Bombay take two

As a teenager I was mesmerized by the Bombay furniture and accessory store in our local mall. I dreamed of an elegant Bombay dorm room. I bought a few pieces my freshman year and quickly discovered you get what you pay for—it looks expensive but it’s not durable. So my cherry-finish desk and matching chair ended up in the dumpster with the rest of the broken IKEA particle board furniture soaked in beer and memories.
Bombay packed up and left the US in 2007 after sagging sales and many store closures. However, the Bombay brand is alive again and will start selling its 250-piece collection on QVC, September 30. The new brand is designed to appeal to all price levels and I know a few former mall rats that will be tuning in.

CPA formaldehyde legislation approved by US House, Senate

Formaldehyde legislation urged by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) passed the US House of Representatives by voice vote on June 23, and was unanimously approved by the Senate.
The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, S. 1660, establishes the first comprehensive national standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. It directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to announce implementation of the regulations by January 1, 2013, and make them effective 180 days after. The bill must now be signed by President Barack Obama.
“This is a historic moment for the North American composite panel industry, which has always been at the forefront of environmental stewardship,” said Tom Julia, CPA president. “The legislation represents a responsible, bipartisan approach to advancing consumer protection, fair trade, and domestic jobs.”

Furniture factory shipments increase

New orders and shipments for furniture continued to improve in May, according to the latest Smith Leonard Furniture Insights study.
This marked the seventh straight month in which orders were up, compared to the same month a year ago. The comparative results were weak numbers, but the May 2010 results could indicate 2009 was the bottom of the recession for the industry.
The study found that some orders have fallen off a bit since Memorial Day, but that has not been true across the board when considering normal summer business levels.
Shipments were up 9 percent over May of 2009. Approximately 65 percent of those surveyed reported increased shipments in May, down slightly from the previous month’s 73 percent. Year-to-date, shipments are up 6 percent over the same period a year ago, up from 5 percent last month. Approximately 68 percent of those surveyed reported increased shipments, about the same as last month.
New orders in May 2010 increased 10 percent over orders in May of 2009. Approximately 68 percent of survey participants reported increased orders, from May 2009, down slightly from 73 percent the previous month. Year-to-date, new orders for the first five months were up 10 percent over the same period a year ago. Last year at this time, new orders for the five month period were off 21 percent. Some 71 percent of survey participants are now reporting increased orders year-to-date, up from 66 percrent last month.

US cabinet demand to reach $15.2B in 2014

U.S. demand for cabinets is forecast to expand 7.4 percent per year to $15.2 billion by 2014, according to a recent study from The Freedonia Group Inc.
Gains will be spurred by a rebound in housing completions from the depressed levels of 2009. Although housing completions will remain below the level reached at their cyclical peak in 2006, the expected recovery may fuel gains in the residential cabinet market through 2014.
The residential market is expected to account for more than 90 percent of the approximately $4.5 billion increase in overall total cabinet demand through 2014.
New housing is forecast to boast the most rapid increases in cabinet demand through 2014, and the improvement and repair segment will account for the majority of residential demand.
Kitchen cabinets, which represented 80 percent of cabinet demand in 2009, are expected to lead advances through 2014, rising 7.8 percent per year. Growth is also expected to be supported by design trends calling for homes with more and larger-sized cabinets to store food products and kitchen equipment. Demand for bathroom cabinets is forecast to grow 6.9 percent per year through 2014.
Demand for other cabinets, such as those found in offices, home entertainment centers, laundry and mudrooms, garages and other areas, is expected to rise 3.8 percent annually.
During the same period, demand for cabinets in the nonresidential building market is anticipated to rise 2.8 percent annually.

Cardboard chic?

Cardboard is the new wood and cinderblock college dorm furniture material de jour. Freefold Furniture is touting its cardboard offerings as environmental friendly with infinite design configurations.
The good news is that once you graduate you can turn your cardboard bookcase into a home.

Building a furniture brand

Convincing someone to invest in a quality piece of furniture is no easy task. Stores like Ikea and low-cost imported furniture are seductive to cash-strapped consumers and have helped create a throwaway culture.
Mark McKelvey, a Maine woodworker who lost his shop to arson in 2009 understands fine furniture is a hard sell and is now promoting Maine woodworkers online. His non-profit Web site, www.MaineFurniture.org was founded to add value to Maine’s custom woodworkers and furniture makers. “I found it very difficult to promote my business without spending thousands, and thousands of dollars in website design and maintenance, magazine ads, and trade shows.”
McKelvey’s community-based marketing strategy is simple — promote and brand Maine’s woodworking talent. Potential customers can browse different shops, read bios, look at pictures, watch videos and visit a shop’s Web site, if they have one.

More fun with tennis balls

I love the confused look on that dog's face. I imagine he's pondering, chew toy or beddy..it could be a chewy pet bed?!!. I don't know if this dog bed would be comfortable, but it sure is a creative way to recycle old tennis balls.