Home Accents Today articles from December 2008

Home Accents Today archives from December 2008

Distinctive design.
December 1, 2008... Lindsey Strader Accent chairs demand a second look this season with distinguishing characteristics that prove visually inviting. Silhouettes appear light and airy with a focus on carved detailing and bent or winding forms. Organic themes...

Instant classics.
December 1, 2008... Lindsey Strader Traditional styling takes the front seat when it comes to accent chair designs. Clean lines partner with elegant, sophisticated details to create truly timeless silhouettes. Look for centuries-old English antiques to mingle...

Big Cartel offers stores a DIY, inexpensive e-commerce option.
December 1, 2008... Susan Dickenson, Retail Editor While interviewing a retailer for the current issue of our Garden Decor supplement, I learned about a relatively easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself way to set up an online store. Called Big Cartel, it's...

Do you have a 'systemic failure' in your business?(Column)
December 1, 2008... Randy Eller Well, for the last several columns, I have been giving hints and suggestions about how you can look at your business in a different way and get ready for uncertain times. I certainly didn't want to be the first one to utter the...

Retail rescue.
December 1, 2008... Susan Dickenson The million dollar question among retailers these days: "How do we drive sales in this economy? What gets more people into the store?" This month, the members of our Designer Insight panel share their thoughts -- what's...

What a year it's been.(Column)
December 1, 2008... Jenny Heinzen York There's so much to say about 2008, but I feel like so much of it has already been said. Our constant-information culture has us bombarded with factoids, details, cross-references, compilations, side-notes,...

Nourison names director of furniture store sales.
December 1, 2008... Staff Jeff Gonzalez has been named director of furniture store sales for Nourison Industries. "Jeff has a proven track record in sales and sales management and he will be an integral component of our sales organization as we continue...

Gift for Life to host January Casino Party.
December 1, 2008... Staff Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries' leading charitable organization, today announced the exciting details of its 17th anniversary party. Gift for Life's Stakes Are High Casino, Benefiting DIFFA, will be...

HP Market records 6% drop in registrations.
December 1, 2008... Staff The number of validated buyer registrations at High Point's Fall 2008 Market, 44,634, was down 2,534 or just under 6% from the previous market. Total registrations, 76,403, a figure that includes exhibitors, sales personnel,...

Jordan Spencer opens showroom in Las Vegas WMC Design Center.
December 1, 2008... Staff Phoenix, Ariz.-based Jordan Spencer opened a new, multi-line showroom at Las Vegas Design Center on the World Market Center Las Vegas home furnishings campus. The showroom is currently located in Building C, space 376, but the...

Karel opening Philadelphia show in May.
December 1, 2008... Staff Larry Karel, president of Aventura, Fla.-based Karel Exposition Management, producer of regional furniture and accessory markets, will launch the inaugural Philadelphia Furniture and Accessory Market. next May. The event will...

World Market Center names McKay senior vice president.
December 1, 2008... Staff Trade show industry veteran Phillip McKay has joined the World Market Center Las Vegas as senior vice president. In this newly created position, McKay will be responsible for leasing to gift, lighting, rugs and decorative...

Julie Messner joins IHFC as vice president of publication sales.
December 1, 2008... Staff The International Home Furnishings Center has named Julie Messner vice president of publication sales. Messner comes to the IHFC with more than 10 years of home furnishings experience. Most recently, as director of leasing for...

Seda France names Hamann president.(Seda France Home Fragrances promotes Clinton Hamann )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff After more than two years as operations director for Seda France Home Fragrances of Austin, Clinton Hamann has been promoted to the position of president. Hamann has successfully combined his education and background in the arts...

Mud Pie names Roberts visual director.(Tim Roberts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Mud Pie has named Tim Roberts visual director, a newly created position on the product development team. In his new role, Roberts is responsible for the visual image of Mud Pie in the marketplace, including product presentation...

Simon Pearce names Zilian to new product post.(James Zilian)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Simon Pearce has promoted James Zilian to director of design & product development. Zilian will expand his previous role as senior designer to include product development, buying of non-manufactured goods and visual...

Mario & Marielena wins local business award.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Initials Interiors Inc., dba Mario & Marielena, has been selected for the 2008 Best of Cookeville, Tenn., Award in the Textile category by the U.S. Local Business Association. The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program...

Bradburn named chairman of AHFA.
December 1, 2008... Staff Bruce Bradburn, CEO of Bradburn Company, was elected 2009 chairman of the American Home Furnishings Alliance during the organization's annual meeting last month. The AHFA Board of Directors also elected John Bray, CEO of Vanguard...

Store openings, expansions.
December 1, 2008... Staff Houston -- The Design Source, a collection of five showrooms, is opening at West Ave, Houston's new walkable urban village. Though marketed as The Design Source at West Ave, the showrooms will each have their own identity and...

GHTA returns to Florida for annual conference.(Conference news)
December 1, 2008... Staff The Gift and Home Trade Association hosted its sixth annual conference last month in Sanibel Island, Fla. The event, attended by more than 200 sales reps, vendors and retailers, included a golf outing and a Casino Night with silent...

Bee chic.
December 1, 2008... Tracy Bulla Hive alert: Honeycomb designs hype up the home. Graphic geometric patterns make accents pop this season, treating these stylized -- and very sweet -- designs to an organic modern twist. -- Tracy Bulla

Americasmart readies Building Two West Wing for January.
December 1, 2008... By Jenny Heinzen York Americasmart is expanding its reach - both in terms of product categories and square footage - with the opening of Building Two West Wing in January. "With Building 2 (West Wing), we are sending a continued...

What retailers are saying.
December 1, 2008... Staff In an online survey of retailers, conducted in November at HomeAccentsToday.com, decorative accessories are popular products, carried by all our respondents, and making up 50% or more of sales volume for 45% of them. The primary...

Surya signs deal with Smithsonian for rugs, wall decor.
December 1, 2008... Staff Surya has collaborated with the world's largest and most prestigious museum to develop its Smithsonian Collection by Surya. The compilation includes 12 hand-tufted rugs made in India of 100% New Zealand wool and coordinated...

ARTS changes annual conference date.(Accessories Resource Team)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The Accessories Resource Team announced that its annual education conference will be held May 28-31, 2009, at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Naples, Fla., a change from its usual timing in August. The programming will begin...

Safavieh debuting new Couture brand for licensed designs.
December 1, 2008... Staff Rug manufacturer Safavieh will launch Safavieh Couture, a new brand name and operating division devoted to the company's growing stable of licensed designer programs at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market in January. The new...

Feizy Rugs' Carroll killed in domestic violence incident.
December 1, 2008... Staff Jeanne Carroll died Nov. 11 at the age of 52 after being shot by her son-in-law, who also killed Carroll's daughter, Janice Leigh Hill, before turning the gun on himself. Since 1995, Carroll, a Dallas native, had served as the...

CBK introduces consumer drop ship program.(CBKwik Ship)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff CBK has launched CBKwik Ship, a new consumer drop ship program to provide stronger support to retailer e-commerce initiatives. Designed to be a complete and flexible tool for retailers with and without brick and mortar stores,...

Michael Yip leaves Oriental Accent.
December 1, 2008... Staff Michael Yip has resigned from Oriental Accent Inc. to pursue other opportunities. Yip served as general manager and later vice president for almost 19 years. Through his leadership, "the company grew its market share within the...

Do you need help?(Home Accents Today )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Home Accents Today is launching a new feature in 2009 - I Need Help! We are asking retailers to send us photos of problem areas in their store. We will post them on our Web site and solicit comments from our online readership....

A dim light shines in decorative accessories.
December 1, 2008... By Tracy Bulla Vendors rise to meet the challenge of 2009 Despite the economic downturn, one thing is clear - the people behind the decorative accessories industry are not prepared to back down. Instead, vendors have chosen to look at...

Raining color.(Quotation)
December 1, 2008... Lindsey Strader Vivid colors bathe blossoms in many hues this season, creating bright arrangements that breathe optimism and vitality into the air. While blooms of every shape and size are in, look for sunny shades of red, orange and...

Growing modern.
December 1, 2008... Lindsey Strader Botanical arrangements veer off the beaten path this season, looking downright fabulous in fresh, contemporary styles. Designers turn over a creative leaf in the form of asymmetric detailing, exotic flavor and even metal...

Going green.
December 1, 2008... Lindsey Strader Botanical offerings celebrate being truly green in shades ranging from soft jade to deep pine. Roses, hydrangea, succulents and ferns are all in the verdant mix. Arrangements go from sleek and simple to abundant and overly...

Registry of sources.
December 1, 2008... Staff All information for this list was supplied by the vendors who responded to a recent poll by Home Accents Today. A & B HONGDA GROUP Staff Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 888-868-1808, abhongda.com - Trees, potted...

Design Engineers.(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Staff Richard Cable Interiors Before sharing their design and retail experience with the community of Huntsville, Ala., Richard Cable and his partner, Brian Davis, sold sandwiches. It was a vocation that differed greatly from the 10...