Indonesia Furniture Directory

Jeff Linville
Tennessee factory will become warehouse, service center

HIGH POINT — Case goods company Cresent Fine Furniture plans to cease domestic production this spring and move to a fully sourced line.

The plant in Gallatin, Tenn., will transition into a warehouse, logistics and customer service center, a company executive said during premarket here.

“The dynamics of the furniture industry today dictate an increasing reliance on offshore manufacturing in order to meet customer expectations and deliver the greatest possible value to consumers and retailers,” said President Tommy Tomkins.

Cresent is a third-generation, family-owned provider of solid-wood furniture, traditionally known for its U.S.-made case goods.
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– Furniture Today
Deadline is Aug. 3

NEW LONDON, N.C. — The American Society of Furniture Designers is accepting applications for its 2006 Pinnacle design awards. The competition, in its 11th year, promotes outstanding furniture design by honoring designers.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 3.The awards will be presented at a banquet in the International Home Furnishings Center Ballroom in High Point on Wednesday, Oct.18, during the fall furniture market.

The 2006 Pinnacle Awards sponsors include APA-The Engineered Wood Assn., Appalachian Hardwood Mfrs., Elmo Leather, FurnitureFan, Furniture Style, Hafele America, Hickory Springs Mfg., Home Furnishings Business, Home Lighting & Accessories, Leggett & Platt, The October Co., Weyerhaeuser and the World Market Center Las Vegas.
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Thomas Russell
Importer had been in New Bern, N.C., since 1991

HIGH POINT — Case goods importer Kemp Enterprises is moving its headquarters from New Bern, N.C., to High Point.

In May, the company will complete its move to offices to 212 S. Pendleton St., off East Kivett Drive.

Kemp purchased the 115,000-square-foot building there in June 2005 for use as a warehouse. About 7,000 square feet now will be used for offices, said company President Bill Kemp. He said it makes sense to have the two operations in one location.

The company was founded in Greensboro, N.C., in 1990 and has been based in New Bern since 1991.
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– Furniture Today,
Leard named merchandising/network manager

MONTREAL – Buying group and retail veteran Earle Leard has been named merchandising and network manager in furniture and bedding for Ontario, Western Canada and the Atlantic provinces at Cantrex Group.

Also, Paul Allems has been named manager for Cantrex banner Furniture Plus, and Claudette Stivens appointed business development manager for British Columbia. In addition, John Kennedy will assume a new role as merchandising manager for Western Canada.
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By Courtney Mueller — Casual Living,
Manufacturers of barbecues and barbecue accessories are saying business is pretty good despite challenges posed by imports, shipping and competition with mass merchants, who are quickly making strong gains in the industry.

 The outdoor living concept still is catching on with homeowners, and manufacturers like Viking continue to introduce innovative outdoor kitchen items to separate its products from those found at mass merchants.
According to Casual Living’s 2004 Universe Study (Nov. 2005), grill sales increased 5% between 2002 and 2004, from $3 billion to $3.2 billion. Home improvement centers like Home Depot and Lowe’s and discount department stores such as Wal-mart, Kmart and Target increased in sales in the category, while specialty stores lost revenue.
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– Home Accents Today

Alderson to stay on as CEO
Kirkland’s has named Catherine David president and chief operating officer. Robert Alderson will continue as chief executive officer of the company.

A 20-year retail veteran, David was most recently senior vice president and general manager of Sears Essentials, Sears Grand and The Great Indoors for Sears Holding Corporation. She spent 13 years with Target in a variety of buying, merchandise planning, store operations and Web site management roles.
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Clint Engel
Steve Halper named president of unit

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate is launching a division to find and broker warehouse and distribution center locations for furniture suppliers and retailers.

Steve Halper, who joined Feinblum this past fall, is president of the new warehouse/distribution division. A 36-year veteran of retailers Seaman’s Furniture and Levitz, he held various merchandising and operations management posts, including warehouse/distribution, customer service and real estate. Halper is a licensed New York State real estate salesperson.

The division will work out of Feinblum’s Plainview headquarters, and possibly its Santa Monica, Calif., office.
President Julius Feinblum said he sees big growth potential for the new division, which will assist retailers and suppliers looking for warehouse space or land to buy or lease to build new warehouses.
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Jeff Linville
Group seeks home furnishings partners

Licensing agent Kerry Glasser is marketing the BlarneyStone brand to the home furnishings industry. Based on the centuries-old Blarney Castle in Ireland, BlarneyStone Marketing is looking for manufacturing partners in such categories as furniture, accents/ accessories, bedding, rugs and textiles.
NEW YORK — The next big licensed collection could be Irish brand BlarneyStone, as branding specialist Kerry Glasser seeks home furnishings partners.

Glasser and his firm Concept Marketing Group have helped bring together such licensors as Oscar de la Renta, Jessica McClintock, Nautica, Althorp/Earl Spencer and Tommy Bahama with manufacturers like Century, American Drew, Lea Inds., Lexington Home Brands and Theodore Alexander.
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Joan Gunin
Has worked for company since 1992

HIGH POINT — Joe Mussallem has been promoted to vice president of sales for Natuzzi Americas.

Mussallem, who joined Natuzzi in 1992, was most recently strategic product manager. He replaces John Phillips, who resigned as executive vice president of sales in mid-March.

The company’s regional vice presidents of sales and marketing, Bob DeSantis (East) and Hugh Landes (West), now report to Mussallem.

In an interview at premarket here last week, Mussallem said he recognizes that the industry is changing and he hopes to be a “bridge” between “who we are and who we want to be” in the coming years.
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– Furniture Today,
Bensimon has played active role in WHFA since 1992

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Ronny Bensimon, president of Los Angeles-based Dearden’s furniture stores, has been named the 2006 Western Retailer of the Year by the Western Home Furnishings Assn.

He will receive the award May 23 at a gala dinner during the 46th Annual WHFA Managerial Conference and Tradeshow in Hawaii.

Each year, the WHFA honors a home furnishings retailer who is exemplary in merchandising, advertising, store design and business practices, demonstrates service to his community, and maintains a commitment to support the betterment of the home furnishings industry.
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