Manufacturer News


Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

GelTouch Debuts

The newest addition to the Therapedic International merchandise line-up, GelTouch, was previewed at the group meeting held at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Hotel and Spa in this resort town located in Southwest Florida.

The three-model line was enthusiastically received by everyone in attendance.

The new GelTouch line will have its official world debut at the High Point Market this October in North Carolina.

The line was designed by Chris Sanders of Therapedic-Idaho and group president, Gerry Borreggine.

“Gel is the hottest category in the bedding industry today, so we had to work fast to bring this product to market,” said Borreggine. “And, we did, with a bang,” he added.

The gel being used in this new line is the second generation of the gelfoam on the market today. The gel used in the market leader’s product has bits or flecks of gel suspended in the foam. The Theragel used in the new GelTouch is actually swirled into the foam compound, giving the product better adherence to the foam, with greater gel coverage, and greater cooling and comfort benefits, said Borreggine.

This new gel product is coming to the group from Future Foam. Therapedic is the priority customer for this new technology, according to Jim Mulvey, sales manager for Future Foam. The gelfoam used in GelTouch is the latest and most advanced version of any gelfoam on the market, according to Mulvey.

The sewn covers are coming from DesleeClama. They are being fabricated by A. Lava and Son. The GelTouch cover is unique in that it is woven with both linen and spandex, to give it a soft hand and a very flexible response. It has a subtle “shadow” GelTouch logo woven into the fabric.

“It’s a good look,” said Borreggine, “everyone who has seen it has really liked its aesthetics.”

The border is a blue upholstery quality fabric. It is not quilted on the foundation, so new it needs to be GelTouch Model laminated to FR material in order to pass 1633 in the US.

The GelTouch beds will sleep cooler than any other gel or visco product on the market, said Borreggine. The cooling story is enhanced by the addition of the DynaFlow air circulation pad that is laminated in between the layers of gel and foam.

“DynaFlow is anotherstory for the retailer to talk about at the point-of-sale,” said Borreggine. Our selling story is: “GelTouch will keep you cool from

dusk to dawn.”

One of the keys to the success of the market leader’s program is the point-of-purchase that accompanies the product, said Borreggine.

“Therapedic will have a POP package of three large, vinyl banners, pull-up posters, and a silk hanging mobile as part of the program. The entire package will cost under $1,000.00 and will be made available in various combinations,” said Borreggine.

The opening price point is projected to be $1,199.95 and going up to $1,999.95. But, some factories may be able to come in at $999 on the opening number, according to Borreggine.

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Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Earl Spencer to Address Theodore Alexander Guests On Legacy Of Althorp

Hosts champagne tea in new showroom at High Point Market

Highlighting the grand opening celebration of the new Theodore Alexander showroom, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer will be in attendance to discuss the history of his family and will host a traditional champagne tea for retailers during the High Point Market this month.

Theodore Alexander is the exclusive manufacturer of the highly successful licensed home furnishings collection, Althorp Living History, based on over 500 years of living history from the Althorp Estate. The collection will be displayed this Market in a new, dedicated showroom-within-a-showroom environment marked by an entryway which has been replicated from Althorp.

According to Russell Towner, president of Theodore Alexander, introductions this season will “reflect a captivating insight into the past, with furnishings based on the distinctive legacy of each of the nine Earls Spencer and their specific achievements, whether military, naval, political, personal or in direct relation to the 14,000-acre Althorp estate.” The “Nine Earls” galleried selection encompasses signature pieces in tribute to each of the Earls correlating with his designated period in history.

Among the extraordinary pieces is a hand-carved mahogany library armchair commemorating the life of the 2nd Earl Spencer. As 1st Lord of the Admiralty between 1794 and 1801, George John Spencer appointed Horatio Nelson to the position of commander of the English Fleet in the Mediterranean. Originally crafted from timber taken from HMS Victory, flagship of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, the back of the remarkable chair is in the shape of a ship’s transom carved with a coat of arms and its armrests are modeled as cannons.

The 9th Earl Spencer’s literary achievements are celebrated with The Author’s Desk and Chair, a satinwood and rosewood cross banded writing table modeled after a late 18th century original by Thomas Sheraton. A finely carved mahogany armchair in the manner of George Hepplewhite features a shield back with wheat sheaf, palm leaf and rosette carving.

The invitation-only event for Althorp Living History retailers and media on Saturday, October 22 will feature a traditional champagne tea as served to visitors at the Althorp estate. The customary fare will include a selection of hand-cut sandwiches, fruit scones served with pots of jam and clotted cream, an array of English cakes and of course, freshly brewed Althorp Tea and House champagne.

Additionally, Earl Spencer will be making a special announcement during the event regarding an exciting sales promotion exclusively for Althorp Living History retailers.

The Althorp Living History collection provides a source of funds used in the restoration of the Althorp estate, one of England’s oldest and most impressive country houses and home to the Spencer family. Twenty consecutive generations of the Spencer family have resided at Althorp, including the current occupant—the 9th Earl Spencer.

The new Theodore Alexander showroom is located at 229 West Russell Avenue, #8 on the Green Line shuttle for High Point Market.

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Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

TerraSur Introduces Lucio Collection at High Point Market

TerraSur Lucio Dining Table

TerraSur Lucio Dining Table

TerraSur Furniture, manufacturers of high-end, hand-crafted case goods from Argentina, will show several new products at the upcoming International High Point Furniture Market on Oct. 22, InterHall Space IH504. Adding to its old-world, transitional and urban rustic designs, TerraSur will premiere the Lucio Collection along with introductions in the company’s Viento, Hugo and Atame product lines.

The new Lucio Collection reinterprets the beauty of Old World designs. With boldly turned legs and hand-finishing, each piece reflects the timeless art of European craftsmanship, scaled for modern lifestyles and both transitional and traditional furniture connoisseurs. “With Lucio, we want to appeal to the modern aesthetics of upscale consumers, while also reminding them that Old World can be current and exquisite,” said Jessica D. Holmstrom, president and founder of TerraSur.

The collection includes the Lucio dining table, available in 84-, 96- and 108-inch lengths, with retail prices ranging from $4,695 to $5,190. Also showing at the fall market for the first time are a console, coffee table, and 48-inch writing desk.

TerraSur Viento Coffee Table

TerraSur Viento Coffee Table

Combining a polished live-edge, solid wood top and distressed steel base, the Viento Collection is a relaxed interpretation of urban industrial design and can adapt to a number of style settings. TerraSur adds a coffee table and new dining table in four length options: 72-, 84-, 96- and 108-inches. Retail pricing for the table begins at $4,080.

In TerraSur’s Hugo Collection, which was introduced in October 2010, a new console priced to retail at $2,865 blends rustic, solid wood elements and brawny metal in elegant hand-applied finishes has been added for this market. “The Hugo Console was born from a desire to offer a sophisticated alternative to the rustic-industrial designs in the market today,” said Holmstrom. “We believe the Hugo Console can inhabit different design environments without losing its distinct form.”

A new dresser in the popular Atame Collection will retail for a suggested $4,650. “The Atame Bed has been one of our most successful introductions,” added Holmstrom, “The dresser includes the same design elements we envisioned for the bed and night stand—clean but with a touch of rustic elegance.” This rustic modern collection combines the beauty of solid wood, clean urban lines and a distinctive design feature: hand-distressed, woven leather accent shelves and headboards.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2011

BKIND3 Moves To New High Point Showroom

Shared space in C&D Building with Urbia Imports reflects synergy rooted in sustainability

CONOVER, N.C.– BKIND3, a manufacturer of eco-friendly upholstery, has moved its High Point showroom to the Commerce & Design (C& D) Building (Spaces 5E and 5J), where it is exhibiting together with Urbia Imports, which specializes in furniture crafted from reclaimed and re-purposed wood, as well as select plantation-grown resources.

BKIND3 founder and upholstery designer Carl Gustafson said the C&D Building is a perfect showcase for his company and Urbia Imports, since the complex attracts retailers and designers seeking original designs and sustainable products for their customers and clients.

“With BKIND3’s focus on creating eco-friendly upholstery built by North Carolina craftsmen and the wonderful wood products that Urbia Imports produces, our shared showroom is a showcase for embracing a sustainable philosophy,” Gustafson said. “The shared showroom also puts a spotlight on designs that fit together in a natural way because of the eco-friendly approach of each of our companies.”

From the beginning, the focus of BKIND3 has been simple; to produce well-styled, affordable seating and enable customers to make a conscious choice that is eco friendly, green and sustainable—and that also brings jobs back to North Carolina.

BKIND3 has reviewed every aspect of its business to be in compliance with best practices and social responsibility. Its frames are PlyFrame harvested in US SFI certified forests. Seating is made in part with soy-based BiOH polyols that leave a smaller environmental footprint than the petroleum materials they replace. Those efforts earned BKIND3 membership in the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For additional information about BKIND3, please visit http://www.bkind3.com/

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Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Groovystuff Sponsors Appalachian Supply Chain Club For High Point Market

Groovystuff is pleased to sponsor students from the Appalachian Supply Chain Club (ASCC) again at the fall High Point Market October 22-25, the Suites at Market Square, High Point, NC.  With the demands on furniture retailers and manufactures in today’s economy, delivering products to the customer at the lowest possible cost has never been more important and these students are at market to network with industry professionals and demonstrate how they can competitively improve the bottom line for market attendees.

The ASCC is Appalachian State University’s student-led supply chain management club. The club emphasizes six sigma, and quality management techniques as a core business philosophy and apply information systems and quantitative analysis to support this approach. All members are also members of APICS (http://www.apics.org), the parent organization. Most members are also actively working towards their minor in supply chain management.

As a mission statement, the ASCC promotes supply chain management by offering student members the chance to interact with industry professionals, while promoting career and professional development with networking and community involvement.

ASCC has 28 board members from various companies, including Transportation Insight, IBM, Lowes Home Improvement, and Total Insight. This semester we are having speakers from several of our board member companies come and talk about their companies, how they use supply chain management, and what opportunities they have for our students. We are planning a trip to Lowes Regional Distribution Center in Statesville NC, have an Advisory Board meeting in Boone, attending the American Home Furniture Alliance Show, and getting involved in the community through community service.

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Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Four Hands Sponsors LifeWorks for Fifth Year

Four Hands is marking five years of helping homeless youth by doing what they do best – creating peaceful, beautiful spaces. The global furniture importer and wholesaler will once again donate furniture to a one-day home makeover event for young people who are getting their lives together with the help of an Austin, TX nonprofit.

Each year volunteer teams compete to furnish and decorate apartments for youth living in the LifeWorks Supportive Housing Program. The program allows at risk kids to have a place to live, with subsidized rent from LifeWorks, who provides guidance and counseling while the kids attend school and work.

“Five years ago, we put a team together and re-made an apartment for a young woman who had been in foster care and had recently become a mother.  She was sleeping on a mattress on the floor, had a crib for her daughter and a couch that had been “recycled” many times over,” said Matthew Briggs, CEO and president of Four Hands. “Seeing her face when she walked in and saw her beautiful new home made us want to help more kids realize they are worthy of beauty, and we can help by putting Four Hands in each of their apartments.”

Since 2007, Four Hands has donated gift cards and deeply discounted furniture to each team making over a LifeWorks apartment. Every night in Austin, about 500 youth are homeless. LifeWorks runs a continuum of housing (street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive housing) to help them. The LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge is a chance for teams to get to really know some of these kids. That challenges their preconceptions about teen moms and homeless youth while showing the LifeWorks clients there are adults who want them to succeed.

“What Four Hands does for these formerly homeless youth gives me chills because it’s such a perfect fit,” said Susan McDowell, executive director of LifeWorks, “Four Hands’ involvement speaks to their mission of creating homes for people.  These are clients that before have not had a place to call home and with Four Hands’ Home help, they now do.”

The LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge is a friendly competition among community teams to create the best looking apartment with limited resources. Wade Oppliger, Vice President of Upholstery at Four Hands, will serve as judge for the 2011 event, which is September 30 at an apartment complex in South Austin, not far from Four Hands headquarters.

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Thursday, September 8th, 2011

The Guildmaster Amazing Race For A Dream Trip Around The World

Building on the success of the previous two GuildMaster tours, The GuildMaster Amazing Race offers a dream trip around the world to one lucky retailer and sales representative, through a contest which starts now. The trip includes stops in nine of the top global fashion capitals or $10,000 in cash.

It works like this. For each $1,000 in product purchased by a retailer or sold by a sales representative, one entry is earned so that the chance to win increases with the value of the orders. The contest ends on Friday, Nov. 19 when five finalists in each group will be pulled from the entries. The following week on Black Friday, Nov. 25, one winner in each group will be drawn from the five finalists and GuildMaster CEO Steve Crowder will personally deliver the news to the winning retailer and sales representative. Each of the winners will receive either two tickets for a dream trip around the world or $10,000.

The Top 25 Global Fashion Capitals according to the Global Language Monitor are in this order: London, New York, Paris, Milano, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Singapore, Tokyo, Berlin, Sydney, Madrid, Rome, Shanghai, Monaco, Las Vegas, Melbourne, Moscow, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Bali, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai and Sao Paulo.

“A trip around the world is on the bucket list for many people and wewant to know which of the top fashion capitals should be on the itinerary and why,” says Steve Crowder, GuildMaster CEO. “With the current state of the economy, it’s time to step out and celebrate success with something that is both fun and adventuresome.

To identify the favorite cities, GuildMaster on Tour Facebook fans are asked to Tell Us Your Dream City by telling why and by posting photos of the cities on the company’s Facebook page.  During the course of the contest, GuildMaster will highlight the top global fashion capitals, along with ongoing posts revealing the top dealers and reps.  The winning destinations will be based on the response from GuildMaster’s Facebook Fans.

“When I heard about the contest I thought, ‘They have to be kidding. A trip like this is unbelievable because there are so many places around the word that I’d love to visit’,” says Doug Self, of jdouglas in Atlanta. “It’s also energizing. I plan to encourage my team to earn as many entries as they can by the end of November.”

This is the third time GuildMaster has gone on tour, so to speak. In 2009, CEO Steve Crowder met face-to-face with more than one hundred retailers for the inaugural GuildMaster on Tour. In 2010, the second tour recognized themost outstanding retail displays across the U.S. and supported the favorite charities of the winning dealers.

The GuildMaster Amazing Race Contest Details:

  •  The contest dates are Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Nov. 19.
  • One entry into the contest is earned for each $1,000 purchased by a retailer or sold by a sales representative.
  • On Nov. 25, GuildMaster CEO Steve Crowder will personally visit the winning retailer and sales rep to reveal the winners of The GuildMaster Amazing Race for a dream trip around the world or $10,000 in cash.

GuildMaster home furnishings make an artistic statement that is casually elegant with a touch of whimsy.  Substantially scaled designs combine casual and formal elements that define GuildMaster furniture, wall art, accessories and lighting creations.  Using authentic, Old World techniques, 400 master craftsmen sculpt, carve, distress and paint solid mahogany and other high quality hardwoods to create uniquely handcrafted home accents.

A vertically integrated design, sourcing and logistics model enables GuildMaster to quickly identify trends and develop one-of-a-kind, made-to-order products that provide surprising value.  This marriage of artful furnishings with the science of a functioning supply chain allows customers to offer distinctive products while minimizing inventories.  Established in 1983, GuildMaster Inc. is committed to creating the finest home furnishings for interior designers and medium to upper-medium retailers across the U.S. For further information, visit www.guildmaster.com.

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Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Serta Mattress Offers Labor Day Savings With the iComfort(R) Free Box Spring Event

Last Chance for Savings on Serta’s New Sleep System With Breakthrough Memory Foam Technology
Serta Mattress is offering significant savings on its new and popular iComfort Sleep System with the iComfort Free Box Spring Event, going on this Labor Day weekend at participating Serta retailers. With this offer, consumers can get a free standard box spring with any iComfort purchase or save up to $400 on the advanced Serta Motion Perfect Adjustable Foundation.

“Labor Day weekend is traditionally a good time to shop for mattresses because many retailers are offering holiday savings and people have an extra day to shop,” says Andrew Gross, senior vice president of marketing. “We really encourage people to take advantage of our Free Boxspring Event by visiting a local iComfort retailer this weekend, before the offer ends.”

The new iComfort mattresses feature Serta’s exclusive Cool Action(TM) Gel Memory Foam, which has been designed to address the most common complaints about ordinary memory foam — sleeping too hot and lack of support. This is the world’s first memory foam infused with Serta’s MicroSupport Gel, a breakthrough in memory foam technology that makes the material up to 12 times more breathable and more supportive than ordinary memory foam.

To find additional information about the iComfort Free Box Spring Event, or to find a local participating retailer, visit www.serta.com/promo . To learn more about the new iComfort Sleep System by Serta, visit www.icomfortbyserta.com .

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Monday, August 29th, 2011

Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics Launches Blog with Informative Outdoor Cushion Discussion

This summer, casual industry veteran and entrepreneur, Jerry Newton was tapped for the first blog discussion, “A Cushion is a Cushion… but not necessarily a good one” by Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classic as its blog, http://palmspringsrattan.blogspot.com/ launched.

Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics' Savannah Deep Seating Group

“Our blog is intended to inform not only our clients, but also casual furnishing consumers of the importance of making informed decisions when it comes to their outdoor furnishings,” said Tami Newton, Sales Manager of Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics. “Cushions are one of the most important components of casual furniture and one that can make or break the entire outdoor experience.” The inaugural blog outlines that the cushion on a seating or dining group is an extremely vital part of the success of the group. “Even with the best looking frame in the world, if the cushion is not properly designed, the group will not retail,” said Jerry Newton. “I have always believed that the first impression of furniture must be a “WOW”, and the second impression as the customer sits down must be an ‘AHHH.’ Every piece should be individually designed to earn that reaction.”

Also pointed out in Mr. Newton’s piece was the fact that outdoor cushions are becoming a casualty of cost cutting practices. “Even though labor costs have always been less offshore, in past years the limited selection of marketable fabrics has left a lot to be desired in both quality and style by American standards,” said Mr. Newton. “In recent years, major improvement in offshore fabrics has once again encouraged cost cutters to import cushions to cover their product. They often look “acceptable” to the untrained eye, and the landed cost of a cushion with imported fabric and fill is a fraction of the cost of one containing American made materials and labor.” The blog continues in saying that there is far more to good quality cushions than appearance.

“There is still no substitute for well engineered consistent quality cushion filler,” said Jerry Newton. “An attractive and functional design, the proper density of high quality foam combined with premium fiber, and quality sewing is the one and the only way to accomplish the comfort and durability that consumers deserve and demand.”

Newton goes on to refer to the difficulty end consumers have in recognizing the difference in quality of frames between specialty products and those in the mass venues. “But when the consumer sits down for a few minutes, they will become irrevocably convinced that there is truly a difference in comfort between a good domestically produced cushion and a cheap import,” said Newton.

The initial Palm Springs Rattan blog, which also highlights the company’s products, refers to one answer to the quest for quality could be found in buying American and seeking a manufacturing partner that offers American craftsmanship. “Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics is known to have been crafting cushions in Florida since the early 80’s,” said Tami Newton. “The cushions in the Palm Springs line are uniquely designed for style, durability and utmost comfort on its specific frame. All Palm Springs fully upholstered sofas, sleepers, loveseats, recliners and action chairs are manufactured in the USA by American craftsmen. There is also a very extensive selection of high quality fabrics offered at one grade pricing.”

Yes… a cushion is a cushion… and some can even look pretty good. But when you find the one that is designed from top to bottom with pride and quality, you will quickly experience the difference.

For more information about Palm Springs Rattan and Garden Classics, visit www.palmspringsrattan.com or contact Tami Newton at sales@palmspringsrattan.com.

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Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Trellis Design Added to Pride Family Brands’ Line Up of Cast Table Top Options

An Intricate cast design combining openwork and hand-tooled motifs, the Trellis Table Top from Pride Family Brands adds another elegant option for outdoor dining.

With the combination of a fresh open work cast design and an intricate carved inset, the Trellis table top is the latest cast design from award winning casual furniture manufacturer, Pride Family Brands.  Created to coordinate with multiple seating styles, the Trellis Table Top is the latest addition to the high-end manufacturer’s outdoor dining selections.

Pride Family Brands Trellis Table Top

“Each season, we look to our artisans to introduce another fresh cast table top design that will score big with our dealers,” said Jamie Lowsky, C.E.O., Pride Family Brands. “The Trellis design has answered this call.  It is creating a great deal of excitement and should be one of our leading table top designs this season.”

Trellis joins Pride Family Brands’ multi-style line up of eleven cast aluminum table top designs.  “The Trellis design has been created to fit into our expanding line of wrought aluminum dining selections,” said Rory Rehmert, vice president of sales and marketing for Pride Family Brands. “The wrought aluminum collections have been extremely popular with our retail partners and this addition is in response to interest in additional complementing table tops.”   Coordinating with the Centurion, Veranda and Milazzo leg designs, Trellis is available in multiple sizes including this season’s debuting elliptical design.

All 2012 introductions are on display at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.  Pride Family Brands’ handcrafted luxury casual furnishings are available at specialty retailers nationwide.  For more information about Pride Family Brands and their distinguished lines of casual furniture visit www.pridefamilybrands.com or contact 954-735-9800.

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