Furniture First Responds to Spring Air Factory Closings by Furniture World Magazine

 
 
 
 

Poll

 
   

 

 
Furniture First Responds to Spring Air Factory Closings
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
By: Furniture World Magazine  Print Page | Send This Article By E-mail

 

Browse all articles

See most recent Article by Category

 

Latest Furniture Industry News

Furniture World News
Weekly Furniture Message From Margo - Hey, You Do Business Like a Girl!
Do business like a girl and "kick butt" in furniture sales! - PART 1.
The End For Your T-12 Fluorescents?
Owners and managers of furniture stores that still have T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts have several alternatives to maintain their T12 Lighting systems.
imm cologne Pure Village Display To Present Emerging Design Trends
imm cologne will again present its Pure Village display at the January imm cologne show.Pure Village will include well-known design brands from the furniture, textiles, lighting and bathroom sectors presented as creative interior concepts.
Record Number of Buyers and Exhibitors Register For High Point Pre-Market
Buyer registration for Fall Pre-Market 2010 is at its highest point in its four-year history, with 201 leading buyers from 80 companies signed up for the event, Sept. 13-14.
Sterling Industries Moves to IHFC For Fall High Point Market
Sterling has relocated to the fashion-forward, design-oriented section of Hamilton Wing.
Nationwide Marketing Group Adds New Members
Growth in membership has increased their total sales volume by over $200 million.
Chicago Casual Market To Host "Inspired Exteriors Day" Seminars
Educational programming will focus on exterior design and business practices for design professionals.
Recent PrimeTime! Has Largest Furniture Display In Show's History
Independent dealers from across the country attended the buying show and conference looking for the best deals in furniture, appliances and electronics.
New Home Sales Tank, But Luxury Home Sales Expected to Rise Through 2011
Unity Marketing's latest affluent consumer survey predicts rebound in new home sales.
Buyer From Morris Home Furnishings Wins Apple iPad
Surya announces that Bona Griffieth, Accessory Buyer for Morris Home Furnishings of Dayton, Ohio is the winner of a new Apple iPad.
Human Touch Adds Five Experts to its Wellness Council
Wellness Council members include professional chiropractors, doctors, massage therapists, athletes, and fitness experts.
Art Van Brings 'The Big Apple' to Detroit With Gala to Benefit Henry Ford Health System
Art Van Furniture is underwriting the majority of the expenses for the event, with ticket proceeds going directly to benefit Henry Ford Health System.
Classic Brands Sees Increased Demand For Mattress Covers
Infestations of bed bugs have created interest in the category.
RoomStore Re-Launches Its E-Commerce Site
E-commerce site for one of the 20 largest furniture retailers in the country includes many improvements.
AWARDS Reception To Honor Outstanding ICFA Members
Excellence among manufacturers, designers and sales representatives will be recognized at an International Casual Furnishings Association awards reception during the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market.
Easy Furniture Web Tip #85 - Color Your Web Pages, E-Newsletters, and Banner Ads Like a Pro
It’s easy to perfectly and professionally match colors for your web pages, e-newsletters, and banner ads with these free tools.
imm cologne Announces High Level of Early Buyer Registrations
imm cologne announced that it is heading for the next January show with a strong wind at its back.
Barcalounger & American of Martinsville Furniture liquidation starts August 31st
The liquidation sale of all thousands of pieces of furniture, leather, fabric, wood, raw materials, vehicles, and factory equipment will be open to the public starting on Tuesday August 31st at the Martinsville, VA offices and factory locations.
IPSA and RRI Complete Pilot Program For Recycling Used Mattresses
Project tested options for automated processing and recycling large volumes of used mattresses.
Piedmont Triad Partnership Selects Mcneill Communications To Direct Communications For Furnishings Cluster Initiative
McNeill Communications, based in High Point, will work with the PTP to increase the global visibility of the Piedmont Triad region among domestic and international companies involved with multiple sectors of the furnishings cluster, including residential, contract, hospitality, institutional and others.
Browse All Industry News
 

Buying cooperative Furniture First announced that last month’s abrupt closing of company owned Spring Air factories created a mad scramble to fill the void felt by retailers across the US.  Within 24 hours of Spring Air’s announcement, Furniture First contacted all their affected Members and worked hard to find an appropriate match to another Furniture First Supplier Partner.  One Supplier Partner commented, “We very much appreciate how proactive Furniture First was in helping us speak with Members who were left out on a limb.  Their quick response helped us open new accounts immediately.”  While Supplier Partners appreciated the opportunity for new business, Furniture First Members greatly appreciated a quick solution to an immediate problem. 

For this reason and so many others, Furniture First maintains a close relationship with its 172 Members who own and operate full-line furniture stores across the US.  Bill Hartman, President of Furniture First commented, “Having a close working relationship with our Members and being responsive to their needs is the foundation of excellent service.  At Furniture First, none of our Members are alone.  We are all in this together.”  Bill Hartman co-founded Furniture First in 1994 based on that same principle.  Furniture First has consistently grown its Membership base every year since its inception.  “We must be doing something right”, added Bill. 

What does a future without Spring Air look like for Furniture First?  “If ever there was a time when our Supplier Partners needed us, it’s now.” answered Bob Muenkel, Director of Mattresses and Membership.  “We consciously chose not to seek a replacement mattress supplier.  Instead, we work hard to reward the ones we have.”  According to Bob Muenkel, of the Furniture First Members who sold Spring Air prior to the May announcement, nearly all successfully transitioned to another Furniture First Supplier Partner. 

Furniture First is a home furnishings & mattresses only buying cooperative representing independent home furnishings retailers from medium-low to medium-high end quality products across the United States.  If you would like more information about the organization, please contact Bill Hartman, President, at 1-800-411-3477 ext. 123 or via email at BHartman@FurnitureFirst.com or Bob Muenkel for new membership information, at ext. 136 or via email at BMuenkel@FurnitureFirst.com. 

Copyright 2010 Towse Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved

website designed by RTO Online