Craft And Furniture

Colony collection

2006-06-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

The Colony collection provides an oasis of tropical, casual style in a Brushed Maple finish. Entertainment and office furniture bring a civilizing order to electronic components and digital media with adjustable shelving, pull-out trays, cord management, and dedicated file storage

Every piece in Sauder's collection of entertainment furniture is sturdily crafted, beautifully detailed, and designed for maximum utility and convenience. You'll find units like armoires and entertainment centers that provide a variety of storage options for all your home theater needs: tapes, DVDs and CDs, as well as adjustable shelving for components and TV sizes for 40" and above. Other value-added features on select entertainment furniture items include safety-tempered glass, pull-out shelves, easy-roll casters, swivel tops, and concealed storage. Our entertainment centers are available in a wide variety of styles and enduring finishes. Sauder provides the entertainment furniture to fit your lifestyle: armoires and entertainment centers, bookshelves, storage cabinets, tv stands, dvd towers and more

source:www.Sauder.com

Wood Desk

2006-06-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

Project Hutch
Item Number: 400475
Avg. Retail Price: $134.99 (more details)
Collection: N/A
Finish: Caramel Birch
Type: Craft Storage
FeaturesAttaches to Project Bench 400293. Features pegboard hanging wall with cork board. Includes task light and power strip with three outlets. 1" thick top. Caramel Birch finish.
DimensionsW:46 1/4" (117.4cm)D:15" (38.0cm)H:18 1/2" (47.0cm)
source:www.sauder.com

Bedroom Furniture

2006-06-16T04:36:00.000-07:00

Although Sauder's bedroom furniture and armoires are genuine eye openers, you can rest easy in knowing that each selection--whether an armoire, modular furniture unit or other home furnishing piece--provides high-quality workmanship and a fine furniture fit. In a variety of styles and finishes, our armoires and modular bedroom furniture and collections range from contemporary to traditional and blend with any decor. Our bedroom home furnishing pieces offer adjustable shelves, generous storage space, easy-glide metal drawer runners with safety stops, and detailed hardware. Our bedroom furniture is the perfect accompaniment to any home

Woodland Oak Bar

2006-06-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Made from Oak Veneer and Hardwood Solids.
Carved overlays and rope twisted columns.
Antique Brass Footrail.
18 wine glass storage capable.
2 doors with adjustable shelves.
Wood framed Marble serving surface.
2 spacious storage drawers.
Some minor assembly may be required.

Trends in Garden Furniture

2006-06-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Garden furniture is now available in all price ranges and comes in a wide variety of materials and styles. The present trend favours high-end furniture. Furniture made of good quality wood, such as teak, is both durable and inviting. It requires a little maintenance, but it is really worth the effort. Selecting patio furniture made of teak, particularly teak wood taken from the core of the tree, will ensure a high quality wood whose smaller grain is much more resistant. Preserve it with teak oil to protect it from the effects of weather and the sun, premature aging, and cracks.
Metal furniture is regaining its popularity. We can find corrosion-resistant cast aluminum tables with embedded glass, solid steel tables, rectangular tables with glass top and rotating platter, rectangular or round tables with tempered glass tops, and rectangular tables with embedded glass. The matching chairs and loungers can be made of corrosion-resistant cast aluminum with cushions, of aluminum and canvas, of lattice and cushions, or with the very popular canvas chairs. The market-style umbrella can be straight or bendable.
The most popular items are mid-backed chairs and high-backed loungers. Stacking chairs are most often chosen for their practicality. Gliding chairs, gliding rockers, and lounge chairs will sometimes complete the set. We are seeing more and more hammocks and suspended swings. Naturally, the bench is now well installed in our garden where it will stay, and the traditional swing adds to the serenity.
Source: mykawartha.com

Atlantis Antiques Furniture

2006-06-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Atlantis Antique which is establish in Jepara since 1989, runs in manufactures and exports high quality mahogany, teak and pine both indoor furniture and garden furniture.
Their foreign trade have been widely distributed to many countries in the world ; Italy, Greece, France, England, Australia, South Africa, USA, Spain, Ireland, Germany and Malaysia.Atlantis Antique have full confidence of your exclusive furniture orders with selected woods and many exclusive design or your own design.
Contact Information:Office / Factory :Jl. Raguklampitan Km. 1,7 PulodaratPecangaan Jepara 59462 Indonesia
Tel. +62 291 754560Fax. +62 291 754553Attn. Mr. Eko Priyadi – Export Manager
Email :Sales Information at sales@atlantisantique.comGeneral Information at info@atlantisantique.comComment and Suggestion at webmaster@atlantisantique.comWebsite: www.atlantisantique.com

Furniture Company High Point for Facilities

2006-06-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

A furniture importer is considering a north High Point site for a major distribution facility that could provide 120 new jobs.
Legacy Classic Furniture, a company that manufactures furniture overseas, is considering a 307,000 square-foot distribution center and 40,000 square-foot office at Premier Center, one of the newest office parks in north High Point on Penny Road.
The High Point City Council could consider offering the company $305,000 in economic incentives to locate its distribution center in north High Point on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. If High Point is selected, the company could invest about $18 million in the center.
The company is leasing a warehouse in eastern Guilford County for its operations. Legacy Classic is a subsidiary of Samson Holding. Universal Furniture, another subsidiary of Samson, opened a distribution center in north High Point in 2002.

Indonesia Craft and Furniture Review in This Blog

2006-06-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

This blog offers a comprehensive reviews of the craft and furniture sector in Indonesia, providing trends in furniture production and consumption, furniture imports and exports. Factors determining the demand for furniture are examined, as well as furniture distribution and furniture supply structure.
Short profiles are provided for the main Indonesian furniture manufacturers and distributors with employees, product mix, export markets.
Indonesian furniture imports and exports are broken down by country and product (office furniture, kitchen furniture, upholstered furniture, non-upholstered seats, bedroom furniture, seats parts and parts of furniture).
The wood and forestry sector is also considered: production, imports, exports and consumption data are provided for the main semi-finished wood products (sawnwood; wood-based panels: plywood, veneer sheets, particle board panels, fibreboard panels, MDF). Woodworking machinery imports from the main partner countries are included.
Reviews covered include: office furniture, home furniture (household furniture), kitchen furniture, upholstered furniture (sofas and armchairs), non-upholstered seats, bedroom furniture, seats parts, parts of furniture, sawnwood, wood-based panels, plywood, veneer sheets, particle board panels, fibreboard panels, MDF (medium density fibreboard), woodworking machinery.

Bali High Quality Handicraft

2006-06-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

Export and Manufacture of High Quality, Bali Bamboo Furniture, Bali Teak Furniture, Bali Rattan Craft, Bali Ceramics, Bali Terracotta, Bali Pottery, Fashion Accessories, Exterior Balinese Decor and Homewares, Bali Handicrafts, Bali Stone and Balinese Wood Carving Products.
For further information :
Awintara Bali Trading CompanyJl. Andong 10 X - Ubud - Bali - IndonesiaPhone : +62 361 978784Fax : +62 361 978915Email:awintara@bali.pesat.net.idWebsite: http://www.balinetmarket.com/

Malaysian Furniture Company Open More Showroom in India

2006-06-15T00:46:00.000-07:00

A Malaysian furniture maker plans to open two more showrooms in India this year in view of the overwhelming response for its products.
Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, chairman the Flexioffice Group, said that besides the showroom opened by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday, Flexoffice Sdn Bhd planned to open showrooms in Mumbai and Chennai to display its work-stations.
The company also planned to open an assembly centre in India, after the one in Dubai in 2003, he said.
He said Flexoffice, the first Malaysian manufacturer of office furniture in India, had received overwhelming response for its work-stations from the multinationals, especially those in Bangalore, the operations centre of foreign companies.
“For June alone, three months after Flexoffice opened its showroom, we have received bookings worth a total of RM18 million. We do the designing ourselves based on the needs of customers and produce quality work-stations, which accounts for the good response,” he told Malaysian journalists here.
The company targeted at least US$20 million in annual revenue in India for the next three years, Hamzah said, adding that other furniture companies from Malaysia should invest here in view of the huge potential.

Prince Albert II of Monaco Impressed by Thai Handmade Products

2006-06-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco is interested in Thailand’s northern handicraft products, saying he will suggest other members of the Monaccan Royal Family to visit Thailand in the future.
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco flew directly from the Middle East to Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai Sunday morning and stayed overnight in the northern resort city, where he visited an exhihition in honour of His Majesty the King at the Huai Hong Krai Royal Development Study Centre and Doi Suthep.
He also visited many other places in the northern city where renowned handmade community-based products are produced, including Thai silk products, sa paper products and handmade umbrellas.
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II said that Thai silk products are beautiful and attractive and expressed his appreciation to sa paper products and the renowned handmade “Bo Sang” umbrellas, according to local authorities.
The Monaccan Head of State said that he would suggested other members of the Monaccan Royal Family to visit Thailand in the future.
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Monday morning.
The Monaccan Head of State is among world royalty invited to visit Thailand as the Royal guests to join state and Royal ceremonies marking the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne–to be held in Bangkok on June 12-13. (TNA)

Vietnamese handicraft manufacturer

2006-06-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Vietnam is extraordinarily rich in handicrafts. Most famous Vietnam handicrafts ofcourse are bamboo wares, lacquer wares, ceramics which are hight quality and cheaper than anywhere else in the world. Aside from that, there is a wide array of horn & silver and many more products.
Come and find your favorite Vietnam handicraft with Far Eastern Handicraft JSC - The local leading handicraft manufacturer and exporter. Top quality products at reasonable prices are committed

How Mosaic is Made

2006-06-12T01:21:00.000-07:00

The mosaic art form is thousands of years old, originating according to some scholars in 2300 BCE in Egypt. Mosaic spread with the Moor culture into Spain and throughout the Arab and Mediterranean world. In many Muslim countries the art form's popularity was due in part to Islamic restrictions against depicting animals or people. Mosaic, with its intricate geometric patterns, can be found decorating architectural forms throughout the Mediterranean, in homes, and on city gates, churches, mosques and mausoleums. Each culture has its own specific materials and style and uses mosaic for different decorative purposes.
Mosaic tiles are poured into molds or hand cut and glazed in the various colors that will be needed to create the intricate patterns on the furniture. Other pieces at Mozaïc are created with broken tiles, which create an irregular pattern.
Table tops, fountains and fishponds are first formed in reinforced cement for durability and strength. Then the base is covered in a special cement that holds the mosaic tiles as they are pressed in one by one. The final step is the filling in of grout around the tiles. The tabletops are then set into a wrought iron or wood frame.

Bamboo Furniture

2006-06-11T05:21:00.001-07:00

Maria Yee Inc., the worldwide pioneer of unique craftsmanship furniture constructed with classic joinery — without any nails, screws or fasteners — in a modern production environment, introduces its Carmel line of BambooTimbre(TM) and hardwood furniture. For customers who want designer beautiful furniture that is also price accessible, Maria Yee’s Carmel collection harmonizes clean form, retro elegance and unabashed cottage comfort.
The ten-piece collection showcases the company’s latest innovation using bamboo, a fast-growing plant that is eco-friendly and superbly renewable. Flattened bamboo culms are layered and bonded in defined patterns to create Maria Yee’s patent-pending BambooTimbre. BambooTimbre — harder than red oak, stronger than steel, and heat, water and alcohol resistant — is then handcrafted entirely without nails or screws using Maria Yee’s patent-pending BambooJoinery(TM) system. The result is the distinctive, ecologically sound Carmel line of furniture that features a reminiscently retro baseline.
“Maria Yee continues to explore new ways of creating eco-friendly furniture that not only satisfies but delights customers,” said Peter Yee, CEO, Maria Yee Inc. “Our Carmel collection, featuring modern bamboo furniture, is a shining example of inventive design unique to the current furniture landscape.”
Unlike other furniture manufacturers, Maria Yee produces bamboo boards specifically designed for constructing furniture and other large objects. BambooTimbre furniture, made with the best timber bamboo, Phyllostachys pubscens, resists cracking or splitting when constructed with Maria Yee’s unique BambooJoinery system. Such precise joinery without any fasteners ensures structural integrity and furniture that will last for generations.
The Carmel collection includes: a bedroom group; media center; reciprocal dining table; walnut armchair and side chair; and leather recliner and accent chair. For pricing and more information, email info@mariayee.com or call 831-457-2900.
About Maria Yee Inc.
Maria Yee Inc. is the worldwide pioneer of unique craftsmanship furniture constructed with classic joinery — without any screws, nails or fasteners — in a modern production environment. Acclaimed for her California contemporary clean line design, Maria Yee’s creative bamboo furniture, handcrafted in her patent-pending BambooTimbre and BambooJoinery system, is one of the most innovative, renewable new furniture products. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA with manufacturing campuses in China, Maria Yee distributes bamboo, solid hardwood and leather furniture and accessories to retailers and design showrooms nationwide. For more information, please visit www.mariayee.com or call 831-457-2900.

High tech times gives way to simple furnitures

2006-06-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Furniture manufacturers are betting we’re so fed up with technology and mass-produced goods that we will want to put our money on the “Simple Life.”
This yearning for a vanishing lifestyle has nothing to do with Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton.
It has everything to do with the Arts & Crafts Movement that made Gustav Stickley, Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene & Greene household names.
The most repeated mantra at last month’s International Home Furnishings Market was the simple lines and fine craftsmanship of Arts & Crafts and Mission furniture. Nearly 25 percent of the manufacturers introduced this style at the market, according to a Furniture/Today and Home Accents Today survey. Among them are Hooker’s Simply American, Magnussen Home’s Oak Park, Copeland’s Prairie by Frank Lloyd Wright and Stickley’s additions to Pasadena Bungalow and Historic Mission.
When Arts & Crafts first came in during the late 1890s and early 20th century, it was a reaction against industrialization and the overly carved furniture of the Victorian period, says Kim Shaver, vice president of marketing and communication for Hooker. Some of the same factors are in play now.
“What was happening was the depersonalization of society,” she says. “All of a sudden there was a dearth of the one-of-a-kind, handmade, handcrafted items that was the staple of life before. Arts & Crafts was more personal, down to earth with a handcrafted feel. It is practical, sturdy with very simple lines compared to the Victorian or the excessive carving we have seen out of China the past few years.”
Shaver says the timing is right from both cultural and style standpoints. We are once again hungering for simplicity in a world of high-tech gadgetry. She pointed to the success of Real Simple magazine and the upcoming fall launches of a new Organization TV network and Simplify magazine.
Hooker’s Simply American Collection is betting on the hunch that Gen X and Gen Y consumers, who demand quality in everything from their cars to their cocktails, won’t mind paying extra for craftsmanship such as quarter-sewn white oak, cedar-lined drawers, hand-rubbed finishes and exposed mortise and tenon pegs. In a time when more and more furniture is manufactured in Asia, the 30-piece collection is made in America. Besides oak, it is also available in solid cherry and select cherry veneers.
Magnussen Home describes its Oak Park Collection as “classic Mission styling reinvented for the 21st century.” Named after a Frank Lloyd Wright neighborhood in Chicago, the collection also is designed to appeal to Gen X and Gen Y. Although the styling has been softened from the original, it also relies on historical details such as seeded glass and mortise-and-tenon details. It’s crafted of quartered oak veneers with a Mission oak finish and oil-rubbed brass hardware.
One of the most interesting pieces is the 54-inch tall Oak Park Shaving Stand ($430), which has drawer and door storage and a removable tilting mirror. Another updated piece is the Oak Park China ($1,840), which features wine and stemware storage and sliding doors. The collection will be in stores in the fall.
Copeland, the exclusive licensee for the manufacturing and marketing of the Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture Collection, introduced designs focusing on Wright’s Prairie Period (1899-1910). The furniture, manufactured in Vermont, includes items such as the iconic Taliesin barrel chair ($999), the Dana Thomas dining (10-seat table, $5,499; side chair, $899; and arm chair, $1,099), as well as upholstery, occasional tables and a bedroom group. Woods include white oak and solid cherry
Stickley, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary of the reissue of Mission furniture, is thought of as the prime manufacturer that Arts & Crafts advocates went to when they couldn’t find the original pieces. One of the most distinctive pieces is the Harvey Ellis Sideboard ($5,065), which features a gracefully arched front rail and doors decorated with a country road inlay motif.
The company has expanded its Pasadena Bungalow Collection with 20 new pieces that pay tribute to the California Arts & Crafts style of Greene & Greene. All are made of sapelli wood with accents of African black wood. Highlights include the Gamble House Door Chest ($4,723), which features all edges and corners softened, 15 drawers and two doors that open to accommodate a small TV; and the Monterey bed (queen, $2,805) with smooth, rounded edges and elaborately pegged joints. No date has been announced for when the collection will be available at retail

Good wood interiors

2006-06-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

Good Wood is a fast growing furniture factory set in the heart of the Indonesian teak plantations. Founded in November 1996 and operated under Dutch-Indonesian management it employs 250 people. The success is reflected in the 750 containers that Goodwood has shipped during the first nine years of business, mainly to the competitive markets of Europe
The nucleus of the operation is a modern 50,000 square foot factory, designed with the needs of the local workforce in mind. In 1999, it was nominated for providing the best labor conditions and as a result, many other companies under western management followed its example.

Jaipur Handicrafts India

2006-05-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

is a Group of Exporter, Expertise in there Field. In this Handicrafts Portal you can find all Handicrafts Manufactured in India . We Serve All type of Handicrafts and Jewellery At wholesale Price. We have More then 8 Exporters in our Group who Have there own Manufacturing Unit of Differnt Handicrafts and Silver Jewellery. At Jaipur Handicrafts All Item are Sale at Wholesale Price Only. We are Exporting to More then 30 Country all over the world Like USA ,UK ,Japan , Germany,France etc. All The Exporter in Jaipur Handicrafts Maintain The Quality of Products. We Manufacture all Type of Indian Silver Jewellery,Indian Handicrafts, Indian Textile, all Type of Painting, Wooden Handicrafts Marble Handicrafts etc.

Discomfort in home retail

2006-05-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Fort Worth merchant Matt Kirkham recently had a customer bring an armful of items to the checkout counter at the Import Store, only to change her mind at the last minute. Announcing that she had just spent $60 to fill her gas tank, she put several pairs of earrings back on the display rack.
Barry Feld, chief executive at California-based Cost Plus World Market, has seen shoppers wincing at price tags deemed too high for a brand built on the idea of value. And Pier 1 Imports CEO Marvin Girouard, encouraged by a spike in business after the mid-May mailing of the company’s summer catalog, watched the foot traffic at Pier 1 stores quickly dry up again even as most other major retailers enjoyed a solid month.
Across the home-furnishings industry, retailers are grappling with a triple threat: economic pressures on the middle class, stiffening competition from discounters such as Target and a seismic shift in the looks consumers want and the way in which they buy them. The challenges are particularly acute at Fort Worth’s two home-grown national chains: Pier 1 and The Bombay Co.
“It is a confusing time in home retail,” said industry veteran Karin Miller, founder of consulting firm Miller Merchandising in Long Beach, Calif. “Our jobs as merchants have been pretty easy for the last decade because the customer has told us time and time again that they want more of the same. Now that has changed.”
Consumers are paying closer attention to energy prices and interest rates when drawing up their budgets. They are also embracing the eclectic look that comes from mixing and matching styles, making them more likely to shop across a wide variety of stores.
On top of that, the nesting trend that was born out of the 9-11 attacks may be winding down. A record number of Americans had travel plans for the recent Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to the American Automobile Association
But not all furniture and home-furnishings retailers are feeling the pain.
West Elm, a relative newcomer with a modern Zen look, has shown great promise for parent company Williams-Sonoma, which also owns Pottery Barn and the Williams-Sonoma cookware chain. Ethan Allan Interiors has had a terrific year thanks to the relocation of stores to more prominent locations and an emphasis on fresh furniture collections. The home department at J.C. Penney Corp. has been revived along with the rest of the chain, fueled by a partnership with designer Chris Madden.
The successes have become rare, though, as has the ability for retailers to distinguish themselves from competitors, said Richard Hastings, senior retail analyst for Bernard Sands, which tracks the creditworthiness of retailers and distributors.
“There’s an enormous shaking out taking place,” said Hastings, who also serves as economic adviser to the Federation of Credit and Finance Professionals. “These are some of the most discretionary expenditures imaginable, and they’re ubiquitous — there’s absolutely no marketing advantage to be had at this point. If the same styles are available everywhere, then what do you do?”
If you are Cost Plus World Market, you delay expansion plans in the Northeast, even if you have been working on them for more than two years.
“I felt it was going to drain too much time away from other critical areas in order to make it successful,” Feld told analysts and investors during a conference call last month.
He also has tabled plans for a catalog in the hopes of keeping the company’s focus on wrangling better terms from suppliers and bringing down prices on a wide variety of items.
Pier 1, meanwhile, has hired an investment bank to advise the Fort Worth-based chain on its options, prompting speculation about a takeover.
But even in the hands of another owner, would the chain, which is preparing to report its fifth straight quarterly loss, be able to respond to the mounting economic, competitive and merchandising pressures?A transition period
It’s not just gas prices that are keeping consumers’ spending in check.
Rising interest rates have made it more costly for homeowners to take out home-equity loans, and mortgage refinancings are expected to slow, meaning that many consumers will have less cash for the purchase of big-ticket items such as furniture.
“Home-equity extraction is expected to fall in 2006 from the very high levels we saw in 2005,” Frank Nothaft, chief economist for mortgage-funding giant Freddie Mac, said in a statement last month. “In 2005, the volume totaled $224 billion. We estimate that $170 billion in home equity will be converted into cash from the refinancing of first-lien, prime, conventional mortgages in 2006.”
Economists are also predicting a continued cooling of the U.S. housing market, which bodes poorly for home-furnishing chains that had trouble succeeding even during the market’s peak. Pier 1, for example, reported year-over-year sales declines for 14 of the past 18 months.
Merchandising trends have proved to be equally challenging for many chains.
“Pier 1, Cost Plus World Market, Bombay and Pottery Barn all sort of rode the same trend of the past decade, which was the bamboo, the wicker, the same color palette that dominated the whole time period, with red, gold and sage,” Miller said. “I think we’re in a transition period now that we haven’t seen in a decade. The customer is ready for a new look.”
Home fashion went through a similar cycle in the early 1990s, when the current trends replaced the country and Southwestern looks that dominated popular taste at the time, Miller said. The problem this time around is that consumers don’t seem to know what they want next, she said. They only know that they want something different and that it probably does not involve wicker.Contemporary looks
Many big retail chains including Pier 1 have recently migrated toward more contemporary looks, stealing a page from privately held Crate & Barrel and the hip catalogs and stores of West Elm.
“The modern look is growing by a larger percentage than any other look, but it’s off a small base,” Miller said. “Modern customers are estimated to be about 9 percent of the total population.”
J.C. Penney recently introduced an in-house brand of bedspreads and other home goods called Studio by JCPenney Home. The new line does not copy West Elm’s look, said Charles Chinni, the general merchandise manager who oversees J.C. Penney’s home department, but it offers “simple and clean” designs for more fashion-forward shoppers who are turned off by traditional styles.
Bombay, mired in a two-year sales slump, has not abandoned its focus on traditional looks. But it has stripped many of the embellishments from its furniture designs and now offers pieces with simpler styling, cleaner lines and better quality.
Analysts agree that the merchandise is much improved, but the changes have yet to jump-start sales. Bombay recently hired Chicago-based investment bank William Blair & Co. to review every aspect of its business. And last week, the company brought in David Stewart, who recently retired from Blockbuster Canada, as its new CEO.
Cost Plus World Market recently added upholstered furniture to its selection, but the category was a poor performer last quarter.
At the Import Store on Belknap and Henderson streets, Kirkham has found a hit with crystal fragrance lamps. The independently owned store began stocking the lamps in 2004. It sold $150,000 worth of them that year, and $300,000 the next year. This year, Kirkham expects the popular little items to bring in as much as $450,000 in revenue. But he’s still struggling to make up for declines in other categories.
“All of us are fighting for that middle-class dollar,” Kirkham said. “We live off trends, so we really have to snoop around for that sexy, interesting stuff.”
Kirkham tries to use his business’ small size to his advantage by being nimble enough to move onto the next trend before his larger competitors do. But his latest foray involves a product line that probably won’t be making an appearance anytime soon at Pier 1, Z Gallerie or any of the other home-furnishing chains he typically competes with: iPod accessories.
At the end of May, Kirkham, who keeps an iPod on his desk at the store, was preparing to display mini speaker sets and cigarette-lighter chargers for iPods, just in time for Memorial Day weekend trips and local high school graduations.
“You have to look at where the money is going,” Kirkham said. “So what the heck is an import store for home decor doing with stuff for an iPod? It’s that balance between what the consumer is buying and what the marketplace will provide you.”

Furnitures sets up front porch as comfy perch

2006-04-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

I clearly remember the moment, before I bought my house, when the real estate agent and I were standing on the front porch while she described the annual Little League opening day parade on my street, Buena Vista Avenue.
I pictured my husband and myself in wicker chairs, watching teams in white uniforms as they bravely marched past us toward the ball fields. I imagined my three daughters at the railing, waving white handkerchiefs to wish players respectable batting averages.
Of course I bought the house. But life unfolded differently.
It turns out the parade actually proceeds a block away and out of sight. For another, the only interest my daughters ever show in the porch is at Halloween, when they dangle severed rubber arms from the ceiling. As for the chairs, they’re up on the balcony, from which vantage we find it more convenient to heckle neighbors who walk by.
These days, the front porch features a faded doormat, an ivy plant that we often forget to water and cobwebs in the corners. A few floorboards could use replacing.
Last week I had an uncontrollable urge to make the empty porch a useful outdoor room. I wasn’t sure why, exactly, because I have so many useful indoor rooms that we barely use.
In any case, I realized after browsing online for a few minutes that everything I could possibly need to perform the miracle was available, from a Catalina floor lamp ($155.70 at BackYardCity.com) to a vintage eight-legged chaise ($2,800 at AntiqueWicker.com).
I saw decorative gardenia topiaries ($34.99) at ProFlowers.com and hanging planters shaped like parasols ($59.95) at WhiteFlowerFarm.com.
But where to start? Before I could find the solution, I realized I would have to tackle a new version of the recurring philosophical issue I face whenever I set off on an extravagant buying expedition.
Is there an empty place in a person’s life that only an outdoor room can fill?
Luckily, I’m not the first to wrestle with the topic. Derek Drummond, a professor emeritus of architecture at McGill University in Montreal, has his students visit neighborhoods to find examples of outdoor rooms and to observe how those spaces enhance the inhabitants’ lives.
I phoned him.
“I’m delighted you’re thinking of the front porch, because for many years it was a dying beast, and it’s a shame,” Drummond said. “They began to disappear after the Second World War because of the expense of building them and because people stopped using them. These days, people sit in the back of the house.”
“Then how can you spy on the neighbors?” I asked.
“By and large, most people don’t want to. That’s the sad thing,” Drummond said.
I started to feel virtuous.
“I have a front balcony too,” I said. “I’m out there drinking wine all the time–I mean after 4 p.m., of course, and pestering people who go by.”
Given that I clearly have turned the balcony into a useful room, I told him that I wondered why I felt the need for more outdoor living space.
“It’s far better to have numerous small outdoor rooms than one large one, so you have one place to have coffee in the morning when the sun is on it and another place to sit and read,” he said.
To make my narrow porch inviting, he suggested avoiding “a grandstand situation”–a single row of chairs facing the street–and instead recommended “circle seating” so people face each other.
A plan took shape. I pictured a two-seater settee, one or two chairs, a coffee table and a rug.
After a couple of hours of browsing, I narrowed my choices to two.
MaineCottage.com, the furniture manufacturer that last year started selling its whimsical, all-weather wicker pieces directly to customers on its Web site, offered the Fiona loveseat ($1,190) and matching chair ($690) in six colors and with 24 cushion possibilities.
Target.com had a four-piece Loren outdoor resin wicker set in antique white for $399.99. The single cushion option was a red-and-taupe stripe that looked like it might match my red porch floor.
To investigate, I drove 30 minutes to the nearest Target store to inspect the furniture. There, in the garden and patio corner, my 17-year-old daughter noticed the Loren settee and a matching chair. From a distance, the furniture looked great. Up close, it had a slightly plastic sheen, but my daughter reassured me that on a porch as dusty as ours, the shine would soon fade.
We sat in comfort.
Excited about the possibility of instant shopping gratification, I asked a clerk if the set was in stock.
He went off to check. Ten minutes later, he returned to ask, “How big is your car?”
I bought the furniture at Target.com, paying a $130.89 premium for shipping, and I expect delivery within 10 days.
The dream I had when I bought the house is almost realized. The only small hurdle that remains is to persuade the Little League commissioners to change the parade route to Buena Vista Avenue

Bali Furniture Wholesale

2006-04-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

The Leading Bali manufacturer and exporter of Teak Furniture. Established in 1998, Bali-GRFurniture is an exporter of handmade Bali furniture located in the heart of Bali, Denpasar. Bali-GRFurniture has since then been exporting handmade Bali furniture to countries all over the world. Their stockroom, located in Kuta, Bali, is a place where you can find their collection of exquisite Bali furniture. Custom-made designs are always welcome. The teak furniture products range from chairs, cabinets, beds, benches, buffets, bedsides, mirrors, tables, coffee tables, etc. All of the furniture is crafted from recycled and kiln-dried teak wood (Tectona Grandis) to ensure years of durability from warping and cracking.
Our Bali teak furniture is made by using logs from government-regulated teak wood plantations in Indonesia, therefore ensuring you that our Bali furniture is made in strict compliance with all environmental regulations. We strive to provide the best in high-quality products, services, and competitive prices. Your interest, whether in ready-made or custom-made Bali furniture products, is always welcome.
Contact Information:Mr .Peter GwieG&R FurnitureTel. (62-361) 738593 / 738594Fax. (62-361) 738595Email: info@bali-grfurniture.comWebsite: http://www.bali-grfurniture.com/

Sunset Mountain Craft Festival

2006-03-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

A new craft festival will include an element of history along with demonstrations and music.
The Sunset Mountain Craft Festival, a juried fair with 80 booths, will be held at Grovewood Gallery and the adjoining Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa on Saturday and June 4.
The festival, also sponsored by HandMade in America, will feature jewelry and ceramics to metalwork and woodwork. About half the vendors are from Western North Carolina.
“It’s an event to give people the opportunity to be educated about our (crafts) history and to see what’s going on currently, how it’s still relevant today,” says Vanessa Osborne, general manager of Grovewood Gallery.
In addition to vendors selling their works, the festival will include lectures and craft classes, open artists’ studios at Grovewood and tours of Biltmore Industries’ former weaving operation, the dye house and spinning room in a building beside the gallery. Food and music will be part of the event.
All activities are free except the classes, which cost $60 each and will be offered June 2 at Grove Park Inn, Grovewood Gallery and Touch of Glass in West Asheville. Classes, for which reservations are required, will include whittling, glass beads, jewelry and ceramics.
The price range for most crafts at the festival will be $50 to $200. High-end jewelry and furniture may go for $4,000 to $10,000, Osborne says.
“All the people I come across are hungry for this type of event,” says Carole Summers, director of tourism for HandMade in America, a nonprofit organization that promotes crafts in Western North Carolina. “This is a great way to get everyone in one place, to bring craft to the general population.”

Pinako:Leader in Manufacturing and Design

2006-03-05T01:25:00.000-08:00

Pinako is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of high quality casual furniture based in Indonesia. Pinako is uniquely positioned to offer its customers superior quality and exceptional value. As the leading designer and manufacturer of the casual furniture, pinako offers the Pinako Finest Collection. It is the most extensive range of world-class casual furniture to suit every taste, lifestyle and budget.
Pinako Collection features one of the widest selections available in the market, complemented by a variety of furniture categories including recliners, loungers, dinning set, extension tables, coffee tables, and many more. In addition to that, pinako provides its customers an array of choice in variety of Indonesian hardwood timbers, cushion, and fabric, giving buyers endless selections in appearance, texture and color to suit their lifestyles. Using only the finest top grade timbers, combined with Pinako’s expert craftsmanship, Pinako finest collection will give the customers a lifetime of enjoyment.
Contact Information:
Office & Factory
Desa WonorejoKec. Pringapus, Kab. SemarangJawa TengahIndonesia
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 4 KlepuUngaran, Kab. SemarangJawa Tengah 50552IndonesiaPhone : (62) 24 692 1497(62) 24 692 3085
Fax : (62) 24 693 0634Email : sales@pinako.comWebsite : www.pinako.com

Sanus Expands Platinum Furniture line

2006-03-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

Sanus Systems has added Platinum Furniture digital TV stands to its line, now available with black tempered glass shelving with a silver or black wood base. The stands come in three widths: 36’’ (PFV36), 47’’ (PFV47), and 59’’ (PFV59).
The heavy-duty top shelf can hold up to 150 lbs, while the strong, tempered glass mid-shelf supports up to 60 lbs. Each stand is constructed of resonance-absorbing materials, and, according to Sanus, employs an open architecture that allows for maximum airflow for proper component temperature regulation.
“Our new Platinum Furniture stands give customers more colour options to correspond with market trends in AV equipment,” commented Keith Pribyl, Vice President of Retail Sales for Sanus Systems. “These stands are designed to complement all of today’s newest digital TVs and components while maintaining Sanus Systems’ high standards of performance.”
All models will be available in June with prices ranging from US$299.99 to US$419.99.
For more information, visit www.sanus.com.
Source: marketnews.ca

Bed Bath & Beyond Earnings Beat Estimates,Shares up

2006-02-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

Home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (Nasdaq:BBBY - news) on Wednesday reported a 9 percent rise in quarterly earnings, beating expectations, as more promotions brought in strong holiday sales.
The company also gave a full-year forecast that exceeded analysts’ estimates and its stock rose more than 5 percent in after-hours trading.
Net income for the fourth quarter ended February 25 rose to $197.9 million, or 67 cents per share, from $181 million, or 59 cents per share, a year ago.
Wall Street analysts, on average, had expected the company to report earnings of 65 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates. Bed Bath & Beyond in December forecast fourth-quarter earnings of 64 cents a share.
Sales for the quarter rose 14.8 percent to $1.69 billion, above analysts’ expectations of $1.637 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.
Sales at stores open at least a year, a key retail measure known as same-store sales, rose 6.3 percent.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Joan Storms said more promotional activity during the holiday season had helped Bed Bath & Beyond post its biggest same-store sales increase in seven quarters.
“They did a very good job in a challenging Christmas,” Storms said. “They couponed (discounted) some more, which might have cost them a bit more on the margin, but drove some nice sales.” Storms has a buy rating on the stock.
Home furnishings retailers have faced intense price competition from discounters like Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT - news) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT - news), but Bed Bath & Beyond has been able to flourish as its higher-quality merchandise like cutlery and linens has appealed to higher-income consumers.
In December, Bed Bath & Beyond said it was experiencing stiff price competition in the holiday shopping season and was trying to remain “relatively restrained” with its promotions.
For the full year ending in February, Bed Bath & Beyond expects earnings to rise 13 percent to about $2.17 per share. Analysts were expecting earnings of $2.14 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.
The company forecast earnings of 35 cents per share for the first-quarter and a profit of 51 cents a share for the second quarter, in line with analysts’ estimates.
In addition, on a conference call with analysts, Co-Chairman Leonard Feinstein said the home goods retailer expects to one day have 1,300 of its flagship stores in the United States. He did not give a specific timeline.
The retailer currently has 746 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. It also operates the Christmas Tree Shops and Harmon Stores brands.
Bed Bath & Beyond shares were up $2.32, or 6.1 percent, at $40.64 on the Inet electronic brokerage. The stock finished regular trading at $38.32 on Nasdaq.

Old World Game Table

2006-02-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hand Carved from Solid Wood and Gold Tooled Leather.
Alabaster finished legs.
Aged Iron arched stretcher.
Reversable game board w/Chess and Backgammon on each side.
Checkers and Backgammon game pieces included.
Some minor assembly may be required.