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The International Home Furnishing Market Authority asked randomly selected High Point Market exhibitors and buyers in September whether High Point Markets should be changed from the traditional October and April dates. The survey was conducted via e-mail and fax. "Based on our preliminary analysis, respondents believe holding Market for a week in both September and March would be in the best interest of the Market," explained Judy Mendenhall, IHFMA president. "In the spirit of constant growth and innovation, and to maximize attendees’ and exhibitors’ experience in High Point, we will take the findings into consideration and make an official announcement."
Before you head to North Carolina this month, check out a new online mapping tool from the International Home Furnishings Market Authority and useful market tips from Furniture Style’s editors to get the most from your High Point Market experience. Available this fall on www.highpointmarket.org, the IHFMA Market Planner lets retailers personalize their High Point visits and map out the showrooms, exhibitors and events most useful to them. The maps can be printed, so you can take them to market. And speaking of walking the High Point Market… Furniture Style’s new Assistant Editor, Stephanie Mitchell, recently asked co-workers to share some tips for attending the High Point Market before she makes her inaugural journey to the Piedmont Triad. Here’s what these High Point Market veterans had to say:
The American Society of Furniture Designers recently announced the finalists of the 2005-2006 Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards, which honors better-quality, well-designed home furnishings produced in volume and sold through retail channels. This year’s competition features 15 categories and a new President’s Award, which honors a designer under the age of 35. Competition winners will be announced Friday, Oct. 21, during a banquet in the International Home Furnishings Center, Green Wing, 11th floor, Ballroom A. A 6 p.m. cocktail reception and dinner precede the presentation. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting the ASFD Web site, www.asfd.com, or phoning (910) 576-1273. Those unable to attend the event can see pictures of the winners’ and finalists’ entries in an annual compendium or in a traveling display. Below are the names of the nominees. ASFD members are denoted in the list below with an asterisk. President’s Award
Occasional Tables
Occasional Storage
Juvenile
Casual Dining
Formal Dining
Motion Upholstery
Stationary Upholstery
Leather Upholstery
Accessories
Lighting
Home Office
Home Entertainment
Summer/Casual
Bedroom
Major Collections
During the 2005 International Chair Exhibition in Udine, Italy, Promosedia presented its annual Top Ten Awards to outstanding residential and contract chair designers. Entries were voted on by journalists, architects and designers attending the exhibition.
This year’s Residential Chair of the Year was Boogie (shown above), a steel-framed chair with an ebano veneer seat and back. Boogie was designed by Daniel Rode for P.S.M., an artisan-style organization that focuses on creative design.
The Contract Chair of the Year was Dafne (shown above), a barstool featuring a stainless steel base and beech veneer seat. Dafne was designed by Giovanni Cigana for Rover Plus, a company that specializes in exotic timber. To see more award winners, including some from the Promosedia International Design Competition/Caiazza Memorial Challenge, check out the October issue of Furniture Style and the fall issue of Home Fashion Forecast.
At Chicago’s International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, held Sept. 14-17 at The Merchandise Mart, innovative product designs and displays were recognized with the Design Excellence Awards and the first-ever Merchandising Excellence Awards. On Sept. 14, judges evaluated exhibitor booth and showroom presentations entered in the Merchandising Excellence Awards. The winners were announced that afternoon by the Casual Furniture Retailers Assoc., Hearth & Home magazine and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. 2005 Merchandising Excellence Awards Winners
On Sept. 15, the winners of this year’s Design Excellence Awards, as well as the Lillian B. Winchester Award, were announced during a banquet at Navy Pier. Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges on Sept. 12. 2005 Design Excellence Awards Winners
Furniture Style offers its sincere sympathy to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Bassett Furniture’s Director of Public Relations & Research Jay Moore recently shared with Furniture Style how one of the company’s retail operations was impacted by the hurricane: "We had a store in Gulfport, MS, that was damaged and temporarily closed, but it re-opened [in mid-September]. The store sustained wind damage, and a tree fell on it. Nearly half of the store’s employees lost their homes and all their possessions." "Bassett created a private fund that employees and other stores in the Bassett Furniture Direct network contributed to," Moore continued. "A week after the storm hit, we took a tractor-trailer load of groceries to the employees at that store." Numerous other home furnishings companies are donating products, money and time to help residents in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi affected by Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in August. Atlanta-based Simmons has made a corporate donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, as well as shipped 6,700 beds to dealers in affected areas. The company also is encouraging its workers to offer money and blood to the organization. Tempur-Pedic Intl. Inc. has donated Swedish Mattresses to local shelters in affected areas. The company also plans to match employee donations. Clay, Metal & Stone has started Katrina’s Children, a charitable fund for underprivileged children affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company began the fund with a $10,000 contribution and will cover all overhead costs. All monies raised will be donated directly to the children. Meyda Tiffany joined forces with Feed The Children and other local Utica, NY, businesses to gather emergency relief supplies. People were able to drop off supplies at a 48-foot trailer-truck located at the company’s headquarters in Yorkville, NY. Three Feed The Children trucks already have left for the devastated areas. Furnitureland South conducted a community blood drive for the American Red Cross at its Jamestown, NC, location. Mario & Marielena will donate 10 percent of its fabric-by-the-yard sales in September through the October High Point Market to the American Red Cross. kea developed the "Give a Hug" Program to support victims of Hurricane Katrina. The retailer donated $1 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for each $9.99 Famnig heart-shaped cushion sold through Sept. 30 at any of its U.S. locations. In addition, the company will match its employees’ donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, up to $250,000. Ikea also plans to donate pillows and bedding from stores closest to the affected regions, as well as develop a long-term plan to help hurricane victims rebuilt their homes by donating $1million in home furnishings. On Sept. 3, Cardi’s Furniture turned its three Rhode Island furniture superstores into drive-through cash and check donation centers. Donations were distributed to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Rhode Island Food Bank. Koch Inds. LLC donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and $250,000 to the Salvation Army for the states affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company also will contribute additional funding of up to $1 million in employee donations to either organization.
Ikea Bolingbrook in Bolingbrook, IL, opened at 9 a.m. on Sept. 28 with a time-honored Swedish tradition: a log-sawing ceremony featuring President of Ikea North America Pernille Lopez, Bolingbrook Store Manager Hansi Sporl and Bolingbrook Mayor Roger C. Claar. Opening-day promotions at both the Bolingbrook and Schaumburg, IL, stores included $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 gift certificates for the first three shoppers, respectively; free Poang armchairs for the first 100 adult customers; free Famnig heart-shaped pillows for the first 100 children; and $10 gift certificates for customers whose birthdays were Sept. 28. The 310,000-square-foot Bolingbrook store features designer home furnishings and accessories; four model home exhibits; 50 room displays; a supervised children’s indoor playground; and a 300-seat restaurant. For more information about Ikea and its new Bolingbrook location, click here. Stay tuned...
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