Kathy Ireland Home by Martin Renews Associations With Three Firms

Furniture World News

In a move described as one of "continuity and expansion," Kathy Ireland Worldwide® (KIWW), a design and marketing firm which has annual retail sales of over $1.5 Billion annually according to Forbes and Wall Street Journal, has renewed and extended its partnership with three of the nation's top home products manufacturers, including its initial partner in that field, Warren Buffet's Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway company. KIWW's association with Shaw in the area of flooring products initiated Kathy Ireland Home's entrance into the home products and household goods arena in which it is now a leading player. "As the Shaw Floors brand evolves and strengthens, Shaw is pleased to once again partner with the trusted and growing Kathy Ireland Worldwide® company. Shaw's Kathy Ireland Home® collections offer a distinctive variety of beautiful high-style and high-value carpet and area rug products to Shaw's exclusive aligned retailers. On behalf of Shaw, I am excited to renew our licensing agreement with the KI brand and look forward to abounding opportunities in 2009 and beyond," said Reggie Newton, Shaw's vice president of residential marketing. Kathy Ireland, CEO and Chief Designer for KIWW, also announced her firm's renewal of contracts with Kathy Ireland Home® by Martin, its partner in home office and entertainment furniture and her partnership for lighting and coordinated accessories, Kathy Ireland Home® by Pacific Coast Lighting and Accessories. Gil Martin, President of Martin furniture noted, “Our partnership with Kathy and her team continues to be a valuable and incredible experience. Kathy’s great design and business sense helps guide us through these challenging times. Since the inception of our partnership I have watched my company flourish. Kathy’s team and our team work well together because we share the same set of values and work ethic, and most importantly we put the customer’s needs first. I look forward to watching our partnership grow in years to come.” Relating to KIWW’s association with Pacific Coast Lighting, that firm’s President, Clark Linstone added, “It is a great pleasure to extend our partnership with Kathy Ireland Worldwide®. We are looking forward to our continued relationship as we work together to design new and innovative lighting and accessory designs that offer quality, value, and style.” “The continuity of these strategic relationships is a foundation for Kathy Ireland Home® and our retailers and our consumers. Shaw Industries, Pacific Coast Lighting and Kathy Ireland Home® by Martin are powerful companies which fulfill our mission of “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Kathy further stated, “It is a great day for Kathy Ireland Worldwide® to experience Stephen Roseberry assume the Presidency of our company following his success in expanding our retail distribution and marketing agenda. Stephen is a twenty year veteran of our company. He began this brand with me at my kitchen table. It is exciting to continue this journey with him.” Roseberry will report directly to Kathy Ireland as she continues her role as Chairman of the company. In a move to handle her continuing and expanding business, Kathy Ireland, Chair, CEO and Chief Designer for KIWW, named Erik Sterling Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman, Stephen Roseberry President and Chief Operations Officer, Jon Carrasco Executive Vice President, Creative and Marketing Director, Steve Rosenblum Executive Vice President of Operations and Mile Robinson Vice President of Production. Jason Winters is no longer an officer of the firm. KIWW design and marketing firm achieves its annual retail sales with a staff of 37 employees and key independent contractors. About Kathy Ireland Worldwide: Kathy Ireland Worldwide® (KIWW) is the design and marketing firm founded in 1993 by CEO and Chief Designer, Kathy Ireland. The mission of KIWW is “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Forbes Magazine reports that KIWW is a design empire which grosses over 1.4 billion dollars annually in retail sales. KIWW products include flooring, rugs, home furniture, office and entertainment furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, window coverings, bedding, mattresses, candles, apparel, jewelry, hand painted porcelain, top of bed fashions, leather, ceiling fans, permanent florals, bath accessories, wall paper, skincare, socks and fresh cut flowers. In 2000, KIWW began expanding its mission with the addition to the portfolio of brands, presenting “Design Ambassadors” ACafé by Chef Andre for food and entertaining and JduJ cultivated by Nicholas Walker for outdoor living and garden inspirations. Shaw Industries: Shaw Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world's largest manufacturer of tufted broadloom carpet ( www.shawfloors.com ) . Headquarters in Dalton, Georgia, Shaw sells carpeting and rugs for residential and commercial applications throughout the United States and exports to most markets worldwide. Shaw Living is a division of Shaw and is America’s leading manufacturer of rugs for the home, including area, bath, scatter and outdoor mats. See Shaw Living at the Atlanta Rug Market, July 16 - 19, Suite 6-B-5. For more information, call 1-800-282-7429, write Shaw Living at P.O. Drawer 2128, Dalton GA 30722-2128, or visit www.shawliving.com. About Martin Home Furnishings: In 1981 Gil Martin founded Martin Furniture, a premier producer of home office and home entertainment furniture. In April 2003 Martin Furniture partnered with Kathy Ireland Worldwide and became Kathy Ireland Home by Martin (KIHBM), the sole licensed manufacturer of home office and home entertainment furniture under the Kathy Ireland Home brand. In late 2008, Martin Furniture acquired Highland Design to create the brand Curt Christian Design by Martin which produces bedroom and dining furniture, and changed its name to Martin Home Furnishings. Martin Home Furnishings are sold through several retail channels all over the country including warehouse clubs, commercial office, catalogs, and Top 100 Retailers and specialty stores. For more information please visit www.martinfurniture.com. About Pacific Coast Lighting: Founded in 1979, Pacific Coast Lighting (www.PacificCoastLighting.com) has established a reputation for innovative design, quality workmanship and market responsiveness, setting a standard of excellence for the entire lighting industry. From its design and manufacturing complex in Southern California, the company supplies many of the nation’s top retail chains, including Art Van Furniture, Wickes Furniture, La-Z-Boy, Gallery Furniture, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Capital Lighting, Haverty’s Furniture, Roomstore, Lack’s Stores, Lack’s Furniture, Ashley Furniture, Finger Furniture, Bassett Direct Stores, Leon’s, American Furniture and many more of the best furniture stores in the country. Pacific Coast Lighting has also successfully partnered with many high-quality, well-known brands, including Kathy Ireland Home®.