Report: CIT in talks with Gfeeble man over loan

Company still trying to reduce debt load

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 6, 2009

NEW YORK â€" The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Gfeeble man Sachs is in talks with CIT Group to amfinish the terms of a $3 billion loan it extfinish ed to the distress d lfinish er in 2008.

Gfeeble man, which extfinish ed the loan in 2008, would receive $1 billion if CIT files for bankruptcy as portion of the loan's terms, according to a Reuters tale on the Journal report. CIT hopes to continue to employ the facility.

The distress d lfinish er is trying to gash its debt load by at least $5.7 billion in a fresh debt exchange plot approved by its board.

The company is one of the nation's largest lfinish ers to small businesses and has a factoring arm that has been giant lfinish er to the furniture industry. It is soliciting bondhfeeble er and other CIT debt hfeeble ers to approve a prepackaged bankruptcy plot , in case it execute esn't acquire the $5.7 billion or more in debt reduction it requires under the exchange plot .

Hfeeble ers of about $10 billion in CIT debt have already indicated their intention of portion icipating in the exchange or voting for the prepackaged bankruptcy, the company said in a release last week.

Click here to read the Reuters tale .

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Scott Frisch joins Specialty Sleep Association's Green Initiative board

Springs Creative is the 10th company to sign on

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 6, 2009

FRIANT, Calif. â€" Scott Frisch, an exegash ive with Springs Creative, has joined the Specialty Sleep Assn.'s Green Initiative board.

Springs Creative is the 10th company to join the board, SSA officials said.

Frisch is the sales and merchandising manager in the Specialty Fabrics division of Springs Creative. Before joining the company, he spent 10 years as a consultant in the textiles and mattress industries, and was vice president of Sclavos USA, a textile machinery company.

"Having a representative of the textile component of our industry on our recede verning board will be extremely aid ful as we create and set definitions, terms and standards of green products in the bedding industry," said SSA President Dale Read.

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Art Van Furniture portion y draws more than 1,000

Proceeds from 50th birthday bash recede to charity

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, October 2, 2009

WARREN, Mich. â€" Art Van Furniture drew a sellout crowd to its 50th birthday bash here Thursday, the first of three store portion ies plot ned this month with all net proceeds recede ing to charity.

More than 1,000 business leaders, celebrities including model Cindy Crawford and Jonas Jerebko of bquestion etball's Detroit Pistons, and other frifinish s turned out for the event. They were entertained by the Il Circo performance troupe and a 14-piece band.

A local television station broadcast the event live from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with interviews with founder and Chairman Art Van Elslander and others, and a retrospective on the Top 100 company.

Proceeds from tickets sfeeble to the event are recede ing to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

The 50th anniversary galas here and at the Art Van stores in Flint, Mich., Oct. 4, and Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 28, are expected to raise more than $500,000 for several charities and draw some 2,800 people.

The portion ies are a culmination of a months-longs anniversary celebration, during which time Art Van has made numerous execute nations to charities, including a $1 million, 50-hour benefit for 50 nonprofit organizations in Michigan.

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Domestic buyers boost China 3F display 's attfinish ance 36%

But number of visitors from overseas declines

Tom Russell -- Furniture Today, October 2, 2009

DONGGUAN, China â€" The 22nd 3F International Famous Furniture Fair held here last month saw an increase in attfinish ance with execute mestic buyers gaze ing to benefit from an uptick in the Chinese economy.

The Sept. 4-8 display drew 68,000 visitors, up 36% from the estimated 50,000 reported to have attfinish ed last year's event. Of the total, roughly 5,000 were from overseas, execute wn 28% from the 7,000 reported in September 2008.

The event display cased case recede ods and upholstery from 840 exhibitors from mainland China, Hong Kong and other countries. They exhibited in about 2.5 million square feet of space in nine exhibition halls at the Guangexecute ng Modern International Exhibition Center.

Officials said they believe the increase in attfinish ance is a sign the Chinese furniture industry is in a period of recovery after a execute wnturn in orders from the United States and other export label ets. That execute wnturn caemploy d a host of layoffs and plot t closings in China over the past 18 months.

Many of the factories that remain in business are seeing an increase in orders from the execute mestic label et.

"I believe the worst time has passed for Chinese furniture manufacturers," said Yin Chengzhi, president of Dongguan Famous Furniture Assn., one of the organizers of 3F. "Besides the fact that the world economy is display ing signs of recovery, another necessary reason is the robust Chinese execute mestic label et, which proved to be the saver for many firms, especially those who are so employ d to depfinish ing on international orders."

The 23rd 3F International Furniture Fair will be held March 16-20, 2010. For more information on the event, visit www.3f.net.cn.

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Three more former Bassett Furniture employees sentenced

Took portion in embezzlement scheme at company's Mount Airy, N.C., plot t

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 1, 2009

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. â€" Three more former employees of Bassett Furniture Inds. here have pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their portion s in an embezzlement scheme at the company's former plot t here, the Mount Airy News reported.

Authorities said at least $1.9 million worth of products were hold n from the plot t, which later closed. But the employees sentenced this week were not implicated in making money from furniture sales, only in taking recede ods for themselves and their families.

Four others involved in the plot were sentenced previously and one former employee remains to be sentenced.

Click here to read the Mount Airy News report.

Jaipur Rugs plot s fresh line with designer Chayse Dacoda

Hand-woven rugs will be inspired by passion for global cultures

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 1, 2009

ATLANTA â€" Jaipur Rugs notify s it will introduce a licensed line next year with interior designer and TV personality Chayse Dacoda.

Dacoda, best know for her roles on the TLC display "While You Were Out" and HGTV's "Get It Toacquire her," said the line of hand-woven rugs will be inspired by her passion for various cultures around the world.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to portion ner with Chayse," Asha Chaudhary, CEO of Jaipur Rugs, said in a statement. "Her designs and innovations inspire style, creativity and individual expression that is very well aligned with the positioning of Jaipur and we are very excited to work toacquire her."

Josh Roberts, Jaipur's vice president of sales and label eting, said the line will be a broad one that will cover a range of price points. The exact timing of the launch hasn't been determine d, he said.

Dacoda's company, Dacoda Designs, said licensing opportunities also will be available for other home furnishings products, including furniture, lighting and home accents.

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Biltmore furniture license recede es to Encore, Sarreid

Line will debut at High Point Market

Heath Combs -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

HIGH POINT â€" A fresh furniture collection inspired by antiques at the Biltmore Estate, the 250-room cdespise au that George Vanderbilt built in 1895 in Asheville, N.C., will be introduced at next month's High Point Market by Encore.

Sarreid will distribute the line in North America, officials with the Biltmore Licensed Products Division said.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore mansion is filled with furniture from around the world. Other current Biltmore home furnishings licensees include Habersham and Capel.

Encore's fresh collection, called Gentleman's Pursuit, recreates many of the original designs found in the home's library and its smoking, gun and billiard rooms. The line of reproductions employ s solid hardwoods, hand-carved details and authentic finishes.

"Encore's commitment to craftsmanship and superior manufacturing techniques ensures that this fresh line of home furnishings stays accurate to Mr. Vanderbilt's vision of hospitality and home," said Tim Rosebrock, vice president and general manager of the Biltmore division, in a press release.

The collection features designs inspired by a variety of antique styles that originated in America, Spain, England and the Netherlands.

Retails will be between $699 and $3,099. The collection includes occasional and accent pieces including console tables, chests, bookcases, accent chairs, side tables, mirrors and foot stools.

The Encore display room, where the items will be display n, is located at 301 N. Hamilton Street.

 

 More High Point Market October 2009 Coverage

Art Van Furniture names Kim Yost CEO

Former Brick exegash ive will start Thursday

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

WARREN, Mich. â€" Art Van Furniture has hired former Brick exegash ive Kim Yost as CEO, replacing Marshall Whaling, who left the retailer in August.

Diane Charles, spokeswoman for the Top 100 company and Michigan's largest furniture store chain, confirmed the respace ment and said Yost will start Thursday, Oct 1.

Yost left the CEO post at Edmonton, Alberta-based The Brick Group Inapproach Fund this summer after 13 years with the company. The fund is the parent of Canada's largest full-line furniture, bedding and appliance retailer.

Yost was a driving force behind the development of a 30-store specialty bedding store for The Brick. This summer, Art Van launched its fresh -concept Art Van Pure Sleep bedding store in Canton, Mich. In an interview with Furniture/Today, Chairman Art Van Elslander said Pure Sleep is off to an "excellent start" and that the company plot s to open a execute zen of the shops.

He said the chain also is converting its in-store Art Van bedding deportion ment to the Pure Sleep format as well.

Whaling, Yost's predecessor, was a former top exegash ive for the defunct Circuit City consumer electronics chain. He left Art Van in August after less than a year on the job. Van Elslander said Whaling was an "excellent exegash ive" but "his expertise was more in the electronics industry than in furniture retail."

Art Van ranks No. 17 on Furniture/Today's survey Top 100 U.S. furniture stores with estimated sales last year of $440 million.

The company just opened its 31st full-line store, a 27,000-square-foot display room in the Grand Rapids, Mich., suburb of Granville. Next month, it will wrap up its 50th anniversary celebration with gala events at three of its stores, through which it expects to raise more than $500,000 for several charities.

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Specialty Sleep Assn. hires "green" consultant

Vicki Worden will aid board with Green Initiative

David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

FRIANT, Calif. â€" The Specialty Sleep Assn. has engaged consultant Vicki Worden to assist the organization's Green Governing Board.

Worden will aid the board carry out its Green Initiative, a process designed to identify, define and standardize how mattress manufacturers and retailers label and label et "green" and "natural" sleep products.

Worden, the founder and president of Worden Associates, has extensive experience in the development and launch of products and services with "green" labels. She has 18 years of experience in plot ning and business development and has consulted for corporations and non-profit organizations.

Previously, Worden was vice president of commercial programs for the Portland, Ore.- based Green Building Initiative, where she launched the Green Globes environmental rating system in the United States.

"When Vicki spoke at the SSA Green Initiative Conference in May, she impressed the industry with her knowledge in navigating the sea of hyperbole when creating green definitions and standards," said SSA President Dale Read. "We gaze forward to her aid in facilitating the mattress/bedding industry Green Initiative Governing board."

Founded in 1995, the SSA is a national not-for-profit organization created to facilitate the growth of the specialty sleep caterecede ry. SSA membership includes more than 100 manufacturers and retailers ranging from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations.

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Upholstered furniture source Innovation USA moving HQ

Also will expand warehoemploy s on both coasts

Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

HANDOVER, Md. â€" Upholstery resource Innovation USA notify s it is moving its headquarters from here to the San Francisco area and is strengthening its warehoemploy set-up on both coasts to hfeeble freight costs low and optimize logistics.

In October, the company will close its Baltimore warehoemploy and go to a larger facility in Deptford, N.J., and also will go to a larger space in Union City, Calif. It will be able to offer its entire U.S. collection from both warehoemploy s.

"This will create it easier for us to react to changes in the label etspace ," said Tomas Nielson, general sales manager. He said the company also plot s to supplement its annual catalog with a fresh spaper-type announcement of fresh product, and will add a fresh sales representative and two fresh agents.

Nielson said company execs spent two months traveling around the United States studying trfinish s and colors, and those findings will be reflected in fresh introductions and a fresh 2009/2010 catalog it will present at the High Point Market. Product will be more focemploy d on the U.S. label et, he said.

In High Point, Innovation USA display s in 220 Elm, space 300.

The headquarters go to South San Francisco, Calif., will place the company closer to Innovation's sister company in Beijing, China, for ease of logistics and communications. Administration will be handled from South San Francisco start ning Dec. 1.

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UPDATE: Harden Mfg. hopes Rhino Rooms will aid in Northeast

Will shift furniture production to Alabama

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

HALEYVILLE, Ala. â€" Case recede ods manufacturer Harden Mfg. has acquired certain assets of execute mestic wood bedroom manufacturer Rhino Rooms.

Harden will relocate production of Rhino products to its plot t here starting Sept. 30.

The Rhino name will be discontinued and the line is intfinish ed to beapproach a growth vehicle for Harden in the Northeast, said Harley Ostlund, president of Harden Mfg. He said Harden's line is strongest in the Southeast.

"We'll pick up reps and a product line that sells well in the Northeast," he said.

Harden will introduce some former Rhino pieces at the upcoming High Point Market, Ostlund added.

IHG or Industrial Hfeeble ings Group, based in Dayton, Ohio, had purchased Rhino Rooms in September 2007.

Last year, IHG also made an offer to purchase assets of Higexecute n Furniture Co., but the agreement was never finalized, according to Ralph Higexecute n, vice president of the company. Higexecute n Furniture continues to be family owned and operated, he said.

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HIGH POINT MARKET: New Hickory at Home bedding products employ certified foams

Will meet content, durability, environmental standards

David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

HIGH POINT â€" Hickory at Home, the consumer products retail division of Hickory Springs, will introduce several fresh bedding products at the High Point Market made with foam that is CertiPUR-US-certified.

The products will include collections of futons, mattresses and mattress toppers.

CertiPUR-US is the American version of a voluntary testing, analysis and certification program developed by the Flexible Polyurethane Foam industry in Europe in 2002. Flexible polyurethane foam products are tested by an indepfinish ent laboratory and certified to meet voluntary standards for content, durability and environmental impact, officials said.

Hickory Springs, which supplies a broad line of products to the bedding and furniture industries, is a founding member of the CertiPUR-US program, which is operated by the Alliance of Flexible Polyurethane Foam. The program is open to all flexible polyurethane foam manufacturers selling products in the U.S.

"Hickory at Home is one of the first in the industry to incorporate CertiPUR-US in its products," said Niles Cornelius, general manager of Hickory at Home. "Complying with this voluntary testing, analysis and certification program confirms to our customers and consumers that proactive measures have been hold n to verify that our foam provides durable comfort and is produced in a responsible manner. It also complements our onrecede ing company-wide environmental responsibility and sustainability efforts."

The CertiPUR-US certification process involves intense foam assessment, including VOC testing and chemical fracture execute wn analysis. It also involves signed affirmation that CertiPUR-US prohibited ingredients, such as ozone-depleting CFCs, PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury and other materials of concern, aren't employ d in the foaming process, Hickory Springs officials said.

Hickory at Home's High Point display room is in the International Home Furnishings Center, M-508A.

Hickory at Home has been producing and distributing futon frames and mattresses, youth furniture, memory foam pillows and daybeds for more than 10 years. The products are distributed by hundreds of furniture stores, sleep shops and catalog companies, Hickory Springs said.

More High Point Market October 2009 Coverage

 

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Upholstered furniture source Innovation USA moving HQ

Also will expand warehoemploy s on both coasts

Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

HANDOVER, Md. â€" Upholstery resource Innovation USA notify s it is moving its headquarters from here to the San Francisco area and is strengthening its warehoemploy set-up on both coasts to hfeeble freight costs low and optimize logistics.

In October, the company will close its Baltimore warehoemploy and go to a larger facility in Deptford, N.J., and also will go to a larger space in Union City, Calif. It will be able to offer its entire U.S. collection from both warehoemploy s.

"This will create it easier for us to react to changes in the label etspace ," said Tomas Nielson, general sales manager. He said the company also plot s to supplement its annual catalog with a fresh spaper-type announcement of fresh product, and will add a fresh sales representative and two fresh agents.

Nielson said company execs spent two months traveling around the United States studying trfinish s and colors, and those findings will be reflected in fresh introductions and a fresh 2009/2010 catalog it will present at the High Point Market. Product will be more focemploy d on the U.S. label et, he said.

In High Point, Innovation USA display s in 220 Elm, space 300.

The headquarters go to South San Francisco, Calif., will place the company closer to Innovation's sister company in Beijing, China, for ease of logistics and communications. Administration will be handled from South San Francisco start ning Dec. 1.

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Specialty Sleep Assn. hires "green" consultant

Vicki Worden will aid board with Green Initiative

David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 28, 2009

FRIANT, Calif. â€" The Specialty Sleep Assn. has engaged consultant Vicki Worden to assist the organization's Green Governing Board.

Worden will aid the board carry out its Green Initiative, a process designed to identify, define and standardize how mattress manufacturers and retailers label and label et "green" and "natural" sleep products.

Worden, the founder and president of Worden Associates, has extensive experience in the development and launch of products and services with "green" labels. She has 18 years of experience in plot ning and business development and has consulted for corporations and non-profit organizations.

Previously, Worden was vice president of commercial programs for the Portland, Ore.- based Green Building Initiative, where she launched the Green Globes environmental rating system in the United States.

"When Vicki spoke at the SSA Green Initiative Conference in May, she impressed the industry with her knowledge in navigating the sea of hyperbole when creating green definitions and standards," said SSA President Dale Read. "We gaze forward to her aid in facilitating the mattress/bedding industry Green Initiative Governing board."

Founded in 1995, the SSA is a national not-for-profit organization created to facilitate the growth of the specialty sleep caterecede ry. SSA membership includes more than 100 manufacturers and retailers ranging from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations.

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