The Business of Furnitureis the go-to source for keeping you informed about everything that is happening in the industry.
Now published Thursday evenings, containing all of the latest industry news from the week, special feature editorials, and the latest product introductions. From trends that affect your bottom line, to new products, to stories that will help you run a better, more informed company.
Business of Furniture - April 11, 2024
- Humanscale's New Collection is Elevating Meetings Everywhere - The leading manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic solutions fosters connectivity, collaboration, and active work practices.
- PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Landscape Forms and Industrial Facility Introduce Plains & Pods - Two Complementary Products Inspiring Flexible, Multi-Functional Space Design
- Stephen Says - "Outdoor Furniture Is So Hot Right Now!" - by Stephen Viscusi - So, Stephen, what's the deal? Am I missing the outdoor 'boat' here? Every time I turn around it seems a private equity firm is snapping up one of these brands or a major contract furniture manufacturer is.
- DeskMakers Tidies Up Waste Management with Launch of Spruce and Tidy: Design-Forward Receptacle Solutions - All Spruce and Tidy offerings come with designed-to-fit trash bins and are ADA-compliant, ensuring inclusivity in various settings.
- Watson Unveils New Expansion and Manufacturing Improvements for 2024 - Investment refines production process, increases capacity, and yields without compromise; Tooling advancements make build process more precise and efficient, delivering improved lead times and reducing waste; Customers can expect new product lines, more design choices, and competitive pricing.
- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Peter Pepper Products Forges Dual Partnerships in Texas with Specrite Interiors and Inside Evolutions - "We are thrilled to partner with both Specrite Interiors and Inside Evolutions as we expand our presence in Texas."
- Know New Plastic: 3form Introduces 100% Recycled Textures - The manufacturer is paving the way towards eliminating virgin material usage.
- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: QuickShip from Scandinavian Spaces - The recent completion of the new warehouse facility in North America has empowered Scandinavian Spaces to expand its QuickShip program to include Kite.
- PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Solomon Coyle Names Shelley Rosetta as Principal - With over 30 years of experience in commercial interiors — including design, sales leadership, manufacturing, distribution leadership, and business development — Shelley brings a fresh perspective on the potential for growth and improvement within the industry.
- UPFRONT: Fellowes Rising wins the 2024 iF Design Award and GOOD DESIGN Award - Rising also introduces two new technologies from Fellowes in SnapKinect for simple and streamlined assembly and RotationStop, which allows the monitor arm to swing and adjust between 14 distinct stopping points.
- UPCOMING EVENT: Salone del Mobile.Milano 2024: All the Innovations You Need to Know About - From a trade fair event, the Salone is increasingly becoming an inclusive, value-based, responsible context and network to generate relationships, narratives and significant projects all through the year.
- CIFF Guangzhou 2024: A Record-breaking Edition and a Major Boost to International Furniture Trade - An extraordinary edition of CIFF Guangzhou has just concluded, recording the highest number of exhibitors and visitors ever.
- Pulp Studio Expands Business With Fashionable Façades - The glass itself is embedded with stainless steel and sculpted to mimic the fashion brand's signature textured Epi leather pattern seen on bag handles.
- Tangram Interiors Elevates Key New Players To Business Development Roles - The company has nurtured a collaborative and people-focused culture in the belief that people fuel innovation, that has led to the organic growth of multiple business units complementing the firm's core contract furniture offering: custom furniture, ancillary furniture, flooring and light construction, audio-visual integration, architectural walls, on-site furniture reconditioning, asset management and storage, delivery and installation, and corporate moves.
- Tarkett Brings Home Two Atlanta Marketer of the Year Awards for its 2023 Design Days Campaign - The campaign included print and digital pre-show ads, outdoor ads on kiosks and mobile billboards, feet-on-the-street promotions and an interactive mark-making activity in the showroom to connect attendees with the Collaborative collection's design process.
- Ware Malcomb Announces Promotions in Nashville Office - Ware Malcomb opened its Nashville office in April 2022, and has been working with clients across Tennessee for more than nine years.
- Perkins&Will Opens New Studio in San Antonio, Expanding its Southwest Presence - The new studio is located in the heart of San Antonio's Historic Pearl neighborhood, just north of downtown at 303 Pearl Parkway.
- Configura Adds to Its Suite of Commercial Interiors Products in Q1 2024 - Additions to CET Commercial Interiors and the Commercial Interiors Library position Configura as a leader in the space design industry.
- Ghent's Glassboards Retain BIFMA LEVEL 2 Certification - "Retaining our LEVEL 2 certification on our glassboards is a significant achievement for Ghent."
- Bolon's Graphic Collection Refresh - All Bolon products are manufactured in Sweden and contain 68% recycled material. The factory runs on 100% renewable energy and all waste generated is recycled or energy-recovered, with zero waste going to landfills.
- MillerKnoll Honored with Disability Matters Award - "We are proud to see our commitment to increasing equity and access acknowledged across our organization and in partnership with our clients."
- Caesarstone Unveils 'Beyond The Surface' Report Exploring the Impacts of Design on Everyday Life - Caesarstone releases a report exploring design trends authored by the 'Caesarstone Circle' - a design advisory panel of industry experts.
- New In Classifieds - Independent Sales Representatives | Maverick Desk is a leading manufacturer in modern office furniture solutions. We are expanding our sales team and are seeking independent sales representation to develop new business opportunities in select U.S. territories. Read more on page 134.
- PLACES - Nium Offices – Singapore | The departure from conventional office norms is further exemplified with a large Nium logo replacing a dedicated reception desk.
- INDUSTRY PULSE & FIRST LOOKS - Bendheim Adds New HPDs to Product Categories / Charles Brill and Theo Richardson To Lead RBW Into The Future / Sonya Haffey Rises to CEO of V Starr / Blending Interactive Design with Luxury Materials - Pulley Pendant from Allied Maker / BKV Group Hires Melanie N. Hanna as Director of Interior Design for Dallas Practice Site / Tough Turtle Turf Joined Forces with Spread the Word Nevada to Promote Early Childhood Literacy / AHF Products Announces Acquisition of Two West Virginia Sawmills
- So Much More Every Week - Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers
Business of Furniture - April 4, 2024
- Unika Vaev Introduces its Latest Acoustic Product Collection in Collaboration with Abstracta - Since 1975, Unika Vaev has established itself with expansive collections of Decorative Acoustic sound absorbing products. Sustainability within design is key to both product lines and has been since the company's founding.
- Groupe Lacasse Launches New Cube 300 Additions - With an expanded range of storage elements in our modular lounge collection, Cube 300 opens a world of possibilities for designers and clients alike.
- Stephen Says - "What's The Best Job You Ever Had?!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Everybody has a favorite job. My favorite job was one of my first jobs which was at #Haworth in sales, which you've read about in this column many times.
- Poltrona Frau Unveils New Flagship Store On Madison Avenue In New York - Designed by AMDL CIRCLE led by Michele Delucchi, the store is conceived as a dynamic space that encourages interaction and creativity.
- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: WCS Announces Launch of MVP Phase of CPQ Product Configurator for Loftwall, Setting New Standards in Office Furniture Customization - The MVP phase of WCS CPQ showcases a robust CPQ engine equipped with advanced functionalities, including the ability to save and share quotes, generate detailed reports, receive instant notifications, generate multi-product quotes, and utilize a shipping calculator.
- PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: J+J Flooring Expands Palette of Imaginative Carpet Tile with Artistic Elements - "With our latest manufacturing technology, we've been able to achieve more flexibility in design and patterning."
- PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Designtex Appoints New President - "I am honored and excited to join Designtex and this distinguished team. I look forward to collaborating with each and every person at the company as we continue to foster growth and delight our customers through excellence, sustainability and impactful design."
- UPFRONT: Humanscale Highlights New Opportunities to Optimize Ergonomics in Hybrid Workspaces with its Latest Whitepaper - Remote workers' setups are not optimized for healthy work, with 22.9% of respondents using a laptop as their sole device without any external screen.
- UPCOMING EVENT: Vitra Salon Series at 1014 | Office Materials - Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:00-8:00 PM Eastern | Join 1014 & Vitra for a conversation that seeks to explore these questions around embodied carbon, material sourcing, and the implications for designing today's workplaces.
- Team of Celebrated Designers Launch Industrial and Digital Design Studio Heirloom - Founded by Jack Godfrey Wood, Harc Lee, Tate Sager, and Andy Furner, Heirloom is already working on major design initiatives for leading global brands.
- Steelcase Think Gets a Glow Up to Meet Needs of the Modern, Hybrid Worker - While continuing to provide award-winning ergonomics and comfort, the chair's new finishes and upholstery details infuse added style wherever work happens.
- Maharam Supports Entryways: Nontsikelelo Mutiti at Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania - The installation features the printed ironwork and braid motifs on a gradient background, with gold barrettes arranged at an exaggerated scale throughout the pattern.
- Impacts Of Extreme Weather On Interior Design Examined In New Research - In response to the growing body of knowledge on the impact of materials on indoor air quality and human health, new rating systems, product declarations statements, protocols and regulations have been introduced.
- Encore Unveils Sunny Collection, Reminiscent of West Coast Culture - With its playful, warm design, Sunny shines bright in libraries, lobbies, alcoves, collaborative areas, patient spaces, community centers or multi-family environments.
- EDmarket Seeking New Class of NexGen Rising Stars - EDmarket's NexGen Rising Stars Awards recognition program highlights outstanding young professionals 40 and under through December 31, 2024 for their passion, creativity, and contributions to how pedagogy, space, and technology impact students and teachers.
- Thinkspace Enhances Sales Team With Two Dynamic Additions - "In what I consider the dawn of a new era—the office revolution—Thinkspace stands at the forefront of transforming workspaces."
- Innerscene Launches Circadian Sky - Illuminating Wellness with New Innovative Solution - Whether it's an office, educational institution, hospitality setting or healthcare environment, Innerscene can enhance the occupants' experience by providing a visual connection to nature and sunlight.
- Aceray Introduces Tana: a Modern Seating Line of Tailored Style, Customization and Comfort - At the heart of Tana's sleek, practical design is high-density injection-molded foam for comfort and durability.
- markilux Unveils Pop-Art Edition Fabric Collection for Vibrant Outdoor Living - With over 50 years of industry knowledge, markilux stands out for its innovative approach and excellence in awning fabric production.
- New In Classifieds - MOD is Looking for a Territory Sales Representative! | This candidate will work to promote our products by working with our sales team as well as directly with manufacturers, dealers and designers in the commercial and contract furniture industry. Read more on page 142.
- PLACES - Korn Ferry Offices – Singapore | Company culture and social capital are the invisible threads that weave organisations together, especially important in today's era of remote working and hybrid offices.
- INDUSTRY PULSE & FIRST LOOKS - Lucia Kortscheff Joins Arconas as Global Account Manager / Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Florida / Ware Malcomb Names Shannon Robinson Studio Manager, Interior Architecture & Design in Ottawa Office / Original BTC Unveils Iconic 1994 Hector Pleat Line in New Finish / IIDA NY Leaders Breakfast / NeoCon Programming Registration Now Open
- So Much More Every Week - Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers
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