according to the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel).

The greatest growth came in South East Brazil, in the Minas Gerais area. This area saw over 40% growth over 2005, whilst the São Paulo region increased by over 20%. Despite this massive growth in these areas, Rio Grande do Sul are still the largest Brazilian exporters of furniture. This growth has continued despite a weak US Dollar (a major importer), providing over USD$819m surplus with the US.

Info From: www.anba.com.br

Giant UK Made Bookcase in Ipswich!

2007-03-15T10:36:00.000Z

Ipswich furniture maker R E H Kennedy Ltd has gone through the production of a magnificent four metre by four metre wide bookcase! The piece of furniture is so big they had to put up scaffolding, whilst making this piece of furniture.

It has been made as a one off for a businessman in Gloucestershire. Mike Ruffles director at Kennedy, said how, “The stature of the room allowed us to be more extravagant than normal.” The bookcase, dwarfs Ruffles and with fellow director Russell Langham who designed the piece, which is due to be delivered next week!

Obviously cheap furniture is not normally 4m x4m and this piece costs £60,000. the bookcase took five to six weeks to make and a further five weeks of man hours to polish by hand.

Mike Ruffles explained how “The finishing is often under-rated but it’s as important as the structure,” The piece was then glazed, and silk-lining was added to the drawers. The many other finishing touches were all carried out at R E H Kennedy's the White House Road site in Ipswich.

“It was a very labour intensive job - the bookcase has 20 different parts - and we needed to choose the right place in the factory to ensure we had the height we needed,” added Mike.

The two directors took ownership of Kennedy, which employs 32 skilled workers, in a management buy-out two years ago having both worked at the company for several years. As a supplier to such retailers as Harrods, the Ipswich manufacturer has an enviable reputation in the high-end traditional cabinet furniture industry with a client base of retailers and interior designers worldwide.

Not only does Kennedy make "made to order" furniture items, it also as standard range of over one thousand products, which aren't 4m x 4m!

story from http://www.eadt.co.uk

International Furniture Show - N. Carolina

2007-03-14T10:39:00.000Z

High Point International Home Furnishings Market in North Carolina is the home to this years International Furniture Show. As usual you can expect to see all the latest styles, and trends for the upcoming year.

There were plenty of modern colours and shapes, mixed with of classic styles, along with new individual more personal styles which mimicked the Asian furniture market

However these old style furniture pieces are now more curvy and noticeably larger, which help's achieve this blend of old and new design. Despite the Asian look, they now also feature much more of a Western modern colour scheme, bringing potentially the living room furniture more in line with a larger Western market.

The overall theme of the 2007 International Furniture Show was Traditional style with added colour. Flirtatious usage of paint by using shades that not only blend but pop can create a balance between modern and classic style. This mix brightens up the living space, without overpowering it.

We also saw the increased rate of the return of the 1930s 1940s style furniture. Glam, Art Deco furniture is coming back with a bang at the moment.

Not as bad as it Sounds for the Furniture Business

2007-03-14T10:36:00.000Z

Bizjournals have reported that orders for residential furniture continued to fall at the end of 2006, off by 6 percent in December from the year before with orders for all of 2006 down 3 percent from 2005, according to the accounting and consulting firm SmithLeonard in High Point.

Business has been soft for furniture manufacturers for some time, but the survey analysis noted that the picture may be at least somewhat brighter at the retail level because the decline is measured in dollar volume at the manufacturer level. The yearly decline followed a rebound in 2005, when orders grew by 2 percent compared to 2004. However sales by retailers using overseas suppliers aren’t reflected in the declining numbers, the survey noted.

So basically although not looking great, its hardly doom and gloom for the industry. leather sofas in particular are doing well across most sectors.

Info from: www.bizjournals.com

Welcome to Furniture & Beds Info

2007-03-14T10:27:00.000Z

Hi There!

I'm Jay I am part of the furniture trade, this blog is basically a source for people to get the latest info on the UK furniture trade, especially beds and sofas. Cheap beds and all types of furniture are at the moment are two a penny but, with the markets going abroad, it is important for the UK trade to make sure they stay in touch with the best products we can. This blog will feature trade news as well as bed deals and furniture sales that are found online.