Global Furniture Industry Highlights

(Excerpted from publications by International Alliance of Furn

Let Me Entertain You-Tune Into the Captivating Appeal of AV Furniture

The most dramatic development in domestic interiors has been the growth of audio-visual equipment. In the space of only a matter of years, the expansive technological advancements in the home entertainment field have led furniture designers into new exciting realms.

Accommodating wide screens and massive plasmas, housing specialist gaming equipment and much more besides, the new generation of living space furniture is ever-evolving and bursting with design prowess.

Stressless has turned its attention to creating a personal home cinema space with the essential ingredient of comfort. The furniture is specifically designed to streamline the living room and brings a true feeling of the theatre.

The genius, however, lies in the flexibility of the modules that help de-clutter the space. Each person can have a table within reach if they choose the Sector table and armrest option for instance, or an ottoman which makes for clever hidden storage (incidentally, it can also double as a foot rest or snack bar).

With high adjustable back and neck support, Stressless chairs and sofas ensure perfectly comfortable viewing. And if space is at premium, the corner table is ideal to gently 'arc' the furniture to create true cinema styling.

As well as providing the seating for the entertainment, pieces which accommodate the equipment are also a critical component. Anna Casa Interiors has pioneered contemporary Italian furniture in this sphere with a unique and distinctive collection from Reflex.

Reflex furniture is made from glass, steel, timber and mirror and some key pieces feature sections made in Murano colored glass (including red, gold, black, blue and white).

The Mirage Stand is a device which rotates and on the back has a full length mirror; this means it is ideal to hide a TV in such places as a bedroom. The swiveling stand for a plasma TV has a round base with a brushed finish and the door is finished in dark grey glass.

Sleek, contemporary styling goes hand in hand with the very nature of AV equipment. It does indeed seem very logical that state of the art paraphernalia should be presented, displayed or housed in chic furniture that reaches the same high standards.

One such company to offer a comprehensive selection of up-to-date ranges is Bentley Designs.

Bold and modern, Cuba combines fashionable style with excellent value for money. Featuring striking black ash with sleek metal handles, this is a collection that will make a strong style statement in any living area. A functional entertainment unit with good sized drawers for storage, it is also available in oak and with an acacia finish.

Solid knotty American oak and oak veneers of enormous character combined with clean, simple lines give Lyon a bold, modern look. The range offers two sizes of entertainment unit; both with functional storage.

Intricately crafted from selected American white oak solids and veneers, the Marlow dining collection from Bentley exudes a sense of enduring luxury. From soft closing runners, English dovetail drawer boxes and decorative tenon joints to dark antiqued brass handles and cornicing trims, the finishing touches are many. This classically styled entertainment unit has two shelves concealed behind glass doors and two drawers offering good storage space.

The juxtaposition of dark stained solid American oak and oak veneers against lustrous quarter cut walnut veneer ensures Seville is both striking and opulent. With design details, such as soft closing drawers and retro style handles, this entertainment unit also features practical storage.

Understated yet elegant, Caravelle blends quality and detail in equal measures. Crafted from American white oak and black walnut solids and veneers, it has a subtle Art Deco feel. Added details include the slim line handles and insets in walnut.

Offering a wide selection of choice-not only to suit personal decor tastes. But also to accommodate a range of varying equipment appears to be key to this segment of the market. Ercol has a variety of TV and media cabinets for these very reasons.

There are a total of four cabinet collections containing media units. Ercol's 'IR eye' has been designed with very specific functionality in mind. It is all very well having a stylish media unit, but it is far from ideal if you have to keep the cabinet doors open while using a DVD player or stereo tucked inside.

To combat this Ercol has devised a clever solution to keep cabinet doors firmly shut, by including infrared technology in the new range of media units. Infrared allows use of a standard remote control to operate the electronic units with the wooden doors shut, and also keeps unsightly wiring hidden from view and free from dust.

The combination of stylish craftsmanship and traditional hand-finished techniques with modern infrared technology makes this collection of new TV cabinets both a positive aesthetic choice and a practical one.

The company has recently expanded the oak Artisan range with new additions. Two new TV cabinets are now available with the option of the infrared transmitter 'IR eye'. The Artisan range, with its clean lines and matt lacquer finish, is a modern classic, and the new media units complete the elegant range. There is ample shelf space for a DVD player and a roomy drawer for storing movies.

For customers with wide screen TVs, the Windsor media unit (also with IR eye) offers 156 cm of solid elm to comfortably hold even the largest models. Available in a range of five wood finishes, it features the same traditional methods of dovetail joints as the rest of the Windsor collection.

Storage is also taken care of with substantial shelving and two spacious drawers with the signature Windsor oval handles.

Akin to Stressless, Ercol has also focused on comfortable seating solutions with a range of recliners including the new Modena chair, or the award-winning Gina recliner.

As well as offering conventional items in a living space range, many furniture wholesalers and designers are creating AV furniture as a matter of course to complement existing lines. Sweet Dreams, for example, has a range of furniture for audio visual equipment which features a wide spectrum of sizes; from the compact to the all-encompassing.

At the smaller end is the Crystal TV unit, in dark tempered glass and chrome. With a width of 90 cm, it is still sufficiently large for most widescreen TVs and the shelf and usable base is suitable for a DVD player or digital box. The TV unit complements other Crystal furniture, such as the various occasional tables including a nest of three on castors and two dining sets.

Larger in dimensions, the Kirkgate TV unit has a width of 120 cm. Features include two handy drawers and an enclosed shelf. Crafted in pale oak with a distinctive walnut inlay, it is one of Sweet Dreams' major success stories. The range also includes an extendable dining table, bookcase, sideboard and occasional tables.

Measuring a generous 130 cm wide, Lennox is a gently curved piece of white high gloss furniture with four drawers and two enclose shelves. It is also part of a range which is made up of a curved sideboard, oval coffee table and a striking dining set with oval table and convex oval back chairs.

It is a significant point that a dramatic shift in the AV market is to let the screen become a feature, rather than masking it. With this in mind, 4 Living presents a choice of two TV tables in its Oriental Shanghai furniture collection. Made fro solid reclaimed pinewood, both combine stylish, oriental design with modern-day functionality, which is suited to accommodate the variety of LCD and plasma screens on the market.

The larger of the two tables measures an impressive 180 cm wide and features plenty of storage for DVDs and digital receivers; well-positioned wire holes ensure a clutter-free appearance. The slightly smaller of the two has an open shelf across its entire width and both are finished in a stunning black lacquer, with brass handles and antique detailing.

Also designing for the burgeoning contemporary market, Gautier has developed 'Urban'. Available in a white gloss lacquer, it features a restrained design (in terms of the black and white aspect), while accommodating current style trends.

With small dimensions, this design is ideally suited to apartments and contemporary houses. The TV unit (with an extension) can be used either at an angle or straight. A top unit comes as finishing touch, as it can be positioned behind the TV unit either horizontally or vertically.

Also from Gautier, the Cocktails range has seen some new add-on to its existing pieces.

Modular glass and wood book and shelving units are now available which allow customers to personalize their bookshelves or TV area. "The response with these units has been very positive as they fit all environments wither singularly or stacked together," says Martyn Lincoln, general manager of Gautier UK.

A highly adaptable range, the pieces available in the Setis range can complement most of the Gautier living and dining collections. "One piece to remember in the range is the TV units" says Lincoln. "With its graphic design and trendy materials alliance of stainless, lacquered glass and black acrylic, it is the ideal element designed for the multimedia universe."

"This unique piece is a support for flat screen TV to fix or pose, as well as arrangements for audio video equipment and storage for CDs or DVDs. The fixing for the flat screen is a standard one and is included. It can receive a screen p to 107 cm."

With the ever emerging high technology audio visual product, as a company Sutcliffe Furniture with White & Newton reveals that is has been proactive in response to the home owners requirements with its innovative design of display units that both complement the new AV products on the market and importantly the end customer's furniture choices.

Also blending traditional with modern living is Charles Barr. Charles Barr's G533M4 plasma bookcase cabinet cleverly conceals a TV by using two dummy antique bookcase fascias mounted on a simple pulley system to reveal a flat screen television. This piece is available in several sizes and in choice of finishes.

The realm of audio visual also includes monitors and considering that so many now work from home or regularly use the computer or access the internet, it comes as no surprise that this area of home furnishings is also flourishing. Recognizing the potential for creating furniture which produces a well organized part of the home where these activities can be carried out comfortably and productively, Caxton Furniture has launched the Home Office Collection.

"To help introduce the concept we have crated three different home office combination packages, each one suited to different sized projects," says David Evans, brand manager. "And thanks to the flexibility of the Caxton Home Office system this can be added to as and when needed."

Alternatively, by using the desk, drawers and cupboards as stand alone items or piecing them together fro the 'fitted look', customers can easily tailor their home office to best suit its use and the space available.

A range which incorporates technology directly into the furniture is Surround from Natuzzi.

According to Natuzzi, this sofa originates from the ever-increasing desire to offer an extremely relaxing experience while listening to the music: the corner, indeed, is endowed with a technologic plus composed of two side loudspeakers and a docking station for the I-Pod.

This technological devise is connected with a modern designed sofa, rich in aesthetic details such as the stitching on the back and seater cushions. The backrest is composed of two modular headrests that assure a great ergonomics.

It is possible to customize the covering in leather choosing among the wide range of Natuzzi colors. The sofa will be also available without technologic corner.

With ease of use as top priority, along with great looks and superb design features, the realm of audio visual furniture is now expanding as quickly, and as eloquently, as the equipment it is designed to house. (Excerpted from the United Kingdom's Cabinet Maker issued Sept. 18, 2009)

Home Work-the Burgeoning Success of the Home Office Makes Furniture for This Area a Profitable Addition

It is well known that the number of people working from home is on the increase. And whether this is full-time entrepreneurs--or those preferring to miss the rush hour on day a week-the office is now very much a part of everyone's living space.

In response to this growing trend, Caxton Furniture launched its Home Office Collection over three years ago with considerable success. "It was a case of the right product at the right time," says David Evans, brand manager.

"The beauty of the Home Office collection has always been its simplicity and flexibility. From what is essentially a compact collection, its modular structure allows the customer to mix and match to create the best solution for their space and budget. And last year we added a walnut finish to the collection, which has added to its appeal."

The collection includes all that you would expect; from desk units with pullout bases for keyboard and printer, floor and wall units with doors or shelves, to a filing cabinet which takes standard size suspension files. But, significantly, there any gadgets and gimmicks that often complicate the planning and buying process.

Gautier, too, has found a niche in crating professional office furniture that also delivers on style to suit individual environments. Following the rapid evolution of multimedia in the home, the Visoo collection is ideal for computer home entertainment or for home-based work.

This range is equally at home in a spare room or at the heart of the main living space of the house.

In terms of aesthetics, the materials used (glass, metal and lacquer) give this collection a contemporary spirit; very much in keeping with what can be found in the living room or kitchen furniture.

The glass top desk brings an utterly modern touch and the collection responds well to functional constraints (clutter and storage) for home use. The contrast in dimensions and the combination of wenge and grey coloring allows the storage units to create a true style statement.

Contemporary and 'on trend', Easy from Gautier is dedicated to adapting to specialist tastes. The pure lines and modern feel of the collection will bring a new mood to your home office. A rounded shape and up-to-the-minute finishes denote the range.

Also with a contemporary, Lounge is also part of Gautier home office offer. Spanning the divide, it functions superbly for both professionals and those simply keeping up to date with domestic paperwork. There are four items available; a desk, mobile drawer unit and two multifunctional bookcases. Design features include a high gloss finish and two-tone long handles on the doors and drawer fronts. Giving even more character, the doors and drawers are reversible-allowing the customer to choose either the white or wenge side.

Specializing in the traditional market, Charles Barr presents the Grandeur Mahogany office range. Inlaid with exotic burr olive ash timbers, it presents a traditional look as well as a practical arrangement of pieces.

Several sizes of desks are available in the range-all of which can be adapted to take computer equipment. "There is a free-standing modular style bookcase unit which fits together to fill virtually any size requirement including left or right corner returns," says Danny Bryan, joint managing director. "Filing drawers or storage cupboards can also be incorporated to utilize valuable wall space."

Designed by Matthew Hilton, the Treviso desk is from Ercol. Illustrating that home office furniture can be not only functional but beautiful too, it is made of oak and finished in matt lacquer. The styling simple and effortless feel and key features include two drawers plus a cable hole at the back to channel computer and laptop wires.

Operating at the high end of the designer market, Christopher Guy presents a stunning mahogany desk with a rolled paper profile running along the front edge. This is complemented by Christopher Guy's signature "silk-cut" slice carved through the top, for laptop/and PC cabling. Measuring 180 cm in width, 80 cm in depth and 75 cm in height, the exclusive piece is typical of Guy's ability to produce timeless beauty.

With a refined, sophisticated air of style prowess, Evitavonni has designed a gentlemen's study. Based in Surrey, the outfit has developed an exclusive Lifestyle Gallery which showcases an extensive range of both internationally renowned brands and bespoke products through inspirational room sets which have been designed by Evitavonni's in-house team.

Not all furniture has to e specifically designed to create an amiable home office space. Take the TT table from HJ Berry for example. TT (tough top) is perfect as a hard working area on account of its heat, stain and scratch resistant properties. Available in 12 wood shades, the table is available in a vast amount of sizes and leg styles.

Looking good and getting the work done is essential, but so is taking the necessary time out to relax. Stressless has the perfect solution in the form of a home office recliner and matching footstool. Offering a comfortable setting for time away from the computer screen, it can also-for those wedded to the laptop-be combined with the Stressless PC table. Attaching easily to most recliner models, it provides a firm, stable work space directly above your lap, leaving you free to move around and enjoy an ergonomic working position in your recliner.

Providing attractive solutions for storage, Nathan Furniture's Living Library collection offers a practical solution to home office needs. The Living Library range offers a practical addition to the Shades range and has been designed to stand alone or be used together to offer the ultimate in attractively designed storage.

Andrew Cochrane, managing director of Nathan, said: "The Shades teak Living Library collection of bookcases provides a flexible, modular solution that offers an elegant solid design and fills a gap in the market. The added value of the design provides retailers with something striking to offer their customers and enjoys the benefit of a huge amount of flexibility."

He added, "For retailers Living Library provides the option of quality branded products across an even expanding range of modular units-that complements the consumer's existing teak living or dining ranges."

With a wide range of furniture available for the home office it's easy to see why ore and more people are working from home. (Excerpted from the United Kingdom's Cabinet Maker issued Oct. 23, 2009)

Researcher: Consumers Don't Know What 'Green' Means

By Heath E. Combs

Green and sustainable product still faces an uphill battle when it comes to reaching a widespread audience of consumers, according to a new market research.

In fact, they are still pretty confused about what exactly "green" means and aren't dying to rush out and be green, said Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, a specialist in researching environmental issues.

Shelton presented some of her recent findings at the American Home Furnishings Alliance's second annual Sustainability Summit, held recently at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina of the U.S.

The AHFA commissioned the research to measure the importance of environmental attributes in home furnishings purchases.

Shelton said the study sought to understand what mainstream consumers care about and respond to in green purchases. The findings are aimed at aiding green marketing messages.

Shelton said that green is a mainstream concept and there is a broad desire-by 60% of the population-for greener product. However, consumers still known very little about what green claims mean and what to believe, she added.

Shelton said that when mainstream consumers were asked to name a feature of a green home, only 53% were able to. That almost half were unable to name a green feature was surprising considering that low-wattage light bulbs, flooring from sustainable woods, and solar panels are mainstream examples of green features, she said.

There are also widespread misperceptions about product claims, she said, citing the terms "natural" and "organic."

Consumers would rather see a product that is "natural" rather than "organic," but they don't really know the difference between the two, the survey found. Lower middle class income earners believe organic is a fancy marketing term that allows companies to charge more money.

"What we hear over and over in focus groups is two things: One, a giant misperception that 'natural' is actually the regulated term, and 'organic' is not regulated. Which is exactly the opposite of how it is," Shelton said.

She said companies hoping to market green claims need to understand their audience, and must realize that it will take significant marketing dollars to inform their consumers.

Green features, however, can serve as a tiebreaker in mature industries, she said. For example, she said that in facial moisturizers, if consumers are faced with two equal brands at the same price, sustainability features would likely help influence a purchasing decision.

"Green features from furniture are important. It's not the most important thing, but it's important in a tiebreaker," she said. "And it commands a higher price point. So that's great new as a marketer. Its mainstream and people will pay more money for it." (Excerpted from Furniture/Today issued Dec. 14, 2009, Vol. 34 No. 15)

Stylution Acquires Wickline Assets

By David Perry

Chinese bedding major Stylution International is ready to establish a mattress manufacturing presence in the U.S. market with its recent acquisition of the assets of Wickline Bedding.

Documents filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court indicate that Stylution paid US$300,000 to acquire the physical assets and intellectual property of Wickline, a 50-year-old independent bedding producer that ceased operations last fall. The assets were purchased at a bankruptcy auction.

Ed Scott, president of Stylution USA, the U.S. sales arm of Dongguan, China-based Stylution International, said Stylution is leasing the Wickline factory here. "We will operate the facility to produce and distribute order to provide better service to U.S. retailers."

Scott said Stylution will produce and sell Stylution products as well as Sleep Therapy-branded products-a brand that was owned by Wickline. "We will also be exporting products back to Asia, particularly Japan, Taiwan and China," he added.

Wickline was a well-known independent bedding producer. The company was founded in 1949 and was purchased by former Simmons executive Ray Malkiewicz in 1978. Several members of his family were involved in the business when it ceased operations last fall.

Stylution entered the U.S. bedding market several years ago and produces a broad line of specialty and innerspring models, some of which are compressed in China for shipment to U.S. retailers. The producer says it offers a strong value story for retailers looking to add margin to their bedding departments. (Excerpted from Furniture/Today issued Jan. 11, 2010, Vol. 34 No. 19)

Preliminary Antidumping Rates Set for 2008

By Thomas Russell

The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued preliminary results for the 2008 administrative review of Chinese wood bedroom furniture shipments.

The result, which affect the duty rates of 2008 wood bedroom furniture shipments to the United States, assign a preliminary duty of 20.36% to 13 of about 200 companies that were initially identified for a review. The companies that received that rate are:

--Dongguan Sunrise Furniture Co., Ltd., Taicang Sunrise Wood Industry Co., Ltd., Taicang Fairmount Designs Furniture Co., Ltd., and Meizhou Sunrise Furniture Co., Ltd.

--Longrange Furniture Co., Ltd.

--Langfang Tiancheng Furniture Co., Ltd.

--Shun Feng Furniture Co., Ltd.

--COE Ltd.

--Tianjin Fortune Furniture Co., Ltd.

--Transworld (Zhangzhou) Furniture Co., Ltd.

--Decca Furniture Ltd.

--Dongguan Landmark Furniture Products Ltd.

--Winny Overseas Ltd.

--Dongguan Yihaiwei Furniture Ltd.

--Baigou Crafts Factory of Fengkai

--Zhongshan Gainwell Furniture Co., Ltd.

Thirty-four others have received what is known as an All China rate of 216%. Most received the high rate largely because they did not fully respond to government questionnaires about their wood bedroom shipments.

These figures are preliminary and won't be finalized until the Commerce Department completes the review process. The final results will be released in about 120 days.

Those rates, which are paid by the importers of record, will represent the balance owed on duties assigned for wood bedroom shipments from China. If the final duty comes in lower than the initial cash deposit rate, those importers are eligible for a refund.

Last September, Commerce also rescinded the administrative review for 125 other companies that had had their review requests withdrawn. Through this process, the companies negotiate a settlement with the petitioners to have their names taken off the review list. The process allows them to retain a separate rate status of around 7.24%.

The announcement is the latest development is an antidumping process that dates back to 2003. At that time, a group of domestic manufacturers asked the U.S. government to investigate the pricing of Chinese wood bedroom shipments, which were largely blamed for U.S. furniture production job losses. Using Indian wood bedroom shipments as a guide, the resulting investigation found that Chinese wood bedroom furniture was priced much lower than fair market values.

Initial duties were first assigned in June 2004 and finalized by early 2005.

Each year since then, the DOC has performed an audit, or administrative review of the duties to determine if any business practices of the Chinese producers have changed that would warrant an increase in their initial rate.

The latest administrative review used furniture shipments from the Philippines as a guide, because U.S. officials deemed the country a comparable producer of these goods. (Excerpted from Furniture/Today issued Feb. 22, 2010, Vol. 34 No. 24)

Research Show Interest in 'Green' Bedding

By David Perry

Most consumers would choose a mattress with an environmentally friendly claim, and a significant number would pay more for such a mattress, according to consumer research sponsored by the Specialty Sleep Assn.

And a separate study of bedding retail sales associates, also sponsored by the SSA, found that many sales people believed bedding manufacturers are not supplying enough information on the environmental impact of their bedding.

The SSA research, released during the February Las Vegas Market, found consumers are interested in various green issues. Those results boost the SSA's Green Initiative, an effort to clarify environmental claims made by bedding producers, SSA officials said.

As part of that initiative, the SSA asked what claims consumers would want addressed by an industry label, seal or program. "Safety" and "emissions" were the top two issues. Of the consumers surveyed, 79% said they would choose a mattress with an environmentally friendly claim.

According to the survey of 637 adults, two-thirds of consumers were "very" or "extremely" concerned about the health and safety of the products they purchase. Safety of materials was the most important environmental attribute to consumers selecting a new mattress (41%), followed by mattresses that are free of emissions (15%), and mattresses produced by responsible manufacturing processes (10%). In addition, the study showed that 39% of the respondents indicated that they would pay more for an environmentally friendly mattress.

The SSA conducted a separate survey of retail sales associates at 233 stores run by 61 retailers. This research identified a need for clear environmental terminology, SSA said.

Half of the respondents believed that manufacturers are not supplying enough information about the environmental impact of their mattresses. The vast majority (87%) believe an industry standard, certification or seal would be helpful, with almost one in three saying it would be "very helpful."

Among other key findings:

--Three-quarters of the retail sales associates surveyed (76%) have had customers ask for "natural," "organic" or "environmentally friendly" mattresses.

--Two-thirds of the RSAs surveyed (69%) have had customers ask for mattresses free of added chemicals.

--More than half of consumer respondents (56%) said a "green" seal or certification on a mattress would make them more likely to consider that mattress.

Consumers expressed greater concern for the environmental impact of a mattress at the end of the lifecycle versus the beginning of its lifecycle, SSA said. (Excerpted from Furniture/Today issued March 1, 2010, Vol. 34 No. 25)