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Business of Furniture - March 29, 2023

•   A Recipe for Sustainability — CICIL's Success Lies in Its Supply Chain - To keep its footprint small, CICIL's wool is sourced from farmers in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. It then travels to the Carolinas to be processed and manufactured by a third generation, family owned and operated, textile mill.
•   Stephen Says - "RH is Eating the Italian Brands for Lunch" - by Stephen Viscusi - RH is selling a lifestyle — and it's managed to market the hell out of that lifestyle. It's great to have European investment in quality design. But it's time to have more of a U.S. marketing influence in leadership within European companies with regards to American customers.
•   M&A Update: Spring 2023 - We are already in the midst of an M&A boom. And more is coming. Get ready.
•   Keilhauer Launches Two Carbon Neutral Ottomans - "In the design process, there was always the idea of having something that would signify that this is a mobile product."
•   FitzGerald Designs Its New Studio - The studio approaches wellness in a holistic sense, providing employees with a wide range of flexible working styles to best support their personality styles and needs, as well as access to a wellness suite, private phone rooms, and lockers.
•   FCA Reimagines Fox Rothschild LLP's Seattle Headquarters - The Seattle workplace now serves as a test pilot of a new and increasingly compact office.
•   2020 and LightCorp Strengthen Partnership Through Cloud Pricing Tools - LightCorp will use 2020 Content's Cloud Pricing Tool for increased control over pricing data among many other benefits.
•   Design Museum Everywhere Introduces New Executive Director - "I am delighted to have Maria take on the role of Executive Director for Design Museum Everywhere. Maria has been a leader and advocate for the organization, helping us navigate the challenges of change and setting up a foundation for future growth and engagement with our community."
•   Logiflex Office Furniture Invests $40 Million to Relocate to New Sherbrooke Industrial Park - Logiflex is on the front line when it comes to promoting Industry 4.0, new technology integration and digital transformation across its plants.
•   Mohawk Group Partners With Water.org to Help Solve Global Water and Sanitation Crisis - "Our commitment to build a better tomorrow is a reminder that while we have continuously moved the needle, there is still more work to do."
•   Whitney Brothers Introduces Live Edge Furniture Collection - Tables and seating simulate the popular design of live edge wide plank furniture with charming realism and coordinate with the brand's award winning biophilia-inspired Nature View Collection.
•   KI Awards $40,000 of Furniture to Winning Teachers in Classroom Furniture Giveaway - Entrants in the giveaway used KI's Classroom Planner tool to design their ideal learning space.
•   Photos: Design Within Reach Relocates West Palm Beach Studio to The Square - A natural fit for DWR, relocating to The Square allows the brand to leverage the area's dynamic offering of lifestyle destinations spanning retail, cuisine, design and art.
•   Steelcase Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2023 Results - Revenue and earnings growth driven by year-over-year pricing benefits.
•   MillerKnoll Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results - $123 million of run-rate cost synergies related to the Knoll integration captured to date.
•   UPFRONT: Business of Furniture Contributor Joins Thinkspace as Principal, Vice President - Before founding Embark CCT, a business coaching consultancy in 2017, Sid served as the Senior Vice President of Sales at AIS for 10 years, as well as a a frequent contributor to Business of Furniture.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: EF Contract Launches ColorWays - "The collection tells such a great color story, with rich saturated color throughout."
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Sta-Kleen Silicone Debuts Three New Digital Print Fabrics from The Mitchell Group - "The fabric is environmentally responsible in the following ways: the manufacturing process uses zero solvents, and contains no polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, phthalates, heavy metals, or stabilizers."
•   MATERIALS: Design for Recycling: VALUMAT & WOOD.BE to Improve the Recyclability of Foams Used in Furniture - The study will consider the design aspects of the foam and how it is used in furniture and bedding and will be based on existing recycling techniques as well as advanced chemical recycling under development by industry.
•   PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Kellie Reed Promoted by Tangram - "My time growing with Tangram has been nothing short of incredible."
•   PLACES - Broad Vision Funds (BVF) Offices – Beijing | In the space layout, we put the west side of the narrow space as a reception area, which naturally connects the outdoor terrace.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of New York City and Northern New Jersey / Dassault Systèmes Presents HomeByMe / Jodi Borges-Bradley Joins Office Creations as Chief Development Officer / B+H Architects Appoints Global Sustainability Lead / Scott Kriech Joins Grand Stands as National Sales Manager
•   FIRST LOOKS - Linger a Little Longer - Deli from Scandinavian Spaces / The Nomadic Collection from Concertex / Keilhauer Goes Electric
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 22, 2023

•   Own Who You Are and What You Deserve — Women Leaders in Design Weigh in On Rising to the Top and Empowering Others to Do the Same - More than 60% of designers are women. Yet only around 10% of designers are females in leadership positions.
•   Family Values and Brand Connection at Forefront of Spectorgroup's New Headquarters - Spectorgroup's new headquarters is an expression of how the firm thinks and the work they do, as well as the changes they have seen and anticipate in workplace design.
•   Stephen Says - "I Am a Great Candidate, but I'm Not Getting Interviews! What's Wrong?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Here's my tip for finding an interview the fastest, or, how to get the most interviews while you're looking. You need to express your vulnerability to a perspective employer and everyone you network with.
•   Design Has Its Own Rhythm: NeoCon 2023 Keynotes Look to Hip Hop, Community, and Technology to Build our Future - Amy Webb, Michael Murphy, Michael Ford and Lupe Fiasco headline NeoCon 2023. Programming registration opens April 3.
•   Poltrona Frau Announces the Launch of BAY SYSTEM, A Flexible New Seating System Designed by Foster + Partners - "We are proud to present this new chapter of the collaboration between Poltrona Frau and Foster + Partners, with whom we have been pursuing a joint effort in the development of new design and creative landscapes for public spaces."
•   Cooper Hewitt Announces Formal Establishment of the Digital Curatorial Department - "Digital design will continue to radically change how we interact with the world and with each other in critical ways."
•   Vestre Becomes World's First Furniture Company To Use SSAB's Revolutionary Fossil-Free Steel - Today's modern societies literally rest on a cradle of steel – and the metal's uses are almost endless.
•   Scale 1:1 Launches Sidekick, The Revolutionary Way to Work - A trusted companion of the hybrid office that provides secure mobile storage and height adjustable workspace, Sidekick pedestals truly do it all – and look good doing it.
•   Women of Steel: Breaking Bias, Building a Movement - What Pune, India manufacturing leaders learned while developing an all-woman team.
•   Carnegie Fabrics Elevates Offerings With Endeavor Collection - Carnegie designed the Endeavor Collection in response to the renaissance we're seeing in the hospitality space, which has subsequently bled into markets like healthcare, corporate, and multifamily.
•   UPFRONT: Turf Launches Plaid, A New Ceiling Scape That Adds Style and Flexibility - "With the introduction of Plaid, we're showcasing Turf's constant drive to create new and innovative tools for specifiers to choose from when considering the acoustics of a space."
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Luxxbox Launches Cono Acoustic Pendant - The playful contrast of its cone shape, distinctive black finial, and upholstered textural wool finish adds character to any room.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Shimmering Surfaces: Meet 3form's New Flare Collection - Inspired by the chromatic spectrum, the Flare collection was created to reflect the inherent beauty of shimmering light.
•   HIRED: LRS Architects Welcomes Seasoned Director of Business Development & Marketing, Jewel Kayfes - Kayfes brings fourteen years of experience leading large-scale teams in winning and maintaining client and partnership relationships that meet a company's strategic vision.
•   PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Gray Dougherty Joins KOVA as Director of Architecture - A seasoned professional, Dougherty bolsters KOVA's mission to implement and inspire circular design.
•   PLACES - Digient Technologies Offices – Chennai | As we ascend to floor one, we experience an unparalleled workspace vibe through interesting nooks and corners, created for brainstorming, focused working and creative sessions in a maximalist yet contemporary style.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Moss Expands Presence Into Poland, Solidifying Global Footprint / Jake Loftis Joins AHF Products as New Chief Operating Officer / Resource Furniture Announces 2023 Promotions and Role Changes / IIDA Foundation Announces 2022 John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Recipients
•   FIRST LOOKS - Lórien: Elegantly Simple Executive Seating / HON is Transforming Productivity at Work with Two New Products: Universal Screens and Flexion / Hybrid Work Means Hybrid Meetings: Framery in the Connected Office / Studio TK Expands Pico Line With New Wood Base Option
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 15, 2023

•   HNI Corporation to Acquire Kimball International - "We are excited about joining with Kimball International, a high-quality company we have long admired for its recognized brands, furnishings expertise built over 70 years, and established relationships across multiple sectors."
•   The Greatest Reward — Promenaid Solves for Functionality, Accessibility and Beauty in a Handrail - People aren't necessarily against handrails, the notion of the handrail itself, they just don't want a visually unappealing handrail.
•   Stephen Says - "My Colleagues Are Back in the Office, but Most of Them Dress Like Slobs." - by Stephen Viscusi - Here's my question to you, Stephen: How do I get my colleagues and my boss on board with the fact that we need to establish some kind of, dare I say, dress code, or at least look neater and cleaner when we're coming to work every day?
•   On the Scene - Noteworthy NYC Industry Events, March Edition, by Stefanie Schwalb.
•   Functional Art in Hospitality, a Way to Stand Out - One component to consider is the impact of functional art. It serves a utilitarian purpose, creating greater meaning for guests and the property, but it also noticeably adds to the ambiance and unique design of a space.
•   AIS Launches New Product Solutions to Enhance the Workplace - New personal task lighting features three sleek, energy efficient options and Calibrate Dry Planters bring maintenance free biophilic accents.
•   HLW Launches New Service Offering Through Multidisciplinary Consultancy Division Ark - "Born from a desire to guide our clients through times of uncertainty, Ark is a new studio focused on delivering innovation and resilient thinking."
•   Freeform Acquires Brutzman's Office Solutions - Boise-based commercial interiors company acquires Tri-Cities-based office solutions provider.
•   Officeworks Wins 2022 Teknion Orion Award - This marks Officeworks' fourth win, taking home four out of the last six Teknion Orion Awards given out since 2014.
•   Global Furniture Group, USA Adds to Its Growing Team in The West - New Regional Sales Managers Blake Brotherson and Christy Bouquet are now part of the team.
•   America ByDesign Partners with AIA in Season 2 of America ByDesign: Architecture - ByDesign is home to a global collection of primetime television shows on CBS that explore design, featuring the innovators who bring ideas to life.
•   Endemic Pods the Solution for Post-Covid Design - When first starting your design process one of the best strategies to implement is to understand how the design is related to everyday business operation.
•   TÜV Rheinland North America Invests in New Technology and Innovation Service Center in Tthe Northeast United States - "We are proud to be in a position where our investment allowed us to create 'The TÜV Rheinland Technology and Innovation Center located in North America."
•   Emerald Announces New Promotions in the Hospitality Group - "Keisha and Rachel have been vital in the evolution of the BD and HD brands," said Kevin Gaffney, Group Vice President, Design Group, Emerald.
•   UPFRONT: 2020 Offers Free e-Learning Class on New Pricing Center Feature - Complimentary course on Cloud Pricing provides designers with information they need to gain a competitive advantage with latest development for 2020 Worksheet.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: EzoBord Unveils PrivaSeat, Designed to Support Focus Work in Hybrid Settings - Pre-assembled and ready to go out of the box, PrivaSeat can be easily affixed to most commercial and residential task chairs.
•   COLOR: PANTONEVIEW Color Planner Autumn/Winter 24/25 Now Available - Reflecting this free-spirited color approach, colors for Autumn/Winter 24/25 express a wide range of feelings, from ethereal misty blues, discrete lilacs, cloudy pinks, and clay-based neutrals to intensely saturated hyper violets, inky blues, bioluminescent greens, and decadent reds.
•   PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Dara Mir to Step Down as President and CEO of 9to5 Seating - "As I reflect on my time with 9to5 Seating, I am filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude for what we have achieved together as a company."
•   PLACES - Varian Offices – Helsinki | Moving from an office room complex to a multi-space office with only 120 work desks was a significant change, but it was the right decision for the era of hybrid working.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Room & Board Business Interiors Hires Sales Pro Ben Stich / Marnique Heath Recognized Member of AIA College of Fellows / Aspire Pavers Welcomes Jennifer Cella as a Technical Sales Representative / Henriksen Butler Rebrands to HB Workplaces, Embracing a 43-Year Evolution / Ware Malcomb Names Bhavini Hardev as Studio Manager, Interior Architecture & Design in San Francisco Office / SGA Expands Academic Team, Hires New Director of Architecture
•   FIRST LOOKS - Introducing Ooty by Allermuir x SmithMatthias / Geiger Expands its Crosshatch Offering with Inaugural Outdoor Collection / Shaw Contract Launches Newest Innovation - BottleFloor
•   CLASSIFIEDS - Page 84: Energetic Sales Professional
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 8, 2023

•   Where I'm Working - Location: Los Angeles | Theme: Women in Leadership | Where I'm Working is the monthly column of Bellow Press Editor-in-Chief Emily Clingman, featuring commentary and photography on issues, trends and ideas in the workplace, design and manufacturing sectors.
•   New: SOMA From Pair — a Response to the New Hybrid Office - SOMA isn't attached to individual workstations like traditional storage pedestals in offices.
•   Stephen Says - "I Hate My Co-worker's Social Media Posts — But I Like Working with Her" - by Stephen Viscusi - Social Media is a nice way to bond closer with friends at work that we like, however we don't have to like everything about them and their posts. Instead of unfriending someone, I suggest self-editing yourself — and what you read. It's no different than if I watch a scary movie and close my eyes during the jump scene.
•   Office Revolution Names Brett Frenier as Principal of Raleigh Location - "I have joined Office Revolution at a time of significant opportunity for the Company and its clients," said Frenier.
•   Feud Update: Canadian Court Official Calls DIRTT's Legal Action Against Falkbuilt "a waste of time" - In the latest setback for DIRTT, its application for a summary judgment was dismissed.
•   Tangram and Studio Other Furnish New Belkin Headquarters Office in Southern California - "I would say this has been one of the best experiences of my whole career and I am incredibly proud of this place because we were able to really take all of the things we've learned about what Belkin needs and what our employees need and turn it into this facility," said Oliver Seil, Belkin Senior Director. "I couldn't imagine it having turned out any better."
•   Landscape Forms Appoints Angela Saladino as Lighting Regional Sales Representative for the Southeast - "My combined lighting industry experience helps me understand the needs of a range of clients, and I look forward to assisting lighting agencies, engineers, and specifiers in my current role with Landscape Forms."
•   HBF Textiles Introduces In Your Skin Collection Designed by Erin Ruby - Several patterns are created by amplifying bold textures, while others can be easily blended with other finishes and materials.
•   Taking Part in Trade Fairs is an Investment that Pays Off - An AEFI study demonstrates the competitive and economic advantage for Italian businesses choosing to take part in trade fairs. The sectoral industry is the fourth most powerful in the world.
•   Indiana Furniture Partners with GOVMVMT for Streamlined Cooperative Purchasing - GOVMVMT provides a powerful, streamlined procurement tool developed specifically to meet and comply with the needs of local, state, and federal agencies.
•   Hacin + Associates Announces Leadership Transitions and Brand Update Going Into Its 30th Year - With the addition of new principals, the firm will move to the standalone moniker of Hacin. Stepping away from the identity of Hacin + Associates, the name Hacin supports the wide range of existing disciplines and evolving opportunities for the organization going forward.
•   Frövi Calls Floor 11, Suite 101 of The Merchandise Mart their Chicago Home - Frövi's showroom designer, Matt Coules, carefully considered the plans for the space, keeping the human experience at the heart of his designs.
•   Page & Turnbull Earns Honors for Innovation, Design, Preservation and Social Progress - With renewed recognition as a most innovative firm and a national leader in work with historic fabric, Page & Turnbull is meeting today's needs, from climate action to social justice.
•   Tarkett Adds to Sustainability & Design Teams - Engaging with our sales team and clients is an imperative part of the process to ensure we are exceeding the industry's sustainability expectations."
•   IIDA NY Awards Recipients of the Second Annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship - Three students awarded trips to the shift conference in honor of the late designer's devotion to mentorship and student development.
•   DIFFA BY DESIGN Returns with New Home AT ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan - The beloved fundraiser will feature signature designer installations and more from May 21-23 at the Javits Center.
•   Interface Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results - Net sales totaled $335.6 million, down 1.2% year-over-year. Currency neutral net sales were up 3.6% year-over-year.
•   UPFRONT: Carnegie Announces the Passing of John Stein, Founder of Kirei - John founded Kirei over 20 years ago, with a mission to prove that the highest quality design materials and acoustic solutions could be delivered in an environmentally positive way.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Kuvi Integrates Clever Accessories to Provide Endless Flexibility - Developed in response to the need for a more comfortable multi-use chair that supported both individual work and collaboration, product designers sought a solution that would maintain a high level of utility while incorporating the larger proportions and softer cushioning.
•   EVENTS: Best of NeoCon 2023 Submissions Are Now Open - The Best of NeoCon finalists are emblematic of the latest trends and movements that are shaping how we work, gather, learn, and communicate.
•   PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: Erica Godun Becomes Director, Sustainability of Ware Malcomb - Godun brings more than 25 years of experience in various phases of architecture and design to Ware Malcomb and has been passionate about environmental sustainability throughout her career.
•   PLACES - Trilegal Offices – New Delhi | Height-adjustable workstations, break out areas and collaborative work desks make for a hybrid and flexible workspace that supports a healthy work environment and fosters productivity.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - DWR's West Palm Beach Studio Relocates to The Square / Landscape Forms Taps Two Seasoned Veterans to Fill New Role in the Lighting Division / JCJ Architecture Elevates Multiple Long Serving and Senior Level Team Members / DXA Studio Promotes Sando Thordarson to Principal With Additional Promotions from Within / Thinkspace Welcomes New Independent Furniture Representative Bam Associates
•   FIRST LOOKS - Humanscale Introduces NeatCharge Update / Beauty in Frame — Scandinavian Spaces Presents Arka / Hightower Launches Three New Collections
•   CLASSIFIEDS - Page 94: Looking For Energetic Sales Professional
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 1, 2023

•   Stephen Says - "European Furniture Manufacturer Wants to Sell in U.S." - by Stephen Viscusi - The Viscusi Group has many clients from Europe, all in the same boat. They tell us that the European Union and the U.K are affected far more broadly than the U.S. economy by the war in Ukraine.
•   Salone del Mobile.Milano is Back in Business With Exciting New Developments - The 2023 edition will be packed with people and projects, encompassing more than 1.8 million square feet of net exhibition space and 1,962 exhibitors.
•   Top 7 Places Architects & Designers Turn for Inspiration - ThinkLab's U.S. Design Industry Benchmark Report for 2023 reveals where A&D are finding sparks of design inspiration.
•   Empire Office Launches New Headquarters in New York Showcasing a Sophisticated Design for a Flexible and Modern Way of Working - The result is a welcoming environment that promotes socialization and draws in employees, partners, clients, and visitors.
•   ABI January 2023: Architecture Firm Billings Decline at Slower Pace - One in five firms have current international projects, or have had one in the last five years.
•   Loll Designs Grows Its Contract Team in Anticipation of New Distribution Model - The made-in-the-USA furniture manufacturer will be available as an open line offering.
•   Kimball International's PoppinPods Offer Flexibility for Individual Privacy or Multiperson Meetings - Through Kimball International's extensive research and experience in acoustics, they are excited to launch PoppinPod Kolo and PoppinPod Om to easily create spaces where employees and guests can feel comfortable and confident to ultimately do their best work.
•   Allsteel is Defining The Future of Office With Daybook: The Wall That Divides and Unites - Daybook is an amazingly versatile, light-scale wall that can be configured in various ways to equip a high-performance, welcoming workplace.
•   Coverings 2023 Commemorates National Tile Day With Annual Top 10 Tile Trends - "Celebrating the ceramic tile trends in commemoration of our seventh annual National Tile Day provides us with another opportunity to recognize and appreciate the benefits of tile and its countless advantages as a material."
•   HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 - Fourth quarter sales of $568.9 million were down 6 percent from year-ago levels, and fourth quarter net income was $16.3 million.
•   DIRTT Reports Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results - Net loss improved to $(5.9) million by $10.1 million, or 63%, from the prior year's fourth quarter and by $0.8 million, or 12%, from the third quarter of 2022.
•   UPFRONT: Fellowes Extends Its Brand into Contract Furniture - Both Trendway and ESI brands will transition to the Fellowes Brand in the first half of 2023.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Fellowes Announces Release of Rising, Delivering Unparalleled Sophistication in Monitor Arms - Rising is the most comprehensive range of monitor arms on the market and are meticulously designed to combine unparalleled, sophisticated construction with no-hassle installation and superior functionality to bring higher performance and improved aesthetics to workplaces.
•   NOW REPPING: Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Florida - The curated line will be represented by Materiality Rep Group.
•   SHOWROOM SPOTLIGHT: 3form Transforms Showroom Experience, Leaping Into the Virtual World - For designers specializing in a specific industry, the experience is custom-tailored to their specification journey, starting with a building dedicated to healthcare design.
•   PLACES - Linmon Pictures Offices – Beijing | As you walk in, the first space you enter is the main hub of first floor- the reception lobby, soon the cantilevered front desk with a length of 7.2 meters comes into sight.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Solomon Coyle Accepting Registrations for Spring Session of Project Management Training / New Podcast from Haworth / Chief Sustainability Officer Jane Abernethy to Represent Humanscale at the World Ocean Summit
•   FIRST LOOKS - The SOMA Office Lockers from Pair Designed for Hybrid Workers / KFI Studios Expands Eveleen Outdoor Collection / Landscape Forms Grows Portfolio With Urbidermis – Expands Harpo and Bancal Lines
•   NEW CLASSIFIED - Page 86: Looking For Energetic Sales Professional
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - February 22, 2023

•   Stephen Says - "Come Back to Work, Or Get Quietly Fired" - by Stephen Viscusi - Most of the businesses in our industry are private companies and the owners have more leeway to set the rules, without worrying about their public image to the shareholders, and many have been doing just that.
•   Eisai Teams Up with HLW to Create New Headquarters and New Culture - The design concept is a way to relate employees to the brand because it makes employees feel tied to their workplace, as opposed to it being a space they just go to for work.
•   AIS' National Sales Meeting Wraps Up Successful Year, Promotes Two Sales Team Members - Justin Brzostowski promoted to Director of Sales for New York and New Jersey, Anthony Heim Elevated to Senior Territory Manager for the Carolinas and Tennessee.
•   Hempitecture Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting for First-of-its-kind, U.S.-Based Manufacturing Facility - The new facility will produce a wide range of biobased nonwoven products to be used across multiple industries, including the manufacturing of Hempitecture's flagship product, HempWool thermal insulation.
•   Nassimi Announces PFAS-Free Production of All Fabrics - Innovative Textile Manufacturer Completes Move to Establish a Fully PFAS-Free Portfolio of High-Performing Fabrics - Human health and environmental stewardship have always been of great importance to Nassimi.
•   Kimball International Introduces Creating Places to Belong Initiative - Creating Places to Belong is a collection of tools, insights, personal stories, conversations, and inspiration.
•   Spellman Brady & Co. Completes Interior Design for Memory Care Addition - SBC worked with the Director of Assisted Living Facilities, Food Service Manager and Director of Property Management and Technology in the design planning meetings so that they could input the acuity level of their residents; the intended use of the kitchen spaces and common areas; and to help guide material selections and design choices.
•   Haworth Sets Global Sales Milestone In 2022 - Haworth reported 2022 global sales of $2.5 billion USD, a 27.5% increase from 2021 that is mostly organic.
•   CIFF Guangzhou 2023: The Doors are About to Open Wide! - We are almost there! The 51st CIFF Guangzhou 2023 is ready to open its doors giving an enthusiastic welcome to all the players in the furniture industry and providing a concrete response to the major changes and new challenges at play in the market.
•   MillerKnoll 3D Leader, La-Z-Boy Alumna Join 3D Cloud by Marxent Advisory Board - "As we introduce AI/ML, room scanning, and other advanced features, it's critical to keep the client perspective front and center."
•   IFDA's Educational Foundation 2023 Board of Trustees - The 2023 Board of Trustees was selected to oversee and administer more than $30,000 in annual design-related scholarships and grants.
•   UPFRONT: Tangram Promotes Alyssa Armesto To Vice President, Central Valley - Armesto's new role will place her in charge of sales and operations – managing the entire division in all roles.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Filzfelt Adds New Designs to ARO Grid Acoustic Ceiling Collection - Grid 6 expand on the series from New York-based architecture firm, Architecture Research Office, with two dynamic designs that elevate the acoustic ceiling grid and tackle the conundrum of masking clutter overhead.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KFI Studios Launches Ember Table - For added functionality, power options can be installed on Ember to conveniently charge devices.
•   HIRED: Primeway Adds New National Sales Manager - With over 30 years of experience in the Contract Furniture Industry, Zemer began his career in High School as a furniture installer.
•   PEOPLE: Empire Office Grows Atlanta Sales Team Focusing on A&D Relationships and New Business Initiatives - Peter Gaslow, President and CEO of Empire Office, announced that Elizabeth Young (top) and Cameron Giddings (bottom) have joined the company in sales leadership roles in its Atlanta office.
•   PLACES - Axpo Group Offices – Warsaw | The key element in the whole project was to provide friendly and safe work stations and at the same time adjust the work model to the current trends.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Humanscale Looks to its Customers for Workplace Insights to Inform Future Wellness & Ergonomic Needs / Mannington Commercial's Open Range Named a 2023 ADEX Platinum Award Recipient / Six Global Stantec Offices Earn WELL Health-Safety Rating / Bjelin Hardened Wood Wins Best Overall Product Award at TISE 2023 / Lesro Welcomes New Manufacturer Representative / JSI Announces New Partnership in Arizona & New Mexico / //3877 Welcomes Interior Designer to Multi-Disciplinary Team / Bendheim Names Donald Jayson as President
•   FIRST LOOKS - Resource Furniture to Showcase Giro / Mammoth Office Furniture Helps Refurnish Local Chamber of Commerce Offices in Historic Town Hall Building / BuzziSpace Introduces New Sustainable Acoustic Solution, BuzziFold / RBW Partners with Jonas Damon on Highline, its Most Versatile Light Yet / Herman Miller Introduces Bound: Acoustic Screens Designed to Deflect Distractions / Waterworld - Expansive New Light Shifting and Embossed Water Effect Designs / Móz Designs' Biophilic, Backlit Columns Prioritize the Patient's Experience / Hightower Announces Expansion of FourDesign Collections, FourSure & FourCast / The Agility Company Launches New Height Adjustable Benching Solution
•   NEW CLASSIFIED - Page 78: Looking For Energetic Sales Professional
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - February 15, 2023

•   Herman Miller Presents: The Passport Work Table, the Intuitive Height-Adjustable Table Designed to Fit Everywhere - Pneumatic table showcases mobile design that maximizes performance while minimizing footprint.
•   Stephen Says - "Lowest Unemployment in 53 Years: No One Will Accept My Job Offer. Help!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Whether you do it on your own or if you hire an independent recruiter, the secret is always the same today — which is, to get an employee to "yes," or to attract a top performer with a "book of business" to come to your company, it all comes down to the base. The base, the base, the base — salary, that is.
•   Design Hackathon: Introducing the Design Hackathon Advisory Council for 2023 - Together, this council will challenge outdated industry norms and map the most impactful way to connect with the next generation.
•   FCA Signs AIA Climate Agreement, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Design - Firm joins efforts towards a carbon-neutral built environment through a sustainability-driven culture.
•   Face-to-Face Banking: How KB Rethinks Stoic Industries for the Modern Age - The pilot branch in Prague has been so successful that it has scaled to 20 other branches within the Czech Republic.
•   LightCorp Grows Its West Elm Partnership with Exclusive Product - The unique hexagon shape allows multiple planters to be nested together at varying heights.
•   TUCK, the Ultra-Portable Power Solution from STUDIO by Dekko - Principled in design and customization, the palette and finishing selections provide an aesthetic appeal to complement any space.
•   Stockholm Furniture Fair: Nowy Styl & Kusch+Co Presented Sustainable Approach to Products, Services, and Brand Mission - Their leading motif was: in tune with nature, emphasizing the connection of the offer and the business approach to the natural world.
•   Mohawk Industries Reports Q4 2022 Results - Mohawk concluded 2022 with a strong balance sheet, low net debt leverage of 1.3 times EBITDA and available liquidity of approximately $1.8 billion to manage the current environment and optimize our long-term results.
•   Kimball International Introduces a New Seating Solution and Harmonized Surface Materials Program - Chaddy offers extreme versatility and exceptional comfort.
•   Greg Stoner Joins Indiana Furniture's Board of Directors - Stoner has nearly 40 years of progressive experience with manufacturing and marketing-related companies, including General Electric Lighting, Newell-Rubbermaid, Masterbrand Cabinets, Metrie, and, most recently, Olon Industries.
•   Sustainable Concepts Shortlisted for Wege Prize '23 Offer Real-World Solutions for Circular Economy - Wege Prize announces 15 semifinalist student teams for global student innovation competition, with participants from 23 countries including Mozambique, Costa Rica, China, the U.K. and Canada.
•   Registration Now Open: NeoCon 2023 - The 54th edition will bring the community together at THE MART with product launches, programming, invaluable networking, and more from June 12-14, 2023.
•   UPFRONT: dancker Acquires Columbia, MD-Based DBE Systems, an Integrated Technology Contractor - "The addition of DBE further strengthens dancker's already formidable ability to integrate architectural, furniture, technology, and logistics solutions as a trusted, single-source provider to corporate, government, education, and healthcare facilities," said dancker CEO Steven Lang.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Humanscale Updates the Freedom Ergonomic Stools with Active Pony - This stool features the compact pony saddle seat, a unique triangular cushion that reduces pressure points for long-term comfort while supporting a healthy lumbar spine.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: New Tarkett Even Plane LVT Offers Top-of-Class Sound Absorption - Beneath the surface of Even Plane LVT, a non-woven fiberglass layer resists indentation and dampens sound both within the space and between floors.
•   AWARDED: Steelcase Named One of the World's Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE - "We're thrilled to be named to FORTUNE's Most Admired List alongside so many remarkable companies," said Sara Armbruster, president and CEO of Steelcase.
•   PEOPLE: MillerKnoll Welcomes its Inaugural Curatorial Fellow to Cranbrook Art Museum - "We are delighted to welcome our first MillerKnoll Curatorial Research Fellow to our historic campus," said Andrew Blauvelt, Director of Cranbrook Art Museum.
•   PLACES - Lumenis Offices – Shanghai | Next to the workstation area is an open collaborative area where employees can start a brainstorming session at any time.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Landscape Forms Celebrates 33 Design Awards and Recognitions in 2022 / TPG Architecture Promotes Two Long-Time Team Members to Managing Executive / JCJ Architecture Elevates Multiple Long Serving and Senior Level Team Members / Svigals + Partners Advances Architect Alana Konefal, Leader of Complex Projects / Ghent's Glassboards & Whiteboards in CET Designer Marketplace
•   FIRST LOOKS - Spec Expands Hardi Product Offering / Introducing NEO Architectural Lighting: Humanizing Spaces with Light / Luum Launches Earthly Artifacts Collection | Combining Elements of Art, Anthropology, and Geology / Rottet Collection Wins Chicago Athenaeum 2022 GOOD DESIGN Award for The Walking Bench
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Business of Furniture - February 8, 2023

•   The Layered Language of Lighting — Flos Considers Both Function and Aesthetics in its Designs - Human-centric lighting is a growing trend in commercial lighting design, which takes into account the impact of lighting on human health and well-being.
•   ASID 2023 Trends Outlook: Mental Health, Sustainability, and Design for the Metaverse - The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2023 Trends Outlook report, examining societal shifts and economic trends impacting the design profession and the role of design in addressing issues in our world.
•   Stephen Says - "My New Boss Has No More Experience Than Me, And I Resent Reporting to Her" - by Stephen Viscusi - Instead of being angry or jealous, why not embrace this as a chance to win over the new boss, jump right in, and be willing to share your knowledge of the region and your dealers and customers?
•   In Memoriam: Joe Hollman, Founder of the Dallas-based Hollman, Inc. — Industry Leader in Locker Design and Solutions - With great sadness, Hollman announced the passing of Joe Hollman. Joe passed away Jan. 26, surrounded by family at his home in Dallas.
•   GMi Companies Announces Promotions and Additions of Key Positions - GMi Companies, parent company of Ghent, the leader in visual communications and space solutions, announced several promotions and organizational changes to better serve customers in the coming years.
•   Loftwall Launches Arbor: Acoustic Wood Panels with a Natural Vibe - Texas-based manufacturer continues march towards solving the privacy problems of the modern office.
•   LINAK U.S. Acquires New Building, Expanding Louisville Campus To Over 39 Acres - "Market demand continues to grow for our products and solutions in North and South America" said Magnus Conradsen, president of LINAK U.S.
•   NARBUTAS at The 2023 Stockholm Furniture Fair - "For many years, we have been not only producing furniture, but also creating workspace solutions," said Vilma Sinkevičiūtė, NARBUTAS Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
•   Stockholm Furniture Fair 2023 - Live Photos from the Stockholmsmässan
•   Wallcoverings Association Annual Meeting Seeks to Better the Future of the Industry - Gina Shaw, EVP of Product Development for York Wallcoverings, received the wallcovering industry's highest honor, the Allman Award.
•   Creative Office Resources Celebrates One Year - "Over the last year our company has learned, grown and leaned into new ways of doing business together," said CEO Denise Horn.
•   Dyer Brown Promotes Ashley Dunn and Sara Ross to Principal - "Our success depends upon the success of the people and companies we serve," said president Brent Zeigler, AIA, IIDA, in announcing the key elevations.
•   American Olean Celebrates 100th Anniversary at Allegiant Stadium - "Many of the key moments at tonight's reception revolved around thanking our valued distributors," said Hector Narvaez, vice president of distributor sales for Dal-Tile LLC.
•   Storr Office Environments Named "Great Place to Work" for 2022 - "Our company's purpose is to positively impact the lives of our Team Members, Customers and Community."
•   Adam Gregory Named New VP of Design at IOA - Commercial and contract design leader brings over a decade of product development, engineering experience to the role.
•   Charlan Brock Architects: Impacting Lives Together Since 1981 - With a core of accomplished leaders guiding over 100 diverse and talented team members, CBA is unified by their singular goal of Impacting Lives Together.
•   3form Debuts 2023 Color Collection - "We see color as a main ingredient in creating welcoming gathering spaces," said 3form Chief Creative Officer Ryan Smith.
•   Kimball International Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results - Strong Growth in Sales and Operating Profits / Leadership in Ancillary Products and Secondary Geographies Continues to Drive Industry-leading Performance / Maintains Fiscal 2023 Guidance for Adjusted EBITDA Growth of 47% Despite Industry Headwinds
•   UPFRONT: Installnet Launches Brand Refresh Reflecting Purpose and Mission - The company's new wordmark reflects its modern and flexible approach to finding solutions that simplify the creation of inspired workspaces.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Unika Vaev Introduces Latest Acoustic Product Collection - "This latest collection of versatile decorative acoustic products continues to reinforce Unika Vaev's commitment to offer an extensive range of beautiful products for a wide range of applications," said C. Wick Wolfe, president, Unika Vaev.
•   TRENDS: Daltile Releases 2023 Annual Trend Report - "Style and design surround us — impacting how we feel, the personality of a room, or the energy of a space," said Laura Grilli, director of product design for Daltile.
•   NEW WEBSITE: Kimball International Launches New Web Experience - The new website is now organized around the company's key vertical markets, including workplace, health, education, and hospitality.
•   PLACES - Boston Consulting Group Offices – Seoul | Founded in 1993, BCG Seoul has relocated to brand new building celebrating their 30th anniversary on 2023.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - JSI Announces New Partnership in the Pacific Northwest / Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming / Design Pool Launches Mapping Library to Use in Renderings / Registration for NeoCon 2023 Now Open / Michael Graves Architecture Acquires Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects
•   FIRST LOOKS - Clear Design Launches KOLAB Lounge Seating / Vignelli Rocker / New Year, Fresh Novelties from Ethnicraft / Leland Introduces New Colors for Slam, Elevates a Natural Palette and Sustainable Manufacturing / Heller Reissues Float
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Business of Furniture - February 1, 2023

•   Stephen Says - "I'm a Regional Sales Manager Who Wants to Go Back to Being a Sales Rep, But How?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I get it, and I am not one of the recruiters that would discourage you, but I would tell you to carefully inspect and reposition your LinkedIn profile and resume with an eye towards being much more modest than they probably look now.
•   Interiors Industry Forecast: Focus on These 5 Shifts to Get Ahead in 2023 - Today's design teams are formed around the best talent for the job, with less emphasis than ever on physical location. Tomorrow's comp plans and distribution models will need to align.
•   2022-Q4 Market Outlook Report Now Available - Billings and pipeline increasing, backlogs come off of historic peak.
•   Steelcase and Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Launch New Collaborative Collection - Drawing on a connection that began over 80 years ago, the two organizations debut a collection for living and working at home.
•   Project Spotlight: Helping the Homeless - We believe that everybody deserves the opportunity for a fulfilling future, this is why when you select Verandas not only are you choosing a sustainable, design-led solution, but you're investing in a greater future for all," Nick Stedman, VP Marketing at Spacestor.
•   Highlights: BIFMA 360 Leadership Conference Future First - Celebrating 50 years of success, BIFMA members can be proud of the industry they have built.
•   Rimadesio Miami by Solesdi Opens New Store in Design District - The exhibition space is designed to create a continuous environment and communicate the best qualities of the brand.
•   Fishman Flooring Solutions Names Tarkett Contract 2022 Vendor Partner of the Year - "I speak for the entire Tarkett Commercial team when I say we are truly humbled and honored to receive this recognition for the second straight year," said Kevin McGregor, commercial sales vice president for Tarkett.
•   Legrand Announces New Chief Marketing Officer, Laurie Englert - Laurie brings to this position 30+ years of experience in various marketing and communication roles; managing high-performing, customer-focused functional teams such as digital experience, customer relationship management (CRM), learning experience, channel marketing, customer care, and more.
•   Clever Joins the SURROUND Podcast Network - Prior to her foray into podcasting, Amy Devers spent years as an independent designer and builder of furniture and interiors.
•   Mohawk Group Launches Sustainability Estimator Platform to Gauge Impact of Flooring Specifications - When you are able to have a firsthand glimpse of the possible positive effects of your specifications, it is incredibly empowering. That alone connects all the dots in a very tangible and meaningful way.
•   Spacekit Partners with Armstrong World Industries - "We're a team of designers with a passion for beautiful spaces – a passion we share with Armstrong," said Rob Barber, ATOMIC/Spacekit Vice President Modular Systems and R&D.
•   Cooper Robertson Elevates Team and Amplifies Leadership, Adding Two High-Profile Directors - Growing firm announces promotions and addition of two established leaders in urban design and architecture in key positions to expand portfolio of building and citymaking works globally .
•   Team Led by Buro Happold Creates Sustainable Design Guidelines for the University of Southern California - For USC, the new guidelines establish process management guidance for project teams to understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as key sustainability activities required for tracking and reporting.
•   Supporting Healthcare Safety and Flexibility - Steelcase Health partners with KwickScreen to address infection control and flexibility in healthcare spaces.
•   UPFRONT: Claridge Welcomes Mark Pescatello as the New SVP of Operations - Mark brings tremendous talent and nearly 30 years of operations management to Claridge, most recently serving as SVP of Operations for HAPCO Pole Products/Concord American Flagpole.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 9to5 Seating Unveils Designer Multipurpose Chair Cavo - Aesthetics are only half the story with this durable, easy-to-clean seating solution.
•   AWARDED: Lesro Announces 2022 Rep of the Year - Chris Ivan of Ace Office Furniture has been awarded Lesro Industries' coveted Manufacturers Rep of the Year Award.
•   EXPANDING: Lodes Announces Strategic Expansion in North America - "I am incredibly proud of the growth we've been able to achieve since my grandfather, Angelo Tosetto, founded the company in 1950," said Lodes Managing Director, Massimiliano Tosetto.
•   PLACES - ZOZO Offices – Chiba, Japan | The architect's aim was to create a "regionally integrated office" that will grow with the city.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - HNI Global and KOKUYO Partner to Expand Services Worldwide / LRS Architects Celebrates Growth, Promotes Boumatar and Loverro to Associate
•   FIRST LOOKS - Okamura's LW Lounge – The Form of Feeling Good at Work / Deep Cushions, Deeper Convos in Crest from Scandinavian Spaces / KFI Studios Launches Willow Table
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Business of Furniture - January 25, 2023

•   Top Eight Workplace Trends for 2023 - A company culture that prioritizes employee health and wellbeing has the best chance of attracting and retaining top talent, as well as amplifying the employee experience.
•   9to5 Seating Wins Four GOOD DESIGN Awards - "Last year, 9to5 Seating received three prestigious GOOD DESIGN Awards and to receive four awards this year is representative of our continued commitment to providing high-design products to the market that are both functional and attainable," said Dara Mir, President and CEO of 9to5 Seating.
•   Framery Builds Best-In-Class Hybrid Workspaces with Logitech - All-in-one video conference set-ups equip the office for effective and intuitive hybrid work.
•   Finch™ Takes Flight - Byrne's clever new accessory is perfectly positioned to elevate any space with easily-accessible power from both the front and back.
•   Allsteel Moves Sales Organization to Chicago - In late Spring of 2023, Allsteel will open the doors to its new Experience Center in Fulton Market in Chicago, one of the fastest growing markets for Allsteel and the HNI family of brands.
•   Years In The Making: The McKenzie Family's Continued Investment In Watson's Future - As CK McKenzie takes on the role of President, we look at the ways the McKenzie family has shaped Watson's culture, and how they're committed to help guide its future while maintaining its deeply-held values.
•   As New Year Rings in, Wyatt Seating Celebrates with New Staff and Promotions - As operations continue to grow, a trusted leader in seating solutions promotes new VP, adds fresh talent to operation.
•   Louis Poulsen Announces Appointment of CEO, US and Canada - "We see an incredible potential in the US and Canada, and we're excited to bring Carly Conelli in to ensure continued growth." said Tommy Rothoff, Louis Poulsen's chief sales officer.
•   Formica Celebrates 110th Anniversary - Iconic inventor of laminate will commemorate its history and future with events, product highlights throughout the year.
•   Choosing Color, Materiality and Design - The Davis Color Story continues to expand with the release of the Aurora Leather Collection.
•   KAI Enterprises and The UP Companies CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr. Named a 2023 St. Louis Titan 100 - As CEO of Minority Business Enterprise KAI (architecture, engineering and construction firm) and UPCO (electrical, carpentry and labor subcontractor services), Kennedy has successfully embraced change in the ever-evolving design and construction industry.
•   Stephen Says - "Is Your Email Address Costing You a Job?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Before we get into the fun and games, let me just point out why the email address on resumes is so important.
•   UPFRONT: BOS Orlando Names New Executive Team - BOS, a 100% ESOP, full-service Haworth Preferred Office Furniture Dealership, is pleased to announce new executive leadership as Robert Bagley, III joins Mike Berry.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Introducing Spinni by Division Twelve - The bent metal furniture brand takes on the classic drafting stool, with a twist.
•   NOW REPPING: Landscape Forms Appoints Annette Baubie as Business Development Representative for British Columbia - Baubie brings to Landscape Forms over 25 years of experience in the furniture industry, working extensively with architecture and design professionals, contractors, and end users alike.
•   INDUSTRY FABRIC: Bernie Gordon - Bernie Gordon, Co-founder of Wolf-Gordon and beloved father of former Executive Vice President David Gordon, recently passed away.
•   PLACES - Nestlé Offices – Jakarta | The Customer Engagement Centre for Nestlé Professional is designed for team meetings and training sessions with customers.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Ware Malcomb Announces Promotion of Yamini Mudaliar to Studio Manager, Architecture in Atlanta Office / FK Architecture Adds Talent and Continues Growth, Hires John Anderson, Linda Rodriguez, and Hamilton Carias / Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering Welcomes Commercial Interiors Industry Titan Paul Cleary as New President and CEO- Former Mohawk Group SVP Brings Years of Industry Leadership Experience to Momentum / Hollman Announces Promotion of Sue Hwang to President and COO / Material Bank Expands Global Presence with Launch in Europe
•   FIRST LOOKS - Kirei Unveils Geo Collection of Printed Acoustic Panels / Flos Skynest: Hypnotizing Woven Light
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Business of Furniture - January 18, 2023

•   Imperfections Are the Perfection — Mantra Inspired Furniture Finds Beauty and Sustainability in Solid Wood - "Every plank, every knot, that's the beauty of it. When I see knots and 'imperfections' it makes me wonder, where was this tree? What animals climbed this tree? What did this tree see? There's so much life in wood. That's so cool to me."
•   Five Foundational Shifts You Should Make Now To Avoid Falling Behind In 2023 - A ThinkLab survey of in-industry leaders found that only 56 percent of companies surveyed feel their model today is more successful than it was pre-pandemic.
•   Stephen Says - "Who Are the Nepo Babies?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I can't address examples of nepotism in industries other than our furniture and interiors industry. However, I personally know, and have done business with, many furniture executives who have helped their children find jobs in our industry and my take is that both the parents and the children are hard workers and successful on their own merit.
•   Frank Bucher Assumes Role of Formaspace CEO - Thanks to Frank Bucher's leadership, the company had its best year ever in 2022, with revenue doubling despite significant economic headwinds due to pandemic and supply-chain issues.
•   KI Announces Inaugural Classroom Furniture Giveaway for Teachers - Three winners will each be awarded $40,000-worth of KI furniture of their choosing to receive the classroom makeover of their dreams.
•   Palmer Hamilton Partners with NOOK to Launch the NOOK Huddle pod - Palmer Hamilton manufactures the NOOK Huddle pod at its Elkhorn, Wisconsin manufacturing plant.
•   Acer Unveils the eKinekt Bike Desk to Empower Active and Sustainable Lifestyles - As the rider pedals, the eKinekt converts kinetic energy into an electric charge. One hour of constant cycling at 60 RPM on the bike desk can generate 75 watts of self-generated power.
•   Landscape Forms Announces Third Phase of Lighting Road Show - Beginning in the new year, the company will continue showcasing their latest lighting solutions with designers of outdoor space throughout the US South and West Coast.
•   Teknion Brings Festival of Trees to Dallas - Fourteen of some of Dallas' most talented designers gathered with Teknion in a competition to transform the Dallas Teknion showroom into a festive forest of trees.
•   CIFF Guangzhou 2023: Ready to Welcome International Visitors Again - All of China's entry restrictions have been lifted and all services have been safely resumed. This good news means that CIFF is finally able to warmly welcome back its large community of international partners.
•   Styling Pantone's Viva Magenta - Pantone's color of the year may seem like a brave choice for paint if you're a more classic and reserved decorator who usually remains loyal to the steadfast nature of a neutral.
•   Tangram Furnishes Innovative New Chapman Swenson Family Hall of Engineering - The original Keck Center for Science and Engineering received a 31,000 square foot interior build-out for the new engineering school.
•   Renovation Of University Engineering Lab to Spark Urban Design Innovation - The transformed space is already having a big impact on the experience of students and faculty, with state-of-the-art fabrication equipment and vibrant environmental graphics in a flexible academic setting.
•   UPFRONT: Saul Feldberg, 1935 – 2023 - Saul founded Global in 1966, with a singular vision; to manufacture an office chair the average person could afford.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Maharam Introduces Prism by Paul Smith - Based on the pixelated image of a checkered textile featured in a Paul Smith womenswear collection, Prism uses intricate color blending to create a painterly grid animated by value, arrangement, and scale.
•   QUICK SHIP: The Agility Company Introduces New Quick Ship Height Adjustable Table - The Slope Desk's sophisticated design pairs a simple rectangular column with an eye-catching angled foot.
•   PLACES - Emerson Offices – Warsaw | The new office had to be tailored to the staff – engineers who work there need large desks because they own a lot of equipment.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - FitzGerald Welcomes Elma Milanovic / Ware Malcomb Promotes Lyz Ward to Studio Manager, Branding in New York City Office / Ware Malcomb Promotes Lynne Orlowski To Director, Interior Architecture & Design In Phoenix Office / LET'S NEOCONNECT: NeoCon Launches a New Year-Round Events and Programming Series / Katie Clark Joins KI as Higher Education Market Manager / Woodstock Introduces Logo Designed by Specify Creative / Kimball International Named One of America's Most Responsible Companies / Tarkett Announces Partnership with Midwest Floor Coverings / Inscape, in Trouble, Files for CCAA Protection
•   FIRST LOOKS - Artaic's New Tile Mosaic Design Evokes the Serene Nature of the Outdoors / JSI Launches Poet Lounge / Watson Launches CET Extension
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Business of Furniture - January 11, 2023

•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Nova: 9to5 Seating Launches the Innovative HÅG SoFi Task Chair - HiP award-winning seating solution joins the @NCE collection.
•   Real Amenities Equal Real Results: Spectorgroup Understands What Attracts People to the Office - To enhance the community aspect, Spectorgroup also moved away from the traditional reception area design — a big desk front and center in the lobby with a receptionist as the gatekeeper.
•   Arconas Announces Exclusive Distribution Agreement with Sellex - "We're excited for this new partnership with Sellex," said Pablo Reich, Arconas' Executive Vice President.
•   Fellowes Brands Receives ISG "Supplier Partner of the Year" Award - Fellowes was the recipient of the esteemed award for a variety of reasons, including its over 150% growth year over year on the AMK Pro line.
•   Indiana Furniture Kicks Off The New Year By Introducing Healthcare-Oriented Options And Other Product Enhancements - Inspired by the staying power and classic design of Indiana Furniture's popular Gleem Seating line, Gleem+ was designed for high traffic and multi-use areas, as well as patient management, to bring lasting comfort and style to a wide range of spaces, including Healthcare and Educational environments.
•   Artopex Inaugurates the StudioLab: A New Creative Space Highlighting the Company's Innovative Philosophy - This new space, located at the Pro-Systèmes plant in Granby, will become the official incubator for Artopex's next products.
•   Plural Studios Names Lisa Schroeder as Partner and Vice President Sales - Commercial furniture sales expert brings 35 years experience in providing solutions for healthy spaces.
•   AAA Business Supplies & Interiors Welcomes The Office City into the Family - Bill Jones, long a leader in the AOPD community, and Jerry Carroll, who is currently serving on the Pinnacle board, are both joining AAA in key leadership roles.
•   Chilewich Appoints Kevin McVey to Hybrid CFO-COO Role - McVey comes to Chilewich from MillerKnoll, where he served as Senior Vice President of Finance, Americas, and Group Brands.
•   Expanded, Reinvented 'Heart' of Cathedral School in San Francisco Designed by Office of Charles F. Bloszies - Sensitive addition and reorganization led by Charles Bloszies FAIA creates modern moment in historic milieu, responsive to context with elegant, sustainable design solution for boys school.
•   Bruder Office Furniture Gears Up for North American Expansion in 2023 - The business was founded during the epidemic by three brothers who were in the last-mile delivery services sector.
•   Andreu World Opens its Showroom in Charlotte, North Carolina - A new showroom inspired by sustainable design.
•   COE Distributing Honors Institutional Associates, Inc. for Multiple Achievements During Company's Annual Sales Meeting - For a record fifth-straight year, Pennsylvania' office furniture giant celebrates Atlanta-headquartered rep group with Manufacturers Rep Group of the Year awards.
•   Allseating Launches Rühe, a Multi-Range Seating Collection Emphasizing Rest and Wellness - Suitable for a variety of public settings such as corporate waiting areas, hospitals, airports, and educational institutions, the Rühe collection is comprised of guest, patient, lounge, and several table options.
•   Stephen Says - "Slow Start to the New Year" - by Stephen Viscusi - There are a number of factors that contribute to a post-New Years' lull in attitude and sometimes in sales. Which is to say that, yes, of course this is a real thing! A main culprit that I have written about in this space before is a major increase in the new year's sales goal.
•   UPFRONT: Via Seating Expands Sales & Marketing Teams with 2 New VPs - Ashley Blevins, New Vice President of Sales and Allison Kausar, Vice President of Marketing.
•   ACQUIRED:Young Office Acquires McWaters, Expands Footprint in South Carolina & Georgia - "We are excited to announce the acquisition of McWaters," Young Office President and CEO Thomas Young IV said.
•   PLACES - Ubisoft Offices – Abu Dhabi | The spaces of the office are designed for the people who are go-getters, bold and future thinkers. When the brief was presented, we are tasked to create a space that would encourage the users to move.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Chicagoland SPEC'd Firm to Represent Nevers Industries in Illinois / Landscape Forms Announces Lighting Agency Partnership with Alaska Architectural Lighting / Unika Vaev Promotes Jessica Lawton to Vice President of Operations / KAI Hires Andrew Kerr-Grant as Senior Project Architect
•   FIRST LOOKS - FSR Announces Plans to Bring International Infrastructure and Power Solutions to ISE / SitOnIt Seating Delivers a Broad Yet Curated Tables Collection with Parallon
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Business of Furniture - January 4, 2023

•   Stephen Says - "Why Do MillerKnoll Dealers Keep Hiring Each Other's People?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I'm fine with a MillerKnoll merger and I'd like to stay put, but I have this nagging feeling that I should start interviewing around, like a lot of these other people are doing. What's your advice?
•   Framery Announces A Product Offering in Perfect Harmony - Color choices in office design need to support the employees that utilize the office space every day. The color choices made by Framery reflect their goal to provide users with a place to focus, relax, and conduct video meetings.
•   Solomon Coyle Ye2022 Financial Benchmarking Survey Now Underway - The survey includes the participation of Allsteel, Haworth, MillerKnoll, Kimball International, Steelcase, and Teknion, LLC aligned dealers.
•   Affordable Office Interiors Names New President - Jessica Platt started with AOI, in Madison, Wisconsin as a Showroom Manager and Designer in November of 2010. She quickly demonstrated organizational, sales and leadership qualities that developed into numerous promotions throughout her career.
•   Carnegie Fabrics Launches the World's First Plant-Based, Commercial-Grade Indoor/Outdoor Textile - Outdoor Biobased Xorel breaks through greenwashing noise as the first and only indoor/outdoor textile to achieve Cradle to Cradle Gold and Living Product Challenge certifications.
•   USAI Lighting's New LittleOnes Micro Doubles Bring Twice the Luminosity - LittleOnes Micro Doubles provide options for interior designers, architects, and architectural lighting specifiers that meet the requirements for nearly any project.
•   Kimball International Announces WELL Certified Platinum for Corporate Headquarters - "We are incredibly proud to achieve WELL Certified Platinum for our corporate headquarters," said Jessica Gubbins, Senior Director of Brand Marketing, Kimball International.
•   Herman Miller Named a Frontrunner and Disclosure Leader in Chemical Transparency - The Chemical Footprint Project recognizes companies for their commitment to minimizing their chemical footprint and integrating criteria for safer alternatives into their design and safety processes.
•   Richard French Named President of Mannington Commercial - A veteran of the floor covering industry his entire career, French was most recently the senior vice president and chief commercial officer at Bentley Mills.
•   Acoufelt Expands Global and North American Design Teams - The resource investment coincides with architects and interior space planners becoming more attuned to the contributions of acoustic soundscaping for building occupants.
•   Colberg Architecture Completes New Corporate Offices for Technological Cinevideo Services (TCS) at Brooklyn Navy Yard - Brooklyn-based architect & design studio creates new headquarters for leading camera equipment rental house.
•   National Firm Three Launches Studio for Interior Architecture and Design for Workplace, Clubs: Cura Interiors - Led by Director of Interior Design Sarah Bay, cura interiors delivers compelling and transformative environments for work and leisure settings.
•   Blu Dot Flagship in San Francisco Debuts, Designed by the Office of Charles F. Bloszies FAIA with Brand's Leaders - Second store location by Charles Bloszies firm for Blu Dot displays sensitivity to local context as well as expertise in adaptive reuse and elegant, sustainable design solutions.
•   UPFRONT: BOS Tampa Expands - Michael Furnari has been promoted to Market President for the Tampa office, and in this leadership change, Kevin Baker will be stepping down after fourteen years of leading the Tampa-based team.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Nova: Humanscale's Task Light for Video Calls - Nova's counterbalance arms rotate up to 180 degrees, offering exceptional customization and ergonomic benefits; they also allow the fixture's body and head to be effortlessly adjusted with one hand.
•   WALLCOVERINGS: Transform with Texture - DI-NOC from Designtex - This new collection of self-adhesive wallcoverings offers over 800 patterns — ranging from luxurious woods, decorative metals and sophisticated stones.
•   PLACES - One42 Offices – Ahmedabad | Visitors are greeted with a custom white oak reception desk inspired by the pickaxes used by coal miners. In contrast, vertical mesh panels with stones acts as an elegant backdrop to the lighter, more sculptural desk.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Indiana and Kentucky / Nieves Appointed to Nevers Territory Sales Position / Office Furniture Recyclers (OFR) Conference, February 14-17 2023, Orlando, FL / Architecture Firm RDC Promotes Exec To Senior Principal; Expert on Retail and Hospitality Design
•   FIRST LOOKS - BuzziSpace Introduces BuzziRugs Clouds / Jamie Stern Furniture, Carpet & Leather Introduces Four New Leather Qualities
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 21 & 28, 2022

•   The Year in Review — 2022 Shaped Up To Be Innovative and Inspirational - We congratulate all the companies and stakeholders in the design industry this year, that have bounced back, grown stronger, and have inspirational visions for the future of workplace design.
•   Stephen Says - "New Year, New Job!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Most other industries are more welcoming of people outside of the box than the office furniture industry is. That's why I suggest going outside your comfort zone.
•   Regional Growth Attracts Interior Solutions Firm to Acquire Fargo-based Office Furniture Dealer - Going forward, the Fargo office will be known as Christiansons by Fluid to sustain the broad market awareness it has had in the region for decades.
•   Ethosource Office Furniture Announces Promotions Amid Extraordinary Company Growth In 2022 - "The promotions of these valued staff members are an important step in our continued growth as a company," said President and Owner of Ethosource John Gallen.
•   NARBUTAS Triple Success at the German Design Award 2023 - Two collections – ZEDO desks and SURF chairs – were awarded the Special Mention'23 prize, and NOVA Wood Multipurpose won the Winner'23 award.
•   Loll Designs' Year of Giving - For its 14th consecutive year, Loll Designs made its annual contribution to 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of the net sales from its best-selling Lollygagger Collection.
•   IIDA Announces Winners of 13th Annual Global Excellence Awards - "It is a pleasure to highlight an impressive array of projects from around the world," said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA.
•   MillerKnoll Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results - Sales growth of 4% over the prior year, up 8% organically; Continued progress with the integration of Knoll.
•   Steelcase Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results - Revenue and earnings growth driven by strong beginning backlog and year-over-year pricing benefits; Actions to reduce cost structure expected to produce approximately $30 million of annualized savings.
•   Keilhauer's Forsi Chair Named Best of Year - "The Forsi collection acts as a sophisticated, functional solution for the modern workplace, and the evolving needs of those who occupy them," said Mike Keilhauer, president.
•   RDC Promotes Sean Slater, Principal-in-Charge of the RDC San Diego Office, to Senior Principal - "The San Diego design community provides a rich environment for innovation and future thinking," said Slater. "I am excited to continue to serve clients locally and nationally, while growing community here in San Diego."
•   UPFRONT: Henricksen Welcomes Tegin Roche Woods as Vice President of Marketing and Communications - In her role, Roche Woods will lead Henricksen's Proposals, Marketing, and Communications teams by serving as the strategic brand visionary and leading the development of robust marketing strategies and content that will fuel Henricksen's growth and provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KFI Studios Introduces Tioga Seating Collection - The Tioga collection includes an arm and armless guest chair, arm and armless lounge chair, ottoman, barstool, and counter stool.
•   TRAINING: Solomon Coyle Now Accepting Registrations for Winter Session of Project Management Training - Classes to be held for aligned Haworth, MillerKnoll, and Steelcase Dealers and Non-Aligned Dealers
•   PLACES - ACSV Legal Offices – Ho Chi Minh City | From layout to the color schemes, all design elements need to come together in a way that exudes competence and understanding.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Kimball International Receives Multiple Best of Year Product Awards from Interior Design Magazine / ASID Student Portfolio Competition Opens for Submissions / HNI Corporation Ranks Number Six in Newsweek's List of America's 500 Most Responsible Companies For 2023
•   FIRST LOOKS - Clear Design Adds The Acacia Series to Willow Park / Rock Crystal & Solid Brass Cabinet Handle Collection by Deco & Deco / New Hollman Acrylic Lockers
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 14, 2022

•   Engaging and Inspiring — Design Studio SOSO Aims to Foster Simple Human Connection Through Multidimensional Technology Art - There are lots of ways to revive the office and use unique design elements to tempt workers out of their homes. SOSO's installations are not only hard to resist, they are indeed engaging and bring people together.
•   Stephen Says - "Never Assume the Reason You Just Got Fired Is the Real Reason You Just Got Fired." - by Stephen Viscusi - Often, being fired has to do with the ultimate number you're being paid in your salary. In other words, it is never really the reason they tell you, unless you have had a series of bad performance reviews.
•   BDNY Returns with Enthusiastic Attendance and a Spotlight on Thought-Provoking Design - Thousands of industry professionals explored new products from nearly 600 exhibitors and learned about the latest trends and issues in hospitality from sessions covering innovation in design, wellness and mindfulness, navigating inclusivity, and the future of hospitality.
•   Stylex Opens NYC Showroom in the New York Design Center - The showroom opening also marked the launch of the dynamic new Dau collection, a colorful, contemporary collection of tables, upholstered sofas, benches, poufs, and lounge chairs designed to reimagine the workplace and beyond.
•   MillerKnoll Retail HQ Awarded WELL Certification Platinum - The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI's WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard.
•   Tarkett's Powerbond RS is World's First CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly Soft Surface Flooring - Powerbond RS is a hybrid resilient flooring, meaning it combines the look and feel of carpet with the durability and cleanability of a resilient surface.
•   Spinneybeck Introduces the Softwood Collection - The practice of bending plywood dates back to the 19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, a time when design was deeply rooted in technology and innovation.
•   Inscape Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results - Second quarter fiscal 2023 was disappointing as sales volumes did not achieve expected levels and certain orders were unable to be recognized within the quarter further diminishing revenue levels reported. Management is responding to these challenges appropriately.
•   InstallNET's EcoServ Program Recognized With 2022 SEAL Business Sustainability Award - EcoServ provides the processes, standards and metrics needed to recirculate workspace assets in a way that delivers value to companies and the community, without harming the environment.
•   UPFRONT: Allseating Supports the Community - Allseating and The Bennett Edge have worked together to hire five employees — all people who have endured tough times and needed an opportunity to get back into the workforce.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Carl Hansen & Son Presents Nesting Tables Created by Danish Furniture Designer Hans J. Wegner - The new Nesting Tables consist of three tables that can be used together or separately. Thanks to their light and discreet look, the tables can integrate seamlessly into any interior.
•   NOW REPPING: Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Rep to Cover Ohio - "We are very pleased to be partnering with The Davis Group. We have been able to attract excellent independent representatives and can now proudly say that we have local representation in Ohio." said co-owner Robert Jönsson.
•   PLACES - Hasbro Offices – Haiphong | The office center is a space designed with the inspiration of "The Nest". Vacons renovated the existing atrium to turn this area into a multi-purpose space.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Sims Patrick Studio to Expand Existing Design Team / DuraCare Seating Now Offering REVIT Symbols / LRS Bolsters Design Team with New BIM Hires, Leticia Lopez Cushnie and Matthew Salazar / Pickard Chilton Announces Three New Principals, Expands Leadership / Skram Announces the Appointment of Robert Wolf, Vice President Growth Marketing
•   FIRST LOOKS - Carl Hansen & Son Present the Sideways Footstool / Catwalk: Flexible Interaction and Comfort / Pallas Textiles Introduces Alinea Collection / New Vibia Collection – Plusminus
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 7, 2022

•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Artopex Introduces a New Generation for Take Off - A collection that breaks boundaries and trends. This new generation of Take Off is distinguished by the high quality of the details that have been thought out and created to offer beautifully designed furniture from every angle. The collection is marked by the introduction of multiple finishes and new colours. Inspired by residential design, it allows the creation of enhanced environments thanks to its unparalleled modularity and impeccable aesthetics.
•   Stephen Says - "My Boss Has a Favorite, and It's Not Me!" - by Stephen Viscusi - To me it's human nature. That's why I tell people when they take a job, chemistry with your boss is the most important thing.
•   CEUs Are Evolving: 3 Strategies Your Brand Should Try to Succeed - Designers are no longer trapped in a conference room with a free sandwich for your CEU. So, with so many new options for content delivery, if yours is not on point, you'll lose them.
•   Throwback Decades Inspire Modern Designs at Carnegie - Looking forward to future trends carries weight too.
•   Georgia Peach Coleby Hettler, Breaks Industry Barriers as the New Woman Owner and CEO of Business Environments - Business Environments is a well-respected commercial furniture dealership that has been in business for over 23 years, operating under the watchful eye of founder Ken Morris.
•   Customized Workplace English Instruction Helping to Fill Manufacturing Talent Gap - "Our goal was to make the program accessible and equitable for our associates," said Domingo Hernandez-Gomez, DEI program manager, MillerKnoll.
•   A Bed for the Holidays: KI Donates Custom Bed Frames to Area Shelters - "Through the generosity of KI, these beds will offer warmth and security to someone in need during and after the holiday season."
•   Ultrafabrics x Pantone - Performance fabric collaborates with leader in color trends and development.
•   This Polish Startup Offers a Tenerife Workation as a New Job Perk - We all know work-life balance matters and workations are more than office hours. So, besides having an excellent work setup, the Tenerife office lets employees have fun. There are board games and a bicycle, and it is located close to the city's attractions.
•   New Leadership Team Announced for ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan - Kevin Gaffney boasts 25 years of experience managing the planning and execution of over 60 trade shows.
•   Robert A.M. Stern Architects Unveils Renovation and Expansion to South Bend's Main Library - The renovation of the existing library and the addition of the 40,000-square-foot Community Learning Center illustrates the critical role that libraries serve in spurring economic activity and also providing the surrounding community with modern and flexible spaces.
•   Museum of Modern Art Unveils Mamava Lactation Pod as a Design Object with a Gallery-Like Experience - The Museum of Modern Art's new lactation pod is located in the lobby of the Museum's ground floor.
•   Teknion Named An Honoree at the 2022 Metropolis Planet Positive Awards - Routes is recognized for its positive impact on human health and wellbeing.
•   UPFRONT: Peter Pepper Celebrates 70 Years of Design Innovation - Peter Pepper Products got its start in the founder's home in Los Angeles with wife Jacquie Pepper, designing many of the wall art pieces.
•   COLORS: Pantone Color of The Year 2023: Viva Magenta - This year's Color of The Year is powerful and empowering. It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement.
•   PLACES - Unicorn Stores Offices – Hong Kong | The entrance and reception foyer has been lined in timber to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere with seating booths which can be used by visitors and employees alike in a cosy setting.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - 2020 and Workrite Ergonomics Strengthen Partnership Through Cloud Pricing Tools / Landscape Forms Names Eric Swanson President of Loll Designs / Arper Welcomes Pascal (PJ) Manzari, National Sales Director for the US & Canada / Woolpert Welcomes Sustainable Design and Interior Design Leaders Shawn Tubb and Chris Shrodes
•   FIRST LOOKS - HBF Textiles Introduces Two-Part Harmony - Part Two: Coated Fabrics / Cambria Launches New Alloy Infused Quartz Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 30, 2022

•   Why Isn't our Wellbeing Improving? Start With Small Steps - As a general rule, people need to have the option to come in and work how they want to work and be free to do so. In terms of working from home, isolation, loneliness is difficult for some people.
•   Stephen Says - "Our Dealership is Hiring BIG for 2023!" - by Stephen Viscusi - The experience you're describing about hiring for 2023 is identical to what I'm hearing from most of our dealer and manufacturer clients. It's very important for people in the furniture industry to cut out all the noise they hear in the media about the firings in the tech industry and not confuse that with the office furniture industry they work in.
•   ThinkLab's 5 Greatest Hits to Keep You Informed - At ThinkLab, we pride ourselves not only in providing research-led insights to help you grow your business, but also in sharing them in whatever way helps you digest the insights best.
•   Spellman Brady & Co. Receives IIDA Gateway Chapter's IDEA Award for PayneCrest Electric Custom Artwork - PayneCrest's brand is clearly demonstrated throughout the entire artwork package. The artwork is seamlessly incorporated into the interiors and helps bring the company values and culture to life.
•   Framery Celebrates Continued Growth With Optimistic Views on the Future of Offices - The brand reaches half a billion in all time revenue and expands the sales team with two new key hires.
•   RBW Expands to Kingston With RBW Factory, the Company's New Headquarters for Manufacturing and Innovation - RBW looked to architect Neil Logan and Kingston-based Dutton Architecture to re-envision the building, which combines all working spaces under one roof, from design and manufacturing to traditional open bench desking and break-out spaces to promote collaboration.
•   AB Concept Designs Noi, the New Restaurant of the Four Seasons Hong Kong led by Michelin-Starred Chef Paulo Airaudo - The overall design concept is a representation of an Italian silhouette with Japanese infill – as a reference to the food served – and pays homage to Chef Airaudo's Italian-Argentinian heritage by intertwining Italian architecture and contemporary furniture, as well as a statement wine cellar.
•   Legrand Named to FORBES' 2022 List of "World's Best Employers" - "Just as Legrand is committed to improving lives by transforming the spaces where we live, work, and meet, we're also committed to our workforce," said John Selldorff, CEO of Legrand North and Central America.
•   HON Honored by Configura - Anna Creek, Senior Design Integration Specialist for HON, led the team in creating this most-requested search feature.
•   IIDA Names Winners of the 10th Annual Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards - "It is an honor to showcase the tremendously talented designers represented in this region," said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA.
•   UPFRONT: Hempitecture Wins $500,000 Prize at Grow-NY Global Food and Agriculture Business Competition - "We are thrilled by Grow-NY's honorable recognition and this opportunity to grow Hempitecture's footprint on the East Coast," said Mattie Mead, founder and CEO of Hempitecture.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Kirei Unveils Natural Materials Collection of Printed Acoustic Panels - Featuring five prints, the Natural Materials Collection offers designers the look of concrete and marble without the echoes.
•   CERTIFIED: Okamura Becomes First Japanese Company to Achieve LEVEL Certification - Although there were many conceptual overlaps between LEVEL by BIFMA and Okamura's GREEN WAVE, the structure was different. Okamura was motivated to take the time to re-configure their own process to align with the LEVEL program.
•   PLACES - Oktopost Offices – Tel Aviv | The office space Switchup chose was open and bright, with hardly any dividing walls to begin with.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Inscape Files Directors' Circular in Support of Hilco's All-Cash Offer for Inscape and Recommends Shareholders Accept the Offer / Appointment of Anthony Booth as Chief Customer Office of eSolutions Furniture / Ultrafabrics Announces Partnership with 2022 Sustainable Design Summit
•   FIRST LOOKS - Introducing Hover, a New Lighting Series by Lodes / Cadre: A Fresh Take on an Iconic Chair / Maharam: Introducing Bertjan Pot / Inspiring Environments from Ligne Roset
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 23, 2022

•   Designing a Sustainable Future — It's Not That Hard to Do the Right Thing - It takes just as much energy to do the right thing as it does to do anything else.
•   BDNY Returns to New York City as Design Lines Between Hospitality and Contract Continue to Blur - Clients are looking for things that can invite people to gather while simultaneously having individual spaces.
•   I Spy Something Green: Three Meaningful Developments in Sustainable Products! - How ThinkLab Trendspotters caught glimpses of a groundswell movement toward more sustainable products.
•   Jamie Fellowes Named 2022 Business Solutions Association Legend - Jamie and his wife, Deby, have been married for 53 years and have four children – Jennifer, John, Elisabeth, and Andrew – and seven grandchildren. He enjoys golf and biking, as well as reading, opera, and road trips with his wife.
•   ABI October 2022: Architecture Firm Billings Take a Sharp Downward Turn - Business conditions were fairly consistent across the country in October, as firms in all four regions saw either slight growth or a slight downturn.
•   Stephen Says - "Hiring Managers Really Do Check References: My Tips" - by Stephen Viscusi - If your references are not contacted before or shortly after you get an offer, you should be very curious, very suspicious and consider skipping the job altogether.
•   Healthy Residence Halls Promote Student Physical Activity, Utilize Sustainable Construction Materials - More and more materials used in building interiors today are being made from sustainable, recycled materials such as countertops made from recycled plastic waste and carpet nylon made from recycled fishing nets harvested in the Philippines and Central Africa.
•   Herman Miller Expands European Gaming Business with Dedicated Gaming Webshops in Denmark, Finland and Sweden - In addition to the Embody and Vantum Gaming Chairs, the webshop will also feature the Aeron Gaming Chair, Sayl Gaming Chair, Nevi Gaming Desks, and Ollin monitor arm for the complete gaming setting that prioritizes aesthetics and function.
•   IIDA NY Expands Educational Activities for Children - Initially conceived in 2018 by IIDA NY's Student Development committee, the Design Camp program has since worked with hundreds of students.
•   IIDA Names Transformational and Innovation Award Winners and Best of Competition Winner of the 10th Annual IIDA Healthcare Design Awards - The IIDA Healthcare Design Awards recognize firms for creative design of healthcare facilities across seven categories within Hospitals, Extended Care and Assisted Living Facilities, and Ambulatory.
•   DIRTT Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Private Placement - The proceeds from the Private Placement are intended to provide additional liquidity as the Company works to complete its strategic initiatives.
•   UPFRONT: Kirei's Air Baffle Wins Three Major Industry Awards - The Air Baffle is an innovative ceiling baffle that combines the acoustic performance of recycled PET felt with a soft filling made of recycled textile fluff from Nike Grind, a global sustainability program that helps transform manufacturing scrap and end-of-life shoes into recycled Nike Grind Materials.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: New from Arper – Shaal Modular Sofa - Designed by Doshi Levien, Shaal is structured and soft like a basket of pillows and wraps around you in a welcoming embrace– inviting tactility and warmth into any space, from residential to contract.
•   SUSTAINABILITY: Luum Launches Sustainable Approach to On-Demand Textiles - At Luum, sustainability is the lens through which all decisions are made. From fiber to finish, they look to honor the Earth and user wellness through research, development, testing, and industry feedback.
•   PLACES - CBRE Offices – Kyiv | Linear and individual lighting fixtures in combination with soundproof panels under the ceiling create a playful geometry and immediately attract attention.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Landscape Forms Appoints Stephen Godanis as Business Development Representative for the New York Metropolitan Area / Ware Malcomb Announces Promotion of Lori Ambrusch to Studio Manager, Science & Technology, in Washington, D.C. Office / Artaic Appoints Steve Drew as National Sales Director / Liberty Diversified International Names Dan Gigstead, Vice President / Allseating Becomes the First Canadian Manufacturer to Achieve LEVEL3 from BIFMA in the Seating Category
•   FIRST LOOKS - Clear Design Adds the Nexus Monitor Arms to its FAST Ergonomic Solutions / Agapecasa Reissues the "Club 44" Table Designed in 1957 by Angelo Mangiarotti
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 16, 2022

•   Stephen Says - "Sorry You Lost Your Job at Twitter but Get Over It!" - by Stephen Viscusi - I feel badly for anybody who has lost their job. I'm surprised that so many of you are so surprised, however, since it's not unusual that when management changes hands at any company. Oftentimes, employees change hands as well.
•   ORGATEC 2022 Impresses Companies and Trade Visitors Alike - A total of 686 companies from 43 countries presented their products and solutions for the current and future requirements of our always-evolving working environments.
•   Nearly 3 in 5 American Office Workers Place High Importance on Access to Private Work Areas to Produce their Best Work, According to new Fellowes Brands Survey - Survey on office design and worker performance comes as in-office attendance recently reached highest point since start of COVID-19 pandemic.
•   KWK Architects Completes New Mixed Grade, Living/Learning Wagoner Hall at Augustana University - 54,000-square-foot hall helps accommodate university's largest first-year-student class since 1970.
•   OM Seating, Fleetwood and NorvaNivel Win Innovation Awards at EDspaces - A panel of education industry professionals reviewED and evaluateED all award submittals based on specific criteria, including a demonstrated rigor in design for education environments, aesthetics, innovation, sustainability, academic and emotional impact.
•   Scandinavian Spaces Shakes Things Up - Explosive growth combined with a revamped salesforce, project a promising future.
•   Andreu World Awarded OK BIOBASED Seal of TÜV Austria For BIO Thermopolymer Material - The Spanish manufacturer has achieved a four-star certification of the seal marking it as the highest percentage of renewable raw materials and sustainability.
•   Kimball International Joins HealthTrust Group Purchasing Organization - "We look forward to our partnership with HealthTrust and its members to help them enhance their patient, family, and caregiver environments," said Jennifer Adams.
•   Shearman & Sterling Brings Workplace of the Future to Life - The global law firm's recent New York office transformation reflects its commitment to people, clients, and the environment.
•   Rick Allor Joins Kentwood Office Furniture as General Manager - Rick comes to Kentwood Office Furniture with extensive experience in the contract furniture industry. Most recently, he was a Regional Sales Director at Staples Business Advantage.
•   Projects: The Trade Desk - Tangram has completed a new furniture design installation for The Trade Desk at two prominent locations for the company.
•   Stylex Reveals Dau, a Sculptural Collection of Seating & Tables with Untethered Adaptability - Enduring aesthetics designed for movement, Dau inspires activity-based communities, creativity, and productivity with playful flair.
•   Shaw's Tim Baucom and Vance Bell Recognized Among Most Influential Leaders in Georgia - Both leaders named to Georgia Trend's Georgia 500 list.
•   UPFRONT: Kimball International Wins Nightingale Award for EverySpace - "Using evidence-based research, EverySpace was designed to add to the overall experience for patients, guests, and staff alike," said Jessica Gubbins.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Carnegie Fabrics Announces Healthcare Privacy Curtains to Promote Patient Wellness - Quietude provides both attractive aesthetics and industry-leading functionality not found in traditional privacy curtains.
•   AWARDED: The HON Company Receives Top Honors - Workwall received the Best Product award in the Furniture & Design category and Cofi was honored with the People's Choice award.
•   PLACES - OTP Bank Offices – Budapest | One of the key features of the new headquarters is the architectural and interior design gesture of unifying space. The bank's headquarters, with its strict structure, seeks balance in all its solutions.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - KAI Hires Kate Pertzsch, RID, NCIDQ as Senior Interior Designer / Ware Malcomb Promotes Amanda Kavanaugh to Studio Manager, Interior Architecture & Design in Vaughan Office / XLR8 Commercial Interiors Now Representing Acoufelt in Southeastern United States / Longtime Idaho Company Freeform Earns B Corp Certification / LG Earns Zoom Certification on its All-in-One Video Conferencing Display / Buro Happold Adds Offices and Innovative Leaders in Atlanta and San Diego / FSR's Smart-Way Wall Raceway Receives NECA Showstopper Award / Shaw Receives 2022 St. Jude Organizational Support Award
•   FIRST LOOKS - De Vorm Introduces Mino Sofa Series / Showcasing Glidden Paint by PPG's Vining Ivy Through Textiles and Furniture Solutions / The Curio Collection from Concertex / Tuuci Introduces the Ocean Master MEGA MAX Classic
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 9, 2022

•   Designing the Future of Education — EDspaces 2022 Showcases Highlights Innovation, Flexibility and Inspiration at This Year's Event - Sustainability is moving to the forefront of the design conversation. Design flexibility is a high priority as well.
•   Stephen Says - "HR recruiter tells us that RH is a great source to poach from!" - by Stephen Viscusi - A smart recruiter can walk out of an RH store with 25 potential candidates, and even if you only hire one good salesperson as a result of your trip, you've saved your company a bundle.
•   New ThinkLab Research Unveils 5 Specifier Personas for the Interior Design Industry - We uncovered five unique specifier personas in our research, yet we discovered that they all share a core value: ease of doing business.
•   AIS' New Dealer Site Underscores Company's Commitment to All Users within a Dealership and Features Updates Aimed at Optimizing the User Experience - Company's extensive sales and design tools now even easier to locate and use on newly unveiled 'DealerNet' website.
•   COE Distributing Refreshes OfficeSource Brand with New Look, Product Development Focus - OfficeSource's new product offerings in development will make it easy to modernize the typical office environment, creating cozy yet professional and contemporary looks.
•   IOA Launches Healthcare Furniture Tracking Program - 'IOA for Life' QR code tool ends 'furniture purgatory', helping extend the lifespan of hospital furniture investments with on-demand replacement and repair details.
•   Kimball International Announces Promotion of Willi Candra as Chief Digital and Information Officer - Candra joined the Company in 2020 as Vice President, IT and Digital Technologies. He has more than 24 years of experience in positions of increasing leadership responsibility.
•   Clear Design Expands its FAST Program For More Customization - The continuous expansion of Clear Design's FAST Program is a testament to valuing the relationship with its dealer partners by consistently providing new options and customization options with unbeatable lead times and quality.
•   Polyvision Corporation Announces Global Sales & Marketing Appointments - The company promoted Kevin Taney to Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, and Kim Allen to Director, Global Product and Marketing.
•   Hightower Launches New Innovative Collections - From the ability to join together for a quick discussion surrounding Picnic's bar-height model or to enjoy a meal together at Picnic's café height model, the product is versatile in its applications.
•   Dustin Benz Promoted to President of iSpace Environments - Benz's promotion at iSpace takes effect at a pivotal time as he leads the company of more than 80 employees through the design, planning, and build-out of their new headquarters and showroom in Minneapolis.
•   MillerKnoll Debuts New Headquarters for Global Retail Business at The Village in Stamford - New retail offices show the power of the company's future of work research and newest design solutions.
•   Kimball International Reports First Quarter 2023 Results - Net sales of $177.8 million, increased 14% year-over-yeaR; Gross margin expanded 220 basis points to 33.5%.
•   Interface Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results - Net sales totaled $327.8 million, up 4.8% year-over-year. Currency neutral net sales were up 10.9% year-over-year.
•   UPFRONT: Via Seating Launches New Website - Faster & Easier to use while maintaining a Quality, High Design Aesthetic. - The result is a fast & straightforward, but lovely and intriguing user experience from page to page.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Essential Tools For Your Cable Management - NeatTech (designed by Humanscale Design Studio) is an innovative cable management solution that is compatible with most workstations including our award-winning height-adjustable tables -- Float and eFloat. Its lightweight basket stores power strips and cables neatly and safely off the floor.
•   ON THE COVER: LACASSE FUZE EDGE - Groupe Lacasse, the recognized industry leader in laminate Casegoods manufacturing, announces the standardization of its state-of-the-art laser edgebanding technology, "FUZE EDGE", on all laminate products, regardless of shape, size or thickness.
•   PLACES - Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik Offices – Istanbul | The biophilic design concept and the company's corporate colors commanded the color palette for the whole space.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Eastern South TX and LA / Lamar Sandaers Joins Thinkspace / Proven Solutions for Beaufurn / Kimball International Included in Best-in-State Employers Forbes List for 2022 / Daltile Participates In RISE Home / SMPS-NY Announces AccessAEC Development Honorarium with Columbia University / Page & Turnbull Announces Strategic Promotions and an Expanded, Experienced Team
•   FIRST LOOKS - EF Contract Releases the New Collection, Elan + Esprit, featuring Top-of-the-Line Yarn Styling / HBF Introduces The Tyler Seating Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 2, 2022

•   Spotlight on Sustainability — Hempitecture Pioneers Biobased Building Methods - The company's new manufacturing facility will serve both residential and commercial construction.
•   Stephen Says - "Avoid Reducing Your Career to a Pretentious Slogan on LinkedIn" - by Stephen Viscusi - Let's call your headline what it is: a slogan. You're creating a slogan that you think describes yourself. To me, that's just ridiculous.
•   At Nassimi's New Office, Fashionable Fabrics Fill the Space - As an industry innovator since 1978, the company has always strived to set standards in the market and surpass client expectations—and the introduction of its lavish, recently released, menswear-inspired patterns does not disappoint.
•   The Women's Edge and The Boston Globe Name Creative Office Resources #38 on Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts - As one of the largest MillerKnoll furniture dealers in the country, Creative Office Resources builds comfortable, positive environments designed to empower the people within them.
•   Flos Announces Appointment of US Managing Director - Flos announced the appointment of Cinzia Bernasconi as the new Managing Director of its Flos USA subsidiary, guiding the brand in the North American region.
•   New Research from Future Forum Highlights Benefits of Embracing Flexible Work to Address Employee Burnout - New data reinforces the need for better flexible work strategies as burnout rates increase.
•   Photos: The Orgatec The World Waited For - Read our full post-show report next week.
•   Be Original Americas Announces 2022 Global Virtual Student Fellowship - Eight design companies give students inside knowledge & expertise.
•   Elgin, Illinois-based Rieke Interiors Rebrands: New Name and Logo Reflects Expansion of Services to Design Different Commercial and Residential Spaces - After 28 years of helping people create and envision their spaces according to their realities, Rieke Interiors recently launched its own rebranding plans.
•   HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 - In the third quarter, the Corporation delivered 65 percent growth in non-GAAP earnings per share on a year-over-year basis, driven by positive price-cost and improving product mix.
•   NOOK and Education Go Together Like Teachers and Apples - NOOK is part of the EDmarketplace where exhibitors are showcasing vibrant, creative, innovative and connected solutions to address the design needs of the built educational environment.
•   Kimball International Adds New Product Solutions Designed to Spark Connections - Informed by research, Kimball International is proud to design, develop, and launch new products that support a greater purpose.
•   UPFRONT: KI Sponsors Student Competition at 2022 CoreNet Global Summit - This year marks the sixth consecutive year that KI has sponsored the CoreNet Global Summit. KI is an Emerald Sponsor, the second-highest tier of sponsorship, representing a contribution of $50,000.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Hari Collection by Hightower - Hari comes from Hightower's Basque brand partner, Ondarreta, and was designed by Jose Ferrero of estudi{h}ac. Ferrero focuses his work on sophisticated detailing, which is what inspired the collaboration.
•   CALL FOR PROGRAMMING: NeoCon Announces Call for 2023 Programming - NeoCon's programming is known for delivering invaluable insight into the topics, trends, and movements that affect the commercial design industry and the world at large. Proposals will be considered for both virtual and in-person CEU programming across a wide range of educational tracks and categories including Workplace, Healthcare, Education, Design Skills, and Technology.
•   PLACES - CBB Offices – Santiago | In order to meet this need of a modern and agile workspace, capable of conveying the organisation's values and culture, the company has entrusted Contract Workplaces with the comprehensive project of developing its new offices.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - NELSON Worldwide Launches Path to Principal Program / Thinkspace Announces Promotion of Lindsay Fuhr / Coleby Hettler Breaks Industry Barriers as the New Woman Owner and CEO of Business Environments / DIRTT Welcomes Jeff Dopheide as Chief Revenue Officer / PVI Office Furniture Celebrates its 30th Anniversary in Frederick, Maryland / Julio Braga and Buzz Riley Join FCA as Principals in the Corporate Studio / Perkins&Will Elevates Interior Design Leaders Tim Wolfe and Lara Leskaj / Screenflex Partitions Selected as Notable Manufacturer for Leading Education Conference
•   FIRST LOOKS - Carnegie Fabrics Announces Sustainable Hospitality Upholstery Collection / Mantra Inspired Furniture Introduces the Clayborne Collection / Bendheim Introduces TurnKey Fusion Light Wall System for Backlit Glass Cladding
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 26, 2022

•   The Experimental, Experiential Office: What Workplace Can Learn from Retail, Education, and Airports - There's an extreme amount of attention paid to people of different abilities, to kids, to families, to elderly, all sorts of people come and experience an airport so it's really important to make sure they are all cared for.
•   The Tech-Enabled Digital Nomad Life - Even though they have run out of power more times than they want to admit, had mechanical issues, and been forced to change their route time after time, David and Lily love their life on the road, especially the people they have met along the way.
•   MillerKnoll Honored for Supplier Diversity Excellence - On a day-to-day basis, Bruce and her team work to create and redeploy a robust strategy for diverse supplier inclusion for MillerKnoll and ignite engagement to improve Supplier Diversity spending by advocating on behalf of Diverse Business Owners to increase equity within the Supply Chain and the North American Dealer partner network.
•   Photos: Live from Orgatec 2022 - After a long wait, things are finally getting started in Germany - and BoF is there to document it all.
•   Designing the Home Office - Anna Popov, of Interiors by Popov, delves into the ins and outs of designing the perfect home office.
•   Stephen Says - "Should I Stay or Should I Go" - by Stephen Viscusi - People are all trying to build themselves up, get face time with the higher-ups, and climb the ladder. You can do that more as a manager, no matter what city you are in, and, who knows, you might not even like the new gig.
•   At Orgatec NARBUTAS Exhibits the Four Strongest Trends in Modern Offices - The hybrid working model has led to a kind of a mix and match trend in furniture combination and office furnishing, where furniture is mixed with each other that previously did not stand side by side.
•   Studio TK Launchs Pico Lounge: Looking Toward the Future of The Modern Office - Inspired by Mt. Pico, Portugal's highest mountain peak, the chair brings a structural element to today's workspaces.
•   SilentLab Presents Unique Functionality of MICROOFFICE Acoustic Interior Office Pods at Orgatec - SilentLab is also presenting additional new products, such as a MICROOFFICE acoustic room with maximum acoustic dampening and built-in equipment to prevent bugging.
•   NaughtOne Presents: A Reintroduction - Naughtone launches compelling rebrand, strengthening the brand's core message: Absolute simplicity leads to infinite possibility.
•   Steelcase Launches Better Futures Community - Social Innovation program brings together the organization's global work surrounding equity, education and the environment in its communities.
•   Knoll Launches Newson Task - With his first foray into workplace design, renowned industrial designer Marc Newson highlights the beauty of simplicity and ergonomic excellence.
•   UPFRONT: 2022-Q3 Solomon Coyle Market Outlook Report Released - The sector pipeline breakdown is flashing a concerning signal this quarter. The strongest pipelines are in government, education, and healthcare, which historically respond slowest to market downturns. We will be keeping a very close eye on this in the coming months.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Camira Shapes the Future at Orgatec with Sustainable Fabrics Made from Natural and Recycled Materials - Titled 'Shaping the Future', the fabric manufacturer's stand, delivered by multi-award-winning Düsseldorf design studio raumkontor, will be an explosion of color and texture in an array of organic shapes made from its collection of environmental textiles.
•   LAUNCHED: Introducing Tyler: A New Executive Chair From HBF - The injection-molded foam back creates a bespoke seating experience for most body types.
•   PLACES - Nordea Baltic Sea Office – Warsaw | The top floors are home to the bank's futuristic IT command center, Nordea Horizon.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Grizform Design Architects Welcomes New Interior Designer to Growing Team / KOVA Appoints Bob Posillico as Director of Business Development & Sales / Architecture + Interiors Practice JZA+D PromotesFive Designers and Hires Marketing Leader / Buro Happold Expands Leadership In Healthcare, Science and Technology Practice / Skylab Adds New Operations Leadership - Jennifer Dillan, Marketing and Business Development Director, and Randall Akin, Business Manager / Noel Bryan Joins Perkins Eastman as Principal and Director of Business Operations / Wayfair Makes it Easy to Shop Sustainably with Largest Selection of Sustainability Certifications for Home / Teknion Enters A New Era Of Corporate Transparency With JUST 2.0 Registration
•   FIRST LOOKS - Seeing Double with BOB / Foscarini's Tobia Floor Lamp Available at the MOMA Design Store / Martin Brattrud Presents Las Filas, A New Banquette Series
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 19, 2022

•   Good Design is Good Business — Andreu World's Take on the Future of Office Design in New Book - The contents of "Work well seated" meanders around the world with intimate glimpses into gorgeous office designs by Andreu World, including its own headquarters in Valencia, Spain. Commentary sprinkled throughout the pages provides wisdom and inspiration about the future of workplace design.
•   Three Ways Sustainability is Impacting Specification Behavior - We're seeing a slew of new business models emerge to support specifying from circular sources, transparency around lead times, and the ability to validate and measure product choices through carbon footprint calculations.
•   Ultrafabrics Removes PFAS/PFOA's in Most of its Collections; Achieves High Rating From Mindclick - Studies have recently linked PFAS, which includes compounds like PFOA and PFOS, with a range of harmful effects on both human and environmental health.
•   This Thursday: 10/20 on 10 - Showroom crawl featuring nearly 20 showrooms on the 10th floor of THE MART, with new products, seasonal craft cocktails, and a chance to win some amazing prizes.
•   SV Design Receives IFDA New England's "Best Commercial Design" Award - The annual International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) awards represent the highest level of excellence in the interior design community, honoring those who advance the profession and communicate the impact of interior design within the New England design Community.
•   Stephen Says - "Are Your Employees Trying to Extort You for More Money? Fire Them!" - by Stephen Viscusi - We always tell clients and candidates the best time to look for a new job is when you do not need to.
•   IIDA NY Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Color Invasion - Acclaimed industry event returns in October to unite the local design community, raise funds for children in need.
•   Loftwall Launches Two New Products: Gravity and Sky Acoustic Solutions - Gravity is a full-size hanging acoustic partition, designed to designate zones in the modern office that is starved for focus spaces. Sky takes the same fundamentals of Gravity up to the ceiling.
•   Allseating Releases Innate, a Fully Upholstered Ergonomic Task Chair Designed For All-Day Comfort and User Wellness - Now more than ever, employee wellness is being integrated into every aspect of the workplace, no matter the work environment, and quality ergonomic seating that adapts to the user is not excluded from that equation.
•   Watson Expands Essential Desk Line to bring Customization and Functionality to Individual Workstations - The Essential Desk's evolution includes a variety of surface shape options and the perfecting of features and accessories that emphasize flexibility and our enduring, timeless design.
•   HLW Spearheads Charter Communications' New Stamford Headquarters - HLW studied a variety of approaches to each floor taking program types, key adjacencies, end-users, and overall experience into consideration before landing on a final plan –– establishing modularity and flexibility as a key part of the planning process.
•   MillerKnoll Honored for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Excellence by EcoVadis - MillerKnoll launched the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative, a group of over 50 companies working together to make the design industry more equitable.
•   Ware Malcomb Completes Kinnate Biopharma Offices in San Diego - A hybrid workplace, Kinnate encourages its employees to use the office for collaboration and save "heads-down" work for home.
•   UPFRONT: Cindy Dampier Joins IIDA as Chief Marketing Officer - Cindy has perfect pitch when it comes to understanding the voice of IIDA, and also brings her keen sense of creative strategy and her journalistic instinct for defining the narrative to all of the stories IIDA has to tell.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: HAT Collective Healthcare Introduces The Tango Cart - Tango is available in three configurations to support a healthcare provider's preferred technology use. With a small profile and easy-grip handles perfectly positioned for optimal access, Tango can be easily moved in and out of position as needed.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Framery Announces A Product Offering in Perfect Harmony - The Framery One exterior color palette will be exclusively implemented across the entire Framery product family.
•   HIRED: PS Furniture Announces Hiring of Frank DiGiovanni as VP - Frank brings a storied 40-year career in the commercial furniture industry to PS Furniture, having worked early in his career for Herman Miller and Haworth in corporate sales management roles, and sales and senior executive sales roles for Steelcase dealers.
•   PLACES - ByteDance Offices – Shanghai | iDA Workplace created a space with dynamic work options using natural light and thoughtful installs for the ByteDance offices in Shanghai, China.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - 2020 Announces a New Cloud Pricing Solution for 2020 Office / Julio Braga and Buzz Riley Join FCA as Principals in the Corporate Studio / Business Interiors of Idaho (BII) Completes Rebrand, Changes Name after Merger with Freeform (Contract Resource Group, Inc.) / Buro Happold Elevates Noted Airports Expert, Patti Harburg-Petrich, to Lead U.S. Aviation Sector / Humanscale Uses 100% Rainwater for all Global Systems
•   FIRST LOOKS - Kirei Launches Custom Print Acoustic Panels With Library of Five Wood Prints / Stance Healthcare Expands Occasional Table Offerings with New Capri, Pavilion Collections / Flos Announces the Launch of the Oblique Floor, Designed by Vincent Van Duysen / Haworth x Halo: Fern Gaming Chair
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 12, 2022

•   Rimadesio Sees Unstoppable Growth With its Emphasis on Sustainability and a Connection to Fashion - "I'm glad that there has been a growing movement to move away from fast fashion and fast furniture — design is not meant to be 'fast.' It should be thoughtful, timeless, and have longevity. That's the way to really appreciate its beauty and functionality," said Daun Curry.
•   NARBUTAS Executive Chair Promises a Sensory Revolution at Orgatec - NARBUTAS, which has been exhibiting since 2000, is one of the most experienced exhibitors at the fair.
•   Stephen Says - "Layoffs at a Major, and Hiring Freezes at Another? What's Happening?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Let's face it, you have to work harder and smarter today, throughout the organization, from seller to sales manager to the C level.
•   Herman Miller and Logitech G Introduce Vantum, a Modern Gaming Chair Designed for Gamers from the Ground Up - The Vantum Gaming Chair went through many rounds of revisions and ideations to ensure a gamer's needs were prioritized in both the aesthetics and appearance.
•   Kimball International Announces New Boston Showroom Location - Continuing a long-standing relationship, Kimball International selected Eastlake Studio as its partner to design and develop this new showroom space in Boston.
•   Vari Opens New Corporate Office as it Celebrates 10th Anniversary - VariSpace Coppell is 3rd Fitwel-certified building in the DFW area, driven by Vari's commitment to healthy workspaces.
•   AIS Rolls Out a Major Refresh of Vertical Surface Materials, New Paint Finishes, and its Inaugural Seating Alliance Upholstery Program - Modern and upscale fabric, upholstery and paint choices provide dealers, designers, and customers with more choices, sophisticated textures, and interesting patterns.
•   KOVA Debuts Window Wall System with a Revolutionary Installation Process - Ideal for projects ranging from large commercial buildings to mid-sized, multi-family housing units, the Window Wall System can be installed in high-rise properties that are up to 30-40 stories tall as well as apartment buildings with four to five stories.
•   ASID Announces 2023 Board of Directors - New members help celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership.
•   Mohawk Group Collaborates with Marginalized Artists to Launch Social Canvas Carpet Collection - Human-centered design considers all humans, including those at the sidelines, to create a better world and enhance the quality of life for everyone.
•   UPFRONT: Co-Founder Geoff Gosling Returns to DIRTT - Gosling created the original concept of an agile construction system that serves as the backbone for all DIRTT solutions.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BuzziSpace Presents Acoustic Lighting and Color Experience at Light + Building 2022 - BuzziChip is a lighting pendant featuring soft, whimsical curves in a voluminous upholstered foam body.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Ground-Breaking Collection from Landscape Forms - Backdrop offers a new and uniquely versatile way to create welcoming outdoor destinations.
•   NOW REPPING: Arnold Contract Partners with Reps in New England and South Texas - "We are committed to providing an unparalleled experience in the world of office interiors and our partnership with Arnold builds on that ethos."
•   PLACES - Herman Miller Offices – Dubai | Herman Miller created an office space to showcase their design prowess while also honoring the innovation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Resource Furniture Promotes Gabriella Pomata to Marketing Director / Whipsaw Recognized with Multiple Wins at IDSA's International Design Excellence Awards / MillerKnoll Makes First Public Healthcare Debut at 2022 Healthcare Design Conference and Expo / Haworth Partnered with Ergotron at HCD 2022 / Muuto Expands Footprint in North America With Launch of E-Commerce Site
•   FIRST LOOKS - Tracy Glover Studio Introduces the Dipped Beehive Pendant / Daltile Launches New Anders Collection / Allseating Showcased Latest Innovations at HCD 2022
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 5, 2022

•   Making Things Better — A Spotlight on The Designers Group - While there is an incredible array of products for interior design, across all sectors, there are still ideas Ehrentreu would like to see come to fruition.
•   ASID Hosts GATHER, an Inspirational and Inclusive Design Conference - GATHER, the national conference by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), was held in Miami Sept. 21-24.
•   Stephen Says - "Working From Home with My Spouse — What Could Go Wrong?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I've received many, many letters from people in your identical situation, all expressed to me the frustration of having to work from home and getting sick and tired of being around their husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, partner, dog, cat, landlord, whatever.
•   Tayco: Kevin Philips Retires; Bill Melnik Announced as the New CEO and Owner - New ownership marks ample growth opportunity for progressive systems and casegoods manufacturer.
•   Mute Launches New Innovative and Sustainable Office Pod - Jetson is a family of universal acoustic pods designed to make everyone's work joyful and fruitful.
•   Inscape Announces New Partnership With Connection - Harp is distinctively designed with bungee cords to construct 'walls' that offer visual privacy.
•   Michael Graves Architecture & Design Acquires Jose Carballo Architectural Group - Merger continues to strengthen firm's legacy of innovative design and deep sector expertise and enhances client collaboration while expanding on future acquisition strategy.
•   Tangram Transforms RBC Wealth Management's New U.S. Headquarters - Tangram collaborated with both RBC and Perkins+Will for furniture scope on all 11 floors and used design tools to outfit the space with budget and overall employee experience in mind.
•   Clear Design Launches Resimercial Sub Brand Willow Park - Rich, warm, and comfortable furniture to create flexible workspaces.
•   Plural Studios to Launch Avila Healthcare Furniture Collection by Brian Graham at HCD Expo in San Antonio - New modular seating collection enhances design and comfort with a wide array of chair, sofa, table, arm, and leg options.
•   Carl Hansen & Son Relaunches the Asserbo Series by Børge Mogensen - The designer behind the series, Børge Mogensen, is renowned as one of the most significant furniture designers of the Danish Modern movement. He reputedly never designed his furniture based on preconceived artistic ideas.
•   Architectural Metals Reimagined: A Pattern Exploration - The striking new offerings speak to Móz's unique development and fabrication capabilities in the metals industry—the patterns offer a diverse metal material suitable for columns, walls, ceilings, and partitions for interior and exterior solutions alike.
•   UPFRONT: 2022-Q3 Market Outlook Survey Will Be Most Important Since Start of Pandemic - Understanding what's actually happening in the market allows a business to remain competitive and for dealer principals to make smart decisions, more timely decisions, and to identify or predict trends more easily.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KFI Studios Launches Vaux Table - Vaux is distinctive in its use of advanced steel forming techniques to create a sculpted form that is not common in steel frame construction.
•   SPOTTED: 110M+ Views in One Week: Transformer Table Is Breaking the Internet - Transformer Table, a modular furniture company based in Montreal, makes home furnishings that are more than meets the eye.
•   PLACES - Amazon Offices – Singapore | Collaboration hubs and touchdown spaces are scattered throughout the floorplate to empower employees to choose where they want to work depending on their task on hand.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Global Furniture Group, USA Appoints Director of Seating / Abby Scott Promoted to Interior Design Principal in HDR's Omaha Studio / Ware Malcomb Promotes Catalina Rocha to Studio Manager in Vaughan, Ontario Office / Shaw Recognized as a Best Employer in the 2022 Chattanooga Best of the Best Awards / Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of North & South Carolina / Landscape Forms Named as a 2022 Best Workplace in Manufacturing & Production / Mashika Gallo to Receive Samuelson Furniture Ageless Living Collaborative Senior Living Design Scholarship
•   FIRST LOOKS - Allseating Introduces L1 Upholstered Back / Stylex Debuts Verve Bucket / 3form Teams Up with Gensler for Globally Inspired Pattern Collection / Carnegie Fabrics Announces new Equilibrium Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 28, 2022

•   Emphasizing Ergonomics in Office Seating Design - The way we work is constantly evolving, whether in an office, at home, on the go, or somewhere in between.
•   Stephen Says - "Why You Should Use a Recruiter Even When You Know Who You Want to Hire" - by Stephen Viscusi - It's no secret that the candidates are controlling the market today. Fear of recession or a drop in the stock market, even inflation, has had zero impact on the difficulties that companies still have trying to find, hire, and attract good people.
•   Biophilic Skyscraper Completes in Singapore - The overall vertical softscape of the Green Oasis mimics the plant hierarchy of tropical rainforests; the hierarchical leaf growth of the plants is in direct proportional relationship to light availability within the vegetation layers.
•   Smarter Strategic Planning for 2023: 5 Helpful Tips to Improve Your Process - Thoughtful planning, data-driven decision-making, and continuous alignment equal organizational success.
•   Interior Investments Merges with Paric Holdings - This strategic collaboration will leverage the strengths and expertise of each organization to deliver a comprehensive suite of turnkey services to best support their customers.
•   COE Distributing Honored For Third Consecutive Year with Pittsburgh Top Workplaces Award - "The Top Workplaces award is incredibly important to our leadership team because the engagement and satisfaction of our most vital asset—our people—is what drives our actions and our culture every day," said COE Distributing Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing.
•   Billings Continue to Grow at Architecture Firms - "While a strengthening billings score is encouraging, the flat scoring across regions and sectors is indicative of a nationwide deceleration over the next several months, said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.
•   Nearly Two-thirds of Americans Experience Post-Pandemic Shift in Work Habits - More screen-time and less physical activity are taking a toll, new study finds.
•   Herman Miller and HAY Unveil Fresh Take on Classic Eames Collection - The collection celebrates the design talent of yesterday and today, bringing together longtime Eames fans, Rolf and Mette Hay, and the designs that inspired them.
•   The Search for the Most Useless Office Perk in the World — by Framery and Reaktor Creative - A mailroom punching bag. Tuna cans with no can opener. A folded-up exercise machine. New marketing campaign seeks 'the most useless office perk ever' and draws in hilarious submissions.
•   Steelcase Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results; Will Eliminate 180 Salaried Positions - Company announced additional reductions in planned spending and lower quarterly dividend due to uncertain demand environment.
•   MillerKnoll Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results - Strong sales growth of 37% over the prior year, up 12% organically; Ended the quarter with a robust backlog of $868.6 million.
•   UPFRONT: SnapCab Looks Toward Expansion - SnapCab announced a plan to expand its Kingston, Ontario manufacturing facility, prompting a visit from Bryan Paterson, the mayor of Kingston.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Keilhauer Expands Epix Line With New Feature - The new seat pad is sleek and subtle while still adding extra comfort to the chair's PET felt seat shell. The seat pad can be upholstered in any Keilhauer textile, and features a recycled plastic insert that can be installed and then easily removed when the time comes for product disassembly and recycling.
•   PARTNERSHIP: Solomon Coyle Announces Partnership with ITR Economics - Through this partnership, Solomon Coyle will be providing a subscription-based Market Index Report, to be delivered quarterly along with analysis provided by ITR economists.
•   PLACES - Cimet Arquitectos Offices – Mexico City | The connection to the exterior is given special emphasis due to the spectacular 360° views, framing them & relying heavily on natural light throughout the day.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Designer & Architectural Associate Julia Tingle Joins //3877 / Blitz Taps Hospitality Ace Tim Haggerty as San Francisco Studio Director / LiquidSpace and OfficeRnD Offer the First Total Hybrid Workplace Management Solution. One Platform. Any Workplace. / Mancini Continues Expansion into Leading Sector / Bluebeam Introduces Bluebeam Cloud: Designed for the Business of Building / Teknion Wins Gold at the 2022 International Design Excellence Awards
•   FIRST LOOKS - Scandinavian Spaces Offers Spino: The Modular Sofa System that is Fluid in Form and Artful in Function / Experience Hue: Ultrafabrics' New Brand Campaign Embraces Aura Photography as Color Inspiration / Protection Meets Beauty as FireKing Expands Designer Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 21, 2022

•   Shared Spaces and Flexibility are Vital for the New Hybrid Workplace - Furniture has taken a massive leap in recent years, with manufacturers creating flexible systems to support a hybrid workspace.
•   Here Now - A New Boutique Contract Furniture Brand Designed and Manufactured in North Carolina for Creatives by Creatives - A close-to-home footprint—and an intentional way of doing things—bring the founders and team close to the product offering unparalleled agility with client-friendly inventory and lead times.
•   Stephen Says - "My Boss Keeps Hiring People from His Former Employer. Is It Lazy? Political? Where is the Diversity?!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Just because a boss hires somebody that he knows doesn't necessarily mean that he's taking the lazy way out or that all these new hires are his "best friends."
•   Kimball International Releases 2021 ESG Report Detailing Efforts to Build a More Sustainable Future - Kimball has a long history as an environmentally conscious company. From the company's inception as a wood furniture manufacturer, relying on nature's resources to create their products, the ideas of conservation, sustainability, and sensitivity toward the environment have been deeply ingrained in their corporate culture.
•   Compusoft + 2020 Unveils Company Rebrand as Cyncly - New brand builds the ultimate connected platform to bring spaces to life.
•   Inscape Announces Partnerships with Four New Rep Groups - KB & CO., MRG Southeast, Dynko Contract, and Dino + Associates Will Represent Inscape and Office Specialty in the United States.
•   Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly Program Now Recognizes and Promotes LEVEL by BIFMA - Manufacturers with LEVEL certified furniture products will now be able to promote this achievement when placing products on Amazon.
•   Material Bank Signs The Climate Pledge - Material Bank Commits to Reaching Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040.
•   New Interface Flooring Collection: Desert Scapes - Desert Scapes features three carpet tile planks – Just Deserts, Cactus Grooves and Prickly as a Pear – in six fresh and soothing colorways.
•   Formica Opens Sixth Annual FORM Student Competition - Now extending to Mexico, competition expands to more design and architecture students than ever before, inviting them to share interpretations of maximalism in furniture designs.
•   Global Office Furniture Market to Reach $99.6 Billion by 2030 - An increase in the number of corporate offices, owing to the rapid construction of Information Technology (IT) Parks and commercial zones is creating a demand for modernized office furniture across the globe.
•   Kimmerle Completes Office, Showroom Renovation Project for Global Apparel Maker - Kimmerle Group spearheaded a redesign and renovation of SPARC Group LLC's Manhattan headquarters, allowing it to consolidate the homes of several apparel brands.
•   Virco Reports $0.60 EPS for Second Quarter Driven by 40% Increase in Revenue as U.S. Factories Provide Timely Support for School Reopenings - Net sales were $82.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023, a $23.8 million or 40.3% increase from $59.0 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year.
•   New Education-Focused Flooring Collection From Tarkett Designed For Discovery - For the development of Discovery, Tarkett explored how interior environments impact thinking, behavior, engagement, social awareness, and interactive experiences.
•   UPFRONT: 2020 Hires New Office Product Manager - Backed by a degree in Interior Design, Amy Edington has spent 15 years in the commercial furniture industry.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Kirei's Air Baffle Named Honoree of Fast Company's 2022 Innovation by Design Award - The Air Baffle is an innovative acoustic ceiling baffle that combines the acoustic performance of recycled PET felt with a soft filling made of recycled textile fluff from Nike Grind, a global sustainability program that helps transform manufacturing scrap and end-of-life shoes into recycled Nike Grind Materials.
•   ELECTED: HNI Corporation Elects New Director - Patrick D. Hallinan is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortune Brands Home & Security.
•   PLACES - ZGB Investment Offices – Beijing | Designed to showcase the elegance of the financial firm, ZGB Investment's Beijing office conveys a sense of calmness and meditation to provide an ease for both clients and employees.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Kim Sexton Accepts Territorial Sales Position for Nevers / Carnegie: Proud to be a B Corp - Again! / Kimball International is Preparing to Open a Pop-up Location in the Heart of Manhattan / IOPFDA Welcomes New 2023 Board Members / Welcome Michelle Gibson! New Representation for Northern TX and LA Territories / Resource Furniture Unveils Direct-To-Consumer E-Commerce Platform / Steelcase Nears 52-week Low Price after Sidoti Downgrades Rating to Neutral
•   FIRST LOOKS - Expanded Color Options from Kirei / Daltile Launches New Scrapbook Collection / Athena Wireless: New Capabilities to Help Guide for an Unknown Future
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 14, 2022

•   How to Create a 360 Workspace to Support Worker Health and Job Satisfaction - Instinctive, easy-to-use workplace products are essential to creating the 360 Workspace.
•   Business Environments Acquired by Atmosphere Commercial Interiors - Atmosphere joins forces with southwest dealer to expand territory to six states.
•   Stephen Says - "When Deciding on A Job Offer, Remember, Never Leave Money on The Table!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Don't be afraid to talk about money early on, don't wait until you get an offer.
•   ASID Announces Longtime Member and Design Leader Khoi Vo as Chief Executive Officer - Vo began his career at California State University as an assistant professor for the interior design program.
•   8 Clever Work from Home Tips from a Successful Remote Team - Having a dedicated space for work is essential for separating work and home life, but working from home means that when it comes to your individual workspace, you get to set the vibes.
•   HBF Launches New Additions to the Mod Collection - Designed by Architect Henrik Schulz, the new Mod Highback joins the best-selling lounge collection alongside Mod Work offering new height options.
•   Patrick Fejér Appointed CEO of B+H - With a new design-led CEO, B+H charts an ambitious course for future growth.
•   Only 36% of American Workers Describe the Indoor Air at their Workplace as Very Clean - "The results of our survey are clear — most American workers understand the health risks of poor IAQ and the benefits of working in very clean air," said John Fellowes, fourth-generation CEO of Fellowes Brands.
•   Inscape Announces First Quarter 2023 Financial Results - Sales of $8.9 million, an improvement of 12.7%.
•   Graham & Brown Announces its Design and Color of the Year 2023 - This year's design, Florenzia Dusk, features a variety of traditional florals trailing through the artwork.
•   UPFRONT: Allsteel Announces New VP of Sales - "We are thrilled to welcome Carla Galli into her new role as VP of Sales," said Jason Hagedorn, President of Allsteel.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Haworth Launches Zody II and Zody LX - Zody II and Zody LX use premium materials, including aluminum trim options, digital knits and a range of upholstery options, including performance upholstery for health care applications.
•   APPOINTED: eSolutions Furniture Appoints Luc Mongeau as President and CEO - The arrival of Luc Mongeau at eSolutions Furniture is an important step in achieving the company's vision of becoming the leading e-commerce solution for residential and commercial furniture in North America.
•   PLACES - Barry Callebaut Offices – Singapore | Visitors are greeted by a rich palette of chocolate hues, textures and fine detailing as they step into the reception and Chocolate Studio, a multi-sensory brand experience that tells the Barry Callebaut story, from bean to bar.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Design Public Group Announces New President for All Divisions / Andreu World Presents the Book Work Well Seated: Good Design is Good Business, Published by Lunwerg / Introducing: bde&co.
•   FIRST LOOKS - Carnegie Fabrics Expands Xorel Collection / Carl Hansen & Son Introduces Wegner Design in Teak / New for September, the Roller Max Sideboard from Ethnicraft / Whitney Brothers Introduces Nature View Mobile Book Browser
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 7, 2022

•   HAT Collective Undergoes a Brand Evolution - Contract furniture maker embracing Human Active Technology (HAT) for its mission of creating product solutions that drive healthier interactions between people and technology.
•   Spaces That Tell Stories - Featuring: Studio O+A's Tehama office and more from Claridge, DIRTT, KFI Studios, Knot & Company Interiors, Mancini Duffy, Meteor Lighting, Spark Design, Trendway, and Zgo Technologies.
•   Showcasing the Best in Modern Design, Westedge Design Fair Will Make its Dallas Debut September 16-18, at Dallas Market Hall - The design fair will include a variety of feature areas for patrons to visit and learn about the latest trends in modern design.
•   Herman Miller Reintroduces Iconic Eames Molded Plastic Chair, Now Made with 100% Recycled Plastic - New materials and color options mark a sustainable milestone for Ray and Charles Eames' mid-century staple.
•   Landscape Forms Sees Great Success in Summer Lighting Road Show, Announces Part II of the Tour - Met with an overwhelmingly positive response from lighting specifiers and architecture, design, and electrical contractor firms in the Midwest, Landscape Forms has decided to extend their 2022 Lighting Road Show throughout the rest of this year.
•   Versteel Announces the Addition of Oxford & Associates to Its Outside Sales Force - With a shared customer-first vision, Oxford & Associates now represents the Versteel brand and product portfolio in the Colorado territory.
•   Stephen Says - "Not Getting Interviews? It's Your Resume, Stupid!" - by Stephen Viscusi - I am always very clear with candidates that including any sort of executive summary on a resume is the death knell of any job search. Employers, without exception, want to see a simple objective communicated at the top of your resume.
•   Shaw Opens Its Third Employee Healthcare Center in Cartersville, Georgia - New facility now serving Shaw associates and dependents with virtual and in-person visits.
•   User-Friendly Tech Tools Improve Customer Service, Boost Sales for Mid-Market Dealers - COE Distributing launched its virtual assistant, OLIVIA, in 2021 to make it easier for customers to track orders and expected shipping dates on the company's website.
•   Corporate Environments Announces Merger with Office Services - Corporate Environments will expand its capacity to develop customized interior solutions with the help of Office Services sales and installation teams, office, and showroom space.
•   Announcing the 2022 People's Choice Awards, Presented by Fantini USA - North American architects and designers are encouraged to submit projects featuring Fantini products.
•   Califia Farms Together with Tangram Interiors and Studio Other Create New Office Environment at their Los Angeles, CA Headquarters - The 2022 project encompassed 30,000 square feet of office space for their 50 plus in-office employees.
•   Configura Unveils the Expansion and Rebranding of CET Ecosystem Elevating User Experience - Configura invites users to upgrade to the latest version of each product so they can experience the improved technology.
•   UPFRONT: Even More Earth Approved: Division Twelve Becomes Carbon Neutral - To achieve this carbon-neutral status, Division Twelve reduced carbon emissions at every stage of their processes – from design and the materials they used in production, distribution, and end-of-life.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Clear Design Announces EDGE Casegoods Line - EDGE includes more than 20 carefully curated modular pieces in different finishes and sizes, including a transaction counter, three-drawer wardrobe, open- and closed-storage solutions, credenzas, height-adjustable desk options, and more.
•   PROMOTED: Polyvision Corporation Names Wout Van de Broek Vice President of Global Operations - In his new role, Van de Broek will continue to lead Polyvision's Belgian operations and will also assume responsibility for the company's U.S. operations in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and New Philadelphia, Ohio.
•   PLACES - BMW Offices – Tokyo | Connected Works comprises the totality of modern and efficient forms of work at the BMW Group which offers the opportunity to organize everyday work even better, even more efficiently utilizing a hybrid environment.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Studio Other Named Among "Best Places to Work in Los Angeles" by LA Business Journal / Canon Wins Prestigious Award for the Second Time, Placing in the Top 3 for the Past Five Years / Maharam Supports Barbara Kruger and Louise Lawler at the Venice Biennale / Interior Design Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees / Non-Profit Dedicated to AEC Marketing Professional Welcomes New Leadership
•   FIRST LOOKS - Versteel Introduces a Perfectly Paired Modern Seating Option to the Thea Series / Introducing Hushoffice Acoustic Pods / Batik + Ikat + Patchwork / PI Wall Shelves from Ethnicraft
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Business of Furniture - August 31, 2022

•   Desire for Flexibility Intensifies Among Knowledge Workers - Knowledge workers who believe their employer communicates transparently show markedly higher scores for employee experience and engagement.
•   Stephen Says - "Has Your Showroom Team "Quiet-Quit" (Yes That's a Thing Now!)" - by Stephen Viscusi - The irony is that everyone reading this column in Business of Furniture manufactures or sells office furniture, therefore it should be simply understood that if you're selling a product like office furniture, you need to be in the office.
•   Benefits of Green Prescriptions - We have long known the benefits of time outdoors, but the added stresses of COVID have made it crucial to well-being. For the last two years, it has been our only place to escape and relax during lockdowns, travel bans, and infection threats.
•   ThinkLab Explains 3 Essential Market Research Types for the Interior Design Industry - By combining these research methodologies and using the "right tool for the right problem," you can overcome potential drawbacks and arm your team not only with insights, but with actionable tactics to grow your business, faster, and avoid costly or embarrassing pitfalls.
•   In-Office Comfort for the XYZ Generations and Beyond - Throughout the "Future of the Workplace" conversation, many employers have directed their attention to Generation Z, and are intent on developing in-office perks that would draw younger employees into the workplace.
•   Architecture Billings Index Slows but Remains Healthy - Despite architecture services employment recently surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the ABI score this month reflects the slowest growth since January, and marks the fourth straight month with a lower score than the previous month, indicating a slowing trajectory in billings activity.
•   Maharam Remembers Donald Maharam - Donald Maharam (1931–2022) was a textile engineer who pioneered performance-measured textiles for commercial interiors. He served as Maharam's third-generation CEO, working with the company from 1952 until 2000.
•   DIRTT Shutters Operations at Rock Hill, SC Facility - "DIRTT's approach to industrialized construction ensures quality and project lead times will not be impacted as we shift production to our other facilities."
•   Architecture & Design Film Festival Announces Compelling Film Lineup for 14th Season - Now in its fourteenth edition, the event, which is popular with all design lovers, will showcase a diverse program of films that investigate design's impact, environmentally and culturally, on the worlds of fashion, real estate, art, architecture, urban planning, and housing.
•   Indiana Furniture Announces Expanded Possibilities with the Popular Isla Lounge - "We're continuing to push our products to another level of design and expand our portfolio to provide options that support todays working needs."
•   UPFRONT: Liberty Diversified Names Greg Theis President and CEO - Greg's wide-ranging experience has enabled him to develop expertise in various disciplines, including Strategic Planning, Operational Management, Merchandising Solutions, Supply Chain Solutions and Pricing.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Humanscale Levels Up the Gaming Experience - A natural extension of Humanscale's presence in the commercial office and residential design industries, gamers and live streamers, including Gothalion, Darkness429, and Professorbroman, have been seeking out the brand's product line for several years, building a solid foundation for this next step.
•   SUSTAINABILITY: 9to5 Seating Embraces Environmental Responsibility - 9to5 Seating is committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices. This global perspective informs every aspect of its corporate culture, from warehousing to manufacturing to its office facilities to its community.
•   PLACES - CCA Law Firm Offices – Lisbon | Recently, CCA decided to change the location of its headquarters in Lisbon and create a modern and appealing office.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Luck Rep Group Joins Nevins in CO / Fantini Continues to Strengthen Team in North America / Minneapolis Architecture Firm Alliiance Welcomes Dan Boivin In Business Development Role / Icon Modern Names AK Design As Furniture Rep Group Partner for Illinois and Wisconsin
•   FIRST LOOKS - Take a Trip to Palm Springs with WIP's New Rug Collection / Best of Ligne Roset Contract / Aeeri from Arper / JSI Enhances Vision Casegood Series / Maharam Introduces Oxbow
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Business of Furniture - August 24, 2022

•   Spotlight on Henricksen — 60 Years and Counting - Though Henricksen started as an office supplies store, it quickly evolved into a furniture dealership.
•   Say No to the Disposable Furniture Economy - Our responsibility is to make reusing our products the most effortless process so our customers do not stress their environmental or financial impact.
•   Surprise and Delight: How Hospitality Principles are Impacting Office Design - In a post-pandemic world, employees don't have to be at the office, and employers are wrestling with the question, "how do we make them want to be?" - from IDA Design
•   Stephen Says - "Dealer Salespeople: Farmers and Hunters — New Thinking About Old Roles" - by Stephen Viscusi - Tenant improvement money is flowing and it is what many dealerships, and in turn contract manufacturers, are cashing in on. Tenants have more money for bigger build outs and more furnishings and it's not costing them a dime.
•   Prioritizing Cleanability in Furniture Design - The healthcare industry has historically taken this to heart, but now we're seeing the inclusion of highly-cleanable materials across the workplace, hospitality, education, and other industries.
•   MillerKnoll Selects 3D Cloud by Marxent for Scalable 3D Product Configuration - Configure, visualize, and quote: 3D Cloud delivers code-free 3D product configuration at scale for the world's largest modern design company.
•   Oliver Space Announces $36M in New Funding to Redesign the Broken Cycle of Buying and Discarding Furniture - Launching refurbished products and trade-in, Oliver Space brings the full cycle of furniture under one roof.
•   Cushing Terrell Seattle Unveils its New Downtown Office - In response to the adoption of a flexible work policy, Cushing Terrell's new workspace emphasizes agency through a variety of spaces and amenities.
•   Scandinavian Spaces Offers Yarn - The functional beauty of Yarn continues to elevate the conversation about furniture design's impact on the environment.
•   UPFRONT: Memphis-based Office Interiors Joins with Haworth to Embrace a Shared Vision for the Future of the Workplace - Founded in 2001, Office Interiors is a commercial office furniture dealership providing comprehensive solutions to clients in the Mid-South and across the U.S.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Path by Humanscale: The World's Most Sustainable Task Chair - Each Path contains almost ten pounds of ocean plastic, a majority of which are reclaimed fishing nets, the most harmful of all ocean plastic.
•   HIRED: DIRTT Welcomes Richard Hunter as COO - Rich brings nearly 40 years of manufacturing leadership and experience to DIRTT following a tenured career with large manufacturing companies, including Forterra, Trinity Industries, Terex Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Delphi Corporation, and General Motors Corporation.
•   PLACES - Spyke Games Offices – Istanbul | We tried to reflect the joyous and colorful worlds of the game characters, especially in social spaces, meeting rooms, cafes and relaxing areas.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Emerging Material Solutions Brand KOVA Welcomes Matthew White / DIRTT Welcomes Brad Little as Chief Financial Officer / Ware Malcomb Promotes Ilbret Adeh and Melani Dannenberg to Studio Managers in Los Angeles Office / New Nevins Representative in North New Jersey / Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover the Territory of Upstate New York / //3877 Welcomes Architectural Associate Kate Janik to Growing Team / Shaw Industries Vice President of Global Sustainability & Innovation Kellie Ballew Named Finalist for Reuters Events Responsible Business Awards 2022 / Shaw Industries Sponsors Bright Spark 2022 Invention Challenge / New Flooring Classification Distinguishes PURLINE Flooring as Uniquely Sustainable Choice / ARC Acrylic Opens U.S. Facility to Address the Needs of Hospitality, Retail and Restaurant Industries
•   FIRST LOOKS - MyWhiteBoards.com Introduces Opti-MagPrime Magnetic Receptive Primer / Polyvision Introduces its New Interior CeramicSteel Wall Systems for Commercial Spaces / Versteel Introduces a Perfectly Paired Modern Seating Option to the Thea Series / Newly Refreshed and Expanded iQ Granit and iQ Eminent Collections from Tarkett Combine Restorative Design with Proven Performance / Source International Introduces Nordic Lounge / Foscarini: Preview 2022 / Designtex Drop 16 - Designtex + West Elm 5.0
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Business of Furniture - August 17, 2022

•   Believe in Better — Nassimi Leads with Environmental Stewardship - Nassimi's entire product line is free of flame-retardant chemicals and free of biocides (antibacterial and antimicrobial chemicals).
•   Top Seven Office Rooms of the Future - With competition for talent high, 61% of companies are investing in the design of the office. Creating a space that truly supports all types of workers and cultivates a sense of community, creativity, focus, and well-being is paramount to employee happiness and retention.
•   The Symbolic Olive Branch and Its Role in Remote Equity - Hybrid and remote work, once thought to be temporary safety precautions, have cemented their place as permanent workplace options for the foreseeable future.
•   NeoKEN Returns to Gibson Interior Products; Draws Huge Crowds - Hundreds of attendees enjoyed Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice-cream with Jerry Garcia art overhead, snacked on NY PIZZA and Hot Dogs as well as the catered delicacies from Elegant Affairs.
•   Stephen Says - "Viscusi's Rules to Interview Follow-ups: They Must Be Sent Within 24 Hours" - by Stephen Viscusi - My clients have told me interviewers for every position at every level expect notes. Many will pass on a candidate if they do not receive one, and most will pass if they get a letter with a typo in it.
•   Kimball International Hosts "Ignite Your Senses" Event in Their Atlanta Collaboration Hub - Guests were greeted with a "rose kiss" (a vodka and lychee filled sphere taken as a shot from a rose bud) and then were taken on "sensory stroll" through a wide variety of interactive, multisensory activities.
•   ASID Announces Retirement of CEO Gary Wheeler - Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Wheeler brought together experts in the profession to form four core committees, tasked to create resources to guide the profession: Impact (Return to Work); Adaptive Living; Diversity Equity and Inclusion; and Climate Health and Equity.
•   LCH Developments Debuts Merge Spaces Modern Office Experience in Scarborough - Merge Spaces is two floors of communal spaces, private offices, collaborative workstations, and meeting rooms – all knit together with a series of bright and vibrant murals that incorporate uniquely Scarborough motifs.
•   49th CIFF Guangzhou 2022 In Review - The Office Show featured leading companies in the sector presenting intelligent and sustainable workspace design solutions that improve productivity, well-being, and safety.
•   The Lumina Desk Includes an Embedded 24-Inch OLED Display - The workstation is designed to accommodate your other tech as well, with six powered USB-C sockets, six power outlets hidden inside a generous storage compartment that can be used to keep cables out of sight, and two wireless charging pads that are also hidden and integrated into the surface of the desk.
•   UPFRONT: Furniture Re-use Leader Wins IIDA NorCal Award - "My team and I are honored to be recognized by IIDA for our work, as we help address the significant problem of global furniture waste in landfill materials," said Kriss Kokoefer.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: New Ellie from 9to5 Seating a Designer's Dream that Delivers Ergonomics - Ellie's precision upholstery work means designers can easily create personalized two-tone design, combining colors, textures and patterns everywhere—front, back and seat with optional coated textile armrests, making Ellie more durable for every day use.
•   AWARDED: James+James Represents Furniture Industry in Inc. 5000 - "We're proud to be one of the fastest-growing privately owned furniture companies in the country," said James Smith, co-founder of James+James.
•   PLACES - MAKU Offices – Shanghai | In the past, there were ancestors as Inheritors, and now the MAKU team as builders and we as designers met in the continuation and inheritance of history.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Independent Suppliers Group Announces Q1 2022 Rebate Distribution & 2021 Patronage Dividend / Perkins Eastman Names Emily Pierson-Brown as PEople Culture Manager / Ware Malcomb Hires New Director, Interior Architecture and Design in Firm's Chicago Office / Perkins Eastman Welcome Michael Hess
•   FIRST LOOKS - Vitra Reissues Jean Prouvé's Kangourou Chair in a New Blue Hue / Ethnicraft Launches Sustainable Upholstery / Performance Meets Versatility in Landscape Forms' New Gunnar Outdoor Lighting System from Urbidermis Santa & Cole / USAI Lighting Introduces PANCAKE / Archetype is an Architecturally-Influenced Collection That's Truly Worthy of a Second Glance / BuzziSpace Launches BuzziPleat Edel Long
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Business of Furniture - August 10, 2022

•   Designing for Neurodiversity Offers Balance and Safety in the Workplace - From a visual standpoint, designers look at creating seamless, clutter-free aesthetics while companies can adopt expectations such as a clean desk policy to help eliminate overexposure of visual stimuli.
•   Building an Inspired Office Culture Through Sustainability and Creativity - Connection to nature is promoted throughout, with curated biophilic moments and sweeping views to the outdoors — with some windows featuring clever decals that articulate the air quality outside at that height.
•   Stephen Says - "This MillerKnoll Thing Is Not Working Out for My Dealership: What Should I Do?" - by Stephen Viscusi - In the future, I see two kinds of contract furniture dealers out there, the mega dealer and the mini-boutique dealer and each have a place.
•   Solomon Coyle 2022-Q2 Market Outlook Report Now Available - Overall, distributors remain somewhat optimistic in the face of supply chain issues and uncertainty stemming from inflationary and interest rate moves.
•   New Fabrics Launch from Carnegie and Creation Baumann - Création Baumann has been a fantastic, steadfast partner to Carnegie for almost half a century.
•   ASID Recognizes Future Leaders in Ones to Watch Program - The Ones to Watch award winners receive leadership opportunities, access to industry leaders and peers for networking, and expanded participation at ASID events as invited guests.
•   Kimball International Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Results - Demand remained strong in key Workplace and Health markets, where fourth quarter sales increased 33% year-on-year and represented 88% of fourth quarter revenues, led by the Commercial and Education verticals.
•   Interface Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results - Second quarter net sales were $346.6 million, up 17.6% versus $294.8 million in the prior year period on broad-based growth.
•   UPFRONT: AIS Continues its Commitment to Dealers with New Customer Experience Manager Reinforcing a Comprehensive Approach to Service - The position was specifically designed to support AIS dealers by providing a staffing resource dedicated to the strategic design, implementation, and optimization of customer experience programs and initiatives.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Leland Takes Gemma Collection to New Heights, Introduces Work-Height Tables - Created by Altherr Désile Park for Leland, the Gemma Collection was created from a broader desire to open a new path for Leland, keeping mid-century American values of optimism, expressiveness, and industrial experimentation as a foundation, while looking towards the future.
•   JOINED: Memphis-based Office Interiors Joins with Haworth - It's no secret that the definition of an office has changed significantly in the last few years. With this Haworth partnership, Office Interiors has only just begun to share the great things in store for the future of our clients, our team and our community.
•   PLACES - Deanshoes Offices – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | With the concept 'The new playground', 1,500sqm of the workplace creates a variety of spaces to enhance encourage interaction, stimulate creativity and boost productivity.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Milliken & Company Welcomes Karen Sawdy as Commercial Design Manager / Allsteel to Host Evolving Workplace Panel Discussion / Steelcase Named a Best Employer for Women by Forbes / Solomon Coyle Accepting Registrations for Fall Session of Project Management Training / Whitney Brothers Nature View Writing Center Earns Platinum Spaces4Learning 2022 New Product Award / Lauren Ross Launches Trade Program For Design Professionals
•   FIRST LOOKS - Lesro Industries Introduces Waterfall / Luminator by Flos: A Beloved Lamp Returns With New Tech and Colors / Reduce, Reuse & Recycle with nanimarquina / USAI Lighting Introduces New TrueZero360 Collection
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Business of Furniture - August 3, 2022

•   Introducing KOVA — Reframing the Values of the Built Environment - KOVA provides an extensive collection of high-performance solutions through three distinct categories: Construct, Components, and Connect.
•   New Research Reveals What Matters Most to Dealer Designers - Digital access to the product information alone isn’t enough. Cross-functional training on the sales and design process, product specification, and the technology involved is critical for success.
•   Integra Celebrating 40 Years in Business - Like any company that can celebrate four decades in business, Integra has experienced ups and downs. But the core characteristics that set it apart from the beginning remain in place today.
•   Stephen Says - "I Believe I am Not Getting A Job Offer Because of my Age!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Keep yourself marketable by keeping your current relationships fresh and by continuing to make new relationships.
•   Boston Business Journal Names AIS Among the Most Charitable Companies in Massachusetts - Bruce Platzman, co-founder and vice chair of AIS – along with Arthur Maxwell, co-founder and chairman of AIS – have been passionate and intentional about giving back to the community from the very beginning.
•   HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 - Consolidated net sales increased 21.8 percent from the prior-year quarter to $621.7 million.
•   DIRTT Releases Q2 2022 Financial Results - Revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 were $44.7 million, an increase of 16.8% and 8.8% over the first quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2021, respectively.
•   Allsteel Introduces Three New Products For the Office - Mural, a new modular furnishings system designed by MASHstudios transforms the static office into an adaptive office.
•   UPFRONT: Corporate Interior Systems Announces the Acquisition of digg by The Berg Group - CIS will continue to work with The Berg Group to make sure all existing clients are taken care of for the next year.
•   PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT: HLW Welcomes New Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in New York - Mathai will oversee the convergence of the firm’s various existing Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and culture-based programs under a single umbrella, including HLW’s recent alignment with the International Living Future Institute and Just certification.
•   AWARDED: Trendway awarded Indoor Air Quality agreement with Premier, Inc. - AeraMax Pro air purifiers offered by Trendway are commercial-grade air purification systems that remove at least 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns, including allergens, such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and smoke from indoor spaces.
•   PLACES - C&W Services Offices – Singapore | C&W Services Singapore reimagines the future of work with the transformation of its workplace at Chai Chee.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - //3877 Welcomes Kate Janik to Growing Team / MHTN Architects Registers as a JUST 2.0 Organization / Ware Malcomb Promotes Dawn Riegel to Principal / Holly Holton Named Bentley’s Global Director of Sustainability
•   FIRST LOOKS - Versteel Introduces Troupe, Setting the Standard for Gathering Tables / Arper Presents: The Ghia Table By Studio Altherr Deslie Park
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Business of Furniture - July 27, 2022

•   Kimball International's Alternative Design Podcast Releases Limited Edition Soundtrack Vinyl Record - Kimball International's Alternative Design Podcast has had great success by offering monthly episodes dedicated to empowering and engaging designers, architects, creatives, and design enthusiasts.
•   Steelcase Health Provides Healthcare Solutions Through Expanded West Elm Collaboration and New ModuForm Partnership - The collection includes Slope, Sterling, Mesa and Lucas, various seating products that will add a welcoming aesthetic to many healthcare applications such as lobbies, reception areas, waiting spaces, transition spaces, cafes, clinician respite, physician offices, consultation, outpatient centers and virtual care spaces.
•   DZ Bank's New One Vanderbilt Office Marries Traditional and Futurist Design - In place of a formal reception, off the elevator lobby there is a lounge and accompanying coffee bar with floor to ceiling views of the adjacent Chrysler Building.
•   G2 Esports Partners With Herman Miller to Deliver the Ultimate Gaming Experience - The partnership agreement extends over multiple years, a testament to the shared strategic collaboration and ambition to bring activities to new heights.
•   Tayco Enters into a new Product Category with the Launch of their Receptions Collection - This Reception Collection, available in 22 laminate colours, enriches Tayco's current range of office furniture products, making Tayco the source for all office furniture needs.
•   NDI Office Furniture Expands Up the Mid-Atlantic with Growing Representation - NDI Office Furniture was founded in 1980 and started with one location Nashville.
•   Stephen Says - "New Boss You Think You Don't Like? Well, Think Again!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Your boss should have more important priorities than being your friend, and you should have better standards in choosing a job than whether or not you and your boss will hang out on the weekend.
•   Design Pool Collaborates with Museum of Printing in new Moveable Type Collection - All the patterns in Moveable Type reference typography and the history of printing. Motifs in these patterns are based on old typewriter keys, a collection of wingding icons, and letterforms in general.
•   UPFRONT: Allsteel Announces Partnership with Wilsonbauhaus - "Our relationship with wilsonbauhaus provides a great opportunity for us to enhance our capabilities and coverage in the Southcentral market and to create even more business value for customers", said Jason Hagedorn, president of Allsteel.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Carnegie Fabrics Launches New Indoor/Outdoor Upholstery and Drapery Collection - The newest Skylight window fabrics — made by Création Baumann — are both functional and innovative: woven with inherently flame-retardant yarns that have been engineered to withstand prolonged exposure to high levels of UV light.
•   SOLD: HNI Corporation Sells Lamex Office Furniture Business - HNI Corporation announced it has completed the sale of its China and Hong Kong–based Lamex office furniture business. The business was acquired by Kokuyo Co., Ltd. for 75 million US dollars, subject to standard post-closing adjustments.
•   PLACES - 2U Offices – Cape Town | The client wanted a new workspace ecosystem which promotes culture and collaboration, focus and fun by providing a diverse collection of spaces.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Navigating Our Way Towards a World Without Greenwashing - Watch It Online Now / Cabinet Manufacturer American Woodmark Spends $15.8 Million to Expand Manufacturing Footprint in Toccoa, Ga. / Scandinavian Spaces Hires Local Representative to Cover Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana
•   FIRST LOOKS - MyWhiteBoards.com Launches Newest Innovative Product, Custom-Printed Glass Dry Erase Boards / SnapCap Launches New Conferencing Pod / 3form Elements Introduces Five Linear Profile Patterns Inspired by Ancient Architecture / Stylex Umo Tables Infuse Hygge Serenity into the Workplace
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - July 20, 2022

•   Reseat Aims to Solve the Office Furniture Waste Problem with New Online Platform - In its inaugural year, Reseat saved more than 3 million pounds of furniture from the landfill by working with companies such as Oracle, Yelp, Benchling, Square, Twitch and others.
•   Ted Moudis Associates Wins CoreNet 2022 Corporate Real Estate Award for Excellence - New Manhattan office for Ducera Partners earns Project of the Year from CoreNet Global's NYC Chapter.
•   Stephen Says - "We Had a Sales Rep Who Was Working for Us and Another Company at the Same Time!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Guess what, if some of you reading this wonder if your own employee may be working elsewhere, like this guy, chances are they are barely working at all.
•   The Future of the A&D Firm Library - How do we take knowledge and document it so it is easily grabbable?
•   ORGATEC 2022 - Preparations are In Full Swing and Interest is Immense - It goes without saying that the trade fair has a first class, richly varied event program ready for trade visitors from all over the world.
•   Landscape Forms Announces Two New Sales Agreements - "This partnership provides Integra with yet another inroad to the design community," said Integra Specification Sales Manager Ron Bataller.
•   Inscape Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results - Total sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were $11.0 million, compared to $8.1 million for the same period of fiscal 2021.
•   Tangram Partners With Once Upon A Room To Customize Children's Hospital Rooms - The five week partnership included collaborations with many clients and A+E partners that participated in decorating patient rooms at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) while the children were inpatient.
•   Mark Richey Woodworking Earns National Minority Certification - This certification, awarded last month, means the company has met the National Minority Supplier Development Council criteria for MBEs.
•   UPFRONT: J.D. Ewing Spearheads IOPFDA Educational Programming for Mid-Market Dealers - A team of industry experts is filling a void in training and education programs to equip smaller furniture dealers for success in today's challenging economic environment.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Avalon Tables by DeskMakers - Ideal for common areas, design libraries, touchdown spaces and more, Avalon Tables are available in a variety of configurations and finish options to suit a wide range of personal aesthetic preferences and interior design schemes.
•   LAUNCHED: Shelby Williams Launches New Website - The new website combines a broad grouping of product designs, easy-to-order finish and fabric samples, advanced search functionality, and more.
•   PLACES - Turim MFO Offices – São Paulo | Studio L Arquitetura completed the Turim MFO offices to allow focus on integration, collaboration and transparency in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Ultrafabrics Announces Jeff Smith As New Head Of Residential, North America / Nearly Half of LA Workforce Wants Flexibility / BIFMA CEU July 28: "Attributes of Contract Furniture" / Martin Brattrud Goes Solar / Patricia Urquiola Shares the Cassina Perspective at Milan Design Week / Lesro is On CET Designer
•   FIRST LOOKS - New from Arc-Com: Wallcovering Pattern Prismatic / Formica Introduces 20 New Commercial Designs with SurfaceSet 2022 / BuzziChip is BuzziSpace's Newest Acoustic Lighting Solution
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - July 13, 2022

•   Senior Care Can Feel Like Home with Some Meaningful Design Choices - Healthcare design has taken some miraculous turns in recent years, but there's one problems Chernoff would like to see solved.
•   APAC Workplace Furniture Maker Schiavello Sets Sights on North American Market - Schiavello, a top 100 Australian private company built on quality, service excellence and innovation, has been creating and servicing world-class work and living environments for over 50 years.
•   Stephen Says - "Don't Let Your Top Salespeople Leave, Give Them a Track to Promotion!" - by Stephen Viscusi - These days, manufacturers, dealers and their respective HR departments explain to us that when they are hiring for any type of sales manager position (and I mean whether the manager is local, regional or national), they are looking for sales leaders who have relationships equal to their best salespeople. To which I usually respond: "So why not promote and train your best salespeople?"
•   CFI Merges with Spectrum - The combined furniture dealer is the largest minority and women-owned MillerKnoll dealer in the country.
•   Four Ways the Metaverse will Change Design for the Better - No one knows exactly what the future holds, but some positive opportunities are emerging and expanding what's possible.
•   DIRTT Announces Rebrand and Launches New Digital Experience - The rebrand is the culmination of an 18-month research-based project, consisting of internal and external interviews, focus groups, workshops and user testing that delivered actionable insights.
•   Hip Hop Architecture Camp Aims to Reach Underrepresented Youth - Created in 2016 by licensed architect Michael Ford, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp positions hip hop culture as a catalyst to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning, and design.
•   ABI May 2022: Business Conditions at Architecture Firms Remain Strong Despite Economic Headwinds - Firms report that approximately 17% of their projects are designed to meet a rating system.
•   Coming Soon - Webinar: Navigating Our Way Toward a World Without Greenwashing - In this webinar, Roddy Clarke, Design Writer for The Financial Times and Forbes, and Jane Abernethy, CSO at Humanscale, will take a deep dive into the art of navigating through a world of greenwashing, the power of transparent communication, and the steps to take in understanding a company's true impact.
•   UPFRONT: all33 Hopes to Set a New Trend in Motion by Moving Manufacturing to the US - The shift to manufacturing in the United States has allowed the team to keep a close eye on every step of the manufacturing process. The Axion is produced in a completely vertically-integrated factory streamlined to reduce environmental impact.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Luxxbox Upgrades its Linea Slimline Acoustic LED System - The linear lighting system features a new unique plug and play power connector allowing for install of canopy and power before lighting fixtures. As a result, only one power feed is needed per run.
•   AWARDED: Tayco Named a Best Workplace in Manufacturing - Tayco's phenomenal culture and engaged Team stems from innovative workplace policies, opportunities for growth, and a diverse workforce. They work diligently to ensure their core values of ownership, progressive, efficient, and enjoyable experiences are drivers for everything from large scale projects to individual tasks.
•   PLACES - Novo Nordisk Offices – Ho Chi Minh City | AK Interiors designed an on-trend, fluid and future-proofed work hub for the company's young and energetic employees.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Gibson Welcomes New Hires / CNY Group Promotes Joanna Hung to Project Executive / Bright Spaces Launches a New Product, and Avison Young Romania is the First to Adopt It / Confidentiality and Comfortability Within The Cancer Foundation Finland / Davis Furniture Joins CET for Commercial Interiors / Georgia Public Service Commission Recognizes Shaw Industries with Energy Matters Award in the "Best Sustainability by a Manufacturing Company" Category / IIDA NY Chapter Inaugurates New President
•   FIRST LOOKS - New from Arc-Com: Pattern Rio / Hollman Introduces Glass Lockers for Workspace / New from Maharam: Method
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - July 6, 2022

•   Economic Activity in Manufacturing Sector Sees Continued Growth - All of the six biggest manufacturing industries — Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products — registered moderate-to-strong growth in June.
•   Nemo Tile + Stone Acquires Tile Market of Delaware - The company's second brand acquisition deepens their footprint in the northeast and mid-atlantic markets.
•   Stephen Says - "I'm Not Getting a Second Interview! Why?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Preparing for a job interview these days is much more complicated than reading a company's website and viewing the LinkedIn profile of the people you're going to interview with. These are important steps but it's much more than that.
•   ASID Honors Distinguished Interior Designers with 2022 National Awards and College Of Fellows - The National Awards recognize four design companies or individuals for their work and careers dedicated to furthering the interior design practice and changing the world in one of four distinct categories.
•   Spotted! Top 10 Commercial Design Trends at NeoCon 2022 - ThinkLab Trendspotters were at it again this year — for the second time, they were scoping the show, helping those on-site prioritize what to see, and bringing the "hallway conversations" to the virtual attendees.
•   MillerKnoll Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results - According to the company, the formal launch of the contract dealer network in North America positions MillerKnoll for future growth.
•   SANDOW Design Group Launches New Podcast Network for A+D Industry - SURROUND is the second content platform launched by SANDOW Design Group since 2020, following DesignTV by SANDOW, a streaming video platform featuring hundreds of hours of design content available on all major mobile and OTT devices.
•   FCA Appoints McCarthy as The Firm's 6th President - The presidential transition will usher in a new era for FCA as John, a master of corporate interiors and workplace strategy, makes his exit, Aran McCarthy, will step in, bringing decades of experience with healthcare environments to the leadership role.
•   Fresh Yet Classic: Supreen's New Menswear-Inspired Patterns - Revolutionary stain-resistant sustainable Supreen expands textile offering with three new timeless textures.
•   UPFRONT: 2020 + Compusoft Announce Winners of Inspiration Contest - "We are so proud of all of our talented designers who entered the Global Inspiration Contest this year," said Karen Curtis, director of marketing & communications at 2020.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Ghent Introduces Preserve - The first product meant for creating meaningful meeting space outdoors, Preserve pushes the boundaries of what a meeting space should be, creating a "fourth space," giving outdoor space a more purposeful use.
•   NEW OFFERINGS: Ultrafabrics Bleach Cleanable Textiles - 9to5 Seating - The four new patterns and 66 colorways were designed to complement the popular Ultrafabrics Brisa and Ultraleather Pro that appear on the "Impress the Senses" fabric card from 9to5 Seating.
•   PLACES - TENTiE Offices – Nagoya, Japan | The energy generated by the contrast between the symbolic furniture and elements made of brick and inorganic materials such as galvanized steel panels, glass, and mirrors is a powerful force.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - BIFMA International Announces New Technical Director of Safety & Performance - Anthony Serge / 3form SVP of Sales Jennifer Ruckel Joins IIDA's International Board of Directors / New York Welcomes Mike McElderry as Design Director of the New York Studio / Landscape Forms Celebrates Great Place to Work Certification Again for 2022-2023 / Bounty Inc. Launch of Modullis
•   FIRST LOOKS - Carl Hansen & Son Presents the VLA26 Vega chair by Vilhelm Lauritzen / Belt by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Flos Architectural Wins the Compasso D'Oro Adi / Color, Pattern, and Style ... Oh My!
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - June 29, 2022

•   Teknion Opens Showroom in Chicago - Located in Fulton Market, the new showroom exemplifies a flexible and engaging workplace that supports variety and choice.
•   Knoll Announces Newson Task Chair by Marc Newson - The back of the chair is made of an elastomeric material molded over a rigid frame, giving it both the strength and flexibility to comfortably support users as they enjoy various positions within the 19 degrees of recline.
•   Stephen Says - "Is Now a Good Time to Ask for A Raise, Before The Bubble Bursts?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Yes, it has been a candidates' market in many fields, and it still is right now, but as the stock market dips, and talk of recession ramps-up, employees and candidates have only a limited time left to dictate their income and future.
•   Material Bank Acquires Architizer and Continues its Strategic Expansion into the Architecture Space - This latest acquisition reinforces Material Bank's mission to expand on innovative solutions for the design community.
•   DIRTT Welcomes Benjamin Urban as Chief Executive Officer - Urban, 46, joins DIRTT from Agile Interiors, where he previously served as a business development executive for fifteen years. Agile is one of DIRTT's largest Partners, delivering innovative interiors for global clients such as HPE, MD Anderson, and ConocoPhillips.
•   Officescapes and Floorz Merge with Elements to Become Region's most Comprehensive Interior Solutions Partner - The Combined company will offer placemaking expertise and the latest in human-centric design thinking alongside an unmatched product portfolio.
•   Landscape Forms Celebrates Its 2022 Landscape Architecture Foundation Scholarship Winners - Since 2007, Landscape Forms has partnered with the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) to offer annual scholarships for distinguished undergraduate landscape architecture students.
•   Arnold Contract Celebrates 60 Years of Engineered Solutions - "Arnold Contract has experienced exceptional growth and development over the past 60 years," said partner Glenn Arnold.
•   Relogix's New Pricing Model Brings Simplicity and Flexibility for Organizations Adapting to a Hybrid Workplace - The leader in occupancy analytics rolls out new features and capabilities that give companies the truest picture of the evolving working styles and preferences, necessary to creating great hybrid workplace experiences.
•   Steelcase Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results - The company completed the acquisition of Halcon Furniture LLC on June 10, 2022.
•   Keilhauer Products Bring in the Awards at NeoCon - Forsi and Melete product lines receive prestigious recognition at NeoCon 2022.
•   UPFRONT: American Office sells to MOI after 90 Years in Business - MOI, the Mid-Atlantic region's largest office furniture dealer, has acquired one of its main competitors, American Office. This acquisition was driven by the recent merger of Herman Miller and Knoll.
•   PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: LightArt Introduces Coil Pendants Made from 100% Reclaimed Ocean Plastic - LightArt joined forces with Oceanworks, a plastic action platform that provides brands a clear path to reduce their carbon footprint by retrieving plastic from the world's oceans for their shared values in sustainability and transparency.
•   AWARDED: Amobi Wins NeoCons First Innovation Award - Companies today demand more from their office investments, requiring multi-modal, adaptable spaces that allow for quick transitions between individual, focused spaces and collaborative, iterative ones.
•   PLACES - Alumina Elit Offices – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | Designed to showcase the high-quality glass partitions Alumina Elit manufactures, their new office in Veliko Tarnovo gives imagination and creativity when it comes to the diverse application of their products.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Ware Malcomb Promotes Jeffrey Cortinas And Douglas Fu To Studio Managers In Pleasanton, California Office / Kostow Greenwood Architects Builds Leadership Team / Pulp Studio Announces Sales Force Partnership with Bodkins & Associates / Sales Leader Shelley Rosetta Joins Solomon Coyle / Buro Happold Selects Jennifer Price for Top Role, US Managing Director / Architecture and Interior Design Firm SGA Announces Internal Ownership Transition and Expansion of Leadership Team / Keilhauer Partners With IIDA as Exclusive Sponsor of Newly-Developed Sustainable Design Education Fund / //3877 Expands Presence in New York City
•   FIRST LOOKS - Geiger Elevates Work with New Geiger Leatherwrap Sit-to-Stand Desk and the Expanded Award-Winning Geiger One Casegoods Collection / Carl Hansen & Son Launches the Foyer Series by Vilhelm Lauritzen
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - June 22, 2022

•   People, Place and Planet — ASID Pitches a Comprehensive Approach Design - Good design goes beyond beauty. It responds to physical and emotional needs and it's about balancing that against creating environmentally responsible outcome.
•   Mau Calls for Fact-Based Optimism and Emotional Connections to Guide Design Moving Forward - "Most of the problems we now face is because we succeeded in solving so many problems," Mau said. "Sanitation, hunger, communication, all these things allowed us to become 8 million people. And now we have a new higher order complexity problem. The good news is that we won't have to deal with those problems with the tools of the past."
•   Stephen Says - "A Delightful NeoCon in Every Way" - by Stephen Viscusi - People told me that for those few days last week the City of Chicago opened up and everyone was free to conduct business like it was 2019. Attendees did not just come for the products and programs, they came to be with one another. To eat and drink with clients and friends and colleagues.
•   Neocon 2022 Illuminated the Power Of Design - Vibrant show energized community with ground-breaking innovations, enlightening programming, engaging installations, & meaningful connections.
•   Okamura Hits Market with New Chairs and Marker Boards - Cynara is a multi-purpose chair that is stylish, comfortable, and light in many ways; and Sprint is a mobile collaboration support tool to boost team creativity.
•   Flokk Annual Report 2021: Record Performance - Flokk, the leading European manufacturer of office seating products, reported record financial results for 2021 and sees a strong start to 2022.
•   Herman Miller and Studio 7.5 Introduce a New Eames-Inspired Office Chair - Zeph Offers a Colorful, Customizable and Ergonomic Solution Fit for Any Space - With its slim profile and an easy-to-adjust design, users will find Zeph a colorful companion capable of supporting a variety of needs while seamlessly incorporating itself into the scenery of any room.
•   UPFRONT: Innovating Together: Jiecang & LOGICDATA Combined Showroom Reveals Unique Blend of Cultures and Design Thinking - This unique blend of cultures, design thinking and resource diversity strengthens the partners' continuum of capabilities and innovation in adjustable furniture solutions for today's fluid work environment, affording greater capacity and expanded product offerings in the growing global adjustables sector.
•   BRAND SPOTLIGHT: Landscape Forms Introduces the Air Collection - The Air Collection is inspired by the concept of "lightness," both as a physical characteristic and as an aesthetic captured in the playful and colorful presence the collection brings to outdoor settings.
•   NOW REPPING: Yellowbox Collective Living Up to Promise - Melanie Tantillo is the owner of Yellowbox Collective. Her life and career has been international, having lived in seven countries, on four continents and as such Yellowbox Collective mission is to partner with companies wishing to establish a wider audience in the U.S. Contract Furnishings Market.
•   PLACES - Arçelik Offices – Istanbul | The high and open ceiling setup that dominates the entire office creates a feeling of spaciousness, while at the same time creating a rich, dynamic and industrial office perception with project-specific acoustic elements.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Interface Launches New Website / Stephen Alton Joins S9 Architecture as Director of Interior Architecture / Frontline Workers Say Management Feels Out of Touch with Their Roles
•   FIRST LOOKS - Hightower Launches Gimbal Jr., Wins First Best of NeoCon Award / AHF Products Showcases Extensive Commercial Flooring Portfolio / An Astronomical Idea / 'Chairs' To Your Health
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - June 15, 2022

•   A Civic Approach to Art and Design - Design Makes a Statement. That is this year's theme for NeoCon. What that means exactly is wide open for interpretation.
•   Stephen Says - "So You Never Needed a Resume to Get a Job Until Now? Welcome to the Real World!" - by Stephen Viscusi - I haven't had a ton of different jobs, but over the course of a couple of changes, not one person asked me for a resume.
•   NeoCon 2022 in Photos: It's Good to be Back! - Even severe thunderstorms couldn't keep the crowds away. Here is a peak of what has been going on this week, with a full wrap-up in next week's issue.
•   Best of NeoCon Award Winners Practice Forward Thinking in Sustainability and Innovation - A total of 99 awards in 52 categories were announced during a lively breakfast celebration Monday morning.
•   Beyond Expectations: Salone del Mobile.Milano an International Success - Attendance of over 262,000 at the 60th edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, smashing all expectations in terms of turnout, revitalizing the city and a whole system internationally, so confirming the event's catalytic power.
•   Illinois Bill Passage Continues Momentum for Nationwide Wave of Interior Design Legislation - "Interior designers bring an extensive body of knowledge, experience, and care to their profession, and this legislation reaffirms their impressive qualifications," said ASID CEO Gary Wheeler, FASID.
•   IIDA to Inaugurate Angie Lee as 2022-2023 International Board President and Additional New Board Members at the IIDA Annual Meeting - "Angie has been integral to IIDA's mission and advocacy of the design profession, with a commendable leadership style that especially pays attention to and supports the women of our industry," said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst.
•   Fellowes Brands Announces New Design and Experience Center at the Entrance to Chicago's Energetic Fulton Market District, Opening in Early 2023 - Fellowes Brands will be located on the 9th floor of a building that features training and conference spaces, a fitness center, coffee shop, restaurant and social spaces throughout, as well as at the penthouse and rooftop.
•   Virco Reports 13% Increase in First Quarter Revenue - Competitive advantages of domestic factories and U.S. school furniture market lead to record orders and backlog.
•   A New Hybrid Home in Paris - With the new WorkLife in Paris, Steelcase has created a future-proof space.
•   UPFRONT: HAT Collective Introduces E2 Connex Monitor Arm - Users can choose between static or dynamic arms or add sliders for fine-tuned monitor adjustment to further enhance the experience.
•   BRAND SPOTLIGHT: Allseating's Showroom Unveils New Collections During NeoCon 2022 - Allseating is showcasing its newest products, Eighty Two, Rühe, Innate, Res, and Attune, during NeoCon.
•   JUST RELEASED: Divide Your Space on Demand With Telaio From Peter Pepper Products - Dividing space on-demand for individual user groups allow you to create an efficient environment for collaboration with the right amount of utility, ancillary supporting tools as well as providing panels for privacy and visual and acoustic comfort.
•   PLACES - Exotic Food Offices – Bangkok | The colors red and black, and other elements that convey XO's identity are utilized to create a strong, unified image, discernible to both the company's personnel, including visitors who have a chance to visit the actual office or see it online.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Steelcase Recognized for Outstanding Environmental Sustainability Practices / KFI Studios Announces Rebrand / Humanscale Immersive Pop-Up in Chicago's Fulton Market / Teknion Announces the Promotion of Doug Meyer to Vice President of Sales
•   FIRST LOOKS - Integra Introduces New Lounge Seating Designs / Innovations Presents SU22 Collection, Natura / Aquafil Group Presents New Eco-Conscious Carpet Collections / Plot Twist Takes Us in Unexpected Directions / Polyvision to Debuts ICS Wall Systems at NeoCon / Crossville Launches Stone Fiction Porcelain Tile Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - June 8, 2022

•   Spotlight on Via Seating: Innovation and Sustainability for The Win - Via brings to the table intentional ergonomic design focused on health and wellness. Sustainability is top of mind for Via as well.
•   Stephen Says - "Why Don't Recruiters Call Me?" - by Stephen Viscusi - You may be a great salesperson, a hard worker, your customers love you and you are the top producer in your region, but if I cannot easily contact you, if I have to dig too far into social media, I may call someone else.
•   Introducing Avro — The Seating Ecosystem Built for the Future - Avro fuses decades of Arconas' expertise in sector-leading terminal furniture with the ergonomic knowledge and user-focused product experience of Pearson Lloyd.
•   MillerKnoll Announces New Head of Design for Knoll - Jonathan Olivares, a leading voice in contemporary design, joins to foster Knoll's design legacy and future.
•   Steven Bramson Named CEO of Innovative Ergonomic Solutions - New leadership will strengthen brands to service diverse customer base.
•   How to Stay in the Know at NeoCon with ThinkLab Trendspotters - We've invited some of the industry's finest architecture and design professionals to share what they are seeing, hearing, thinking, and loving about NeoCon 2022 — unfiltered.
•   Cayke: Will Everyone in the Industry be on this Platform in 2 Years? - Cayke announced this week the launch and development of "Cayke Shops" for brands like 9to5 Seating, Loftwall, Skyline Design, and DeskMakers. On the dealer side, trailblazers like Interiors for Business, Interior Investments, and other dealerships are working on their own Cayke shops.
•   Humanscale Becomes the First Furniture Manufacturer To Be Awarded TRUE Gold and TRUE Silver by Green Business Certification for Zero Waste Efforts - Humanscale continues to lead the industry on sustainability and transparency by achieving the highest levels of TRUE® certifications across all global factories.
•   Andreu World Opens First West Coast Flagship Showroom - Located in the heart of the financial district it is the company's point of reference for its West Coast division as a complete space that showcases the brand's products and services.
•   Steelcase and Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Announce New Creative Collaboration - Drawing on a connection that began over 80 years ago, the two organizations will look to the past to inspire furniture collections for a new generation.
•   SGA Designs Speculative Office Suite For Oxford Properties - An Inspiring Case Study for the Office of the Future - At the center of the space, an elevator bank and restrooms are enveloped by a supply amenity zone — providing opportunities for locker storage, pantries, sanitizing stations, and office equipment — as well as the main circulation path.
•   UPFRONT: DIRTT Announces Leadership Changes - DIRTT announced the departure of Jennifer Warawa as Chief Commercial Officer, and Jeffrey Calkins as Chief Operating Officer and Interim Co-CEO.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Ghent, VividBoard, and Waddell to Merge into One Brand - After four decades of producing industry-leading visual communications and space solutions, parent company GMi is excited to announce the merging of Waddell display solutions and VividBoard patient care boards under its flagship brand Ghent.
•   JOINED: Global Furniture Group, USA Adds to its Growing Team in the Southeast - With his 20-plus years in furniture and industrial sales, Chris Watson is a proven leader in strategic sales and has been consistently recognized for his year-over-year territory growth.
•   PLACES - GPD Agency Offices – Poznań, Poland | BIDERMANN+WIDE utilized bold colors and distinct spaces for a dynamic work environment. The challenge: to create a space that is a platform for the exchange of ideas and collaboration between many creative people.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Carl Hansen & Søn Adds Sales Manager / Resource Furniture Hires Solution Specialist Trish Steen / Ware Malcomb Promotes Matt Chaiken To Vice President / Nevers Industry Mobile Showroom to Visit Chicago June 13 and 14 / IIDA NY Announces 2022 Leadership Award of Excellence Recipient / Formaspace Contract Welcomes NeoCon 2022 Attendees to New Merchandise Mart Showroom / Mats Inc. Announces 50th Anniversary Rebrand
•   FIRST LOOKS - Erin Seating to Debut at NeoCon / Cabot Wrenn Emphasizes Life's Spaces in Collaboration with 11 Ravens at NeoCon / New at NeoCon: Stylex Launches Six Seating and Table Collections / Unika Vaev Introduces Five New Acoustic Products from UV Studios
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - June 1, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: In the Future, Robots Might Deliver Coffee and Packages to Your Desk - Robot filled offices are quite a ways away from being practical, but we are going to begin seeing them roll past our desks more in the near future. I like how Naver is using robots as tools to do menial tasks, not as the brains of the operation.
•   Let's Talk About Toilets — The Other Task Seating - Duravit weighs in on bathroom design in the workplace. Wellness was certainly a topic of conversation in commercial design prior to the COVID-19 pandemic however post pandemic, it has never been regarded as more important — especially when it comes to bathrooms.
•   Salone del Mobile 60th Edition, June 7-12, Fiera Rho Milano - The 60th edition of Salone will focus on the key values of quality, innovation, beauty and, now more than ever, sustainability.
•   Teknion Opens London Showroom - On display, Teknion's latest products, current workplace trends, and thoughtful furniture predictions illustrate the strategic steps taken to further enrich the brand's social, environmental, and economic impact.
•   Studio Other Partners With Inside Evolutions in South Texas - Inside Evolutions offers architectural and engineering furniture, office space, laminates, home furnishings, architectural walls, bamboo products, acoustical control materials, and screen care products.
•   3form to Exit theMART for Virtual Showroom - Among many features, designers will be able to understand the dynamic nature of the products virtually through videos that demonstrate how the products interact with light and translucency.
•   ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan 2022 Concludes - The Show is characterized by robust attendance, a strong exhibitor roster, and enthusiasm across the board.
•   2020 Hosting In-Person VIP Event + Virtual Event at NeoCon 2022 - 2020 expert speakers Vanessa DeKoekkoek, Renee Cooper, Bruce Allum and Jeff Morrow will be presenting at booth 7-5122 June 13-14 from 11 a.m. -4 p.m., covering a vast range of topics including what's new in 2020 Office, 2020 Visual Impression tips and tricks, the future impact of evolving technologies on the commercial office industry, and more.
•   Kimball International Announces New Chicago Showroom Location in Fulton Market District for 2023 - Located in the heart of the Fulton Market District, Kimball International's new space is in close proximity to tech and design firms, local eateries, trendy galleries and boutiques, and residential spaces.
•   Louis Poulsen Hosts BIG NYC Keglen Event - Francesca Portesine, director of Interiors at BIG, explained how their product design is often born from furnishings and lighting needed for the firm's architecture projects.
•   Ware Malcomb Opens New Office in Nashville - Ware Malcomb has completed over 100 projects in the area, including retail, office and industrial projects. The new Nashville office builds upon Ware Malcomb's rapidly growing Southeast region with offices in Atlanta and Miami.
•   Hushoffice to Debut New Acoustic Pod Solutions for Agile and Hybrid Work at NeoCon - A refreshed offering with new innovations of Hushoffice acoustics pods and new products will be launched in the U.S. during NeoCon.
•   Stephen Says - "Retreads: The New Normal?" - by Stephen Viscusi - My question is, what's your deal? Are you jealous of your friends? The interiors industry tends not to care about sexual orientation, race, age or gender when hiring. We were way ahead of the curve and today's political correctness.
•   UPFRONT: Industry Icon Gary L. Seaman Passes Away - In 1984, Seaman and two partners founded GL Seaman & Company. An accomplished golfer and musician, Seaman is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Carolyn Hunt Seaman, a younger brother and sister, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA of Texas and Vogel Alcove.
•   SPOTLIGHT: NeoCon 2022: LINAK U.S. Focuses on Employee Experience and the Return to the Office - At NeoCon, LINAK is introducing the next generation of desk leg with the addition of the DL PLUS High-Speed series of legs. The DL Plus High-Speed desk legs add speed without compromising on sound, load or self-lock.
•   PROMOTED: Steelcase Appoints VP of Global Design - Steelcase announced it promoted Michael Held to vice president of global design from his previous role as global furniture design director. Held succeeds James Ludwig, who retired in late 2021 after 22 years with the organization.
•   PLACES - Birkenstock Group Headquarters – Cologne | Within the framework of the historical warehouse halls, brandherm + krumrey developed a customised interior design for Birkenstock's diverse requirements.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Sam Clar Office Furniture Welcomes Education Environment Specialist Debby Cappadona / //3877 Continues to Grow Team, Hires Interior Designer Noelani Brannon / Landscape Forms Announces Sales Agreement with Spectrum Lighting of San Antonio, Inc. / Steelcase Named a Best Employer for New Graduates by Forbes / Italian Style Design Firm Pininfarina Announces Opening of New York City Office / Artaic Welcomes Damian Di Maio as Commercial Sales Manager / Kettal Opens Showroom in London / IIDA Announces Collaboration with UK-Based Recruitment Specialist Urban to Bring Inclusivity-Driven Hiring Strategies to the U.S.
•   FIRST LOOKS - Sam Clar Welcomes Debby Cappadona / //3877 Grows Team / Landscape Forms Agreement / Steelcase Named a Best Employer / Pininfarina NYC Office / Artaic Welcomes Damian Di Maio / Kettal Opens Showroom in London / IIDA Announces Collaboration
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - May 25, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Your NeoCon Questions Answered - I've returned from Chicago after my scouting trip (and a White Sox vs. Yankees game) and as promised, I back with answers to your questions.
•   ICFF Back at Full Scale in NYC - Post-pandemic, one of the hot topics impacting the future of office design is a subject most of the world is fixated on right now: wellness, which ties into sustainability.
•   NeoCon Coming Back Stronger Than Ever Post-Pandemic - In the last few years, theMART secured more than 400,000 square feet of showroom leasing in the building. They've renewed a number of key anchors in that period across all industries. They've also brought several new brands to the building.
•   Three Ways to Entice Architects and Designers Back to Your Showroom Post-Pandemic - There are a variety of benefits to digitizing your showroom experience: from reaching more people to tracking the most popular areas of your space to more seamless post-event follow-up. One of our favorite ways to wow your target audience with tech is by creating an online virtual tour.
•   MillerKnoll Makes Sustainable Product Sourcing Easier - Led by Herman Miller and Knoll, the new shared platform on ecomedes helps customers access environmental product information and easily identify furniture solutions across the MillerKnoll collective that help achieve sustainability goals.
•   NeoCon Exhibitors Are Expanding, Growing, & Innovating - 2022 Attendees Can Expect Cutting-Edge Products, Installations, All-Star Designer Collaborations, & More From NeoCon Exhibitors.
•   IIDA Celebrates Industry Changemakers at 2022 NeoCon Conference in Chicago - Commercial Interior Design Organization Ignites Conversation and Acknowledgement of Those Impacting Industry through Curated Programming.
•   Cambria and Room & Board Announce Expansion of Artisan Furnishings for Residential and Commercial Environments - Leading Minnesota brands partner to offer six stunning Cambria solid surface options on Room & Board's series of bath vanities and Amherst storage cabinets.
•   Samuelson Furniture Partners with Independent Living Community in New Jersey - Samuelson Furniture made its debut into the assisted living industry in April 2021; the brand is dedicated to making positive impacts through the built environment with beautiful, highly functional products that improve the everyday lives of residents.
•   Interface Announces $100 Million Share Repurchase Authorization and Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend - Laurel Hurd, Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Board's authorization of the new share repurchase program underscores their confidence in the long-term value creation opportunities for Interface."
•   Kimball International Launches New Product Solutions for Workplace, Health, and Education Markets - As Makers of Possibilities, Kimball International is dedicated to creating product solutions that are meaningful and relevant.
•   AIS Introduces New Products with a Focus on the Evolving Workplace Providing Dealers and Customers Options for a More Personalized and Responsive Environment - AIS' showroom, located in space 1086 on the building's 10th floor, will feature new products including: Chatham Cove Work Lounge, PowerBench, PET Wire Managers and Enclosures, and the Desktop Organizer + Suspended Caddy, further expanding its broad breadth of product solutions.
•   Stephen Says - "Be the Ted Lasso of NeoCon" - by Stephen Viscusi - Salespeople: When you are in the showroom you are there to meet customers from all across the country, not chat away with your colleagues that you haven't seen in a year and for goodness sake stay off your phone unless you are on Instagram with photo's of the happenings in your showroom.
•   UPFRONT: Falkbuilt Ltd and Its Co-founders Sue DIRTT Environmental Solutions for $22 Million - "We truly regret the need for taking this action against our former company but this mean-spirited personal vendetta, with absolutely no legal merit, has created extensive damages for Falkbuilt and our Falkbuilt Factory Direct Branches," said Mogens Smed, CEO of Falkbuilt.
•   SPOTLIGHT: HAT Collective to Debut New Seating Product, Iku, at NeoCon - Japanese for "to go," Iku is an interactive, intuitive mid-back task chair that propels professionals into a healthy, productive workday. Like all HAT Collective products, Iku features innovative design, integrated ergonomics and easy user functionality. Expertly engineered to support the back and spine while providing high-end comfort, Iku comes with an intuitive synchro-control to promote natural body movement.
•   MOURNING: HAT Collective Mourns the Passing of Contract Furniture Industry Veteran Tom Koidis - HAT Collective is mourning the unexpected passing of Tom Koidis, vice president of sales for Canada. Koidis, who joined HAT Collective in November of 2021, was a 20-year veteran of the contract furniture industry.
•   PLACES - AfterShip Offices – Shenzhen | As a technology company, AfterShip has their unique corporate culture. In this project, we challenge not only the interior planning and design, but also the development planning project of a planet.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Shaw Named a 2022 Halo Award Winner for St. Jude Cushion Program / Tarkett Celebrates Grand Opening of New Chicago Showroom / Trendway Releases CET Extensions / Ethnicraft's Objects Awarded Top Marks at ICFF
•   FIRST LOOKS - The Masterful Craft of Jueki Debuts / Design Pool Returns to NeoCon with New Collection Invisible Threads / BiSemA Corporation to Present Cloud-based Contract Furniture Product Specification Services at NeoCon 2022
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - May 18, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Mental Health Impacts of Work from Home on the Rise - Sometimes what people say they want and what they actually need are two different things and I believe that's what we are seeing with work from home.
•   Design Begins with Wonder for London-based Yorgo Lykouria and his Design Firm, Rainlight - Like many architects, Lykouria was drawn to modernism, but for different reasons than most. He was enthralled by the poetry of it; the feeling you get from it. The whole idea of modernism to Lykouria was not taking away everything you can from a product.
•   Poly Research Reveals Rewards Outweigh the Risks for Employers and Employees Willing to Adapt to Long-Term Hybrid Work Strategy - Two-thirds (66%) of workers surveyed agreed they would rather present to a large audience on a video conference rather than in person.
•   Sedia Systems JumpSeat Celebrates its 10th Anniversary, Still as Relevant Today as Ever - The design of JumpSeat is simple and elegant. Plywood and steel create the backbone of the JumpSeat's cantilevered structure. Folding to less than four inches thick when not in use, the compact seat allows for the maximum amount of people in the minimum amount of space.
•   Rimadesio New York Flagship Opens Its Doors During NYCxDESIGN - The new flagship store is designed to offer customers and professionals accurate consulting and design services in the residential, contract and hospitality sectors.
•   AIS Opens New and Expanded DC Showroom in Award Winning Location - The product applications within the space reflect the wide range of color, material, and finish offerings on standard products which are beautiful and easily accessible.​ A small number of special products are showcased to initiate conversation, garner feedback, and to highlight the specials capabilities of AIS.
•   Allsteel Introduces O6 Task Chair: A New Choice-Inspired Seating Line To Enhance the Workday - The O6 Task Chair enhances heads-down work in a variety of work settings, with options to add attractive lumbar support and adjustable arms.
•   Keilhauer Joins Material Bank – Hundreds of Samples Now Available for Overnight Delivery - This new partnership supports Keilhauer's commitment to sustainability by significantly reducing the impact of packaging and shipping samples.
•   IIDA Celebrates EVP and CEO Cheryl S. Durst As She Marks 25 Years As a Leader in the Interior Design Industry - During Durst's tenure at IIDA, the organization has grown to include more than 15,000 members across 58 countries.
•   Marvel Opens Office In Richmond, VA - The Marvel office is located in Richmond's Historic Monroe Ward. With a local staff of eight employees, the firm is actively hiring.
•   Live May 20 - 2022 Wege Prize Awards - The free event is open to anyone in the world via livestream starting at 10 a.m. ET.
•   Stephen Says - "Take a Hint from Your Children: Changing Jobs Is Easier Than Ever" - by Stephen Viscusi - Millennials, in particular, have proven unafraid to change jobs quickly and frequently — something earlier generations were scared to do.
•   UPFRONT: NDI Announces Addition of Stan Idzi as COO - "My experience has provided a tremendous framework for my career development thus far and positioned me for this excellent opportunity to work with a fantastic team," Idzi said.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Dash Expands Multi-Purpose Stacking Offering from 9to5 Seating - Collaborative workspaces demand a different kind of seating beyond the traditional multi-purpose model. The new Dash answers that need because it is engineered to support exactly that. It is a single solution for the growing change-over needs of today's work environment.
•   ACQUIRED: Carnegie Welcomes Kirei to the Family - The acquisition of Kirei enhances and expands Carnegie's range of acoustic design solutions, delivering a comprehensive assortment of solutions for all acoustic space management needs.
•   PLACES - Gartner Offices – Gurugram | While collaboration and social spaces are all given due importance, focused work and quiet contemplation are a huge part of how employees actually work at Gartner.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Fantini Announces New Managing Director for North America / Tarkett North America Appoints New Senior Leadership for Commercial Business / Pavilion Furniture Announces Jay Chapman as President / Bentley Mills Announces New Senior Leadership / Perkins&Will Welcomes New Health Principal in Dallas / Ware Malcomb Promotes Kevin Evernham to Regional Vice President and Eric Zitny to Director, Regional Operations in Phoenix Office / Polyvision Partners with Voka under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Program / Tarkett North America Verified to Vinyl Industry Sustainability Initiative / IIDA Announces Winners of Two Prominent Design Competitions
•   FIRST LOOKS - New from Arc-Com: Pattern Samsara / SnapCab Launches New Office Pod / Rush Movement by HBF Textiles
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-May, 2022

•   Rob Kirkbride | Sick of Attending NeoCon? Try to Remember the Excitement of Your First Time - As we put this issue to bed, the focus of the office furniture industry will shift to NeoCon, the industry's most important event. For a lot of us who have attended the event for years, if not decades, NeoCon brings a mix of dread and excitement. A lot of folks, especially in the dealer community, fall squarely in the dread camp. But I'd like to encourage you to see the event through new eyes. I think it is helpful to start by remembering what your first NeoCon felt like to attend.
•   The Advantages of Being an Aligned Dealer in Your Manufacturer's Backyard - The Interphase showroom is a good example of all Haworth has to offer and how a working showroom can inspire customers. Visitors are greeted by to conference rooms — one more formal and another smaller space. Haworth's new Pergola system sits directly behind the reception desk, creating a room-within-a-room. Interphase moved its entire business, including operations to the new location. It was a major undertaking for the dealer owners who bought Interphase in February 2018. Brann emphasized the the family ownership as important to the culture of both Haworth and Interphase. His family has owned and operated restaurants in the area for 90 years. He also said being a hometown dealer gives Interphase access to company executives that most dealers — even a Best in Class Haworth Dealer like Interphase would have.
•   Henricksen Continues Nationwide Expansion - The business began with a single office space and showroom, nine employees and a delivery van. "After learning more about the size and impact of Henricksen, joining this team was a clear decision for me," said Kennedy. "At Henricksen, I'm looking forward to continuing my passion: mentoring and leading salespeople while reinforcing the brand's position in the New York Metropolitan community and beyond. I look forward to serving as a key member in Henricksen's growth plan, helping the brand thrive as an exceptional partner in the commercial furniture industry."
•   Hertz Furniture Adopts New Growth Strategy and Expands National Presence with the Acquisition of School Furnishings of New England - Hertz Furniture President David Mocton said, "For the past 56 years, Hertz Furniture has grown steadily and naturally on its own servicing the K-12 market. We felt that the time had come for a shift in strategy and to initiate growth in terms of reach and offering."
•   8 Trends in the Workplace Today - What you need to know to effectively make business decisions.
•   Industry Intelligence | The trends you need to know in coworking, digital nomads, return to the office, leasing, office renovations, remote working and more... - The Great Digital Nomad Movement is Here / Remote Workers are Moving, Creating New Real Estate Opportunities / Coworking is back / Cost Of Construction Fit Outs Tick Up Amid Rising Hard Costs, New Design Standards / Meet The New HQ Destination Towns: Small, Suburban And Cheap / Tech layoffs loom as more companies announce big cuts to their workforces / If everyone's working from home, why is commercial office space booming? / Return to the office: Workers are worried and here's why / Hangover and 'disappointment' days: Unusual flexible work policies that will have you raising a glass

Business of Furniture - May 11, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: A Hodgepodge Including: NeoCon Preview, Strong Earnings and an Innovative Mobile Laptop Desk from a Maker? - Let's start with the fact that a month from the time you are reading this, we will all be gathering in Chicago for NeoCon. Yes, one month. I will be in Chicago next week meeting with the folks at theMART for my annual pre-NeoCon walkthrough.
•   Panel Discussion Dives into How Culture Affects Engagement in the Workplace - People are returning to the office for a number of different reasons, but for the vast majority, the main reasons are almost evenly split between connecting with colleagues and getting work done.
•   Environments Turns It's Own Headquarters Into Test Lab For New Smart Building Software - Elevated Environments includes functions for everything from lighting and air quality to security, desk reservations, community calendars, and connections for employees working hybrid or remote.
•   IIDA NY's Annual Leaders' Breakfast Tomorrow Focuses on Global Sustainability - After years of exploring creative change making, Leyla developed the Disruptive Design Method for activating positive social and environmental change combining systems thinking, sustainability sciences and design thinking for positive impact on the planet.
•   Design Evolution: What Gen Z Wants in the Workplace - At ThinkLab, we believe these experiences, coupled with native relationships to digital tools, will likely greatly alter how Gen Z designers communicate at work, what they look for in an employer, and how they specify.
•   Steelcase to Acquire HALCON - Steelcase sees many opportunities for growth between the two companies going forward, including geographic expansion, portfolio enhancement and continued revenue gains in HALCON's existing core markets.
•   Material Bank Raises $175M in Series D Funding Led by Brookfield - Material Bank has experienced extraordinary industry adoption and growth since its 2019 launch.
•   Tangram Announces Eric Lockwood Promoted To Managing Director - Eric Lockwood has 28 years of experience in technology consulting, design and integration for the built environment and has worked extensively in North America, Europe and Asia.
•   Herman Miller Continues to Expand Retail Presence Nationwide, Opening First Brick-and-Mortar Locations in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta this Spring - Expertly designed to assist customers to make informed and confident purchasing decisions, the 1,560 square-foot store has dedicated performance specialists on-hand to help shoppers discover the right solutions for their individual needs.
•   Mayer Fabrics Celebrates Milestone 125th Anniversary - Beginning in 1897, George L. Paetz started the Paetz Company to fill a need for a local product supplier to manufacturers of custom designed buggies and repair.
•   Svigals + Partners Advances Director of Interiors, Announces New Team Members - A highly experienced designer, Katherine Berger was promoted to Director of Interior Design in July 2020 upon the retirement of Lynn Brotman, NCIDQ, IIDA, and has served as the lead interior designer and project manager for acclaimed works across several market sectors, including healthcare, education, and corporate workplace.
•   Results - DIRTT Q1 2022; Kimball Q3 2022; Interface Q1 2022
•   Stephen Says - "NeoCon: Your Own Private Job Fair" - by Stephen Viscusi - Sales managers wonder why they can't find good salespeople on LinkedIn. It's because proven performers have a selling mindset — they're busy out selling — and do not have time to read Help Wanted postings on LinkedIn.
•   UPFRONT: BIFMA Breakfast and Annual Business Meeting - While BIFMA has hosted conversations in dealing with specific changes in the industry, today we will take a pause to explore how these external drivers influence internal organizational change, practical methods for making those changes and helping teams transition through them.
•   SPOTLIGHT: LX Hausys Announces Declare Label Status for its HIMACS and Viatera Products - Declare labels provide an important level of transparency by disclosing all product ingredients, enabling customers to see the "nutritional" information of a product in order to make informed purchasing decisions.
•   SIGNED: Landscape Forms Announces Sales Agreement with Spectrum Lighting of Austin, Texas - In its nearly 50 years, Spectrum Lighting has built an impressive offering of indoor and outdoor lighting manufacturers and services.
•   PLACES - Hyperscience Offices – Sofia | The office space had a distinct industrial character with visible ceilings and installations, softened with wood finishes and textiles in accent colours to match the fresh and young spirit of the company.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Landscape Forms Announces This Year's Roadshow Showcasing Lighting Solutions / Carl Hansen & Søn Presents a Collaborative Exhibition with Female Design Council Focused on Craftsmanship / Herman Miller to Open Three New Stores in Japan This Spring / Two AIA Georgia Awards Go To Hapeville Library in Fulton County / Mancini Duffy Acquires Gertler & Wente Architects / AIA San Francisco Announces 2022 Design Awards Recipients / Teknion Awarded the Gold Award at the 2022 Indigo Design Awards / Haworth Opens New Showroom in Atlanta / IIDA Expands Design Your World Program Nationally with Miami Launch and Return of Chicago Session
•   FIRST LOOKS - Herman Miller Unveils Latest Addition to Collection of Color-Dipped Chairs / Hightower Announces the First of its Product Declare Labels / KFI Studios Announces New Umage Color and Upholstery / Mannington Commercial Introduces Revealed Collection / Rottet Collection Previews Exciting New Range at ICFF / Mohawk Group Announces Two Spring Featured Collections in Collaboration with ArtLifting
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - May 4, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: If Your Company was Drafted, Would it be a First Rounder or Mr. Irrelevant? - As a Detroit Lions fan, one of the best weekends of the year arrives with the NFL Draft. Hope springs eternal and it is a good chance to chug down a lot of Honolulu blue Kool-Aid while dreaming of Super Bowls that will never come.
•   Listen, Connect and Serve: Dan Binford & Associates Outlines the Values of a Successful Rep Group - Connecting with the A&D community is key. And Binford said the connections start early. The company has sponsored student events and programs for decades. It is a bit like planting seeds.
•   Arper Caps Busy Month Stateside with Basquiat Exhibition and New CEO of Americas - Joining Arper with more than 25 years of experience in the design and manufacturing industry, Amy Storek has worked in various positions for global companies such as Herman Miller, Vitra, and Haworth.
•   Framery Investing Heavily in Digital Services to Further Revolutionize the Industry - Arto Vahvanen Joins the Team to Expand the Brand's Technology Expertise and Develop New Digital Experiences.
•   HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 - HNI generated revenue growth of more than 18 percent driven by pricing actions, volume improvement, and the benefits of acquisitions completed in the prior year.
•   Ware Malcomb Promotes Three Female Leaders in Irvine Office - Ware Malcomb announced that Jinger Tapia has been promoted to Vice President, Design; Maureen Bissonnette has been promoted to Principal, Marketing; and Maria Rodgers has been promoted to PR & Communications Manager.
•   Indiana Furniture's Perfect Safety Score Leads to INSHARP Recertification - "We first received INSHARP certification in 2017 and to be recognized again is a testament to the focus and dedication of our employees," said Greg Hildenbrand, Safety and Environmental Engineer for Indiana Furniture.
•   Solomon Coyle's 2022-Q1 Market Outlook Report Captures Distributors' Optimism - The Q1'22 3.8% increase in Bookings over Q4'21 beat the 2.9% increase dealers previously forecasted.
•   Mohawk Industries Reports Q1 Results - "Mohawk's results exceeded our expectations as first quarter sales rose to an all-time record, reflecting higher pricing, growth in our ceramic businesses, an improving commercial sector and benefit from our small acquisitions," said Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum.
•   Survey Offers New Insights for Neurodiverse Workplaces - HOK and Tarkett survey of neurodiverse employees in the U.S., UK and Canada identified key sensory issues in office environments and how they can be addressed through workplace design and strategy.
•   Boston Studio of Perkins&Will Expands Its Leadership Group - Matthew Pierce has been promoted to principal; and Jeffrey Keilman, Jennifer McGrory, James Levin, and Steve Webster to associate principal.
•   Michigan Campus Becomes Massive Public Gallery in May — Students Debut Best Work in Year-End Exhibitions at Kendall College of Art and Design - After two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, KCAD presents a wide-ranging showcase of noted work by 2022 graduates; Record attendance expected at Grand Rapids magnet for emerging leaders in design and visual arts, representing the depth and breadth of student experience in KCAD studios, labs and classrooms.
•   Stephen Says - "Get a Good Night's Sleep" - by Stephen Viscusi - Salespeople are excited about returning to real work and even the many who are not getting to go this year to Chicago may be having an event in their local market. People are excited.
•   UPFRONT: 2020 Announces Newest Release of 2020 Office Softwares - The new features in v2022 simplify the interface and highlight the basic commands needed to complete an office furniture project.
•   SPOTLIGHT: DEKKO Launches Layer Designed by IDA Design - "The inspiration behind Layer was to create a multi-user power solution that can go anywhere," IDA Design Principal Mitch Bakker said. The product is so-named for its versatile layers of application in all kinds of environments.
•   REPORTED: Shaw Industries Releases 14th Annual Sustainability Report - As the company continues its commitment to Cradle to Cradle design principles, it has set new goals for net zero operations and diversity and inclusion as part of its sustain[HUMAN]ability strategy.
•   PLACES - MAM Competence Center Offices – Grosshöflein | Each building's cell nucleus creates a two-story atrium with a greenhouse-like roof and plantation that offers the employees a hybrid between inside and outside. Despite the building's depth, this weather-protected area allows natural light access from within and acts as a spatial link between floors.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Empire Office Adds to Executive Management Team Based in the Atlanta Market / Lesro Welcomes New Manufacturer Representative / HLW Hires Science and Technology Market Sector Leader to Strengthen Firm's Laboratory Design and Planning Portfolio / Sponsorships Open for the BIFMA 360 Leadership Conference / Forbes and Statista name Shaw Industries a Best Employer for Diversity 2022 / IIDA Announces Winners of 25th Annual IIDA/HD Expo Product Design Awards / New Hot Desking Features Introduced from Envoy
•   FIRST LOOKS - nanimarquina Wins Top Honors at HD Expo 2022 / Design with Purpose, Every Day is Earth Day / HBF Textiles: Immerse Yourself in Dusted Fleck / Ethnicraft Wins Top Honors at HD Expo 2022 / New Modern Window Covering Offers Solar Protection for Office Spaces
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - April 27, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Time to Reduce the Number of Links in Our Supply Chain - It is past time that the office furniture industry rethink its supply chain. Over the past few weeks, it has become painfully clear that we can't rely on the system that we have in place today. U.S. office furniture makers need to reshore at least some of the production that is currently taking place at far-flung places around the globe.
•   With Determination and Innovation, Regency Grew a Dream into a Legacy - Regency grew and gained notoriety in the ecommerce community, but the dealership community wanted something that was still their own, so Regency launched a third brand — Regency Global Sourcing, which included commercial grade products and customizable pieces.
•   Adam Sandow's Vision for the Future of Design - Sandow compared the current Material Bank to a Cessna, a small, personal aircraft. "A fighter jet is coming," he said of the new Material Bank.
•   Carie Scott Johnson Joins The Viscusi Group as Executive Recruiter - Johnson brings more than 20 years of senior sales expertise to The Viscusi Group team. Johnson has held senior sales positions with industry leaders. She is a graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in history.
•   Four Ways the Metaverse will Impact the Interiors Industry - Virtual and augmented reality have the potential to create more accessible spaces for exploration. But they could also create barriers.
•   NYCxDESIGN Announces New Programming and Events for Festival's 10th Anniversary Edition - Initiatives across all five boroughs Celebrate the city's cultural community through design talks, shows, open studios, installations, exhibits, pop-ups, and more.
•   Why You Should Use Biodegradable Textiles on Your Next Project - Synthetic textiles in commercial interiors today are widespread, with most woven from plastic-based acrylic, nylon or polyester yarns that are cut and sewn in factories. Almost all are chemically produced and nonbiodegradable. And nearly everything is ending up in the landfill.
•   Keilhauer Shares 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report - "At Keilhauer, we have always believed that a responsible business must prioritize sustainability," said Mike Keilhauer, president.
•   MillerKnoll Announces 2030 Sustainability Goals: Doing More for Our Planet - Throughout its sustainability history, the company has tapped into the power and passion of its people to drive change.
•   Perkins&Will Unveils First-of-its-kind Net-Zero Operational Carbon Community Centre in Toronto - The North East Scarborough Community and Child Care Centre will achieve net zero status through energy efficient design and renewable energy systems, while adding much-needed facilities that celebrate local community.
•   Virco Releases Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2022 Results - Order rates and demand for school furniture remain strong. In the fourth quarter, typically a slow time for orders in the seasonal cycle for school furniture, orders were up 65% compared to the same period of the prior year.
•   Stephen Says - "References Today Are the Price of a Ticket to the 'Hall of Fame' Dinner, So Don't Get Fooled" - by Stephen Viscusi - Here is the Viscusi hiring advice: Slow down when making a hire today. Think of a hire like your lead time for making a product. A rule of thumb is your hire should never take shorter than your lead time. Sixteen weeks for a wood conference table, but you want to hire a person to sell it in a month?
•   UPFRONT: 2020 + Compusoft Launch Global Inspiration Contest for Kitchen, Bathroom and Office Designers - 2020 + Compusoft announced the return of their Global Inspiration Contest for kitchen, bathroom and office designers. The contest provides a platform for 2020 Design Live, 2020 Fusion Live, 2020 Office, Winner and Innoplus users to be recognized among their peers for their creative, functional and aesthetic design skills.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Allsteel Introduces a New Workplace Solution – the FIT Panel System - The versatility of FIT components creates integrated worksettings that efficiently manage technology and adapt to a variety of workstyles.
•   TRAINING: Solomon Coyle Now Accepting Registrations for Summer Session of Project Management Training - Classes to be held for Allsteel, Kimball International, Knoll and Teknion Dealers.
•   PLACES - Riseup Offices – Tel Aviv | Riseup's kitchen and large informal meeting space is an introduction to the bright yellows and blues and bold geometric shapes that will comprise the design elements throughout the office.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Ware Malcomb Hires Rei Takata as Studio Manager, Architecture in Washington, D.C. Office / OFGO STUDIO Announces Alex Sisk as new Vice President of Sales / Keilhauer Named as one of Canada's Greenest Employers 2022 / ZAS Architects + Interiors Promotes Interior Design Practice Leader of Vancouver Studio to Principal / Dattner Architects Promotes Shefali Sanghvi to Director of Sustainability / Crossville Partners With MindClick; All Products Receive Leader Rating / Henricksen Hires Kevin Kennedy as Vice President of Sales for New York Office
•   FIRST LOOKS - New from KFI Studios: Arbor Guest Chair / LightArt Introduces Four Acoustic Lights to Create Custom, Connected Shapes / Mohawk Group Bolsters their Beyond Carbon-Neutral Portfolio with the Release of New 2022 EPDs and Launch of the Innovative EcoFlex ONE Flooring Solution / DEKKO Launches Layer Designed by IDA Design
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - April 20, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: The Evolution of the Once-Lowly Dorm - When you think of college life, your mind probably conjures images of the movie "Animal House" mixed with memories of late night cram sessions and disgusting dorm rooms. I certainly remember my time at Michigan State University and Hubbard Hall, a drab set of two 12-story towers on the East Lansing campus.
•   AIS Co-Founder Bruce Platzman Transitions Focus to Philanthropic and Regional Economic Growth - Nick Haritos to become CEO on June 1 as AIS poises itself for continued growth and increased market share.
•   OFS Takes Forest Stewardship Seriously - Nearly everything OFS sells utilizes wood in some way. Some pieces celebrate wood front and center while other furniture lines use wood at their core. Wood remains a hallmark of the company's design heritage.
•   Humanscale Debuts Path - Each chair is climate positive, and composed of over 20 lbs of recycled content, including almost 10 lbs of ocean plastic.
•   ecomedes Acquires Leading Commercial Design Discovery Platform Mortarr - Mortarr fits nicely in the industry as a "top of the funnel" resource for designers. It provides the inspiration much more easily than wading through billions of images on Pinterest.
•   Leading Hospitality Furniture Manufacturer Beaufurn Announces Major Rebranding - The new brand identity, including a new logo, visual elements, and a streamlined user interface, comes as the company prepares to display at the annual Hospitality Design Expo + Conference in Las Vegas.
•   Humanscale's Earth Week Programming Will Educate and Inspire Action on Climate Year-Round - Humanscale leadership will speak on two panels about the sustainable impact of design at "Design U – The Future of Eco-Conscious Living."
•   Monthly Learning Series: LEVEL by BIFMA Program Overview - Speaker Steve Kooy has more than 15 years of experience as a sustainability professional in the furniture industry. He oversees the e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard and LEVEL Certification Program, including revisions and interpretations.
•   Privately Held Formaspace Announces 33% Growth, New Leadership and Major Capital Investments to Support Ongoing Growth - The Austin-based furniture manufacturer promoted three team members to President, VP & Business Development Manager to sustain momentum as orders are on the rise.
•   Landscape Forms Becomes a Member of the Lighting Industry Resource Council and Brand Partner with International Dark-Sky Association - IDA and Landscape Forms share common values of protecting the nighttime environment through appropriate lighting and avoiding the negative impacts of over lighting.
•   Office Gallery International Names Susan Marshall as Vice President of Sales - In this newly created role, Marshall oversees the sales team as well as manages her own book of business.
•   3form's New Graphic Patterns Collection Brings the Forest to the Built Environment - When 3form sought inspiration for this collection, they didn't need to look further than their own backyard. Located less than 200 miles away from the brand's Salt Lake City headquarters is Pando the Tree, a colony of Aspen trees connected by a single root structure planted 2.6 million years ago.
•   Trendway Awarded LEVEL 2 Certification for Its Top-Selling Products - Trendwall and Volo Wall and systems products Capture, Choices, Instrinsic, Pack Storage and Desking and Trig have earned LEVEL 2 sustainability certification by BIFMA.
•   Stephen Says - "April Surprise at MillerKnoll Made This Salesperson Happy" - by Stephen Viscusi - Yes, I received many letters over the past couple of months and I suggested to people they wait out this big "April Surprise" on the new MillerKnoll compensation.
•   UPFRONT: BIFMA Introduces Home Office and Occasional-Use Desk, Table and Storage Products Standard - Several multi-stakeholder lab workshops were held in 2018 and 2019. In 2020 and 2021 the draft proposals were reviewed by the BIFMA Association and approved.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Reduced Cable Clutter and get Better Power Access – the Desk2Device USB Charger - Power access and cable management are important features for both productivity and aesthetics in the workspace. The last thing many desk workers want, whether in the corporate or home office, is another power cable cluttering their workspace.
•   INTRODUCED: New from HBF Textiles: Crumpled Paper - 91% Biodegradable Polyester - Designed by Mary Jo Miller, VP of Design and Development at HBF Textiles, Crumpled Paper was inspired by the creasing of different paper thicknesses to reach the optimum combination of shadow and light.
•   SUSTAINABILITY: Steelcase - Steelcase announced progress towards its sustainability goals with a significant increase to its Business and Industrial Furniture Manufacturer's Association LEVEL certified products. A total of 281 of its products now meet new LEVEL standards, including 114 at LEVEL 3, the highest and most rigorous certification.
•   PLACES - Motional Offices – Singapore | Graphite Studio designed a flexible and connected environment in which the ability to engage in focussed work, impromptu problem solving, digital connectivity and social bonding are prioritized.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Landscape Forms Announces Lighting Agency Partnerships with Lighting Systems of Columbus and Hitech of Montreal and Quebec City / Announcing The 2023 BIFMA 360 Leadership Conference Future First / IIDA Announces Finalists of Two Prestigious Design Competitions / Jung Kim Joins MKDA as Studio Director in its New York Studio / Antonello Musumeci Joins MKDA as Design Principal, Law Firm Practice Area Leader / Kimball International Named One of America's Most Trustworthy Companies
•   FIRST LOOKS - Luum Graded In Fabrics Program / KFI Studio's Eveleen Collection Now Available in New Color / Artaic Expands Award-Winning Flourish Collection with Three New Designs / Arper Partners with Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Exhibition to Outfit Michael Todd VIP Room / Taking Care of Business - Bentley
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-April, 2022

•   Rob Kirkbride | NeoCon is My Time to Reconnect to the Industry - With COVID still lurking, a war raging in Ukraine, the dust settling from the Herman Miller and Knoll merger, managers sorting work from home rules and inflation soaring, you might be feeling as unmoored as I am. Not to try to give you a heart attack, but NeoCon is less than two months away friends. Like it or not, NeoCon is our industry's family reunion. And for many dealers, it is one of the few times during the year when they get to connect with colleagues and friends from across the country and around the world.
•   Jim Heilborn | The Future of Hiring and Retention: What do the Surveys Tell Us? - As if furniture dealers and manufacturers weren't already having their challenges retaining, replacing, attracting, and recruiting people in 2019, along came the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic a lot of employees put off changing jobs due to the instability of the labor market. Many people did get laid off but then decided they didn't want to return to their old job or way of life. So in addition to everything else that happened and with an already tight labor market for all businesses, people started quitting their jobs in record numbers and didn't return to their previous jobs or even industries. The Great Resignation.
•   Washington Workplace: People, Products and Ideas that Make a Difference - The company follows three key philosophies: turning business relationships into real personal friendships; being prepared for business opportunities when they arise and most importantly; being committed to serve others (clients, employees, the community) without regard to any personal benefit or return. What makes Washington Workplace truly unique is its teams approach to sales. Each salesperson has his or her own team, complete with designers, project managers and sales coordinators, more similar to how real estate firms operate than office furniture companies. These teams operate effectively, profitably, and independently, under the Washington Workplace's outside-the-box system.
•   Brian Zuercher | Sustainability is a Key to Attracting Future Talent - Creating a more sustainable product and infrastructure for the contract furniture industry is the main focus for the future of the industry; it also can be a springboard for attracting future top talent. Just as the where and how we work are changing, so are the expectations of GenZ. Sorry boomers and Gen X (that's me), but nobody's going to be catering to our needs from here out.
•   Plural Studios Launches Contract Furniture Brand and Website - Plural's website features innovative new commercial furniture solutions made in America for healthcare, corporate, hospitality, and market-defying applications. "Plural believes in delighting its clients by providing adaptable furniture solutions that make a positive impact on the economy and society at large," the company stated. "As a family-owned business that still builds its products by hand in America, the company's culture, integrity, and relationships guide its every decision."
•   Stefanie Ince | Show Your Employees You Care About Their Well-being and Get Free Customized Employee Wellness Report: Sign up to be an Employee Wellness Survey Distribution Partner - The I Care Employee Wellness Survey is an initiative that takes place every year in June with a goal to better understand the health and well-being of individuals working in the commercial interiors industry.
•   The Never-Ending World Does Not Exist - Giving people and the things we use a second chance for a sustainable future. The fossil energy we use to power machines that extract, transport, and process the raw materials we need for business is now in short supply. Oil, coal, and gas, which account for 75% of energy production, passed their peak production several years ago—and it's past time for change.
•   Henricksen Acquires COFCO - COFCO—which was founded in Philadelphia and recently expanded to Washington, D.C.—has a long and storied history of providing customers with exceptional service and outcomes, especially in the corporate, public sector, and healthcare spaces.
•   Industry Musings - Remote working has changed the rules of the workplace, so watch out / The Lasting Impact of Good Office Design / What the metaverse means for the future of work / Hot Desking Is Not Genuine Flexible Work Model / How to retrofit the office for an era of hybrid work, lessons from Columbia Business School / Workplaces are in denial over how much Americans have changed / Rise of the Third Place: A Creative Alternative to the Home and Office / 'Striking a balance': How one company is rethinking the office for hybrid work
•   HD Expo + Conference Announces Programming Details - The hospitality market is massive. In 2020, the global hospitality market reached $3.48 trillion and was forecast to grow to $4.13 trillion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 18.5%.
•   IDA Design | An Interview With Pax Coworking Space - We sat down with Carolyn Buck, a founder of PAX Coworking Studio in Holland, Michigan to talk about the future of coworking and the benefits of this amazing new space.

Business of Furniture - April 13, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Microsoft Finds Working from Home is Not Working - In this space, I've spent a lot of time over the last year pushing for a return to the office. At the same time, many in the technology world (and surprisingly, a few in the office furniture world) have pushed to keep people working from home.
•   NEXposture Pulls Up the Work to You - NEXposture's sliding surface extends and retracts over a ten-inch range while declining at a six-degree angle allowing desktop technology to mirror the kinematic motion of the chair and user.
•   The Softer Side of Space: Three Transformative Influences on the Interior Design Profession - When looking at the human needs for a physical space today, one must consider the uniqueness of this moment in time. Our collective society has endured trauma on multiple fronts over the course of the past two years.
•   Arper Announces Amy Storek as CEO of Arper Americas - Storek's true passion and experience lie in design as she has collaborated with some of the world's industry leading companies and design innovators.
•   TAKT's First Eco Task Chair Brings Elegant Ergonomic Functionality to Home Office - Easy to operate, with minimal knobs and levers, the chair has a swivel base and pneumatic lift with a height-adjustable lever. It has a simple, intuitive range of dynamic movement, allowing the user to lean backwards and forwards, relieving tension and creating postural change.
•   Wallcoverings Association Annual Meeting in Florida Draws Many - The main stage at the Annual Meeting offered a notable lineup of industry experts, including Adrienne Palmer, Editor, Big Picture; AJ Paron, EVP and Design Futurist, Sandow Design Group; Amanda Schneider, Founder, ThinkLab; and Kevin Koonce, Vice President of Government Affairs, Vinyl Institute.
•   Knoll Partners With Illinois Institute of Technology Mies van der Rohe Society and College of Architecture to Present "A Discerning Eye." - The exhibit explores the importance of mentorship in architecture and design while celebrating the relationship and works of Florence Knoll and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
•   Ware Malcomb Celebrates 50 Years by Donating $50,000 to 50 Local Charities - Ware Malcomb offers a positive, dynamic and collaborative environment where team members are encouraged to grow their careers and continue learning.
•   Design Museum Week Aims to Inspire, Educate and Transform - In addition to 45+ virtual sessions, Design Museum Week will feature 14 keynote speakers over the course of five days to re-conceptualize design's role in 21st century systems.
•   SBLM Architects Welcomes a New Director to the New York City Office - At SBLM Architects, Chu will work on a wide range of healthcare and wellness projects, particularly those that utilize new technologies in radiology and hybrid operating rooms.
•   Allseating Announces New Partnership with Arnold Collective - Arnold Collective builds a tradition of exceptional service and solutions for its clients. The team creates its unique value proposition by exclusively representing North American-built furniture and creating a boutique sales approach to its clients.
•   Henricksen Elevates Melissa Huff and Welcomes New Hire Jess Weber in Chicago Office - "Melissa and Jess exhibit qualities that reflect Henricksen's core values, including professionalism, resourcefulness, and dedication," said Ryan Esche, principal + vice president at Henricksen.
•   Western Specialty Contractors Chicago Senior Branch Manager Steve Genovese Receives ICRI 40 Under 40 Award - This year's 40 Under 40 winners were recognized at the ICRI's 2022 Spring Convention, April 4-6, in Baltimore, MD.
•   SGA Names Five New Principals and Promotes Seven to Position of Directors - "At SGA, our strength is our people and the talent, experience, and expertise they bring to each project to support our clients' needs and deliver their vision into reality," said Adam Spagnolo, Partner at SGA.
•   New Tailored by Tarkett Program Makes It Easier Than Ever to Personalize Flooring Design - Drawing on the company's unmatched legacy in custom flooring options, Tailored by Tarkett expedites the process of designing and specifying one-of-a-kind floors by providing the needed design resources all in a single design hub.
•   Stephen Says - "References Today Are the Price of a Ticket to the 'Hall of Fame' Dinner, So Don't Get Fooled" - by Stephen Viscusi - All of the biggest hiring problems people have today stem from the fact everyone is in such a hurry to hire.
•   UPFRONT: NeoCon 2022 Programming Registration Now Open - An invaluable component of every NeoCon is the multitude of educational opportunities it offers.
•   SPOTLIGHT: HBF Debuts Spring 2022 Collection - Part One is comprised of woven fabrics that speak to dusty hues, light, shadow, as well as layering and movement.
•   PROMOTED: Legrand Promotes Erik Prins to National Account Manager – Furniture Dealers and OEM's - Legrand Electrical Wiring Systems Division has recently realigned the Connectrac Sales Team to become the Interiors Specification Group. This new team will represent the entire suite of Legrand Commercial power Delivery Systems for the commercial interiors space.
•   PLACES - EPAM Offices – Bucharest | People will now be able to work more efficiently, meet more casually and collaborate more directly, all within one new world.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Introducing 2020's Newest Enterprise Account and Business Development Manager / ASID Launches National Conference for 2022 / Office Furniture Liquidations Wants Its Furniture Back
•   FIRST LOOKS - Two New Desks From Ligne Roset / Tailored Menswear Inspires New Carnegie Collection / The Elemental Collection from Concertex - Inspired by the Five Enduring Elements of Nature / Bentley: Kick Start
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - April 6, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Looking for New Markets? Head Over to Healthcare - Point of care products, or POC, is commonly regarded as the point of interaction where care giving and information exchange occurs between a patient and a caregiver. Most dealers currently selling into healthcare facilities are limited to on-carpet sales.
•   HAT Collective Adds Healthcare - HAT Collective Healthcare is sort of a return to the company's roots. Innovative has made healthcare monitor arms for years. HAT Collective Healthcare is a way of bringing those products to the forefront while adding substantially to the offering.
•   Carl Hansen & Søn's New York Flagship Opens in SoHo - The new space, which launched as a pop-up at 152 Wooster Street next store, took just three weeks to implement. With the expanded room, the company is able to showcase larger furniture and more accessories, featuring pieces from its classic furniture collection as well as lamps and carpets.
•   American Society of Interior Designers Releases Latest Round of Research, Big Shifts Predicted - The future of office design is evolving. As ways of working and employees' attitudes toward work are changing, employers and designers are trying to figure out what the office of the future should look like.
•   DesignTV by SANDOW Launches Apps on Mobile and OTT With On-Demand Library of 500-plus Programs - Brands want to share their story with designers and design enthusiasts in authentic and impactful ways," said Erica Holborn, CEO of SANDOW Design Group.
•   ECA by Dekko Launches the Powerfully Versatile Electrolite - "Users and specifiers can configure nearly every aspect of Electrolite to fit their specific needs. No matter what angle you view the product from, its consistent form can be felt," Dekko General Manager Rick Fox said.
•   Henricksen Acquires COFCO, a Full-Scale Furniture Solutions Provider - COFCO—which was founded in Philadelphia and recently expanded to Washington, D.C.—has a long and storied history of providing customers with exceptional service and outcomes, especially in the corporate, public sector, and healthcare spaces.
•   Students Earn and Learn During Wege Prize Sustainable Design Workshop - With a framework inspired by the globally recognized Wege Prize collegiate competition – whose international success has ensured its five-year continuation with a doubled total purse prize of USD $65,000 – the cutting edge, two-week high school student workshop was created by KCAD's Wege Center for Sustainable Design.
•   Camira Group Takes Majority Stake in Textile Recycling Business iinouiio - An acronym for "it is never over until it is over", iinouiio has secured major investment funding to install state-of-the-art wool textile reprocessing machinery, the first of its kind in the UK for more than 20 years.
•   Steelcase, BASF Use Unique Recycled Material on New Stool - This is the first furniture product for Steelcase, one of the world's leading furniture manufacturers, that uses plastics derived from a chemical or advanced recycling process.
•   Raw Results: MillerKnoll Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results - Third quarter consolidated net sales were $1.0 billion, reflecting an increase of 74.3% on a reported basis and 20.3% organically compared to prior year.
•   Stephen Says - "Last Year I Made More Money Than Ever, This Year They Are Dividing My Territory!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Remember, it's easy when you have a monopoly on the account base, and it often gives a salesperson a swollen head. So it may not be time to change jobs. Instead, try to work a little smarter. If you crush your sales goal even with more competition, then you might be ready to test the market.
•   UPFRONT: 9to5 Seating's Award-Winning Jax Collection Expands Wood Base Options - The Jax Collection is a standout thanks to its contemporary lines and design. The new wood bases complement the look with rich, solid high-quality wood and maple or walnut finishes. These new options springboard off the success of the wood-leg rocker model last year.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Keilhauer's 100% Recyclable Epix Chair Wins Red Dot Award - The Epix chair is one of the standout pieces from the sustainable Epix collection, which was launched in April 2021.
•   NOW REPPING: Groupe Lacasse Adds PT SALES INC. - As part of its strategic initiative to continue to grow its share of business in a hyper-competitive marketplace, Groupe Lacasse has appointed a new independent, multi-state rep organization responsible for the sale of commercial and healthcare products in the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.
•   PLACES - foodpanda Offices – Budapest | foodpanda has been serving hungry people since 1999. Founded in Hungary, the company is now part of the German parent company, the Delivery Hero network, with subsidiaries in nearly 50 countries.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - New Account Manager Joins 2020 Office Team / Allsteel Announces Expansion Into Fulton Market / Premier Office Solutions Is Now The Exclusive Herman Miller and Knoll Dealer for Central Pennsylvania / SONNEMAN–A Way of Light Opens Highly-Anticipated Warehouse in Orange County, NY / Allseating Celebrates 40th Anniversary with New Commemorative Logo / DIFFA BY DESIGN Raises Over Half a Million Dollars / Metal Designs Sunny Side Up at Chemetal
•   FIRST LOOKS - A New Tactile Twosome from Designtex / Keilhauer Launches Latest Textile Card and 5 Clicks Partnership with Momentum Group / Springboard Introduces a Stylish Easel
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 30, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: What We Can Learn From Steelcase Financials - The financial filing shows just how strange the market is right now. If you read the report just based on the company's tone, you would think Steelcase had a great quarter and year. Corporate profits are up, unemployment is down, CEO confidence is high, investment in non-residential equipment is up, the architectural billing index is positive and real estate absorption is improving.
•   The Office Kitchen May be Key in Fostering Human Connection Again — if Designed Thoughtfully - The design of the office kitchen is important, but whether we like it or not, we're a plugged-in society now and architect Wayne Turett believes leading with that idea can help companies create better kitchen and common areas.
•   Shifting Gears: Robert Craven's Journey from Manufacturer to Rep - Craven's career in A+D and contract furniture spans more than 20 years. Before forming The CRAVEN Co, Craven served as vice president of global accounts and president of North America for Netherlands-based Maars Living Walls, a MillerKnoll company.
•   International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan to Return to Fully Scheduled, In-Person Event - ICFF used to be a blend of contract and residential design-focused products, but over the past decade, most of the contract brands have left the show. Still, it is an important place for the contract industry to discover new trends and brands. It is a pair of shows that run side by side focused wholly on design.
•   NeoCon 2022 Keynotes & Special Programs Announced - This year's edition will run June 13-15, 2022, and, in addition to showcasing cutting-edge new product launches from hundreds of established and emerging brands, the event will offer an engaging lineup of compelling on-site, and virtual programming.
•   Salone Reveals Plans and Special Exhibits for 60th Edition - The Salone del Mobile will be back in June. We will be celebrating the 60th milestone edition and all the beauty generated not just by the event, but also by the companies, the brands and the designers on whom its success hinges, and who come together to create an event that reflects the ongoing ecological transition of the furnishing system.
•   The Hybrid Work Butterfly Effect: 5 Biggest Opportunities for Workplace Design - We recently sat down with Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, who has spent the past 20 years exploring hybrid work, and Dagnall Folger, co-founder of A+I, a design agency focused not only on strategy, design, and architecture for space, but also the public space that links them.
•   Vitra Unveils New Modular Office System: Comma - Comma mirrors the functionality – and aesthetic – of scaffolding. Consisting of a few individual elements available in a kit of parts, Comma can be easily configured into diverse structures that define the space and the work processes to be conducted.
•   3form Advances Design Leadership With New Role: Ryan Grey Smith Promoted - As 3form's new Chief Creative Officer, Smith will lead 3form, 3form Elements, and LightArt's design approach and innovation. He will collaborate with teams across the 3form companies to apply his insight to long-term product planning and overall design decisions.
•   Herman Miller Expands Retail Presence in NYC and LA this Spring - The Herman Miller Meatpacking and Williamsburg stores, 1,750 and 1,460 square-foot spaces respectively, will each have performance specialists on-hand to help shoppers better understand the ergonomic and productivity benefits of sitting well.
•   Raw Results: Steelcase Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2022 - "In fiscal 2023, we expect to realize more of the benefits from the momentum we've been seeing in our order patterns, as our pricing actions catch up with inflation and the impacts from supply chain disruptions abate," said Sara Armbruster.
•   Stephen Says - "I Negotiated a High Base Salary and it Backfired on Me" - by Stephen Viscusi - I have twice started jobs where within 2 years of the start date I lost the jobs as a direct result of asking for, and then receiving, too high a base salary. I know this because each time I am let go, the owner or CEO will explain my salary is an expense they need to reduce.
•   UPFRONT: Architecture Firm Billings Continue to Increase at a Moderate Pace - Nearly eight in 10 architecture firms say that the impact of supply chain disruptions on projects at their firm is more serious now than one year ago.
•   SPOTLIGHT: De Vorm Introduces Pivot Lighting Series - Pivot series is available in 11 PET Felt blends and two color temperatures to meet the functional and aesthetic needs of any interior. Both versions of the lamp work equally well on their own and in various compositions.
•   SEEN: Sleek, Leather-Bound Desk with Smart Storage - Designed by Kensaku Oshiro, Poltrona Frau's Iren desk elevates everyday work with its pure lines, attention to detail, and sophisticated mix of materials.
•   PLACES - UCB Pharma Offices – Milan | Workitect has created the new layout and design for the Milanese offices of the global biopharmaceutical company UCB Pharma. Bucking the rest of the market, the multinational company UCB Pharma has increased the number of staff by 30% during the COVID pandemic.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Woolpert Welcomes Architectural Design Leader, Managing Principal Darryl Henderson / Tarkett Releases its 2021 Corporate Social & Environmental Report Highlighting Significant Performance and New Climate Targets
•   FIRST LOOKS - Flos Launches Oplight - Simplicity at its Finest / Office Specialty Releases Caddy and Mobile Storage — First Products of the 2Stor Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 23, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Women Leaders are Critical to Development of This Industry - March is Women's History Month and it is fitting that we take a moment to recognize some of the women who made this industry what it is and those who are propelling it into the future.
•   AIS Thrives as it Continues to Put the Dealer First - The company is going to launch several new products at NeoCon, some of which will surprise those who watch its product development. Brianne Devine, vice president of product line management, said to expect more task chairs, more desking products and more work lounge products. Also, look to AIS for a fresh take on the private office.
•   Landmark Project Underway in Denmark Showcases Building Shaped Like Human Brain - "The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Our design for the new Danish Neuroscience Center in Aarhus, replicates the most essential feature of the brain — the gyrification — to create more connections and space within limited confines," said Bjarke Ingels, founding partner, BIG.
•   Wisconsin Passes Historic Interior Design Initiative - The interior design profession continues efforts in strengthening legislation following its recent North Carolina success.
•   Material Bank Acquires PIM and Digital Asset Management Platform Amber Engine, Amplifying Digital Capabilities - Amber Engine revolutionizes the complex process of product data management helping to dramatically scale companies across the globe. This acquisition coincides with Amber Engine's next-gen product launch.
•   Cambria to Open Four New Distribution Centers in the Next Two Years - The new sales and distribution centers will bring the company total to 22.
•   SONNEMAN – A Way of Light Appoints Andrew B. Cogan as CEO - Cogan has served as a Board Director of SONNEMAN since September 2021. As part of this transition, Sonny Park, SONNEMAN's co-founder and CEO will become Executive Chairman and remain on the SONNEMAN board.
•   Tangram Announces Mark Peters and Angela Ramon Have Joined In Dallas Fort-Worth Office - Peters brings over 20 years of education and healthcare national sales experience to the Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) Tangram team. In his previous sales role, he was consistently recognized for successfully building and leading top performing teams.
•   Eyeing Growth in Key Sectors, Dyer Brown Adds Five Designers in Key Positions - The slate of hires includes the addition of Darrin Hunter, Assoc. AIA, to a fulltime position as experiential graphic designer, after many years as a consultant and photographer to the firm.
•   Diébédo Francis Kéré Receives the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize - Born in Gando, Burkina Faso and based in Berlin, Germany, the architect known as Francis Kéré empowers and transforms communities through the process of architecture. Through his commitment to social justice and engagement, and intelligent use of local materials to connect and respond to the natural climate, he works in marginalized countries laden with constraints and adversity, where architecture and infrastructure are absent.
•   Samuelson Furniture Opens New Showroom - Today Samuelson Furniture is 100 percent focused on the four and five star hospitality furniture market. Its roots making and selling high quality furniture has made the transition easy. The company continues to focus on personal relationships and quality-driven, design-driven furniture at the upper end of the market.
•   FLOR Introduces First Carbon Negative Area Rugs - The new premium design brand launches this spring, with new styles to further FLOR's commitment to creating with carbon.
•   Stephen Says - "I Can't Find A Job Even in This Tight Job Market and Recruiters Treat Me Like I Am Worthless" - by Stephen Viscusi - Please do not despair or consider yourself a tragic figure like Willie Loman in "Death of a Salesman." Let's start there. I will be reaching out to you personally since you have used a serious pen name, and I'm sure there will be no tragic ending and you will look back on this as just a bump in the career road. Here is my advice; seek counseling beyond the outplacement service you have been offered.
•   UPFRONT: Kimball International Leadership Changes for Hospitality Business Unit - Kimball announced that Kathy Sigler, current president of the company's Hospitality Business Unit, will retire after a successful 32-year career with the company. Mark Johnson has been named Sigler's successor and will take on the role of President, Hospitality.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Unika Vaev Introduces Holly Acoustic Lighting - With the Holly Acoustic Lighting Collection, Designers Hallgeir Homstvedt and Runa Klock have challenged preconceptions of how acoustic lighting should look. This builds upon the success of their most recent design for Abstracta, the Lily Lamp Collection.
•   REPORTED: The Future of Work Revealed in ASID's Reimagining Work Report - "This is the time to break open everything, to extract and distill what is really meaningful to people at work and design spaces to nurture them. This is a time for renaissance."
•   PLACES - Sartorius Offices – Berlin | Thanks to mobile furniture such as tables on wheels, mobile work islands with integrated trees and movable room dividers with plants, the space can be used flexibly.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Architecture Firm three Adds Director of Interior Design; Expands into Workplace Sector / Emily McGarvey Joins Room & Board as Director of Sustainability / Buro Happold Opens Five New U.S. Offices, Adding Key Regional Leaders / Ware Malcomb Hires Luciana Arim as Director, Science & Technology in Pleasanton Office / LAMVIN Announces New Vice President of Sales / Join BIFMA Mar. 24 for Accredited CEU, Demystifying Furniture's Role in Sustainability
•   FIRST LOOKS - Studio TK Introduces Libelle, A Collection of Innovative Lounge Chair Options / New Arc-Com Pattern: Flora / Hybrid Office Design: Expanding Tables for the Shrinking Office / STRATA Beam Expansion from Landscape Forms / Stairs Sideboard from Ethnicraft / Tones Collection from nanimarquina / AMAi by Extremis - Flexibility at its Finest
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-March, 2022

•   Rob Kirkbride | Cleaning Services to Coors Light: Dealers Get Creative When it Comes to Alternative Ways of Increasing Revenue - This month at Midpoint, we are taking a look at alternate ways of growing revenue and it is a critically important topic for dealers and reps. There is no rulebook that says office furniture dealers and reps must only sell office furniture.
•   Jim Heilborn | Beyond Product: Alternate Ways to Grow Revenue - As I've written many times before, if your clients aren't buying furniture right now, they have a greater need to maintain what they already own. I've addressed this in the past but I am still amazed at the number of dealers who aren't taking greater advantage of the opportunity to increase their sales, gross profit, and capture greater market share by offering relevant services.
•   OfficeWorks Makes the Most in its 'Small' Big City - OfficeWorks navigated through the COVID pandemic without furloughing a single worker. Instead, it has added services that its customers have asked for and need in the changing world of work. OfficeWorks has added workplace decommissioning and other services to help its customers return to work. "We have always realized that our two greatest assets are our customers and our teammates — and we have worked very hard to listen to and nurture both. On our customer side, every one of our projects receives a satisfaction survey. We have consistently scored in the 99-plus percent range, in meeting or exceeding expectations and when we do have a response that indicates a need for improvement, that customer gets a call from our president who makes sure the issue is resolved to their satisfaction."
•   Kibibi Springs | Living Well at Work — Spine Health at Work: The Physical and Cognitive Connection to Ergonomics - The mind-body connection is enhanced when we practice good spinal health, including protecting the nerve roots in our spinal cord, absorbing stress from movement, maintaining flexibility, and preserving muscle strength.
•   Anne Gibson | The Office Renaissance: Future of Work - As the workplace evolves one thing is clear: flexibility is key. The office will need to become a shape-shifting environment that can quickly adapt to facilitate creative connection and renewed purpose. The space needs to be intuitive to solve user needs seamlessly.
•   Brian Zuercher | Think Like a Startup When Considering New Revenue Sources - Writing down what the problem, not the solution, is a critical step before you head out to add a business line. It may seem elementary given that you might feel like adding a business line that exists elsewhere makes it a clear problem, but you will benefit from making sure who you think the target buyer is actually agrees with you that it's a problem.
•   Bulletin Board - Tangram Announces Lauren Ghizzoni Has Joined As Sales Executive In Dallas Fort-Worth Office / Fishman Flooring Solutions Names Tarkett Contract 2021 Vendor Partner of the Year / Kimball International Announces WELL Health-Safety Rating for Multiple Corporate Showrooms / Premier Office Solutions Is Now The Exclusive Herman Miller & Knoll Dealer for Central Pennsylvania / Haworth Announces Best in Class Dealers
•   Glass is a Great Material for Offices and Interiors - Arden Studio, a design-focused glass manufacturer, presents a simple, yet elegant solution to define spaces, direct traffic, and create safer environments with its new Haven Partitions. Marrying the functionality of a screen with the aesthetics of a partition, Haven is perfect for commercial, corporate, educational, or healthcare settings as they evolve to accommodate new normals. The partitions also offer compelling and welcoming visual elements to working environments.
•   Industry Musings - Office Tenants Likely To Make Small Design Changes For Big Impact As Workers Come Back / New Offices for the Hybrid Era? Many Companies are On Board. / Modular Workspaces Offer a Smarter, More Sustainable Return to the Office / Banks are Remaking their Offices for the Hybrid Era, Complete with Natural Light, Cold Brew on Tap / How To Design A Flexible Workspace That Supports Wellness / Mammoth Office Furniture Fulfilling Procurement Requirement for Technology Company / Fully Furnished Deal: Burovision Ottawa Acquires Ottawa Business Interiors / Five Takeaways from Microsoft's Second Annual Work Trend Index
•   How to Successfully Adapt Spaces to Changing Work Patterns - From individual tasks to group activities, the physical workplace is taking on a variety of new roles.
•   Design Perspective | Why can't we repair our own tech? - 'They don't make things like they used to' is a phrase we've all heard. It's no secret that the lifecycle of products, especially tech, is much shorter than it once was. Computer lifespan decreased steadily from 1985 to 2000 going from 10.7 years in 1985 to 5.5 years in 2000.

Business of Furniture - March 16, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Celebrating an Unsung Hero in Our Industry - I spent a bit of time talking to Rick Marchand, a retired school teacher and former Leominster City Councilor who for the past few years has served AIS as its special projects manager. That's a fancy way of saying Marchand leads the company's charitable efforts.
•   KI's Zoetry is the Ultimate Furniture Toolbox - Zoetry, which KI showed at NeoCon to a limited group of customers and reps in October, has been very well received. It looks great, meets gaps in KI's line and moves the company into a different conversation when it comes to seating and lounge products.
•   Practical Ways to Connect and Engage in a Digital Realm Subtitle: Advice for the Design Industry from a TED Speaker on Engagement and Communication in a Digital World. - "When you work with clients early on, if you take away their fears and start to frame something, then you can give them a clear view of what the brief looks like."
•   Michael Graves Architecture & Design Acquires Waldon Studio Architects - Merger strengthens firm's legacy of innovative design and deep sector knowledge and enhances client experience while building on future acquisition strategy.
•   10 Tips to Boost Mental Wellbeing with Neuro-Architecture - Studies have shown that color has the potential to affect your mood, emotions, concentration, and even physical health with methods like color therapy. Bolder colors like bright yellow boost positive thoughts and spark creativity, while reds stimulate and energize.
•   Standing up for Plastic: Self-rising Chair Foretells a Rise in the Use of Recycled Plastic - Ever since the 1950's plastic has been a key material in design. However, for the past decade the industry has been misdirected to discuss reducing the use of plastic – when focus should in fact go to increasing its recycling rate.
•   Interface Appoints Laurel M. Hurd as Chief Executive Officer - Global consumer brands veteran selected to lead flooring company in next phase of growth; Daniel T. Hendrix to continue as Chairman of the Board.
•   Foscarini's VITE Exhibition on Display at New York Showroom - Visitors are taken through the various scenes, as they are transported inside real homes in Copenhagen, New York, Naples, Shanghai, and Venice by Gianluca Vassallo and Flavio Soriga
•   FSR's Smart-Way Raceway Goes Global - Smart-Way blends into any room's decor with its slate-grey or bright aluminum finishes making it ideal for offices, conference rooms, collaborative work environments, or anywhere wire management is desired.
•   U.S. Department of Energy Recognizes Tarkett North America for GHG Reduction Commitment - As Tarkett undertakes this challenge, DOE will support its efforts with technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and a platform for the organization to demonstrate its commitment to being part of the solution to climate change.
•   Expert Judges, Program Leader Named for Wege Prize, Global Sustainability Competition for Students - The judges' essential role in the unique framework of Wege Prize benefits the transdisciplinary teams of five that compete over nine months and four distinct phases.
•   Stephen Says - "I just left a MillerKnoll dealer for a Steelcase dealer and I have never looked back!" - by Stephen Viscusi - You are correct and you illustrated what I always preach: Dealer salespeople are their own best brand, not the manufacturer that is the major line of the dealership where you work. Dealer recruitment is one of the cornerstones of our business, and we interview hundreds of dealer salespeople so we know how they think.
•   UPFRONT: Furniture Industry Loses an Icon - On Saturday Feb. 26 the furniture world lost a giant in the industry, Fred Drechsel. Fred immigrated to Canada in the early 1960's with just an old leather suitcase and big dreams.
•   SPOTLIGHT: FIT Panel System from Allsteel - Launching at NeoCon in June, FIT is a minimal, clean aesthetic product that utilizes hard surface laminates in several solid color and woodgrain options, with choice of integrated glass along the top edge.
•   EARNED: Sedia Systems Awarded Competitively Solicited Contract with Premier Education Sourcing Cooperative - "It's a big deal for Sedia Systems to gain this distinction as a contracted supplier with E&I Cooperative Services," said Roy Koch, Managing Partner who oversees sales for Sedia Systems.
•   PLACES - Fox Rothschild Offices – Chicago | Upon entering the office, staff, clients, and visitors are greeted by an open lobby, which optimizes views of the Chicago River as well as the impressive cityscape.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - KAI Design Welcomes Jake Wagoner, AIA, as Project Architect in its St. Louis Office / Fishman Flooring Solutions Names Tarkett Contract 2021 Vendor Partner of the Year / Spiezle Architectural Group Refreshes Brand to Align with Continued Growth; Launches New Website / IIDA NY Announces Scholarship Program to Uplift Design Students / The smartBOX Company Announces New Representatives / IFI Announces Winners of IFI DDA – Design Distinction Awards in Prestigious IFI Global Awards Program; Also Highest Individual Honors at World Level for the Interiors Profession Revealed
•   FIRST LOOKS - LightArt Introduces Tuck & Cylinder, Their First Standard Cylinder Pendants / The Wishbone Chair is Now Available in Nine New Colors by Ilse Crawford / New Launch from Louis Poulsen: Dependant
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 9, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Confirmation Bias Skews View of Work from Home - Since most major media organizations are located on the coasts or in major cities, it is not surprising that everything we heard about working from home came from people working from home. If those reporters in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles were working from home, well, then everyone else was working from home as well.
•   Just When You Thought You Had Vari Figured Out... - Vari has a very different model from the rest of the industry. According to Chief Revenue Officer Sean Scogin, Vari is driven by the customer. Where it goes next depends on what the customer wants from the company.
•   Industry Pioneer Neutral Posture Announces New President, Secures Long Term Financial Restructuring - Neutral Posture has successfully reorganized its capital structure to target growth and expansion. This restructuring serves as a post-pandemic platform of stability and the ability to pursue growth opportunities.
•   Material Bank Expands Internationally; Named to Forbes 'Best Startup Employers' List - The expansion into Japan will be supported by a team of key executives led by Go Nakazawa, who has been appointed CEO of Material Bank Japan.
•   As Best of NeoCon Program Opens for Submissions, theMART Continues to Improve NeoCon - Over the last two years, theMART has leased more than 350,000 square feet of showroom space across all industry verticals.
•   Next Up: 49th CIFF Guangzhou 2022 - With the achievement of the first centennial goal of "having created a moderately prosperous society in all respects", China is now structured to meet the ever-rising needs of people and promote an ever-increasing quality of life, also strongly influencing the increase of domestic consumption, the evolution of the culture of living and the strengthening of the furniture industry itself.
•   DIRTT Seeks Summary Judgment Against Falkbuilt, Smed and Loberg - In the Action, DIRTT seeks, among other things, an order restraining the defendants from competing with DIRTT, a judgment for its losses and damages, and an accounting and disgorgement of the defendants' gains from their wrongful misconduct.
•   Inscape Launches Accessory Stack for Inscape Bench, a Customizable Feature for the Office of Tomorrow - As employees return to the office, continue to work remotely, or work in a hybrid model, every company can create their ideal workspace with Accessory Stack's dozens of customizable frames and infills that fit their unique needs or brand.
•   Lesro Welcomes New Manufacturer Representative - With a combined industry experience of 40 years, Contract Office Reps is comprised of Stephen Lambard, David Carrera, and Nicole Lambard.
•   Shaw Recognized as Best Employer in the 2022 North Georgia Best of the Best Awards - "With more than 65 percent of our associates based in north Georgia, we are honored to be recognized as the area's employer of choice," said Torrance Ford, vice president of talent management at Shaw.
•   IIDA Names Pulse On Partnership Limited as Best of Competition Winner of the 12th Annual Global Excellence Awards - Pulse On Partnership Limited showcased a level of sophistication and innovation worthy of international renown.
•   Stephen Says - "Will Snoring Get You Fired, or Just Divorced?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I have no idea why this topic is verboten, but it is. It doesn't fly as an excuse at work. So short of divorce, start by filming your husband for a couple of minutes with your smart phone while he is snoring. I know this sounds strange, but most people who snore don't realize what they sound like, look like and what happens to them when they stop breathing.
•   UPFRONT: Kimball International Announces WELL Health-Safety Rating for Multiple Corporate Showrooms - Kimball International announced that its Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles showrooms have earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
•   SPOTLIGHT: Legrand Announces Touchless Lighting Control Solution - Perfect for any environment where hands might get dirty, messy or full, the radiant Wave Switch provides an easy, sleek option for cleaner control in both commercial and residential applications and is available in both 15A and 20A.
•   ACQUISITIONS: Seattle Based Catalyst Workplace Activation Purchases Major Local Competitor - Seeking strategic opportunities to grow our teams, our customers, and our brand has always been part of the Catalyst culture for almost 40 years. This acquisition will bring a strong team of professionals from Western Office with proven Knoll expertise to Catalyst.
•   PLACES - Thüringer Energie AG (TEAG) Offices – Erfurt | TEAG owes the fact that the company is well prepared to face the future, among other things, to the forward-looking decision of expanding the company headquarters in the north of Erfurt into a TEAG campus.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - EDmarket Partners with Solomon Coyle for Dealer Project Management Training / Shaina Panzer to Lead Nevers Industries' Sales & Marketing / KAI Design Hires Scott Clark, Assoc. AIA, as Senior Architectural Designer in St. Louis Office / Artopex Catalogs Available in 2020 Office / Arcadia & Encore Announce Promotions in Client Services Department / Ware Malcomb Hires Julio Braga as Regional Design Director in NYC Office / IIDA Announces Formation of Equity Council / AHF Products Announces Organizational Changes & Promotions
•   FIRST LOOKS - New from HAY: Outdoor Furniture by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec / New Renewal Series from Tarkett Inspires Rejuvenation in Senior Living Environments
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - March 2, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: From Chairs to Chicken Nuggets, Supply Chain Mess Can Be Smoothed Out By Communicating With Your Customers - Several times over the past few weeks I've heard about some truly stunning lead times for office furniture. It used to be that lead times of a month or two were considered long. Now I'm hearing of lead times stretching to 60 weeks.
•   FCA Completes Acquisition of Orlando Design Firm - Leading Design Firm Acquires Legacy Firm, Asserting Presence in the Southeast.
•   How Supply Chain Pressure is Driving Positive Shifts in the Design Industry - Designers want to know how to communicate to their clients, and manufacturers need to know when projects are hitting to plan accordingly. The days of keeping projects close to the vest, and manufacturers in the dark until the order is ready to place, must change.
•   Arden Studio Introduces Haven: Design-focused Glass Partitions - Enabling flexible spaces, Haven partitions are easy to reposition, whether utilized as a floor or desktop solution.
•   Wonder How to Create an Open Office that is Quiet and Safe? MojoDome is a Funky Electric Sit-to-Stand Desk with an Adjustable Privacy Dome - MojoDome includes an electric sit-to-stand desk, adjustable acoustical privacy dome, dimmable LED lighting and a magnetic cable management system.
•   DIRTT Announces Multiple Initiatives - Changes enable the company to better adapt to rapidly evolving market conditions, reduce annualized fixed operating expenses by approximately 14%, and strengthen capacity to capture significant sales upside.
•   HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 - Workplace Furnishings net sales increased 5.0 percent from the prior year to $1.434 billion. On an organic basis, sales increased 2.4 percent year-over-year.
•   DIRTT Releases Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results - "We anticipate that 2022 will demonstrate the beginning of a return to revenue growth with budgeted annual revenue of between $170 and $180 million and improvements in Adjusted EBITDA loss and net loss in 2022, driving towards a shift to positive Adjusted EBITDA in 2023. In the short term, we expect first quarter 2022 revenue to be between $38 million and $42 million."
•   Camira Celebrates Ten Years of Hemp - Part of Camira's collection of fabrics made from bast fibers, Hemp is made using the long stem of the hemp plant. Sown from seed and reaching over three yards in height in just 120 days, Camira plants 100lbs of seed for every hectare which generates 6 metric tons of hemp straw, which in turn yields 1 metric ton of textile fiber, equating to 5,400 yards of fabric.
•   Stephen Says - "Gossip is Gold, Except When It Is About You: How to Use and Not Let Gossip Abuse You or Your Company." - by Stephen Viscusi - As good as office gossip can be for you, it can be horrible for your company. Especially when it comes to having rumors about hiring practices floating around the office, I blame careless managers who seem to think they walk around in a soundproof bubble.
•   UPFRONT: Steelcase Global Report on Hybrid Work Available Now - The Steelcase report, "The New Era of Hybrid Work" surveyed nearly 5,000 workers in 11 countries in late 2021. Many of those surveyed have returned to the office after working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Designtex Introduces Two New Friends and Two Revamped Favorites - Featuring two new products and two revamped favorites, there's sure to be something for every space. These four new materials would make a great addition to any toolkit and are sure to play well with others.
•   AWARDED: Haworth Names Best in Class Dealers - The Best In Class distinction is based on exceptional performance in market development, sales, customer satisfaction, operational excellence and enterprise development.
•   PLACES - Trispace Offices – Zurich | A vast combination of collaboration and concentration areas allow employees to choose the setting that suits their tasks and working style best.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Introducing 2020's Newest Customer Specialist Mark Fredo / FSR's Glenn Collinge Promoted to Strategic Relations Manager / Duravit Announces Robert Downie as New North American President / Karen Hong Promoted to East Coast Sales Manager for Nanimarquina / Harold Thompson Joins Perkins Eastman as Managing Principal / Expanding Leadership Ranks, TAT Names Three New Associates / MBI Seattle Adds Knoll to its Lineup / Henriksen Butler Announced as Utah's Knoll Dealer / Architecture Billings Continue Growth into 2022 / Tangram Announces Lauren Ghizzoni Has Joined As Sales Executive In Dallas Fort-Worth Office
•   FIRST LOOKS - Allseating Announces Watson, a Resimercial Soft Seating Collection Designed with Todd Yetman / On & On Toward a Circular Future / Studio TK Launches Punt Collection, a Mid-century Collection Emphasizing Art and Design / Aston Club Low Back from Arper: Comfort in a Contemporary, Pure Silhouette / Sustainability and Modern Craft Converge: Luum Winter Collection Launch, Shared Ground
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - February 23, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Inflation is a short-term concern, but economists feel it is already moving in the right direction (even if we don’t feel it yet) - I've received several notices recently from manufacturers in the industry noting price increases. My (very) unscientific survey based on emails I've received show price increases ranging from about 2% to 6%. I'll assume that manufacturers that I have not received notices from are raising prices as well.
•   It Doesn't Take a Rocket Scientist to Figure Out There is Great Demand for Lab Space - Lab space is one of the hottest areas of construction growth. The pandemic heightened the urgency to get new lab space online. Many pharma, lab and research facilities are "doubling down" on new spaces.'
•   Furniture Command Center Streamlines Dealer Ops - Furniture Command Center is unique in that it works closely with its customers on rolling out new features. Software updates happen roughly once a month. About 80% of the features in a given month that are released are dealer driven. That is not by accident.
•   5 Key Trends at the Intersection of Health, Wellbeing and Design - Architects, interior designers, manufacturers and real estate professionals play a key role in healing that which ails us — from pandemic recovery to climate change to systemic racism.
•   Natural Light Has the Biggest Impact On Workers' Wellbeing - All in all, natural light/vitamin D has a long list of benefits that should have more value placed upon them.
•   theMART 2.0 - TheMART 2.0 renovations will feature significant improvements including tenant-only amenity lounges, conference rooms, and a fitness center, as well as streamlined entrances, an exclusive speakeasy bar in Marshall's Landing, and a revamped front yard and plaza for visitors.
•   KI Pledges to Support Adult Literacy through Literacy Green Bay - Literacy Green Bay, Inc. Received a $25,000 Pledge from KI to Support it's Adult Literacy programs.
•   Mortarr & Mercato Place Announce Partnership - Through the partnership, the two businesses are collaboratively addressing the needs, and the impact, of the commercial design industry.
•   Ted Moudis Associates Promotes Six Team Members - The recent elevations comprise Douglas Wramage as Senior Associate, Team Leader; Omar Bustamante as Associate, Team Leader; Elaine Thompson and Sam Rank as Team Leaders; and Jenifer Colón and Jennifer Adams as Senior Design Directors.
•   Kimball International Launches Sustainability Data Portal and Green Standards Program - Kimball International continues to make key investments in their products, data infrastructure, and manufacturing capabilities to support sustainability.
•   Stephen Says - "Stop Complaining About Not Hiring Faster and Better, If You Are Not Willing To Pay More and Better" - by Stephen Viscusi - Outsmart your competitors by offering a sign-on bonus and covering all of your employees' medical expenses.
•   UPFRONT: Allseating Announces New Partnership with Aligned Reps - Founded in 2019 by Principals Mark and Gavin McGregor, the veteran-owned company represents ten design-forward, high-quality furniture manufacturers within the Northern California and Northern Nevada territories.
•   SPOTLIGHT: BuzziSpace Launches Acoustic Rug Collection, BuzziRugs - BuzziRugs is unique among the industry, featuring absorption qualities that dampen sound throughout an office or residential home. The rugs are crafted with longer thread loops for a softer touch and feel, and to allow smooth mobility with wheeled office chairs.
•   AWARDED: Lesro Announces 2021 Rep of the Year - Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Spencer Heazlitt of Great Architectural Products Group has been awarded Lesro Industries' coveted Manufacturers Rep of the Year Award.
•   PLACES - Bitkey Offices – Tokyo | The office design is intended to promote a constant awareness of Bitkey's services at every point within the space.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Duravit Announces Robert Downie as New North American President / SmithGroup Elevates Mark Adams to Lead Workplace Practice / KAI Design Hires Scott Clark, Assoc. AIA, as Senior Architectural Designer in St. Louis Office / Design Museum Everywhere Calls for Submissions / LX Hausys America Announces New Website to Improve User Experience / Solomon Coyle Now Accepting Registrations for Spring Project Management Training / Benhar Office Interiors Selects an Executive Vice President
•   FIRST LOOKS - DuraCare Seating Introduces New 3D Thermolaminate Table Tops / Swinging into Spring with Loll Design
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-February, 2022

•   ROB KIRKBRIDE: WE HAVE LITERALLY BECOME THE GREAT UNWASHED - Many people have let themselves go during the pandemic.
•   BRIAN ZUERCHER: DON'T DO TECH FOR TECH'S SAKE: USE A DECISION MATRIX - The meta culture of tech can often make us feel overwhelmed because we need to use tech in every aspect of our lives and business. Without a framework to assess the application and role of tech we can become paralyzed or make irrational decisions.
•   JIM HEILBORN: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY BEYOND THE OFFICE - A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution. It's primary function is to streamline and unify the tasks and processes associated with operating a warehouse and its associated services.
•   JUSTIN LOEBER: DEALER TECHNOLOGY PLAYBOOK - Use technology to operationalize and automate your core business.
•   STEFANIE INCE: HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND AN EMPLOYEE FOCUSED APPROACH — THE NEW FOOSBALL TABLE AT WORK? - Employees are tired of the current dynamic with employers.
•   GEORGE LUCAS PFEIFFER: POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY: THE MODERN DEALER IS DIGITAL - 80% of leaders have accelerated the implementation of new technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. As experts in physical space, furniture dealers have a unique opportunity to help clients and industry stakeholders navigate the new opportunities (and challenges) brought about by this modern tech surge.
•   PIVOT INTERIORS WELCOMES KNOLL TO EXISTING WORKPLACE PRODUCT PORTFOLIO - As an industry leader with almost 50 years' experience, Pivot is already known for their excellence in managing every detail of the creative design process.
•   'JUST BE HONEST WITH US' RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS STRAINED BY LOGISTICAL DELAYS - Sourcing is something dealers have little control over, but feel the heat from customers when products don't arrive on time. Yet with a little work — and a whole lot of communication — it doesn't have to be a disaster, said Mike Spencer, director of strategic sourcing at One Workplace. Lead times that might have increased by 10% or 20% are now stretching to 50% longer. Customers are getting impatient.
•   STAYING OPEN AND RELEVANT — 360 OFFICE SOLUTIONS DEFIES LOCATION AND PANDEMIC CHALLENGES TO BECOME A POWERHOUSE DEALERSHIP IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES - Billings, Montana may not be known as a hot hub for office products and design, but the city is the trade and distribution hub for Montana, Northern Wyoming, and western portions of North Dakota and South Dakota. It's also the largest retail destination for much of the same area. For 360 Office Solutions, the location can be an advantage or a challenge on any given day. With core vendors like HON, Allsteel, Gunlocke, HBF, and Kimball, and a combination of affordable products and luxury items, 360 has cornered the contract furniture market for 500 miles around.
•   HENRICKSEN ACQUIRES SYNERGY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS; ADDS TO FOOTPRINT IN TENNESSEE - The acquisition is another in an avalanche of dealer consolidation moves in recent weeks. Office furniture dealers across the country are combining, switching alliances and getting bigger through acquisitions.
•   TANGRAM PROMOTES AMBER JONES TO VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES - Within her tenure, Tangram has become the largest Steelcase Education dealer in the nation and expanded the company's overall reach to now include regional headquarters in Dallas. Jones' focus as vice president of Sales - Dallas, will be expanding the company's market position, managing and developing all sales staff, spearheading client opportunities and ensuring a first-class client experience.
•   KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES SECOND SEASON OF THE ALTERNATIVE DESIGN PODCAST - Each episode is created to engage designers, architects, creatives, and design enthusiasts. With deep industry knowledge and expertise, Kimball International employees and guests offer unique guidance, inspiration, innovation, and motivation to listeners.
•   CUSTER INC. REINVIGORATES SALES AND DESIGN TEAM WITH NEW HIRES IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP FOR A FRESH PERSPECTIVE - Custer looked both outside of the furniture industry as well as to top past Custer talent to join and rejoin the team to expand new business development efforts. The hires are tasked to lead their teams as the organization takes a creative approach to design and creativity, providing second-to-none service to customers and finding new opportunities to grow the markets they serve.

Business of Furniture - February 16, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Geography Defines How You View Trends - What's lost in these trend stories, most emerging from media based on the East or West Coast, is that for the vast majority of the country, the trends don't apply. The United States is a vast country and it is foolish to try and pin a trend on the entire nation when it might only be happening where the reporter or researcher happens to live.
•   CAMINUS Brings 3D Printed Metal to Industry - The technology is the brainchild of Founder and CEO Jack Zhang. He spent five years researching and perfecting the development of the new 3D printing method. CAMINUS materials meet standards for scratch resistance, mildew resistance, fire code, anti-bacterial, rusting, hardness and energy efficiency.
•   Five Notes on the Future of Design - We believe that socially conscious designers living in unprecedented times have the opportunity (as they have already shown) to find ways to use their skills, creativity, sensibilities, empathy, solidarity, and consciousness for a more just future: to fight further alienation, listen to the unheard, display class solidarity, denounce and address systemic racial and gender oppression, and think about the possibility of making better worlds together.
•   Sid Meadows: Are You Listening? - Social listening gives you a good sense of what's happening in your industry, including data that you can use to make adjustments and changes to your content strategy or respond actively (and meaningfully) to your audience.
•   As Flooring Companies Push Climate Efforts, Others Outside the Industry Struggle to Keep Pace - Through eco-design, Tarkett teams are selecting and using high-quality materials with a low carbon footprint. This approach, based on Cradle to Cradle principles, diminishes the need for virgin raw materials while reducing the company's carbon footprint.
•   AIS Launches Chatham Cove Work Lounge – a Private, Yet Accessible Space to Support Today's Hybrid Workers - As an alternative to workstations or small meeting rooms, Chatham Cove Work Lounge offers flexibility and economic benefits to organizations supporting new hybrid work strategies.
•   MillerKnoll Appoints Senior Digital Retail Executive to Lead Global Contract and Retail eCommerce Business - John Stratford Joins MillerKnoll as Vice President of Global eCommerce.
•   DIRTT Announces Cornerstone Partnership with AIA - As an AIA Cornerstone Partner, DIRTT will advocate for the integration and adoption of industrialized construction as part of design conversations to create workplaces focused on flexibility and adaptive functionality.
•   Unika Vaev Introduces the Cozy Collection - Unika Vaev's Design Director, Courtney Brooks said, "This collection effortlessly blurs the lines of design between Residential, Hospitality, and Contract market segments, to create a refreshingly modern aesthetic."
•   Stephen Says - "Elevate Your Career Brand by Perfecting Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile" - by Stephen Viscusi - HR managers and hiring managers tell me those generic resumes are too broad and do not guide them to the specific skills, talents or experience that relate to the position they are trying to fill.
•   UPFRONT: COE Distributing Honored with NAW's Distributors Deliver Award - COE Distributing is a proud recipient of a new award from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors recognizing charitable efforts and service to community. COE accepted the NAW's inaugural Distributors Deliver Award at NAW's 2022 Executive Summit in Washington, D.C.
•   SPOTLIGHT: The Kitsy Seating Collection by Encore - Colorful, spirited and full of fun, the Kitsy collection by Encore delivers a refreshing take on multipurpose seating with stackable, swivel and mobile options in a spectrum of material and finish selections.
•   ELECTED: BIFMA Announces Election of New Member to Board of Directors - Terry Cassaday, founder and CEO of ergoCentric Inc, was elected to the BIFMA board of directors at the January meeting.
•   PLACES - LinkedIn Offices – Shanghai | The design of LinkedIn's office blends together important local elements of Shanghai with the global brand identity and culture of the online service company giant to give a user-centric experience for its participants.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Jennifer Hester Joins Hirsh Industries / Global Furniture Group, USA Appoints Director of Healthcare / CalPlant Announces New Chief Executive Officer / Global Furniture Group, USA Adds to its Growing Healthcare Team / Steven Sorrell of Sorrell Design Joins GTM Architects as VP, Commercial Interiors / Perkins Eastman Merges with BLT Architects / Momentum Builds for NeoCon 2022 as Registration Officially Opens / Benhar Office Interiors Selects Executive Vice President / Landscape Forms Celebrates Most Annual Product Design Awards in 2021
•   FIRST LOOKS - Versteel Introduces Kompis: Charismatic and Talented / KFI Studios Introduces Rang Table / Hook Up Table Series Launches / Luxxbox Launches Hemii Acoustic Pendant / Armstrong Flooring Introduces New Heterogeneous Sheet Products / Interface Expands Resilient Flooring Portfolio With First Rigid Core Collection, Even Path
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - February 9, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Manufacturing Takes a Back Seat to Design in Our Industry, but it Shouldn't - We talk a lot in this industry about design, designers, space and where our products end up after they are sold and how they are used. We don't spend nearly enough time talking about manufacturing — how we can do it better and more efficiently.
•   Virtual Reality Is Changing the Interior Design Industry - "What I'm seeing today is virtual reality technology intercede to push us to a level of sophisticated collaboration we've never experienced before. I believe it's going to revolutionize this industry."
•   Felt Right Moves into Commercial with its Customizable Sound Dampening Installations - The company's commercial team provides design support for on-the-fly customization, real-time estimates, and simple installation guides. For Talley Goodson, it's just as important for clients to have the best experience as it is to have the best quality product.
•   Bending the Rules of Design - Designers are tasked these days with sourcing and specifying products that meet their specific firm's standards. It might be supporting human health or supporting social health and equity, ecosystem health, or client health.
•   Allsteel Announces Expansion and Initiatives for 2022 - In Q1, 2023, Allsteel will be relocating from its showroom space in the Merchandise Mart and moving into a new 24,000-square-foot showroom in Chicago's Fulton Market district — one of the largest growing markets for Allsteel and the HNI family of brands.
•   Herman Miller Revives Nelson Cane Bench from Historical Archives Seventy Years Later - The Cane Bench serves as an important compliment and contrast to the iconic Nelson Platform Bench.
•   Nemo Tile + Stone Names Matthew Coburger New Director of Purchasing - Coburger has 12 years of hands-on experience in the tile industry, during which he has demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to modernizing brand messaging and marketing strategy for the industry's largest players.
•   Kimball Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results - Strong Demand Drove 11% Revenue Growth; Revenue from Workplace and Health Up 18%. Order Rates were Up 28%, and Up 35% for Workplace and Health End Markets.
•   B+H Welcomes New Director of Interior Design - Foussias brings over 20 years of experience across the commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, residential, and retail sectors, and he has led innovative and award-winning projects for the world's most recognized brands.
•   Western Specialty Contractors Hires Jason Paoli as Regional Business Development Manager - In his new position, Paoli is responsible for maintaining existing client relationships and identifying and developing new clients throughout the Chicago region.
•   KAI Design Hires Senior Project Architect in Texas Office - Hoffmann has more than 35 years of experience in design, production and construction administration.
•   Stephen Says - "Tired of Saying Sorry When You're Not? Me Too!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Join the club. Almost every person I know seems to be a member of the "I'm sorry" society. We tend to over apologize to one another as a conversation starter or filler when we don't know what to say. Why?
•   UPFRONT: National Office Market Sees Occupancy in Positive Territory for First Time Since Q2 2020 - Of the 51 office markets tracked, 30% managed positive net absorption for full-year 2021, led by Las Vegas; Oklahoma City; Austin, Texas; and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Also encouraging, 80% of tracked markets experienced net absorption above their quarterly average for the past year.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Leland Furniture Launches Gemma, a Collection of Natural Versatility - Created by Altherr Desile Park for Leland, the Gemma Collection stands out with personable elegance and optimistic flair. Featuring a system of three veneers – oak, walnut, and colored birch – along with two base-types, the Gemma Chair has a soft, gentle geometry and crafted details emerging in every edge and surface.
•   FEATURED EVENT: Office Furniture Recyclers Conference Feb 14th-18th - Office Furniture Recyclers will be holding its annual event in Orlando, Florida Feb. 14-18. Featured guest speakers are from Gensler, Doris Research, Great Places and Spaces and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. There will also be an Exhibit Space with 25 vendors.
•   PLACES - Moët Hennessy Offices – Paris | The space for "productive work" becomes a "place to live", "a place of empathy", promoting personal growth, confidence, and sharing.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - The smartBOX Company Announces New Representatives / Steelcase Named One of the World's Most Admired Companies / Mark Goodman Receives Wallcovering Industry's Highest Honor / Canadian Company Launches Virtual Showrooms for Global Furniture Industry to Meet Needs of Hybrid Workforce
•   FIRST LOOKS - De Vorm Introduces Twist, New Series of PET Felt Stools for Flexible Seating Twist Stack Stool / Interface Introduces Granite Mountain by David Oakey / New from Encore: Espo Designed by Henner Jahns of Gecco Vision
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - February 2, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: As WFM Shifts from Safety Issue to Management Issue, Expect More Companies to Return to the Office - Nearly two years ago, in a giant work from home experiment that no one wanted to participate in, workers were forced to leave their offices and try remote work. Initial research that measured productivity and worker happiness showed that work from home, well, worked. Employees liked the freedom. Companies liked the cost reduction.
•   SpecialT: From Humble Beginnings to Helping More People - The story of Special-T's world-class manufacturing facility was born from humble beginnings in Bulgaria, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Special-T has always worked hard to vertically integrate as much of their manufacturing capabilities as possible to meet their customers' needs while retaining control of their costs, especially in times like these.
•   Real Estate Companies Outline 2022 Expectations During Allsteel Webinar - The ESG (environment, sustainability and governance) trend is growing in commercial real estate — issues such as cars and emissions, the use of sustainable materials, energy efficiency and wellness enhancements are all becoming more important to occupiers and owners of office buildings.
•   Designing for Mindfulness — Maybe It's Not So Otherworldly Afterall - Mindfulness is creating a mind-body connection. A key component about that is trying to meet the present with open arms — not judging it, not saying, "I want this to happen," or saying, "I can't believe this is happening."
•   Responding to Supply Chain Disruption – Some Considerations - Whenever there is a challenge, there is also an opportunity to face it, to demonstrate and develop our will and determination.
•   The War On Talent: 3 Ways the Design Industry Can Seize this Moment and Champion Working Parents - Working parents are the most productive people in the whole world. They are able to juggle so much and have so much passion about home and careers. Employers don't have to doubt that we will get the job done, no matter what happens.
•   Custer Reinvigorates Sales and Design Team With New Hires in Senior Leadership for a Fresh Perspective - "We are excited to enter this new phase of our family business' history with this top talent at the helm of sales and design. Geoff, Jason, and Jody are the embodiment of Custer core values and are driven to take our business to new, exciting places in 2022 and beyond," said Mark Custer, chief revenue officer.
•   RightAngle Combines Teacher's Desk with Height Adjustable Lectern - The Hooligan Teacher's Desk can help improve learning and engagement in the classroom.
•   Perkins & Will Designs BlackRock Office in Atlanta - Photo tour.
•   BIFMA Compliant: Next-Level Confidence in Furniture Specification & Procurement - ANSI/BIFMA standards are go-to references when evaluating the safety and durability of furniture products during specification and procurement.
•   Stephen Says - "Take That Interview, Even When You Are Not Looking!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Take it from me, that manager you are meeting with will most likely move to another job in three years or less. So if you make a connection with her now, if you graciously turn down a job offer, you will have made a great connection that may help you in the future.
•   UPFRONT: ACTUAL 2021-Q4 BOOKINGS UP 7.3% — BETTER THAN THE 4.4% EXPECTED - This quarter's Solomon Coyle Market Outlook Report revealed many continued positive trends. In addition to Actual Bookings being up by a larger percentage than expected, Anticipated Bookings growth for Q1 and Q2 continue a positive trend into mid-2022.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Global Introduces Venture - Whether you're getting together for a quick chat, to catch up on a project or in need of some heads down time, Venture banquettes are up to the task.
•   AWARDED: Allseating's Engadin Wins 2021 GOOD DESIGN Award - Engadin is a proprietary textile collection designed by Milan-born architect and designer, and President of EFM Design, Emanuela Frattini Magnusson. The collection features three patterns, Dots, Grid, and Bauhaus, which are all based on geometric shapes.
•   PLACES - Goodman Offices – Madrid | The space is divided into two work areas, one for exclusively private use and a work area (meeting rooms) where visitors are received. These two spaces are joined by the Open Space which is a large open, and flexible space where all kinds of activities are combined. This space serves as a reception, a leisure room, a dining room, for spontaneous meeting rooms.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Empire Office Adds to Local Atlanta Sales Team / Page & Turnbull Announces Elects New Leader and Fourth Office / EDspaces 2022 Call for Presentations Now Open / Tangram Promotes Amber Jones to Vice-President of Sales in Dallas Fort-Worth Office / SchenkelShultz Architecture Expands its Team with Addition of Interior Designer Gennifer Hunt / Chicago's Perkins&Will Makes Two Leadership Moves / Schréder and Landscape Forms Announce Partnership for the United States and Canadian Markets / The Architecture & Design Film Festival Announces New Dates for ADFF:DC
•   FIRST LOOKS - KFI Studios Introduces Alden Side Table / Relaunch from Carl Hansen & Son / New Luminous Handrail from OLEV / Maharam: Spindle and Washi by Hella Jongerius
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - January 26, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Salone vs. NeoCon? Milan Show Moved to June, Ends Day Before NeoCon Begins - We are longing for a proper Salone too, but definitely not when it butts up to NeoCon.
•   BIFMA Leadership Conference Focused on 'Navigating Next' - No stranger to the BIFMA 360° stage, an economic forecast was presented by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence. Problems like the supply chain, the Great Resignation and, of course, COVID have executives worried. Kuehl was cautiously optimistic about the coming year, though a few headwinds remain.
•   Hope Takes Lead over Frustration as Supply Chain Disruptions Linger - The pandemic triggered an extremely high demand for outdoor goods as consumer demand increased for outdoor spaces in the commercial markets.
•   Creative Office Pavilion and Office Resources Merge, Creating Largest MillerKnoll Powerhouse in Northeast - Creative Office Resources combined workforce exceeds 440 employees, has 12 locations, 2 warehouses with offices in 7 states.
•   Evolve Your Space with Tayco's Enhanced Switch Panel System - Switch continues to be the ideal answer to meet the unique and evolving needs of today's modern office.
•   DIRTT Announces CEO Transition - DIRTT announced the departure of Kevin O'Meara as the Company's CEO and as a director. Todd Lillibridge, the Board Chair, has been appointed Interim CEO, and will serve until his replacement is named.
•   3form Dips into California Coastline for 2022 Color Collection - The 2022 Color Collection's desaturated tones are also designed to reflect their durable material platforms' longevity. The Color Collection is specifiable as partitions, wall accents, reception desk wraps, ceiling features and more.
•   SupplySource Announces Partnership with Haworth - SupplySource, the premier office furniture dealership in Central PA, which previously had an exclusive contract with Herman Miller, has partnered with Haworth as a new dealer.
•   Arper Appoints New CEO, Roberto Monti - The Swedish manager, a dynamic leader with a multicultural and international background, arrives in Arper after a consolidated experience in the world of furniture and retail, gained through a successful professional experience in IKEA.
•   AIS Signs AARP Pledge Committing to Age-Diverse Workforce - The AARP Pledge is an initiative by the organization that encourages employers to show that they are committed to an age-diverse workforce. AIS President Nick Haritos believes in the power of diversity.
•   Mannington Commercial Introduces New Director of Sustainability - Totten will work with industry partners on sustainability initiatives, product research and design, and sales and marketing by facilitating transformative thinking to shape the built environment and its impact on people and planet.
•   Stephen Says - "Is Your Email Address Costing You a Job?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Before we get into the fun and games, let me just point out why the email address on resumes is so important. When an employer chooses to contact a candidate, chances are they will reach out by email, at least in the first instance.
•   UPFRONT: Independent Rep Groups Join Forces to Thank Factory Workers at HALCON Who Support Them - Rep groups NJM in New York City and Nolan Brands in the greater Washington, D.C. market, wanted to say "thank you" to the people at HALCON who have been working so hard through COVID to continue producing unprecedented amounts of what they refer to as the best wood office furniture available anywhere.
•   SPOTLIGHT: 9to5 Seating Announces Partnership with One Tree Planted - "We've seen the devastating impact of forest fires too often in our home state of California, which is why it was so important to us to partner with One Tree Planted," said Dara Mir, President and CEO of 9to5 Seating.
•   AWARDED: Arden Studio's Mobl️ and Haven️ Win 2021 GOOD DESIGN Award - With Mobl and Haven, Arden Studio evolves what's possible with the medium of glass, offering products that create elegant and safer spaces in shared settings and workplaces.
•   PLACES - M&G Stationery Offices – Shanghai, China | M&G Stationery, as one of the world's giant stationery manufacturers, is characterized by its role as a comprehensive stationery supplier with an integration of creative value and service advantage, showing its vision as building a world-class stationery brand.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - The smartBOX Company Announces New Representatives / Keast & Hood Announces Leadership Transition / KAI Design Hires Charles Hoffmann, AIA as Senior Project Architect in Texas Office / AIS Welcomes New Independent Representative Cooper Contract to the Company's Nationwide Network / LRS Architects Continues Growth, Promotes Amalia Mohr to Principal / FK Architecture's Architect Kelly Dawson Appointed as AIA Orlando Director At Large for the 2022 Term / Andreu World opens new showroom in Kansas City / Architecture Firm, The Turett Collaborative, Looks to Future Growth with Addition of Two New Partners / Arcadia + Encore Launch CET Extension / Architecture Firms End 2021 on a Strong Note
•   FIRST LOOKS - Grand Rapids Chair Co. Introduces Rita: Its First Indoor/Outdoor Lounge Seat / Springboard's GLOWI Brings Hi-Tech Glass to Working Surfaces / Launching from Flos: Parentesi 50
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - January 19, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Working from Home is the (Real) New Smoking - Working from home without the right ergonomic equipment is a pain in the neck. No, I mean literally a pain in the neck for many workers.
•   A Crown Jewel in the Rockies — Billings Public Library Sets the Bar High - With a $100,000 budget, the library, purchased seating and tables that supported the various spaces in the building. First considered was flexibility — chairs that could be moved around or put together, and fun pieces for the teen and children's sections.
•   10 Bold Predictions for the Interiors Industry in 2022 - We at ThinkLab can't help but get excited about the innovations that will emerge in the interiors industry in 2022. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.
•   Software, Technology Might Not Help You Sell More Furniture, but it can Help in Return to Office - Beyond vaccine tracking and compliance tooling, administrators use the OfficeTogether platform to manage desk and meeting room reservations, track daily health check responses, and analyze real-time office attendance and space usage data. Employees rely on the platform to collaborate with their hybrid and remote-first teammates using a suite of social tools built with a dispersed workforce in mind.
•   Allsteel's New Manhattan Showroom Shines - The space has a NYC vibe, courtesy of a large, bright mural by Kamille Ejerta, otherwise known by her street name, "OGMillie." OGMillie is a New York-based, visually impaired street-pop artist with a vintage flair.
•   Former Knoll Chief Cogan Named Chairman of The Rug Company Board - Cogan is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Harvard College where he majored in Social Studies. He currently serves as director of the American Woodmark Corporation and Sonneman as well as serves on the External Advisory Board of the Master in Design Engineering Program at Harvard University.
•   COE Awards Institutional Associates for Top Sales Volume for Fourth Straight Year; Gebhardt Eecognized for Overall Services - Since 2018, Atlanta-headquartered company has won Manufacturers Rep Group of the Year by Pennsylvania office furniture powerhouse as IAI's CEO takes home commemorative service award.
•   DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS Announces DIFFA by Design - Since the idea for DIFFA BY DESIGN originated over two years ago, the world has changed and so has DIFFA. Many people are still struggling to live with HIV/AIDS and each day more continue to face additional challenges related to homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health.
•   KAI Engineering Hires H. John Vetter II, PE as National Electrical Engineering Subject Matter Expert - Vetter has more than 32 years of combined experience in engineering and management. In this new role at KAI, Vetter will provide company-wide technical expertise in the electrical engineering discipline and act in the lead electrical engineering role on high-profile projects.
•   Stephen Says - "Haworth Flips a Leading MillerKnoll Dealer — and They Will Keep it Up!" - by Stephen Viscusi - I say, respect the contract dealers that built your business. Bianchi understands this and the Haworth philosophy is rewarding them in spades by giving them the avenue to continue to flip dealers.
•   UPFRONT: Framery Investing Heavily in Digital Services - Framery welcomes Arto Vahvanen as the new Head of Digital Offerings & Services and a member of the Management Team from the 3rd of January onwards. Vahvanen's position marks the launch of a new department for Framery: Digital Offerings and Services.
•   SPOTLIGHT: Kirei Launches EchoTile Sync, a Modular Acoustic Tile System - "A room is a place to live, to play, to not just work but to create," said John Stein, president of Kirei. "EchoTile Sync adds a classic wall tile to the mix to make any room a space to be remembered. Its modularity allows for designers to create anything from quiet corners to whimsical walls. We wanted EchoTile Sync to pair with EchoTile Racetrack so designers can have truly unlimited potential with their designs."
•   AWARDED: HAT Collective Wins GOOD DESIGN 2021 Award - Manufactured at HAT Collective's Danish design and manufacturing facility, the height-adjustable, fully customizable collection promotes an active work environment with an unmistakable European flare. The Elle Collection allows people to work their way — whether in the office or at home, sitting or standing, together or at a distance.
•   PLACES - The Prospect Coworking Offices – Saint Petersburg, Russia | The Prospect was conceived as a space for work and meetings with interior design unusual for the office spaces in combination with modern technical equipment. 280 square meters include five offices, two openspace rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, common areas and a meeting room for 8-10 people.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - //3877 Welcomes New Interior Designer / NeoCon Extends Call for 2022 Programming / Amerlux Selects New Rep for New England Market / IIDA Announces LSD Interior Design as Competition Winner / Architecture and Design Firm FCA Reveals New Brand Identity
•   FIRST LOOKS - Nemo Tile + Stone Introduces Opus 2.0
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-January, 2022

•   ROB KIRKBRIDE: DEALERS CHANGING ALIGNMENT, MAKING ACQUISITIONS AND ADDING GEOGRAPHY AT HEAD SPINNING PACE - The pace at which it is taking place is head-spinning. It is nearly impossible to list all the changes taking place, but it is clear that dealers are either going all in with MillerKnoll or all out. One of the cases of going all out is outlined in today's Midpoint.
•   BRIAN ZUERCHER: CLEAR UP CLIENT CONFUSION AND WIN BIG - You are probably fatigued with the amount of industry and pop culture articles talking about data-driven everything, lacking to put any real world examples of how it's used. I know we (our businesses) are guilty of beating that drum without connecting it to practical experience.
•   STEFANIE INCE: LEADING WELL IN 2022 - A new year signifies a fresh start; a way to begin doing things differently. The stress and burnout experienced over the last two years is more pronounced than ever before, causing many to question their priorities — at home and at work.
•   NATASHA BOWMAN: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST - You are a human, not a supercomputer without emotions, and therefore you are prone to challenges in life. Few are more pressing than suffering with a mental health issue. It's hard to have these internal struggles that impact everything we do, including work. It's easy to be fearful to let others know what is happening.
•   GEORGE LUCAS PFEIFFER: THE TOP EIGHT TRENDS FOR WORKSPACES IN 2022 - Wellbeing at work is not a new trend. For over a decade the commercial interiors world has been promoting physical wellness through ergonomic solutions, floorplate designs that encourage movement, and health-conscious spaces. Yet to be 'well' means more than being physically well. It includes emotional, financial, and mental wellbeing.
•   CRYSTAL BALL 2022: AGILITY IS 100% NECESSARY - Instead of profiling a dealer this month, Midpoint decided to take a peek at the crystal ball and see what the future might hold for the office furniture dealers. Here is a conversation in Q&A form with George Lucas Pfeiffer, chief marketing officer at BOS Holdings.
•   BUSINESS INTERIORS OF IDAHO MERGES WITH FREEFORM - Throughout their histories, BII and Freeform have provided customers solutions across the spectrum of furnishings, space planning, and interior design. BII and Freeform work with several of the region's largest and most respected employers to support their growth and provide informed, functional, and comfortable environments.
•   INTRODUCING: I CARE SPOTLIGHT - Midpoint is excited to introduce I Care Spotlight; a new monthly feature dedicated to highlighting industry organizations and initiatives that are giving back, empowering, and improving the lives of people in our communities and those we serve.
•   DUPLER OFFICE AND RJE MERGE - After some changes in the office furniture industry, RJE decided to align itself to manufacturer Allsteel, which opened up the partnership opportunity with fellow distributor Dupler.
•   GOODMANS INTERIOR STRUCTURES ACQUIRES ALBUQUERQUE-BASED WORKSPACE DYNAMICS - Talks between the two companies started in fall 2021 and closed earlier this month, said Goodmans' general manager Stuart Hamilton. A catalyst for the deal, Hamilton said, was Herman Miller Inc.'s acquisition of Knoll Inc. last summer. The $1.8 billion deal had a trickle-down effect locally to Goodmans.
•   SYSTEMS SOURCE BECOMES LATEST DEALER TO MOVE TO NEW MANUFACTURER ALIGNMENT FOLLOWING MILLERKNOLL MERGER - "This once-in-a-generation realignment of manufacturer and distribution will provide our clients with exciting new design choices, streamlined interior planning and purchasing. We know our clients and design partners will benefit tremendously from our new partnership. It's an exciting time to be in the commercial interiors industry and we look forward to introducing even better solutions for our customers and design partners in the coming months and years."

Business of Furniture - January 12, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: Industry can Learn from CES; Some Personal Changes for Me - The most important show that isn't our industry's show is happening right now in Las Vegas. But what happens in Vegas, certainly doesn't stay in Vegas when it comes to the massive Consumer Electronic Show.
•   Look Through the Glass and Into the Future, or Don't — Gauzy Offers the Latest in Smart Glass Options - Gauzy launched in 2009 as a smart glass hardware manufacturer, and eventually transitioned from making just the power for smart glass to manufacturing the whole system.
•   Allseating Celebrates its 40th Anniversary - Like many office furniture makers, Allseating was built from the ground up through hard work and determination. In the early 1980s, Gary Neil's father, Bill, owned a rep group that was selling chairs. Gary Neil worked there as well and the two saw a need for seating products at a lower price point that would still deliver quickly.
•   Systems Source Selects Haworth as Partner to Deliver Innovative New Design and Customer-Driven Technology - Systems Source is a leading full-service contract interiors firm headquartered on the West Coast, serving customers throughout North America with quality furniture, demountable wall systems, flooring, accessories, installation, move, and asset management services.
•   HNI Corporation Celebrates 75th Anniversary - What began as an idea to launch a manufacturing enterprise to employ America's veterans returning from World War II, the Home-O-Nize Co. was founded and later became HON Industries and today the company is known as HNI Corporation.
•   Understanding MillerKnoll's Newly Added Risk Factors - In July, the business completed the purchase of Knoll. During the quarter, MillerKnoll stated that the integration of the Knoll purchase is on track, with cost savings of $100 million expected within two years of closure and $120 million by the end of year three.
•   OfficeWorks Becomes Representative of Knoll in Central Indiana - This partnership brings together the design heritages of Herman Miller, Knoll, and their 19 brands under one roof -- for the first time in this market.
•   Landscape Forms Announces the Promotion of Three New Department Directors - Landscape Forms announced the promotions of Natalie Biddle, Andrea Marietta, and Evan Presler to Directors within their respective departments.
•   IOPFDA Announces 2022 Scholarship Applications - Created more than 50 years ago, the IOPFDA Scholarship Fund has now awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to deserving families of office products and office furniture dealers and is supported entirely through individual and member contributions.
•   Tarkett North America Turns to Adleta for South-Central Distribution - Adleta will be inventorying Tarkett LVT, commercial and residential vinyl sheet, rubber tile, standard and premium wall base, finishing accessories, and more, helping them serve customers in all key segments, including education, workplace, healthcare, multi-Family and single-family residential.
•   Yellowbox Collective Opens in Delaware Valley - YBC is a personalized and sophisticated Independent Manufacturer's Rep group focused on bringing Curated & International Brands to the Delaware Valley & Mid-Atlantic Contract Furnishings marketplace.
•   Ultrafabrics Hires Theo Haag and Jennifer Hendren - Theo has spent his entire career immersed in the European market and brings to Ultrafabrics a depth of knowledge in the textile space.
•   Stephen Says - "HR Director Asks: Why Does it Take Us So Long to Make a Hire?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Depending on the size of your company, it may be the VP of sales or local managers who need to step up. Field sales managers should be having lunch with candidates all the time, even when they do not have openings in their departments.
•   UPFRONT: BOS Tampa Expands with the Addition of Michael Furnari - Furnari will be the latest addition to BOS Tampa's expanding sales team and will contribute to creating a world class sales organization for BOS on the west coast of Florida.
•   SPOTLIGHT: New Digital Print Fabric, Sta-Kleen Silicone - The collection will initially consist of seven digitally printed fabrics that have been designed for the healthcare, hospitality, contract, and other commercial markets.
•   AWARDED: Arcadia's Scenery Modular Collection Wins 2021 GOOD DESIGN Award - Scenery Modular itself is a collection designed to allow multiple and varied interactions at once. The interior seating area offers spacious comfort for collaboration and casual conversation while a ledge around the exterior perimeter serves as a work surface or perching rest.
•   PLACES - BMG Bank Offices – São Paulo, Brazil | The new office of BMG Bank in São Paulo symbolizes a moment of innovation and behavioral transformations at the firm, that is now more digital, inclusive, and has a refreshed identity.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Bouty Appoints Dany Gosselin to Vice President of Operations / KI Attains GREEN MASTER LEVEL Status / Landscape Forms to Host Live Virtual Roundtable: Designing for Holistic Sustainability
•   FIRST LOOKS - Stylex Reveals Three New Future-Proof Seating Collections / Natural Light is Most Desired
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - January 5, 2022

•   KIRKBRIDE: How the Industry Can Capitalize on Meeting Madness - Can we have a quick meeting to talk about, well, meetings? It doesn’t take a study to realize we have too many formal meetings. But I’m going to cite a few to show that in the wake of COVID, the meeting problem is getting worse, not better.
•   Haworth Joins Forces with Mikomax, One of Europe’s Leading Manufacturers for Acoustic Pods - "I am happy and proud that the company I have created from scratch and have been running for more than 30 years is gaining such a strong business partner. We look forward to continuing to manage the company also in the future and drive our success story even further."
•   Officeworks Announces Partnership with IMA Corporate Interiors and Expansion to Atlanta - Officeworks has grown to be Teknion's largest dealer in the U.S., with existing offices in Boston, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.
•   MillerKnoll Reports $1 Billion in Second Quarter Net Sales - Strong demand drove quarterly orders of $1.2 billion; an increase of 83.9% over the prior year, up 26.4% organically. Integration of the Knoll acquisition is progressing as planned AND MillerKnoll remains confident IN delivering $100 million of run rate cost synergies within two years of the closing, and now expects $120 million by the end of year three.
•   CIFF Continued in China Despite COVID; Online Event Attracts 775k Visitors - The first online edition of CIFF ended successfully on Dec. 14. The first fully digitalized edition, the 48th CIFF Shanghai, received a great deal of support from the 548 exhibitors who gathered online, attracting 775,043 visitors.
•   Colberg Architecture Appoints Kelly Collini to Principal - Collini has completed extensive architecture and design projects for leading organizations, including SL Green, Lafayette 148, Archdiocese of New York, Young & Rubicam, Scotia Bank, Zolfo Cooper, Gensler New York Offices, The Ad Council, and Xandr, which was named Crain's New York Business' Coolest Retrofit in 2020.
•   Introducing Mercato Place A New Curated Textile Sampling Platform - Thoroughbred Fulfillment, headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, created Mercato Place. Founded in 1995, Thoroughbred Fulfillment is a provider of a broad range of marketing fulfillment services to companies throughout North America and the world.
•   Designtex Moves into Bright Tribeca Headquarters - The move in/move out was so abrupt, some Designtex workers have yet to set foot in the headquarters (though that is changing as COVID restrictions relax in New York). On a recent visit to the space, some moving boxes were still unopened. As employees become more comfortable with using public transportation, the office will certainly fill up.
•   Stephen Says - "Longtime Attendee Asks: Time to Move NeoCon from Chicago?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Chicago is not the friendliest city for business, hotel prices are high as well as the taxes on tourists. Las Vegas and Orlando are more welcoming.
•   UPFRONT: Vincent G. Carter, FASID, NCIDQ Honored with Keith Hooks Volunteer Excellence Award - Carter began his service with CIDA in 1996 as a site visitor and was promoted to a site visit team chair role. Following his service as visiting team chair, Carter was promoted to CIDA's Accreditation Commission and served from Jan. 1, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2009.
•   SPOTLIGHT: PepperMint Display Cases from Peter Pepper - Peter Pepper's new PepperMint display case collection combines the warmth of wood and glass with the elegance of the circular, natural-anodized, aluminum profile.
•   AWARDED: Nienkämper VOX LCS Table Recipient of the 2021 GOOD DESIGN Award - "It's always an honor to be recognized with a distinguished award such as the GOOD DESIGN," said company founder and designer Klaus Nienkämper.
•   PLACES - Synopsys Offices – Ho Chi Minh City | HUYNCHI used a futuristic approach and specific color palette when designing the Synopsys offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company enlisted Huynchi to create a new research and development center that addresses their first-class level in the most well-planned district of Ho Chi Minh City.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Indiana Furniture Names Kleiser as New Contracts & Sales Support Manager / Scott Huling Joins SP Richards as Director of Sales - Southeast / IIDA Names Winners of the 9th Annual Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards / Solomon Coyle YE2021 Financial Benchmarking Survey Launches Jan 10. / ASID and IIDA Responds to AIA Policy Statement Review
•   FIRST LOOKS - eko Announces h@kr uber mobil / Room & Board Business Interiors Reveals Winter 2022 Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 22 & 29, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: The Case For and Against a Four-Day Work Week - As we head toward the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays and the four-day work weeks that result from the extra day off, it is worth taking a look at the increasingly popular call for a permanent four-day workweek. A few years ago, the idea of a four-day workweek would seem impossible, but the lingering COVID pandemic, employee burnout and work-from-home trends mean the idea is gaining some traction.
•   Optimism and Confidence are Key Themes in 2022 Predictions from Industry Experts - After reaching out to companies for their 2022 predictions, the team here at Bellow Press was pleasantly surprised by the positive outlook and bright ideas their responses offered.
•   The Power of Presence - The in-between moments in our lives will not be automatically productive and fertile, but they CAN be if we critically check our habits and deliberately seize the potential of these moments.
•   theMART Continues to Add Value to Building, NeoCon with theMART 2.0 Upgrades - The building has already gone through a number of upgrades to the show floors, such as improvements to cellular phone service, carpet, lighting and finishes.
•   Clear Office Becomes Reseat; Commitment to Get Used Furniture Back in Circulation Remains the Same - The company was founded by Brandi Susewicz, who has more than 20 years of experience at San Francisco Bay area office furniture dealerships, but like so many others, found her income battered by the pandemic.
•   Steelcase CFO: Profits would have been 3x Higher Without Inflation, Supply Chain Issues - Orders grew 87% in the Other category driven by very strong growth across all regions in Asia Pacific, including more than 100% growth in India and China.
•   Stephen Says - "Start the New Job Right Away! But What About the Bonus Owed Me?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Let's face it, dealers tend to get more upset and play more games with commissions than manufacturers. So if you're at a furniture dealer and going to another furniture dealer, my advice is to collect your dough before you go. If you're at a manufacturer, chances are you're going to get the money whether you're going to a competitor or not. But as the old saying goes, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
•   UPFRONT: Office Environments & Services of Jacksonville Purchased by Atlanta based Office Images - Led by owner and President E. Zimmermann Boulos, OE&S has been a commercial furniture dealer in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida for more than six decades. "I have a lot of respect for Bryan Roberts, Jim Staiti and Office Images and believe our combined operations will mean even better days ahead for OE&S," Boulos said. He remains as president.
•   Product Spotlight: Patcraft Introduces Deconstructed Form - Highlighting a unique approach to flooring design, the collections expose the product's primary backing to create pattern and color variation. Each new collection within the platform tells a different visual story and moves beyond traditional product design with thoughtful engineering. The design of Deconstructed Form explores textural structure through the use of shape.
•   PLACES - Swire Properties Offices – Beijing | The design references its Beijing settings, reinterpreting traditional materials like bamboo and grey roof tiles into contemporary expressions. Diverse space formats maximize utilization while providing various work scenarios to meet a range of activities.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - AIS Earns LEVEL 3 BIFMA Certification for Seven of its Most Popular Products / JCJ Architecture Elevates Experienced and Well-rounded Leaders to New Roles / ADFF:DC Returns to the National Building Museum Jan 6-8, 2022
•   FIRST LOOKS - Maharam Launches Spindle and Washi by Hella Jongerius
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-December, 2021

•   JIM HEILBORN | INNOVATION WITH A SUSTAINABLE PURPOSE - Most dealers and manufacturers understand that today's office environment is continually in a state of flux.
•   BRIAN ZUERCHER | 3 DATA-DRIVEN NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS TO DRIVE A RICHER CLIENT EXPERIENCE - As fast as the world has changed, it will continue to evolve.
•   STEFANIE INCE | GIVING HEALTH, GETTING HEALTH - Start off 2022 by giving health — a gift that keeps on giving.
•   JUSTIN LOEBER | DON'T CONFUSE INNOVATION WITH MODERNIZATION - Outside of the furniture industry, technology had for years been trending toward "APIs" and open architectures that easily connect systems.
•   ALEXANDRA TSEFFOS | WORLD IS CHANGING, BUT COMMUNITY, KINDNESS, EMPATHY MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE - When COVID struck, most families around me panicked about the health, education and stability of their kids.
•   GEORGE LUCAS PFEIFFER | ALIGNING PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL SPACES - By offering workspace-focused digital marketing solutions, dealers can complement client teams, differentiate themselves and provide strategic direction and innovative ideas throughout the entire project process.
•   WHERE I'M WORKING — BLUESTONE LANE COFFEE - Bluestone Lane is an OK option for short work stints, especially in a city where finding free space can be tricky. It has the typical coffee shop vibe — cool, relaxing music, good, strong coffee and a mix of people chatting and working.
•   DESIGNTEX MOVES INTO BRIGHT TRIBECA HEADQUARTERS - When Designtex, one of the leading companies in designing and manufacturing applied materials for the built environment, decided to move into new headquarters in New York, it needed a space that works hard and still acts as a blank slate for its fabrics — the star of the show.
•   BRINGING ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES TO THE TABLE - Figure out how to circle an opportunity before it ever hits the street. Or if it does hit the street, make sure to have a complete package with your dealer's solutions. By working in a variety of different markets and sectors, Tangram simply has more opportunities. Jones gave an example of how this works for the company: Say Tangram is called in by a general contractor to talk about flooring for a large-scale project. The salesperson on the project obviously sees an additional need for walls and furniture.
•   EMPIRE OFFICE ACQUIRES DEKALB OFFICE - DeKalb Office has provided commercial interior solutions since 1952 and is a leader in the healthcare and education vertical markets. As the sole Steelcase dealership in Atlanta and Birmingham, the company has worked with approximately half of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Atlanta.
•   DESKMAKERS EXPANDS WEST COAST PRESENCE WITH LINKED REP FIRM AND KEY PROMOTION - Linked's curated portfolio of products helps its team create innovative interiors within the corporate, technology, education, hospitality, healthcare and government sectors.
•   EMPIRE OFFICE ADDS EXPERIENCED NEW BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS - Amy Rosen, who was previously director of sales for Inscape's Walls division, joins Empire as vice president of architectural solutions.
•   TANGRAM ANNOUNCES JON LEACH HAS JOINED AS DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN DALLAS FORT-WORTH OFFICE - Jon Leach's knowledge of the A&D community in the Dallas region coupled with his design education and long withstanding relationships in the industry make Jon a triple threat.
•   OFFICE RESOURCES ACQUIRES ARENSON OFFICE FURNISHINGS - OR Principals Kevin Barbary and Paul Fraser are excited about the company's continued growth in New York and what the acquisition will mean for the New York marketplace. Arenson has a tremendous history and brand in the Tri-State area.
•   OFFICE FURNITURE HEAVEN APPOINTS KEVIN MCCARTHY AS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING - McCarthy has had a successful career working to identify new business opportunities, foster key relationships and increase business on a global scale.
•   THE SMARTBOX COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW REPRESENTATIVES - The experience and expertise these rep firms bring to the smartBOX Company sales team will result in the addition of strong office furniture dealer partners.
•   NEW REPRESENTATION - ALLOR GROUP / GROUPE LACASSE U.S. SALES TEAM - Allor Group is a Michigan-based independent manufacturer's representative organization with a showroom in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, showcasing some of the best manufacturers of contract furniture in the industry.
•   REVIEWS | APPLE IPAD PRO 12.9" (5TH GENERATION), PENCIL, MAGIC KEYBOARD - With an iPad like this, who needs a laptop? After working on the iPad Pro with the 12.9-inch screen, the answer is simple. No one. This iPad is so good, so powerful that unless you are a movie editor or use the most powerful design programs or need scads of device-based storage, the iPad can replace any computer you can carry.
•   REVIEWS | SEGWAY NINEBOT MAX G30LP - If you are like us and live in the city, you can't help but notice the abundance of electric, rechargeable scooters hitting the road. And if you live in a larger city, many of those scooters are rentals — an Uber-type experience where riders can grab a scooter, scan in with an app like Lime and go.

Business of Furniture - December 15, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: My Wait for Macaroni and Cheese May Soon be Over (and Your Wait for Furniture Parts too) - We are also facing inflation at a rate we haven’t seen in decades. Everything costs more than it did a few years ago. We should be in the doldrums, right? Yet just about everyone I speak to in the industry says it is strong right now. What gives?
•   Mixing Photography, Film and Art, Steve Burns has Visually Documented the Industry for Decades - Burns was seven years old when he had his first darkroom, so suffice to say photography has always been a passion. But he started out as a graphic designer and founded a company with his brother which specialized in signage.
•   3 Ways to Thrive in the New Hybrid Work Era - As we close out 2021 and look toward 2022, we encourage you to deeply consider this hybrid era, and how we can shift our mindsets from "return to normal" to "return to better."
•   Pantone Color of the Year Announced - By Creating a new color for the first time in the history of the Color of the Year educational color program, Pantone is reflecting the global innovation and transformation taking place.
•   M.a.d. Furniture Design Plants North American Roots in Minneapolis - M.a.d. and its customer base are growing quickly across the world, and their new headquarters will help them expand even faster while they continue to offer high quality products and customer service.
•   Kirei Launches EchoTile Racetrack — Modular Acoustic Tiles that Seamlessly Align On Any Wall - Racetrack provides designers with all the tools needed to quickly and easily specify unique design elements to build dynamic spaces.
•   AIS Named to Inc. Magazine's 2021 Best in Business List, Awarded a Silver Medal - AIS took the concept of "buy local" to a corporate level with ReNew England and is spearheading a campaign to encourage regional companies to join forces and help New England recover from the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.
•   Stephen Says - "You Should Get To Know A Recruiter Before You Need One" - by Stephen Viscusi - Here is a tip: Recruiters are people, too. We want to do the right thing by matching a person to a position so we wind up with a happy client and a happy candidate. Don't waste our time.
•   UPFRONT: Allsteel Announces Executive Team Expansion - Allsteel's new vice president of sales is Mallory Polito. With more than 15 years of leadership experience in sales, national accounts, product and architectural products, Polito brings a well-rounded understanding of the industry to her new role.
•   Product Spotlight: Arper Introduces Kata by Altherr Désile Park - Arper's first solid wood lounge chair, Kata, is lightweight in form and designed with circular sustainability at its core. It takes inspiration from artisan-made wood and woven straw chairs using contemporary solutions in a graphic and warm expression.
•   PLACES - China Everbright Bank Offices – Hong Kong | The approximately 42,000 sqft project spans across four floors comprising commercial banking, wealth management, a trading floor and client executive suites.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - HLW Expands Leadership Team / Anna Grace Young Awarded the 2021 John L. Spalding Scholarship / Samuelson Furniture's President Lawrence Chalfin Named NEWH's 2021 Icon of Industry / BuzziSpace Holds Special Charity Auction Spotlighting Hand-dyed BuzziCee and BuzziShade XXL / New Representation - ALLOR GROUP / Groupe Lacasse US Sales Team / Tom Brennan Recognized as 2021 David McCurrach Distinguished Service Award Winner / IIDA Foundation Announces 2021 John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Recipients / Landscape Forms Named by Fortune and Great Place to Work as one of the 2021 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production / NeoCon Opens Call for 2022 Programming
•   FIRST LOOKS - Designtex Introduces Three Collections / HÅG Tion by Flokk is the Sustainable, Customizable Task-seating Solution for Home and Office / Stylex Reveals Three New Future-Proof Seating Collections / Koroseal Partners with Stacy Garcia | New York to Launch an Exclusive, Urban-Inspired Wallcovering Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 8, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Tech Pushing Metaverse as Future Workplace - If you don't think the world is completely topsy turvy right now, let me present you with another example that might change your mind: As companies around the world shed office space to placate workers who want to work in their pajamas from home, others are spending millions to snap up Sim City-style virtual real estate, which some are saying could herald the start of a bizarre hybrid property market.
•   Sustainable Composites Figures Out How to Make Recycled Leather Feel Like New - Recycled leather has a strong environmental story. The process of making leather can create a lot of waste. Producing raw leather takes a lot of water and toxic chemicals. And when leather is thrown away, it can contaminate the earth and create harmful gases.
•   AIS Makes Strategic Move to Realign Sales Territories - "We believe this new structure will not only streamline the sales process for our dealers, but it will also create more opportunities. Ben and Doug will work in tandem to leverage our already robust presence in the industry, ensuring that we better meet the needs of our dealers and help them succeed."
•   A Graveyard of Great Ideas - No matter how innovative and groundbreaking a new product may be, it can still become blocked in a business-to-business marketplace by a bottleneck in a distribution network that doesn't know how to best present and apply the product.
•   Designtex Refreshes a Timeless Collection and Introduces New Products - Unwind wallcovering is especially versatile and can be used in hospitality and corporate spaces where visual texture and tactility calm a space such.
•   Empire Office Acquires of DeKalb Office - Since 1984, DeKalb Office has been led by John Rasper, owner and CEO.
•   Compusoft and 2020 Complete Merger - "We are excited about the possibilities this combination will give our customers," said David Tombre, Compusoft CEO.
•   Stephen Says - "My Boss Is Pressuring Me to Make a Hire! These Candidates are Not Good Enough; Should I Settle?" - by Stephen Viscusi - There are some very basic rules all job seekers need to follow, and as a hiring manager you have every right to expect them.
•   UPFRONT: KAI Design Hires Charles Keefer as Senior Project Manager in St. Louis - With more than 20 years of experience in architecture and project management, Keefer's career has included a wide range of projects, clients, environments and challenges. In his most recent role as director of architecture for Fisher Arnold in Memphis, Tennessee, he managed the design team on two Shelby County elementary schools, one of which won the 2021 Memphis Business Journal's Project of the Year.
•   Product Spotlight: Indiana Furniture's New Product Introductions Bring Comfort and Style to Working Spaces - The new introductions include the Plush lounge, Polka modular seating and Cush pillows, plus enhancements to the Square One and Accessories lines.
•   PLACES - PLMJ Offices – Porto, Portugal | Located on the top two floors of Tower A of Porto Office Park, PLMJ law firm's new office in Porto is a modern and future-oriented workspace. It was possible to create a comfortable and appealing environment through a timeless design language, where attention to detail and materiality play a key role.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - NELSON Worldwide Strengthens Retail Practice with the Addition of Bevan Bloemendaal / AIASF and Center for Architecture + Design Build Cultural Destination for the Bay Area
•   FIRST LOOKS - Allermuir Introducing Folk Upholstered / Ultrafabrics Launches Coast Indoor/Outdoor Performance Fabric / Hightower Introduces Dry Shelving System
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - December 1, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: The Best Work Happens in an Office, Not at Home - The industry can't just keep reacting to the whims of the workers. Part of our job is consultative in nature — we need to guide our customers toward the BEST results, not simply supply them with products they think they might want. The best place for workers is in the office, working together to solve problems.
•   KI Makes Room for Wall Success - Genius Wall, in particular, is known for its speed of installation and reconfigurability. That's because it is a unitized product and built that way — when the wall panel arrives on site, it is fully built and ready to be put up into the ceiling track.
•   Revisiting Our Bold Predictions for 2021: Where Are We Now? - At ThinkLab we strongly believe in the power of design and design thinking and that a degree of systemization can be accomplished without commoditizing the value of design. 2020–21 has shown us that an industry rooted in bespoke design can pivot to provide good design (even if it's not entirely unique to that client) for projects large or small, within tight budgets and timelines.
•   China Plans for Spring CIFF Show (COVID Willing) - To meet the new demands and trends in international trade, a Cross-Border E-Commerce Zone will be created, providing product and material search services, discussion forums, matchmaking opportunities, and solutions and tools for globalizing the furniture trade.
•   Going Beyond Net Zero: Humanscale's Legacy of Responsible Design and Manufacturing Continues - Humanscale's 2020 CSR report demonstrates measurable impact across energy, water, emissions, resource depletion, wildlife preservation, social responsibility and healthy materials.
•   USGBC to Host Summit on Bridging Occupant & Community Health - The event will be fully virtual to support public health priorities.
•   Dyer Brown Grows in Southeast, Expands into Behavioral Health Design - The firm is doing a ton of research into design for behavioral health, and they've learned that there's a significant amount of overlap with their other areas of expertise.
•   Stephen Says - "Sales Goals Are Too High? It's Groundhog's Day for Reps" - by Stephen Viscusi - I remember at my first job selling for Haworth one year I had a sales goal I never thought I would make, but then I landed a huge job I was not counting on and made double my base salary. The nature of sales is that they are unpredictable, try as we might to build models to predict them.
•   UPFRONT: Celebrating Growth, Architecture and Interiors Firm JZA+D Acquires, Designs New Headquarters - Even in Princeton, New Jersey, a community steeped in its own history, change is inevitable. Few know that better than the architects and designers of JZA+D, who regularly tackle local projects with innovative approaches that blend evolution and tradition.
•   Product Spotlight: Lilly and Jax Collections Expands with Rocker Base - The new model is designed to deliver motion in the Lilly and Jax collections, making it appealing to new spaces that go beyond the office. The rocker base complements the both lines creating a casual, relaxed and inviting environment for guest, breakout and lounge spaces.
•   PLACES - MONIN Offices – New Delhi | The studio is designed as a fluid and connected space with two open levels. A central "green spine" facing the different areas, widely opened to the mezzanine-floor, providing a fresh connection to nature.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - CIDA Publishes Future Vision 2020-21 Report / ASID Foundation Awards Research Grants to Projects Promoting Inclusivity
•   FIRST LOOKS - Arcadia's Theme Collection Bridges the Gap Between Comfort and Style / Source Introduces Attune / Framery Introduces Video Conferencing Solutions for Seamless Office Collaboration / Designtex Introduces Several New Collections
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 24, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Giving Thanks for What's Really Important - Hands down, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it embodies the ideas of family, warmth, reflection and, of course, taking a moment to be thankful for what we have. As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, the annual football game is a painful part of the day, but one we are all used to here in Michigan.
•   Staples Reportedly Closing Contract Furniture Division - Staples claimed it operated the largest commercial furniture dealer in North America through its contract furniture division.
•   Allsteel Partners with Fritz Hansen, Adding to its Design Pedigree - The companies have surprisingly similar histories. Both Allsteel and Fritz Hansen started out in cabinet making and both are more than 100 years old.
•   Andreu World Debuts New Book About Work, and its Message is Clear — No Suffering Allowed - Eight renowned designers representing eight distinct models of practicing the same profession. They are an example of how to manage talent that should be studied in schools, not only in design schools but also in business schools as success stories.
•   Legrand Introduces Sit Stand Desk Solution - The Wiremold Sit Stand Desk Power makes adding power and charging easier than ever — all while maintaining a sleek aesthetic that simplifies cable management.
•   Wellness In Action: Office Environments' New Workplace Initiative - "The workplace has changed. The future of work is to show that you truly care about your employees — not buying pingpong tables that no one uses." – Hanna Shelley, Office Environments' marketing manager and Wellness Committee chair.
•   ICFF Finally Returns to NYC - The number of attendees was as good as previous years, but the hospitality industry hasn't recovered yet.
•   Stephen Says - "Worth Repeating: If Your Employees are Hybrid Working in the Office M/W/F from the Office, On Tuesday and Thursday, They are Interviewing Behind Your Back. Capiche?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Let me put it in crystal clear terms for you: When you tell your employees to come on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and allow them to work remotely on Tuesday and Thursday, guess what? On Tuesday and Thursday, either I or someone like me is sending them on interviews.
•   UPFRONT: Landscape Forms Appoints Jaipur Living President & CEO Asha Chaudhary to Board of Directors - Chaudhary began her career at Jaipur Living's Indian manufacturing facility, rising through the ranks to eventually become president and CEO of the growing textile company. Her leadership and expertise in design and home decor has brought rapid expansion to Jaipur Living, shaping the company into an innovator in the design world, establishing collaborative relationships with leading designers and also celebrating the culture and artistic integrity of local artisans.
•   Product Spotlight: Introducing the Latest Innovation in Patient Care Communication Boards - VividBoard's newest product is the Swing Changeable Glassboards for patient communication. Swing Changeable was introduced at NeoCon and Healthcare Design to many accolades, winning both a Best of NeoCon Gold and an Innovation Award in the Nightingale Awards competition.
•   PLACES - LINGXING Offices – Shenzhen | Onexn Architects used designated work zones marked by pops of color on a neutral backdrop to design the LINGXING offices in Shenzhen, China.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Independent Suppliers Group Hosts Successful Industry Week '21 in Orlando, Florida / Going Beyond Net Zero: Humanscale's Legacy of Responsible Design and Manufacturing / Studio TK Expands Graded In Fabrics Program / COE Distributing's J.D. Ewing Captures 8th Consecutive Pittsburgh Smart 50 Honor
•   FIRST LOOKS - eko's neos - Where Comfort Meets Elegance / Turf Design Releases Versatile Intersect Wall Tile / Scandinavian Spaces Celebrates New Strategic Partnership / Kettal Releases Terrain Elements Fabrics, Fire Retardant Acrylic by Doshi Levien / Springboard's DOURO Collection Debuts First Horizontal Working Surfaces
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 17, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: A Conversation Worth Having with Your Customers - Not all the conversations with your customers will be easy. For many years, much of the hiring and firing power has been with the business owners. That has evaporated for a lot of companies. Like it or not, people are going to have to pay their employees more or they risk losing them.
•   Embracing the New Frontier — Design Firm Cactus Weighs in on Fears and Opportunities with the Metaverse - While technology isn't necessary for every work task or environment, it does play a role in easing stress in the workplace. Another issue to consider is the role of architects and designers of physical space. Should there be a metaverse takeover, will these roles become obsolete?
•   Eight Resources to Prepare for the Future of the Design Industry - Constant reframing is our new normal. In the future, we must reevaluate our tool kit by adopting new tools and using old tools in new ways.
•   The Future of Office Spaces: Design Innovation Leverages the Best of Both Worlds of Remote and In-Person Work - Technology facilitated the sudden pivot to remote work and can provide insights for design as employees return to the office. Companies can benefit from emerging AI-based platforms that track employee movement in the office.
•   Kimball International Reports Solid Quarter - Consolidated net sales increased 6% to $156.6 million, compared to the prior year first quarter. Organic net sales were $141.4 million.
•   Configura Holds Largest CET Experience Yet - "From incredible keynote speakers to awesome breakout sessions led by talented CET users to a great CET Awards competition, this was our best conference yet," said Kelsey DeBruin, global head of user community and events.
•   Supporting Active Living at Work: The New Living Well at Work Guide is Available Now - In addition to lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer's, enhanced active living can also impact better sleep, improved cognition, fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and provide a better quality of life and sense of overall well-being.
•   Stephen Says - "Dealer for Sale: NOT SO FAST!" - by Stephen Viscusi - A handful of people leaving one major dealer for another is not analogous to rats leaving a sinking ship. My experience is that these are just senior executives who are focused on their own careers, not a richy-rich owner like you.
•   UPFRONT: Kimball International Receives Women in Healthcare's Outstanding Organization Award - The award was received by Jill Joseph, manager, Health A&D Strategy, for Kimball International at the Summit in Baltimore, Maryland.
•   Product Spotlight: Arc-Com Releases Athena - The sophisticated detail and delicate nature of the motif in the pattern can be deceiving, as it has all of the high-performance features necessary for heavy duty end use.
•   PLACES - Sinoz Cosmetics Offices – Istanbul; Fabric-covered glass wool was applied on the ceilings together with the carpet to help acoustically in the office areas.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Nick Hayes Joins Kentwood Office Furniture as Product Marketing Manager / Nevers Names Kim Lettorale to Territorial Sales Position / Perkins&Will's Austin Studio Appoints New Managing Director / Workplace Strategist Amy Clark Joins SmithGroup's Denver Office / Perkins&Will Promotes John Strasius to Corporate, Commercial, Civic (CCC) Practice Leader / Nemo Tile + Stone Expands Sales Team with New Vice President of Sales and Sales Support Manager / Marin Architects Strengthens Leadership Team, Promotes Neka Highland to Partner / FXCollaborative Announces Firmwide Promotions, Including Directors of Interiors and a Chief Operating Officer / Configura Announces Winners of 2021 CET Awards / HKS Architects Named Best of Competition Winner at 10th annual IIDA Healthcare Design Awards / Allseating's Prata Wins 2021 GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Platinum Award / Narbutus' SOFT ROCK Wins German Design Award 2022
•   FIRST LOOKS - Nevins Introduces Fuse Stool / Kirei Launches Echotile Racetrack / A New Workplace Solution by NARBUTAS Fosters People Collaboration in the Office / Andreu World Releases Siesta / Mannington Commercial Introduces The Case for Silence Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-November, 2021

•   JIM HEILBORN | CONNECTING WITH THE A&D COMMUNITY - Establishing a good working relationship with A&D firms can be accomplished by showing how you can be a reliable resource and partner. Step one for designers is often referred to as "field verification".
•   BRIAN ZUERCHER | MAKING DESIGN CONNECTIONS - Even with lots of work happening on the internet, most people generally still went to an office every day. Employees are now used to having a set of options — delivery, carryout and dine-in are easy stand-ins for WFH, hybrid and remote work.
•   STEFANIE INCE | SUPPORTING ACTIVE LIVING AT WORK: THE NEW LIVING WELL AT WORK GUIDE IS AVAILABLE NOW - This new resource is important given the results of the 2021 INDEAL Cares Employee Wellness Survey Report, which found 47% of respondents are looking for tools and support related to healthy living, including improving physical activity and eating well at home and at work.
•   MILLENNIALS OR GEN Z: WHO'S DOING THE MOST JOB-HOPPING? - While some young people might enjoy moving around freely when it comes to jobs, Gen Z's cautiousness might mean we see an increase in the length of time they spend in jobs as their careers progress.
•   WHO DESIGNS PRODUCTS FOR THE INDUSTRY? CREATIVE STUDIOS LIKE QDESIGN - The company quickly gained accolades for its designs, winning several industry awards right out of the gates. Qdesign doesn't have to ask what's happening in office design. It sits in the same office (in a separate room) as a design firm on the front lines. It feels the energy, sees what other people are working on, and sees plans being laid out. It knows the popular colors and finishes. All of that feeds into the product design, whether it is for a new table, lighting product or chair.
•   MORTARR FILLS IN CRACKS IN DIGITAL INSPIRATION; SPECIFICATION - Mortar is defined as a workable paste that hardens to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks and concrete masonry to fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, spread the weight of them evenly and sometimes to add decorative colors or patterns to masonry walls. Mortarr is just plain useful as a place for inspiration and connection, but also as conduit to move the industry toward a virtual, digital future.
•   INDEAL'S WORKSTYLE BOOKLETS NOW AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL AND PRINT FORMAT - The Workstyle booklets are part of INDEAL's Pinpoint Platform, a digital resource designed to quickly connect dealers with brands, with enhancements to help them inform and present to clients.
•   THE FURNITURE PRACTICE DRAWING BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT INTERNATIONAL DEALER MIGHT LOOK LIKE - If you are an office furniture dealer and have customers as diverse as Lululemon, BASF, Adobe and the NFL, your "territory" is literally the world. So why not embrace it and cover the globe? That's the idea behind The Furniture Practice, a London-based company that is part consultancy, part office furniture dealer, part project manager and part client services company. And it may be providing the blueprint for the future of furniture specification and delivery for those ambitious (or foolhardy) enough to follow its example.
•   WELLNESS IN ACTION: OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS' NEW WORKPLACE INITIATIVE - Based on the initial meeting, INDEAL Cares developed a customized and confidential wellness survey, complete with messaging, for the Office Environments team to share with its employees. INDEAL Cares was established with a vision to transform the health and well-being of individuals working in the commercial interiors industry in North America, something that sparked an interest with Shelley and Minor.
•   NEW SURVEY REVEALS MORE THAN 4 IN 10 EMPLOYEES FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH WORKLOAD - One in 10 respondents say a lack of visibility from supervisors into that workload is the biggest challenge. 76% of employees say their workload has been impacted by COVID-19. Within the same study, four in 10 report they are overwhelmed with their workload most or all of the time.
•   THE SMARTBOX COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW REPRESENTATIVES - The smartBOX Company continues to grow its national sales presence with the addition of The Lowe Group serving Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
•   TANGRAM ANNOUNCES ALYSSA ARMESTO HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO AN EXPANDED GENERAL MANAGER ROLE INCLUDING FRESNO AND BAKERSFIELD OFFICES - Armesto joined Tangram as a sales executive in 2013 in the firm's Newport Beach location. She assumed the role of general manager for Fresno in 2019, bringing her back to her hometown and expanding her position within the company.
•   CBI EXPANDS INTO LOS ANGELES AS PART OF STRATEGIC GROWTH EFFORT - "The Los Angeles market is five times larger than the Orange County market, so it offers tremendous growth potential for CBI," said Darren Stiles, CBI president.
•   WHERE I'M WORKING — LA CREPERIE PARIS LAS VEGAS - The crêpe did not disappoint. It was light and delicious, the strawberries, blueberries and blackberries were fresh, and the whipped cream literally topped it off perfectly.
•   THE EVER-CHANGING POLITICAL PRESENCE IN THE WORKPLACE - With more people working at home, life and work lines have become more blurred, including conversations about culture and politics. Many now work from home / live at work, which means our social lives and political stances often bleed into our work environ-ment.
•   ROB PENDLETON JOINS OFFICE RESOURCES AS VICE PRESIDENT, NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - Pendleton will be driving strategic business development initiatives at targeted architecture and design firms in Boston and New York.
•   GOODMANS INTERIOR STRUCTURES BECOMES ARIZONA'S EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR MILLERKNOLL - Goodmans Interior Structures is a 67-year-old commercial furniture company with a vision to Change the Community by leveraging its talent and fostering a commitment to stakeholder capitalism. Goodmans is the first Benefit Corporation in the state of Arizona.
•   REVIEWS | LECTROFAN HIGH FIDELITY WHITE NOISE SOUND MACHINE - The LectroFan performed admirably to mask the chatter to the point where we couldn't hear specifics of the conversation.
•   REVIEWS | AVANTREE NEETTO ADJUSTABLE LAPTOP TABLE - The Avantree Neetto beats products like the pillows with attached work surfaces that make up most of this category, but it still doesn't perform as well as it could, and its design is aesthetically unappealing.

Business of Furniture - November 10, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Learning Looks a lot Different - I spent part of last week in Pittsburgh attending EDspaces, the education conference that has a strong expo and tons of seminars and presentations. Like every place people come together, the educational market is shifting, perhaps more than any other vertical market our industry serves.
•   National Ergonomics Conference and ErgoExpo — Reunited. in Person. Moving the Ergo Industry Back to Better. - Ergonomics goes beyond body postures and musculoskeletal issues to whole quality of life and needs to address workplace issues in a post-pandemic world.
•   EDspaces Provides Window to How Classrooms and Schools will Look in the Future - EDspaces included the giants in educational furniture like KI, Virco, Artco Bell, Smith System and HON, but it also gave attendees a chance to catch up with some of the smaller, specialized educational furniture companies.
•   What if the Workplace Was No Longer a Workplace? - Much like trending Google searches and the emergence of grassroots innovations across societies, there are numerous workplace-related trends that have been fast-tracked by the pandemic. IA has been analyzing these and exploring innovative new ways to reimagine the role of the workplace at a time when its very purpose is called into question. by Jordan Jones, Matthew LoPresto and Rosie Pawsey
•   Straight Out of Science Fiction, the Metaverse is Becoming a Reality and Promising for the Workplace - Experts believe the metaverse can encourage and support inclusive socialization and a seamless interactive experience that includes all employees equally.
•   Transforming Work: Enabling the Experience of Flow - As designers of products, product configurations and the larger workplaces they form, the challenge is to look beyond the formulaic categories of workstations, conference areas, informal adjacent spaces and the like.
•   MillerKnoll's New Global Headquarters for its Retail Brands Moving to New Development in Stamford, Connecticut - "We are looking forward to relocating to a space that will provide us with opportunities for continued growth and collaboration," said Debbie Propst, president of Global Retail for MillerKnoll.
•   Celebrate the Reopening of the Groupe Lacasse New-York Showroom - The newly renovated New-York showroom features recently awarded Best of NeoCon 2021 products from both Groupe Lacasse and Via Seating in more than 6,000 square feet of display space.
•   Stephen Says - "The Hiring Tap is Dry, but Only in the Off-Season" - by Stephen Viscusi - Believe me, there are people. They might not be so easy to find, but they exist. Explain to candidates the you are recruiting now for your next year hires. Paint a picture for candidates at all levels, tell them that you assume they may be getting a commission or bonus at the end of the year.
•   UPFRONT: INDEAL's Workstyle Booklets Now Available in Digital and Print Format - The Workstyle booklets are part of INDEAL's Pinpoint Platform, a digital resource designed to quickly connect dealers with brands, with enhancements to help them inform and present to clients. The platform's VIP level layers in visual results and inspiration along with features like downloadable design files, virtual reality experiences and digital versions of the Workstyle booklets.
•   Product Spotlight: Vaddio Introduces Ultra-wide-angle Intelligent Camera for Videoconferencing - The camera comes with a wall mount that allows it to tilt up and down to ensure proper framing of the conference table. It has a USB 3.0 Type C port, HDMI and audio I/O to easily integrate with existing room audio systems. The camera also has built-in RTSP and RTMP streaming capabilities for one-button streaming to popular services like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo and more.
•   PLACES - Well Group Offices – Xi'an; The one-of-a-kind office for Well Group was designed to suit the needs of the real estate company's rapid growth, evolving structure, and ambitious goals for the future.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Premier Announces Two Promotions, Debbie Lennick New Owner of Creative, Andreu World Nuez Lounge BIO Awarded for Excellence in Design at Good Design Australia, KI's C-Table Max Wins Best in Show at EDspaces 2021, Eames Office To Unveil 80 Years of Design Exhibition At Design Gallery Isetan The Space in Tokyo, Independent Suppliers Group and the Education Market Association Form Innovative Purchasing Consortium and Platform Partnership, Nemo Tile + Stone Acquires Modern Stone Consulting Corp, ASID Sees Strong Recovery in the Design Industry in Second Installment of Resiliency Report
•   FIRST LOOKS - Introducing SightLines Boardroom Tables from WallGoldfinger, Arper Introduces Kinesit Met, Hightower's Proto Tables, A Collection that's Ahead of the Curve, Arconas Release emBARq
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - November 3, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: There is Opportunity in Chaos - Workers right now have a lot of power. They are rejecting offices that look like they were designed in the 1990s (some of them were — or earlier). They want — demand — an office that is comfortable, safe and cool. We can help.
•   GMi Companies Opens New Plant Addition at Ohio Headquarters - The addition at GMi could not have happened without the pandemic. GMi received a grant of $450,000 for helping produce personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
•   Last Call: NeoCon HUB Offers Opportunity to Catch What You Missed - Good news! There are three more days to "go back" to the show.
•   Three Insights about the Future of Product Specification in the Phygital Era - "Participating in this Hackathon was incredibly informative and inspiring," said Meghan Sherwin, chief marketing officer at Keilhauer.
•   Getting the Focus Right: The Work Itself Should Matter Most - The concept of flow is understood as that state in which people are so involved in an activity and/or experience that nothing else matters as much as what they are doing at that moment, they are so deeply engaged that they realize a profound degree of insight, clarity and gratification.
•   AIS Celebrates Manufacturing Month - AIS has created more jobs in Central Massachusetts over the past five years than any other company..
•   Steelcase Acquires Spanish Design Company Viccarbe - Viccarbe has been a leader in designing ancillary spaces for more than 20 years, partnering with leading global talent to elevate performance in hospitality, learning, corporate, and now, outdoor spaces.
•   Stephen Says - "Herman Miller Dealer Stealer" - by Stephen Viscusi - I am told by dealer owners and managers they see more vulnerability with recruiting from the Herman Miller dealers (now MillerKnoll dealers) than with the Knoll dealers (also now MillerKnoll dealers). Yes, I get that Miller bought Knoll, but the dealer world is different, when it comes to dealer salespeople.
•   UPFRONT: Groupe Lacasse Halloween Party in Chicago - The successful event was organized by Sheridan Contract for the Chicago-area A&D firms and dealers. Other participants included Via Seating, Wolf-Gordon Fabrics, Falcon Contract, 3-Form, Carvart and Krug.
•   Product Spotlight: TURF's Arbor Canopy Shows Smart Acoustics with Custom Style - Turf Design has released its newest collection — the Arbor canopy baffle system — to turn ceilings into vehicles of creativity. Arbor's continuous connections between baffles allow for a clean and smooth appearance to accompany the system's impressive sound absorption.
•   PLACES - Thndr Offices – Cairo; Studio Teal transformed a dark and unused basement into the offices for Thndr, a digital investment platform located in Cairo, Egypt. Studio Teal was able to utilize the space of this basement to transform it into a calm working space for Thndr, a digital investment platform.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - NYCxDESIGN Returns with Annual Design Festival Nov. 11-18 and Special 10th Anniversary Edition May 10-20, 2022 / CIDA Calls for Community Comment on Revisions to Professional Standards 2020 / MHTN Architects Advances 17 Members Company-Wide / Interwoven Receives Two Nightingale Awards for Embra and Ezzeri Collections at Healthcare Design Expo
•   FIRST LOOKS - Flos introduces Oblique Qi / Interwoven Announces New Product Introductions that Expand Their Portfolio / Introducing Maharam Edition Artek Stool 60 / Mohawk Group Introduces Urban Shores / The Reimagined Workspace: Amobi / Fresh for Fall: LightArt Releases Four New Configurations to the Popular Acoustic Collection / Tarkett Introduces VCT II, Company's First Collection Manufactured in Mexico City Facility
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 27, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Napa Cabbage and Pepperwood Candles Never Improved an Office (but You can) - Since the pandemic began and the idea of work changed, I have hammered home the point in this column that the industry must act as workplace consultants to the world. We have the knowledge, backed by research, that is needed as companies return to the workplace — whether that's hybrid, full time or completely remote.
•   Texture, Color and Special Inspiration Command Attention with New Collections in Textile Niche - The latest from the Concertex 2021 Accord collection, The Delos Company Technicolor Collection, The HBF Textiles Fall 2021 Collection, and Wolf-Gordon.
•   Inaugural Workspace Design Show Starts Next Week in London - Live workshops at the show include a color, material and finish forecast for autumn/winter with Hannah Malein, creative director at Color Hive and head of trends for MIX Magazine, and Kaye Preston conducting a session on mental health and well-being.
•   Mercato Place Aims to be Lower-Priced Hub for Material Samples - As an online platform, Mercato Place is designed to be an elegant, enjoyable and easy-to-use solution for exploring by material or brand, with additional filters to further refine selections.
•   Moving the Needle on Well-Being in the Workplace: A Call to Action for Ergonomics Practitioners - WELL is an evidence-based tool for measuring, certifying and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being.
•   Tarkett North America Expands its Manufacturing Footprint with Acquisition of Vinylasa - With this acquisition, Tarkett will transition VCT manufacturing from its Florence, Alabama, location to the Vinylasa location in Mexico.
•   Scorecard Highlights Wood Furniture Industry's Continuous Improvement Toward Responsible Sourcing - 2021 featured more dramatic improvements in scores than in any of the previous years.
•   Stephen Says - "The Louder Mouth, The Younger the Officemate" - by Stephen Viscusi - There are a couple of ways you can go about this process. Either you can raise the issue with the HR department directly, or you can go through a more senior employee at the firm.
•   UPFRONT: AIS Adds Three New Team Members - AIS has announced new territory managers for Michigan and South Florida and a new manager for the company's New York City showroom.
•   Product Spotlight: Etc. Makes Fresh Introductions for Fall. So.Many.Choices. - This extensive product drop includes seating that extends from sultry lounge (Behl, Bernadette) to "fun"ctional bar stools (Avey, Cowabunga) and zippy guest seating (Irma) to wobble stools (Marjo) for active spaces.
•   PLACES - PepsiCo Offices – Ho Chi Minh City; The Suntory PepsiCo Viet Nam office is an agile workplace offering diverse choices as to where and how people work. With the focus on human development, ADP builds up space where all activities from staff are supported, from the cross-team collaboration, sharing knowledge, brainstorming to the private task that needs great concentration. Smart technologies are applied to the office such as the meeting room booking system that upgrades the employees' working experience.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Emily McGinnis and Marcus Batista Join KI as K-12 Educational Specialists / Sydney Watkins Joins Kentwood Office Furniture as Director of Design and Sales Enablement / Andreu World Toronto Showroom Opens its Doors / Significant Year-Over-Year Growth Across North America -- Pipeline Index Remains Robust, above 50% / Unispace Acquires Global Experiential Design Firm Downstream / Kaidi Introduces Intuitive Height Adjustable Base at ErgoExpo 2021
•   FIRST LOOKS - HPFi Introduces Spencer Tables / OLLY HUNT Introduces Jean-Michel Frank into Portfolio / Teknion Introduced WithIn at NeoCon / Muzo Introduces Tall Trestle / Seating for Circularity: naughtone to Offer Sofa Designed With the End in Mind / Unika Vaev Introduces Four New Acoustic Products from Instyle
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 20, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Battle Price Increases with Better Communication - If you must raise prices, talk to your customers about it. Explain exactly why things are more expensive and why you need to pass along those costs to them.
•   Togetherness, Inclusion and Diversity Were Strong Themes in NeoCon 2021 Keynotes - All new ideas are combinations of existing ideas. This rule has a caveat: Not all idea combinations are created equal.
•   What Designers Need to Know about Supply Chain Disruption - This disruption has made MANY MANUFACTURERS rethink THEIR supply chain. For example, Prior to the pandemic it was $2,500 to get a container from China, but now it costs $30,000.
•   Reuniting at NeoCon 2021: Buzzing Three Days Invigorate Industry - "Attending NeoCon is like diving headfirst into the gap between where our clients' spaces are and where they'd like them to be. There's a solution for every design problem, even the ones we don't know about yet." — Katie Titi
•   Business Transformation Must Include Manufacturers - Delivering for the customer is the ultimate goal. I propose we attack the transformation of the commercial furniture industry from both sides. Let's have dealers AND manufacturers commit to digital transformation.
•   Investing in Employees at Work: Physical Spaces Drive Culture and Talent Development - The office's role is already changing to a place of ideation — not just work. Nearly 87% of employees believe the office is important for collaborating and relationship building.
•   AIS Wraps a Successful Show at NeoCon 2021 - For NeoCon this year, the company refreshed a number of spaces, vignettes and products within the 10,400-square-foot floorplate.
•   Stephen Says - "Don't Let Your Top Salespeople Leave. Give Them a Track to Promotion" - by Stephen Viscusi - Gone are the days where a sales manager comes to town to work with a salesperson in the field, merely for the salesperson to introduce you, the manager, to the customer.
•   UPFRONT: Office Furniture Liquidations Clears Hotel and Partners with VetStrong for Greater Good of Community - Rising material costs and skilled labor shortages have caused extreme production delays for in-demand consumer products. Obtaining used furniture through transactions like this allows people to get the products they need immediately. It also saves the environment.
•   Product Spotlight: Via Seating Launches Rise, a Superior Ergonomic Task and Meeting Seating Series - RISE is contemporary, streamlined and uncomplicated. It embodies soft curves that flow in any space or place. With a variety of ergonomic features, including the latest technology in body balance synchro movement, six-way adjustable arms, a molded foam seat with seat depth adjustment and four-way stretch elastomeric mesh with lumbar option, RISE fits a wide range variety of body types with ease.
•   PLACES - iiLabs Offices – Mexico City; The ground floor houses the laboratory area, which also serves as a showcase area for what the company does.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Tarkett Announces Partnership with Tingle Flooring, IIDA Advances Diversity and Mentorship at NeoCon, COE Distributing Returns for Eighth Appearance on Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies List, Vertical Interior Design Honored at the ASID Illinois Celebration of Design
•   FIRST LOOKS - National Office Furniture Releases New Product Enhancements Tailored to Add Comfort to the Workplace, Mobile Green Wall Helps Prepare the Workplace for the New Expectation of Employees, Kimball Introduces EverySpace – A Creative Framework for the Future, Mannington Commercial Introduces Amtico Active Lines Collection, Pair Introduces Benching System Fade With a Waterfall Edge
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-October, 2021

•   JIM HEILBORN | ATTENDING INDUSTRY EVENTS CAN OPEN A WINDOW TO THE FUTURE - Like everything else, the pandemic has had a large impact on NeoCon. We may like to think we're on the cutting edge but a great deal of what our industry develops, sells and uses is often just a response to changes in other industries, technologies, legislation and sometimes, even the economy.
•   BRIAN ZUERCHER | A NEOCON OUTSIDER ON THE VALUE OF LOOKING OUTSIDE YOUR INDUSTRY - I was really looking to spot the IBM of the industry. Just like IBM in the tech space, many furniture manufacturers have been studying how people work for decades.
•   GEORGE LUCAS PFEIFFER | EXPERIENCING NEOCON 2021 AFTER THE SHOW - NeoCon 2021 was truly a show unlike any other since its inception in 1969. Knowing where to look and becoming a frequent consumer of commercial interiors content will certainly make you more knowledgeable and a greater asset to your team and your customers.
•   JUSTIN LOEBER | BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION MUST INCLUDE MANUFACTURERS - NeoCon 2021 was my first experience at theMART and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What I realized at NeoCon is there's an unspoken limit to how easy a dealer can make it for customers and employees. You may have nailed your CRM, dialed in your business system, automated basic functions, deployed killer dashboards and so on, but you will eventually hit a wall.
•   STEFANIE INCE | FOCUS ON SPINE HEALTH: OCTOBER IS NATIONAL ERGONOMICS MONTH - Spine Health Has Declined Over the Past Year | The recent INDEAL Cares Employee Wellness Survey Report, which included input from thousands of people within the industry, found 53% of respondents are suffering from spine or neck pain — a significant increase over a year ago when only 31% of individuals reported spine pain.
•   WORKING SPACES TIES SUCCESS TO COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY - "We didn't lay anybody off. We didn't let anybody go. We actually grew the business year over year during the pandemic." | Working Spaces believes it sets itself apart in many ways, but communication with the client — from beginning to end, when things are going right and when they are going wrong — is a key differentiator. The dealer also believes that using technology to the fullest can set you apart in the marketing and sales process as well.
•   INDEAL RESCHEDULES UPCOMING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - INDEAL's 2021 Leadership Conference, originally scheduled to take place in December, has been postponed until Nov. 6-9, 2022.
•   MEGAN RUSSO RECEIVES ARIDO DESIGN AWARD FOR MCCRUM'S OFFICE FURNISHINGS - Russo's creative process and attention to detail helped the company realize the vision of its space as a holistic experience for McCrum's employees, clients and suppliers.
•   MOST EMPLOYERS PLAN TO OFFER HYBRID WORK AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ACCORDING TO XPERTHR'S LATEST SURVEY - The results indicate that the war for talent is playing a big role in organizations' planning around flexible work with nearly nine in 10 employers reporting 'increasing retention' as either 'somewhat' or 'very' important in motivating them to offer flexible work options.
•   MIDPOINT 'MUSTS' FROM NEOCON 2021 - The Midpoint staff scoured theMART last week, looking for products that caught our eye, were well designed and solved for a specific purpose.
•   WORKERS SAY JOB PRESSURES TAKE BIGGER MENTAL TOLL THAN COVID-19 FEARS - Fifty-seven percent of workers surveyed said their mental health has degraded since the start of the pandemic. The driving factor behind this decline: their workload. Work pressures are so great that half of the respondents say work demands are taking a bigger toll on their mental health than COVID-19.
•   RIEKE OFFICE INTERIORS WINS GLOBEE; TAKES SILVER AWARD IN COMPANY INNOVATION CATEGORY - ROI won a Silver Award in the category of Company Innovation of the Year for its entry "Creating the SafeSpace Product Line During the Pandemic."
•   LEGRAND'S VANTAGE BRAND ANNOUNCES NEW FIXTURE ALLIANCE PARTNER — ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHTS - As part of these alliances, a 5 + Lighting Design Dealer Profit Promotion (DPP) has been developed. Through the DPP, projects featuring both Vantage and Environmental Lights products will receive a 5% discount from Vantage at the time of order and a free lighting design when a project is registered.
•   WHERE I'M WORKING — HOTEL MILANO CASTELLO - The hotel is truly a hidden gem, found on a back alley in a nice, vibrant neighborhood, close enough to the goings-on while attending Salone, but far enough away to be slightly removed from the chaos.
•   TANGRAM ANNOUNCES KIMBERLY WIGGS HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO K-12 EDUCATION AREA OF PRACTICE LEADER - In her new position, Wiggs will assist in hiring and lead training for new employees for the inside sales desk. She will work closely with the education manufacturer partners to be best aligned with K-12 opportunities, while continuing to strengthen Tangram's position in the education market.
•   IN LIGHT OF COVID'S TOLL ON WORKERS, A NEW REPORT OFFERS SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE - "Businesses not only need to trust their employees, but to gain their employees' trust."
•   UNISPACE ACQUIRES EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN FIRM DOWNSTREAM - Downstream has an expansive portfolio of integrated digital and physical experiences in global tech hubs, flagship retailers, major sports venues and other destination spaces around the world.
•   SOLOMON COYLE NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR FALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING - Solomon Coyle's PM training program addresses dealer goals for margin protection, customer satisfaction and retention and talent management.
•   REVIEWS | ADOBE SCAN and WORLDCARD PRO BUSINESS CARD READER - Adobe Scan is an app that turns your mobile device into a scanner that recognizes text automatically (OCR) and allows you to create, save and organize your paper documents as a digital file. WorldCard Pro is the best digital scanners we've used of those on the market. It is a simple, pocket-sized scanner that easily connects to your Mac or Windows computer.

Business of Furniture - October 13, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: What We Can Learn from NeoCon 2021 - Crowds were definitely down, but I didn't hear many complaints. In fact, NeoCon-lite was refreshing — the perfect prequel for NeoCon 2022 in June. If this NeoCon was any indication, held during an active pandemic, the June event should be fantastic as the world (fingers crossed) moves beyond the worst of the virus.
•   Arconas Introduces its Luxury Residential Furniture Brand, Atelier Keaton, with Launch of Amelia Sofa Collection - While Atelier Keaton and the Amelia sofa collection are a new focus for Arconas, in many ways the launch of the brand is a return to the company's roots. Arconas began manufacturing European residential furniture such as the iconic Bouloum chaise in the 1970s.
•   BoF's Brightest Products at NeoCon 2021 - This publication isn't about formal award programs. Commercial furnishings is too subjective for all but a select few to properly judge with any accuracy, in our opinion.
•   A Visual Difference: Colors and Patterns Shift to Accommodate Wellbeing of People and the Earth - Colorful doesn't have to be bold and sharp - It can be as simple as redefining earth tones and bringing the outdoors in.
•   NeoCon and Casual Show Recap - We felt traffic was certainly dampened compared to pre-pandemic levels, but overall, it was upbeat and fairly well attended.
•   ASID Announces 2022 Board of Directors — Climate, Health and Equity at Forefront for the Board - With an eye on the interior design industry's role in the health of the planet and its occupants, the National Board of Directors of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its first-ever position statement on climate, health and equity.
•   To the Parents of Camper Rob Kirkbride - Our first Camp NeoCon, Fall Session, was a bit of a change from past years, but campers adapted well—loving the chance to spend more meaningful time doing activities with each other and seizing the opportunity to have dedicated and purposeful conversations with counselors about all of the new crafts introduced at camp..
•   Stephen Says - "NeoCon in October! But the Event is Still the Job-Change Marker" - by Stephen Viscusi - Trade shows are milestones in any industry. For contract furniture it's NeoCon. For residential manufacturers it is Highpoint, and in hospitality it can be spread among shows from Las Vegas to Boutique Design New York coming up in November. Trade shows are a logical and exciting way of getting the word out fast while showcasing your new talent.
•   UPFRONT: INDEAL Reschedules Upcoming Leadership Conference - INDEAL's 2021 Leadership Conference, originally scheduled to take place in December, has been postponed until Nov. 6-9, 2022. The decision to move the conference to a later date was based on the organization's commitment to the health and safety of those attending.
•   PLACES - Watsons Offices – Singapore; Watsons is Asia's leading health and beauty retailer that operates nearly 8,000 stores in numerous Asian and European markets. Through the relocation of their offices to The Concourse, Watsons had the intention of reflecting their newly updated brand expression into the space as well as adopting a new way of working for employees.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - NELSON Worldwide Welcomes Balmiki Bhattacharya as Industrial Practice Leader, Shaw Industries' EcoWorx Carpet Tile is Among the First in the World to Be Cradle to Cradle Certified Under the Version 4.0 Standard, Gabriel Opens its Largest Showroom in Chicago, The Architecture and Design Film Announces a Captivating Roster of Films and Events 2021 and 2022
•   FIRST LOOKS - SmartBOX Unveils a Full Line of Personal Work Pods, Luxxbox Introduces TESSELL Acoustic Pendant to the North American Market, Graypants Introduces Dash; Beautiful, High-Performance Lighting for Brighter Workplaces, Springboard Introducing the CURVO Collection: Three Collaboration Tools for Flexible Workspaces
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - October 6, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Greetings from Camp NeoCon - I was struck today as I walked around NeoCon that going to the annual event in Chicago feels a bit like going to camp as a kid so I decided to write today's column in the form of a letter home from our industry's most important "camp."
•   Sara Armbruster Takes Reins at Steelcase at Critical Time for Industry, Company - Armbruster is from Milwaukee, a lifelong Midwesterner who spent time on the East Coast for college. She was recruited for a position as a corporate strategist 14 years ago, when her children were toddlers. Armbruster considers Grand Rapids home.
•   NeoCon 2021 Off to a Strong, Strange Start - The biggest difference was on the seventh floor. The aisles are much wider and large swaths of the floor were blocked off or empty. Companies like Claridge, OM and Formaspace, which were anchors on the temporary floors are in permanent showrooms.
•   Designing for Wellbeing — Incorporate Neuro-architecture for External Beauty and Inner Peace - The best advice for a designer working on a project, whether residential or commercial, is to find out what personal things already exist in a client's life that really resonates with them.
•   Nook Wellness Pods provide Shelter, Comfort and Calm for Neocon Attendees - Grab a NOOK during the show to recharge, make a call, meet or just take a breath without missing any of the excitement of Neocon.
•   New Interiors Industry Benchmarking Data Available: ThinkLab Launches New 2021 U.S. Design Industry Benchmark Report - Overall, there's good news if you are an architect or designer — 82% of companies are planning to hire in 2022, so be sure to check out the section about top skills architects and designers will need to be successful in 2022 and beyond.
•   Digital Tools Open Opportunities for Innovation in the Custom Furniture Industry - The use of technology has given freedom to model and build very complex, detailed and unique designs.
•   Configura Announces Acquisition of ProjectMatrix - Together, Configura and ProjectMatrix will deliver a complete space planning solution for the entire sales and design process, from content creation to specification to installation.
•   Stephen Says - "Supply Chain Issues Creates Salesperson Burnout; Is It Time For A New Career?" - by Stephen Viscusi - I recently heard from a number of my clients that they are telling customers this problem has a minimum of six more months to go. That was a guess on their part. Realistically, some have told me off the record at NeoCon this week that this disturbance in the supply chain will be longer than six months, and maybe go through the middle of next year.
•   Upfront: Haworth Collection Adds Emeco Partnership - A new partnership between Emeco and Haworth will add Emeco products to the Haworth Collection in early 2022. This will be a curated product selection, including iconic designs like the Navy chair, Broom and Alfi. Emeco will continue to serve the market as an open line and collaborate with existing and new partnerships independently.
•   NeoCon Spotlight: QUORUM Multiconference Wins a Best of NeoCon Silver Award! - It is with great pleasure that Groupe Lacasse announced Monday the launch of the highly anticipated new version of the QUORUM MULTICONFERENCE collection.
•   PLACES - Flexera Offices – Warrington; Bluesky Design Interiors was tasked with creating the expansive Flexera offices with a neutral palette and pops of color for functional work in Warrington, England.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - CNY Group Promotes AnaTracey Hawkins to Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth, CP Group, Formerly Crocker Partners, Hires In-house Senior Designer, Ethosource Celebrates 20 Years, GMi's New Facility Allows for Efficiencies and Consolidation of Production Operations, Nemo Tile + Stone Unveils Southampton Showroom, CIDA Calls for Community Comment on Professional Standards 2020, KAI Named Recipient of AIA Dallas Firm Award
•   FIRST LOOKS - Leolux LX Introduces R18 Armchair, Artopex Introduces its Fall Releases, Kirei Launches Simple Baffle +, A Twist on Acoustic Ceiling Design, DARRAN Releases Honey Mobile and Accessories, KEM STUDIO's Noise-canceling Panel System, Tempo, Honored with Awards
•   NeoCon 2021 News - Camira and Luna Launch Combined Showroom at NeoCon, Hightower Welcomes NeoCon with Transformed Chicago Showroom
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - NeoCon Preview Special Edition | October 2, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: NeoCon 2021: Weird or Wonderful, I'm a Glass-Half-Full Kinda Guy - There has been a lot of negativity surrounding NeoCon 2021, which is not a surprise since we are gathering during an active pandemic. But I'm a glass-half-full kinda guy. I'm confident that NeoCon can and will be an amazing event for the industry, even though there is very little normal about this show. The naysayer says, "It is a strange time of year. We are used to the summer heat and occasional monsoon rainstorms in Chicago in June. Here we are in October with cool weather forecast for the show." Glass half full guy says, "At least we get to buy new fall fashions for the show!"
•   OE Electrics will launch ANIMATE at NeoCon 2021 - Furniture can never be truly mobile if it has to be continuously plugged in to receive power. OE's ANIMATE range combines a flexible and powerful battery system with OE's innovative range of modular, high-power USB charging solutions to power furniture without the cord.
•   LOGICDATA Announces Historic Move to "One- Stop-Shop" for Customized Adjustable Legs, Frames - A suite of height-adjustable legs and height-adjustable table frames are the new products it is introducing.
•   Meet Supreen: Nassimi's Newest Revolutionary Performance Fabric - Prioritizing material innovation, sustainability, cleanability and stain-resistant technology, Supreen marries cutting-edge woven and coated technology with a proprietary silicone blend to create a liquid-barrier textile.
•   HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls Now Available - 9to5 Seating is excited to announce the US arrival of the HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls — movement task seating solutions timed perfectly with the active seating movement.
•   Connectrac, a Brand of Legrand Introduces New Products - Connectrac products provide invisible, movable power connections throughout a space via a floor-based raceway system. Unlike core drills and power poles, Connectrac can go anywhere in a space.
•   HAT Collective Introduces the Elle Collection - Designed and manufactured in Denmark, the collection offers well-designed, price-accessible, commercial-grade workplace solutions with European flare, and it allows employers and workers to choose workspace solutions that best meet their needs.
•   SitOnIt Seating Introduces Cora and Much More - With expert insights from Certified Healthcare Interior Designers (CHID), SitOnIt's Cora was designed to withstand the high demands of modern spaces.
•   AIS Heads to NeoCon 2021 - "We've been on a mission to meaningfully broaden our product portfolio, giving our dealers more choices and options to best serve their customers around the country," said Nick Haritos, president of AIS.
•   LINAK U.S. Keeps You Moving No Matter Where You Work - The new designs at NeoCon will bridge the gap between the corporate office and those working from home and change how people work together for years to come.
•   OM5 Active Supports a Versatile and Creative Future - OM Seating wows with OM5 Active Nest, a nesting and stacking chair with a subtle, articulating chair top.
•   Lacasse PARADIGM Panel System by Lacasse - The Paradigm panel system by Lacasse conveys a sophisticated feel thanks to a combination of high performance materials and components.
•   Wolf-Gordon Announces New Collections and Collaborations - Wolf-Gordon's Laguna is the newest addition to its Origins collection of patterns inspired by artifacts housed in the Museum of New Mexico.
•   OM's New Tibidi Plays with all the Kids - A riff on TBD, Tibidi is an daptable problem solver with unexpected panache. It announces its presence with a stackability index of 45 chairs — more than the 40 that fit under a door, but a handy storage-saving superpower that can solve many facility manager's needs.
•   HAT Collective Introduces the M-Series Quad Workstation - Featuring an innovative design that enables it to take up less space than traditional work tables, the four-person workstation is ideal for small-group and collaborative work. Manually height-adjustable to each user's desired sit-or-stand preference, Quad supports ergonomics and gives workers individual control of their workspace.
•   NEOCON FIRST LOOKS - The latest products from: 3form, Allseating, Allsteel, Andreu World, Arcadia, Arc-Com, Brentano, Camira, Coalesse, Concertex, Davis, Designtex, Division Twelve, Encore, Falcon, Global, and many more!

Business of Furniture - September 29, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Issues with Raw Materials, Components, Logistics, Staffing are Strangling the Industry - Simply put, the office furniture industry is struggling to make furniture because of shortages in just about everything that goes into making it. First wood was in short supply, now steel and foam.
•   Davis Furniture's New North Carolina Headquarters a Turning Point for the Design-Focused Company - The modern building reflects Davis' modern furniture. That starts at the front of the building with its 12-foot high windows.
•   ThinkLab Trendspotters: Who You Need to Follow at NeoCon 2021 - For those on site, our Trendspotters will aid in digesting what they've seen and identify as must-sees. For those not on site, we'll bring you the "hallway conversations" and help you discover the products, brands and trends you shouldn't miss.
•   Ideas for the New Steelcase CEO - Advocating for a strong Steelcase does not necessarily reflect a bias, nor does it represent any desire that other manufacturers in the industry shouldn't also be wildly successful in the years to come.
•   Nook Wellness Pods provide Shelter, Comfort and Calm for Neocon Attendees - Grab a NOOK during the show to recharge, make a call, meet or just take a breath without missing any of the excitement of Neocon.
•   Organizers Going 'All Out' for NeoCon Next Week - Walking the showroom floors a few weeks prior to the show, it almost felt like a typical year for NeoCon preparation at theMART.
•   New Design Center Opens in Chicago to Assist Specifiers with a Holistic Approach - The Chicago ARC held a grand opening Sept. 16, which was attended by more than 100 visitors. The showroom at 404 North May St. is open by appointment and during its Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour open house events on Oct. 21 and Nov. 18.
•   Steelcase Rides Out Tough Quarter, Sees Promise in Incoming Orders - "The extraordinary inflation in steel, logistics and many other commodities impacted our gross margins more significantly than we expected in the second quarter, and we now project inflation will have a more significant impact on our results over the remainder of this fiscal year than we had previously expected," said Dave Sylvester, senior vice president and CFO.
•   Herman Miller Exclusive Manufacturer of the National Museum of Norway's Competition Chair Design Winner 'Portrait' - The origins of the Portrait Chair began four years ago, as part of an open competition sponsored by Statsbygg (the National Property Board), and co-organized with the National Museum of Norway.
•   Stephen Says - "Heads are Rolling! What Should I Do?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Do not let the static and gossip of the marketplace guide you to your next job. Take a deep breath and get back to work! Then on weekends update your resume and have some faith this will work.
•   Upfront: OM Seating Writes its Next Chapter - Coinciding with its 35th anniversary, OM Seating has inked a lease for a permanent showroom at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The 3,300-square-foot space was designed by Principal Jane Kobayashi and Senior Associate Maggie van Oppen of 5D.2D Studio, with whom OM has had a 12-year relationship.
•   NeoCon Spotlight: Is the Office Pergola the New Cubicle? The Future of Work is at NeoCon 2021 - "For more than 50 years, NeoCon has helped launch product solutions that meet, and even anticipate, needs and trends in the workplace and other shared spaces," said Byron Morton, vice president of NeoCon.
•   PLACES - Covestro Headquarters – Leverkusen; Arriving at the atrium, both the atmosphere and the interior composition project innovation.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Nemo Tile + Stone Hires Frank Kimmerling as Chief Financial Officer, Scott Nichols Joins COE Distributing Executive Team as Vice President of Sales, JSI Announces New Partnerships in Two Markets, KI is Excited to be Back Together at NeoCon 2021, 3form and LightArt to Introduce Align Sustainability Initiative and Recycled Products at NeoCon 2021, NARBUTAS Opens a New Chicago Showroom During Neocon 2021, HBF Celebrates Four Decades of Design Milestones and Presents a Compelling Vision for a New Workplace Design Language at NeoCon 2021
•   FIRST LOOKS - Shev Chair Introduces The Verona Series
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 22, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Where Do I Hang My Coat at NeoCon? And Why Did Humanscale Decide to 'Pass' on an Event it was Never Going to be a Part of? - For the first time, NeoCon will be held in the fall. As a Midwesterner, I would love to tell you how you should dress for a fall event in Chicago. But that's nearly impossible as the weather in early October could literally be 80 degrees and sunny or 40 degrees with cold rain.
•   Understanding a Behavior-based Approach to Workplace Design — Emotions are Playing a Bigger Role - It's about getting away from the idea that if an office is designed for the masses, it will work for everybody, that it's the best that can be done.
•   Design Trade Shows in the New Normal: Vibrant, Curated, Purposeful: Reactions from an Industry Getting Back Together in Celebration of Product - There really is nothing like being able to experience a product in person, and while technology is phenomenal and at times underused in augmenting those experiences, memories are tied to our senses.
•   OM Looks Forward with New Collections - OM's story and those of its customers will be on full display at NeoCon, where books and words will play a central theme in the showroom's design.
•   Reviving Work at the Office: In-person Connections Combat Burnout and Spark Collaboration - It's very difficult to create social capital in remote settings. The ability to collaborate in-person, to build meaningful work relationships through informal interactions contributes to a thriving work environment.
•   supersalone: A Bet Won Thanks to Courage, Vision and Cohesion - The presence of many government and institutional figures was also testament to the importance of the Salone del Mobile.Milano as a financial driver of Italy.
•   Mannington Commercial Completes Purchase of AtlasMasland Assets - Mannington Commercial will continue to offer a wide array of the products from AtlasMasland. While some products will not be carried over, a large portion will be.
•   Virco Reports 5.8% Increase in Net Income for Second Quarter and Record Backlog - Net sales were $59.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022, a slight decline from $59.5 million for same period of the prior fiscal year.
•   Environments' Elevated APP Unlocks Healthy, Intuitive Spaces Through IoT - The app is driven by proprietary software that leverages Environments' nearly five-decade design and lighting solutions expertise, smart systems knowledge and IoT product capabilities.
•   Stephen Says - "Yes! I Am Going To NeoCon! Stop Asking!" - by Stephen Viscusi - Yes of course I am going: I wish people would stop asking me! I would not miss it for the world, and I hope everyone goes. I think NeoCon, transcends theMART show alone, and yes, I get it, It is not NeoCon per se, but lots of people will be in the West Loop at Fulton Market.
•   Upfront: New Representation - DAN BINFORD & ASSOCIATES Joins Groupe Lacasse U.S. Sales Team - As part of its strategic initiative to continue to grow its share of business in a hyper-competitive marketplace, Groupe Lacasse has appointed a new independent, multi-state Rep organization responsible for the sale of commercial and healthcare products in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.
•   NeoCon Spotlight: 2020 to Set Up In-Person and Virtual Booths at NeoCon 2021 - Visitors can meet the team in person, discover what's new with their products and leave with 2020 goodie bags. They will also be hosting a special VIP customer event at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 4 on the second floor of the Merchandise Mart at Marshall's Landing.
•   Fresh New Energy from 9to5 Seating - 9to5 Seating's new showroom was created by acclaimed Chicago design firm Kuchar Design Studio with the goal of creating a clean, gallery feel that can be embellished and modified over time. With curved platforms and rugs in natural shapes, the space aims to be both modern and inviting, in synch with the brand's seating.
•   HAT Collective Offering "Happiness at Work" Continuing Education Unit Course at NeoCon 2021 - With the modern workplace continuing to evolve in complexity, the course offers a timely perspective on the essential role designers play in creating happy work environments. Participants will learn, among other topics, the science and psychology of happy workplaces and how product choice and control contributes to worker happiness.
•   PLACES - Premico Offices – Helsinki; Mint & More Creative designed Premico Group's new office located in the heart of Helsinki.
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - //3877, NELSON, One Workplace New Hires, INDEAL Cares Survey, ISG Rebate, OM Seating Level 2, OFL Overcomes Challenges, Tangram Donates, J.D. Ewing Lauded, Hightower Showroom
•   FIRST LOOKS - New Creative Designs from Carl Hansen & Son, Morbern New Vinyl, Lighting from Landscape Forms, Blå Station Plybord, Allora from Cortina Leathers
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Midpoint Magazine - Mid-September, 2021

•   JIM HEILBORN | THE SEVEN LEARNING STYLES AND SELLING - Too many companies don't invest enough time and money on proper orientation and training. They want instant success but aren't willing to pay for it.
•   KAY SARGENT | SOLUTIONS FOR THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA - The past 18 months have been a helluva ride, but it's not over yet. The silver lining of the past year may be that it's given us an opportunity to think beyond the challenges at hand and take a much more holistic look at how, when and where people work.
•   STEFANIE INCE | THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH - Leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to fundamentally change the way their employees live and work — and the overall quality of their lives.
•   ROB KIRKBRIDE | BACK TO (THE MOST FUN) SCHOOL WITH INDEAL U - Things are changing so much in the industry right now, INDEAL U is needed more than ever by those hoping to keep up.
•   EUGENE COLBERG | WORKPLACES BEND, NOT BREAK IN POST-COVID ERA - The coronavirus pandemic has been a shock to the system in many negative ways, however, it's great to see a completely unexpected evolution of the workplace come out of it that will ensure safety and productivity for years to come.
•   WHERE I'M WORKING — BREWDOG DOGHOUSE HOTEL - The DogHouse Hotel is a surprisingly good place to work, especially if you're traveling while COVID-19 is still spreading, since there is a huge outdoor seating area.
•   GOODMANS STRIVES TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE TO 'RETURN OUR EMPLOYEES BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES...IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN WE GOT THEM IN THE MORNING' - "What we've doubled down, tripled down on and continue to believe is that our purpose, the reason we exist, is to create a great employee experience for people."
•   INDEAL OPENS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE REGISTRATION TO ITS DEALER MEMBERS - "Our goal is to provide critical knowledge that helps members move beyond many of the challenges they've been facing, so they can confidently look towards a more promising future," said Dave Bloch, INDEAL CEO.
•   MARK BAKER NAMED CEO AT SANTA CLARA-BASED ONE WORKPLACE - Baker is a former executive at Steelcase who has led One Workplace through growth of technology and construction divisions, the initiation of workplace culture consulting and the company's expansion into other markets, including Sacramento and Salinas, California, and Seattle, Washington.
•   INDEAL CARES SURVEY SHOWS PANDEMIC TAKES TOLL ON MENTAL HEALTH; BACK PAIN STILL A PROBLEM - The survey, launched in June 2021, aimed to understand both the self-reported well-being of individuals working in a variety of roles within the industry, employee intentions and wishes for returning to the workplace safely in a post-COVID world.
•   BOS TAKES TRAINING TO NEW LEVEL WITH WORKSPACE DIGITAL; HELPS CREATE CONTENT FOR INDEAL U - BOS and its Workspace Digital division proved it can create digital content to get people up to speed quickly. Now it is doing the same for INDEAL U.
•   WHAT WE EXPECT FROM NEOCON: VIEWS FROM A VETERAN AND A FIRST-TIMER - Both Pat Gosselin and Kalie Soris come from Interiors for Business, a Steelcase-aligned dealer in the Chicago area, but they are about as far apart on the NeoCon spectrum as two people can get. Gosselin, president of the company, is ready for his 30th NeoCon and Soris, its young marketing coordinator, is preparing to attend her first. Here's what they had to say about the show.
•   AIS EXPANDS DESIGN DEPARTMENT TO HELP DEALERS - Over the past few months, the department has hired two new designers with a combined 25-plus years of experience. They bring a broad-based skillset with a focus on designing corporate and educational interiors.
•   SURVEY: AS WORKPLACES REOPEN, 42% OF WORKERS FEAR GETTING COVID - Survey respondents rank a flexible work location as the most desired aspect of a new job, prioritizing it slightly over better pay and career advancement, the two traditional drivers of job changes.
•   REVIEWS | ORIGINAL PRUSA MINI+ 3D PRINTER - You would be hard pressed to find a more powerful little printer for less than $500.
•   REVIEWS | COTOPAXI ALLPA 35 L TRAVEL PACK - We found the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 L nearly perfect for every business travel situation. The pack meets carry-on size restrictions for most airlines, so it is a great size for air travel.

Business of Furniture - September 15, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Study Shows Rude Employees, Like Bad Apples, Spoil the Bunch - Although 70% of employees experienced rudeness at work, only 16 percent of workplace relationships were characterized by rude behavior.
•   'After the Long Hard Winter of the Epidemic, There's Finally a Ray of Hope for the Future': Supersalone Proves Why Milan Remains Center of Design - The design of the show was the brainchild of the Supersalone curator, Stefano Boeri and an international group of co-planners — Andrea Caputo, Maria Cristina Didero, Anniina Koivu, Lukas Wegwerth, Marco Ferrari and Elisa Pasqual of Studio Folder and Giorgio Donà, co-founder and director of Stefano Boeri Interiors.
•   Watson Furniture: Passionate about Furniture, its Employees and the Environment - Watson is an insource manufacturer. More than 90% of the product is produced in house. The only exception being hardware items, such as drawer pulls and slide rails.
•   An Easy Escape — IDYLL Collective Makes Transforming a Space Simple and Inspiring - Art can change the ambiance in a corporate office.
•   A Look Ahead: Learning from the Past to Anticipate the Future - The office furniture industry, as anyone who has experienced it knows, has an uncanny potential to become embedded in one's bone marrow.
•   Your Processes Will Get You Out of the Daily Grind - This whole area of process definition, implementation and tracking is probably one of the biggest weaknesses I've seen in the dealership business.
•   Inscape Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results - Total sales revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $7.9 million, compared to $11.4 million for the same period of fiscal 2021.
•   Stephen Says - "Email Slander Is Forever Slander" - by Stephen Viscusi - Just because you no longer work somewhere, it doesn't mean that they wave a magic wand and make all that correspondence disappear.
•   Training & Development - "How Block Timing Can Help You Get More Done" - by Sid Meadows - It's no surprise time management is a hot topic right now. Most of us feel we don't have enough hours in the day to get everything done, and it seems like there will never be enough hours to complete our daily to-do's again.
•   Upfront: Exemplis Acquires Future Seating, Parent Company to X-Chair, Mavix Gaming and Healthy Back - Both Future Seating and SitOnIt Seating will continue to operate independently. All products will continue to be ordered from, fulfilled by and serviced by their respective sales teams, factories and customer service teams. It will be business as usual for both companies.
•   Product Spotlight: Tarkett Introduces Corollary and Spin-Off in Collaboration with Designer Jhane Barnes - Following her signature process of translating mathematical formulas into striking patterns, Barnes used the geometric concept of space-filling fractals to create her latest carpet styles: Corollary and Spin-Off.
•   PLACES - Parimatch Tech Offices – Kyiv
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - New Careers at BIFMA, Humanscale, KAI, IIDA NY Chapter, U.S. Green Building Council / COE Distributing Honored / Tarkett Online Tool / U.S. GBC LEED Fellows
•   FIRST LOOKS - Mohawk Introduces the Rheo Morph Collection
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 8, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Recent Events Prove They can be Held Safely and Effectively - Following the success of the Hospitality Design show in Las Vegas recently and the success of Salone, it is clear that NeoCon can happen this year as long as we tolerate a few minor inconveniences.
•   Supersalone Off to Strong Start in Milan - Exhibitors are happy to be back in front of potential customers as well. Edoardo Carisi with Italian furniture maker Slide said he was surprised to see as many attendees during the first two days of the event.
•   The Future of Design: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond - The problems our professions solve aren't going away, but the technology is transforming the way in which we solve those problems.
•   Humanscale's Liberty Ocean Chair Joins Smart Ocean as the First Task Chairs Made from Recycled Fishing Nets - The Liberty Ocean chair joins 25 other Humanscale pieces, about 60% of sales, recognized by the International Living Future Institute's Living Product Challenge (LPC) as certified climate, water and energy positive.
•   Evolving Enhancements. Marketplace Mediocrity. Incremental Changes Prove Underwhelming - The early focus of workplace ergonomics was on properly aligning the typing posture and providing healthful seating support for office workers. There was no shortage of seating introductions during this period, each reflecting some progress and improvement in either design or materials or their convergence to create optimal seated health and comfort.
•   Logan Gatherum Joins INDEAL Cares - INDEAL Cares is focused on empowering our networks to create a sustainable, healthy workplace environment for employees within the commercial furniture industry.
•   Gensler Research Shows Office is not Going Anywhere - Employees at top-performing companies also prioritize in-person work over virtual work, in particular for giving and receiving feedback.
•   Stump & Company Outlines Opportunities at Recent Vegas Markets - 2021 will be a record M&A year globally and at Stump.
•   Carrying on Tradition with a 21st Century Vision - Paula Kopischkie and Michael Isaac have purchased Jack Smith & Associates following Greg Smith's retirement.
•   Not a Manager? 4 Ways to Apply Emotional Intelligence at Work - Whether you work in a virtual or IRL or hybrid arrangement, emotional and social intelligence can help us in being a good colleague.
•   Stephen Says - "Seeing Through Glassdoors" - by Stephen Viscusi - All of us know about the major furniture manufacturers that are so proud when they make that famous Fortune Magazine's "Best Companies to Work For" list. Many of those same companies have some pretty mixed Glassdoor reviews.
•   Upfront: INDEAL Opens Leadership Conference Registration To Its Dealer Members - Themed, "The Future Is Bright," the conference is scheduled to take place at San Diego's Pendry Hotel, Dec. 5–8, and will feature three sessions: The Future of the Workplace, The Future of the Worker and The Future of Work.
•   Product Spotlight: Wolf-Gordon Collaborates with Museum of New Mexico For Origins Collection Update New Pattern Inspired by Traditional Weaving - Laguna explores the allure of New Mexico's dramatic, weathered landscape. Its large-scale striations and natural hues are reminiscent of Southwestern rock formations, but also pay homage to the region's rich craft heritage.
•   PLACES - Cloud Spaces Coworking Offices – Abu Dhabi
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - New Careers at S.P. Richards, Samuelson, Landscape Forms, Jasper Group, CallisonRTKL / New Threekit Features / Spellman Brady Certification / SPR Golf Tournament
•   FIRST LOOKS - New Lighting from Lodes / Serge Ferrari Outdoor Upholstery / Arc-Com Wallcoverings / Designtex Textiles
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - September 1, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Where's Workplaces? And an Update on Our NeoCon Coverage (Including Where to Send Your Product Press Releases to Make it into Our NeoCon New Product Guide) - I'm going to write about the general tone of the show and the larger trends we see. Every year, folks reach out asking to set up appointments to visit their showrooms.
•   CBRE, Sterling Bay Makes Major Push to Attract Furniture Showrooms to New Fulton Market Buildings; Fulton Market Design Days - Fulton Market has become one of the premiere neighborhoods in Chicago in recent years, led by Sterling Bay and its developments.
•   Herman Miller Increases Use of Ocean-bound Plastic with Aeron Chair - Ocean-bound plastic is plastic material that has not yet found its way into the ocean and is classified as "mismanaged waste." That is, plastic that is not being collected, is unlikely to be collected and found within 31 miles of a coastline.
•   What You Need to Know to Prepare for Neocon 2021 - Safety is top priority and event organizers know it's their responsibility to make people feel safe and comfortable.
•   Fil Doux Textiles Breaks into Outdoor Market, but Sustainability is the Real Story - All of Fil Doux Textiles' products, including its new outdoor line, are produced using sustainable practices. Its mills are fully operable on solar and wind power and dye waters for fabrics are reclaimed and reused.
•   Innovation Strikes Again: Big Thinking Finds a Smaller Audience - The leading thinkers in the office furniture industry recognized the workplaces they were furnishing were largely filled with and propelled by these knowledge workers and paying close attention to knowledge worker needs, behaviors, attitudes and preferences would be a key to their future success.
•   More Putting a Greater Organizational Focus on Employee Experience - 72% of those surveyed are planning to implement end-to-end employee experience solutions in the next 24 months or are evaluating them.
•   Rising Costs, Turnover and Greater Emphasis on DEI Force Dealers to Rethink their Approach to Compensation - As the industry continues to shift, Solomon Coyle continues to evolve the Compensation Survey.
•   Stephen Says - "Eat, Pray, Love is Fine. Eat, Crunch and Work is Awful" - by Stephen Viscusi - Chewing on carrots, or eating anything, will always diminish your interactions over the phone and then your reputation. When you're speaking to a professional colleague, and especially a client, not being in the same room gives you no excuse to be unprofessional.
•   Training & Development - "Relationship Selling: Developing New Business and Engaging Prospects" - by Sid Meadows - Most industries, including ours, are relationship based — but if you're a relationship-driven salesperson, you understand the challenges that exist in building new relationships, especially over the past 15-plus months. You also know how important relationships are for your success.
•   Upfront: 9to5 Seating Products Re-Certified BIFMA LEVEL 1 - This latest BIFMA assessment once again confirms 9to5 Seating's commitment to transparency and sustainability in manufacturing its products.
•   Product Spotlight: Graypants Introduces Dash; Beautiful, High-Performance Lighting for Brighter Workplaces - Dash represents the studio's first entry into technical lighting, with a striking fixture that extends Graypants' signature Scraplight series into a modern and minimalist high-performance piece. The new fixture was created using environmentally low-impact manufacturing processes — handmade in the Seattle studio and limiting material waste — and assembled with zero-VOC adhesive.
•   PLACES - Unity Offices – Seoul
•   INDUSTRY PULSE - Loll Welcomes Plumstead / SPR Awards / IIDA Winners / HD Expo Awards / COE Distributing / NeoCon Jury
•   FIRST LOOKS - narbutas' Acoustic Artwork / Patcraft Reverse / Brentano Wallcoverings
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - August 25, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Celebrating the Industry in Life and Death - A couple of industry friends left us recently, and their lives should be celebrated. We ran an obituary last week for Alan Heller, one of the true characters in the office furniture industry. The industry also lost Jorge Lagueruela, the president and founder of Trinity Furniture.
•   SPR: Not just Wholesale, the Whole Package - The largest category SPR serves is office products, but the two fastest growing are its jan-san (janitorial and sanitation) and furniture. Furniture, however, is the company's fastest growing category. SPR has invested heavily in furniture with its Lorell brand leading the way.
•   What Can Nap Pods and Bicycles Teach Us about the Future Showroom Experience? - Think about the "compelling why" a customer would want to come to your showroom in the first place. Showrooms should move from an internal push — 'Come and see our new product!' — to an external pull — what actually draws a client in?
•   Material Bank Acquires Global Design Procurement Platform Clippings - Material Bank, an innovator in the design sector, expands its presence into the European market with this strategic acquisition.
•   Survey Finds Hybrid Work Will Vary By City, Company Size And Job Type Post-Pandemic - When it comes to hybrid work, there's a disconnect between what managers prefer and what employees expect.
•   Explosive Growth. Co-Opted Innovation. The Economics of Square Footage Prevailed. - Systems furniture enabled manufacturers' salespeople, office furniture dealers and facilities professionals to convince corporate customers that density of cubicles — workstations as they were more positively referenced — was an advantageous use of office space.
•   Spacestor Hits Market with Verandas — Massive Design Choice, Flexibility, and Sustainability in a Pod - Verandas features a patented acoustic seal and a user-adjustable patent-pending ventilation system. The pods are tech ready, which includes a network to bring in third-party devices. Any kind of electrical need can be placed anywhere in the pod.
•   AIS Named by Boston Business Journal as One of the Most Charitable Companies in Massachusetts - AIS's stewardship extended throughout Massachusetts and beyond, with the company giving back more than $3.5 million in cash, in-kind and service contributions locally and across the country.
•   Stephen Says - "A Better Option to Outside Sales?" - by Stephen Viscusi - Before I tell you some of my favorite places to work, I want to remind you that in inside sales (retail or trade), you're definitely inside, meaning, working in close proximity to your co-workers, your boss, the assistants, everyone.
•   Training & Development - "Why having a Mentor is Essential to your Career" - by Sid Meadows - The benefits of having a mentor are tremendous and ongoing, because they provide advice, connections and support when you need it the most. Mentors help with career planning, teach you how to network effectively or negotiate work conditions and provide timely emotional support when business (and life, in general) gets difficult.
•   Upfront: Jorge Antonio Lagueruela, President and Founder of Trinity Furniture October 6, 1956 ~ August 11, 2021 - In 1984 he co-founded Trinity Furniture, where he has been the president for 37 years.
•   Product Spotlight: DeskMakers Puts a New Twist on Casegoods with Ribbon - Inspired by the simplicity of a ribbon, the collection features a light appearance that maximizes the smaller footprints in today's office environments.
•   PLACES - Bolloré Logistics Offices – Singapore
•   FIRST LOOKS - ErgoCentric, Arcadia, H Contract, nanimarquina
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News Brief, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, The Stream, Industry Pulse, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - August 18, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Empire State of Mind - New York is an extremely important market for the office furniture industry for a variety of reasons. Because of its size and the huge number of important corporate headquarters there, a lot of office furniture is sold in the Big Apple. It is home to some of the world's largest dealers and design firms. Many furniture designers call New York home as well.
•   Aiming to Revolutionize the Dealer Experience, SKG Broadens its Breadth Through Technology - SKG's geographical reach is coast-to-coast now, and it solves one-desk orders for home offices all the way up to helping universities receive back entire student bodies.
•   ROOM Counts on Flexibility of its Products to Continue to Drive Growth in Phone Booth Segment - Need a ZOOM room? ROOM can help create it. Need a small meeting space for up to four people? You can create it with ROOM.
•   Legrand | AV Brings Connected Spaces and Exceptional AV Experiences to CEDIA Expo 2021 - "We couldn't be more excited for the return of live events and are pulling out all the stops to mark the occasion," said Megan Knedler, director of marketing at Legrand | AV.
•   Herman Miller Opens Experiential Retail Concept in Boston - Miller expands to Massachusetts, introducing a new way for Bostonians to experience performance seating and home office solutions.
•   Nanimarquina Launches Contract Division and the FORMULA CONTRACT Collection - On the heels of its 35th anniversary, nanimarquina launched the Contract Division with the company's high-quality and locally sourced rugs to address the needs of the market with an enhanced focus on sustainability, durability and cleanability.
•   Stephen Says - "The Employee's Market: Now is the Best Time to Get a Raise" - by Stephen Viscusi - It's an employee's market, whether you're at a dealer or a manufacturer. Ask for a minimum of 10% increase in your base but tell your employer that if you left you probably could get 20%.
•   Upfront: Alan Jay Heller (1940 - 2021) - Alan founded Heller 50 years ago and all his life remained true to his vision of "Good design at affordable prices." With his rare combination of creativity and business acumen, he worked with some of the world's leading designers, including Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Vico Magistretti, Frank Gehry, and Philippe Starck, to make great design accessible through industrial production and technology.
•   Exclaim Your Pointe: Introducing Pointe Mobile Glassboard Partition from Ghent - Pointe Mobile Glassboard Partition marries both collaboration and space division in a simple rolling partition. Featuring a powder-coated frame in a variety of colors, a curated palette of paint colors and introducing a variety of patterned glass, Pointe will fit into any space. With a glass writing surface and integrated connection system, the glassboard works equally on its own as a communication tool or as a divider by connecting multiple units together.
•   PLACES - Taylor Wessing Offices – Liverpool
•   FIRST LOOKS - Wolf-Gordon, Tarkett, Andreu World, Spacestor
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News Brief, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, The Stream, Industry Pulse, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Business of Furniture - August 11, 2021

•   KIRKBRIDE: Make Vaccines a Requirement to Attend NeoCon - If you still don't feel safe going to an event like NeoCon, by all means, you should stay home. But I urge organizers to keep the events on schedule and not buckle to the pressure of those who would have us lock down once again. Simply put, another lockdown would be a disaster. It would crush our industry and many others.
•   Prata: How Carl Magnusson Strived to Design the Perfect Conference Room Chair for Allseating - As an aficionado of vintage luxury cars, Magnusson integrated many automobile-inspired features into Prata's design. Its polished aluminum seat frame houses the aluminum side levers for adjustment.
•   Creating Digital Equity in a Hybrid Workforce - While studies show it is best for the employer and employee if some sense of structure and guidelines are in place, clarity on the reasoning behind those policies is also critical.
•   Kimball International Posts Solid Year; Outlook Positive - Revenues and orders increased progressively throughout the fourth quarter, reflecting positive momentum that has continued into July.
•   An Industry Built on Agility: Major Players. Major Impact. - Nearly all the larger corporations significantly changed their product focus as they perceived market opportunities and the innovation potential each of their companies brought to the industry.
•   How Will We Design Anew? NeoCon Announces 2021 Programming - Keynotes and special programming will be presented onsite at NeoCon and also be available for viewing via livestream. Onsite attendance will have limited capacity, and programming registration is required. Live Streams will be available to all NeoCon registrants via NeoCon's new online platform, the NeoCon Hub (and do not require separate registration).
•   Steven Bramson Named President of Innovative Ergonomic Solutions - Bramson will be responsible for growing IES's global footprint and overseeing the sales, product development and customer service functions across IES's constellation of brands, which include HAT Collective, Innovative Design Works, CompuCaddy and ErgoTech.
•   Stephen Says - "Dealers a Necessary Evil? I Think Not" - by Stephen Viscusi - Get it right. Furniture dealers play an important role that all manufacturers need and should respect. They sell and service your product in a way you never could.
•   Upfront: INDEAL University Provides Ongoing Industry Learning Through Reinvented Platform - The latest additions to the platform include an original collection of Fast Facts videos that address subjects ranging from industry basics, to sales strategies, to sustainability, and a new Perspectives series of candid interviews with people across the industry, sharing their unique viewpoints and experience.
•   Product Spotlight: Magnuson Group Introduces SOLNA Family of Sanitization and PPE Stations - Magnuson Group has expanded its high design ancillary product line with SOLNA, a sophisticated family of sanitization and PPE stations compatible with VALUTA and SOTARE waste and recycling receptacles. Designed for a new normal prioritizing hygiene and cleanliness, SOLNA is an all-in-one solution for office entry points, health care waiting rooms, higher education spaces and other communal areas.
•   PLACES - Lantmannen Unibake Offices – Copenhagen
•   FIRST LOOKS - Trinity, Nevins, Springboard
•   So Much More Every Week - Regional Industry News Brief, Industry Moments, Industry Portfolio, Hutch, Industry Events, The Stream, Industry Pulse, Industry Classifieds & Careers

Workplaces Magazine - August 2021

•   WHERE I'M WORKING: EVERYWHERE - I love driving. I love exploring. I love wilderness scenery. I love road trips. I also love photography and have been photographing landscapes across the United States for the past 20 years. It's my passion and my side hustle. But I also love my job here at Bellow Press, so I had to figure out a way to do both.
•   7 IN 10 WORKERS STILL IMPROVISING AT-HOME WORKSPACE, 16 MONTHS LATER - Two out of three workers we surveyed (64%) say their body is less supported at home than it was at their office before the pandemic, 78% say they would use a more supportive chair if their employer paid for it, and 50% of remote workers say the physical pain of working at home is enough to make them long for a return to the office.
•   HOW TO TAKE AN EFFECTIVE TECH BREAK - Boundaries with technology undoubtedly benefit our emotional and mental health. We owe it to ourselves to discover more ways to foster supportive habits. While technology is a hassle free way to connect, it will eventually wear down on your health. We hope you try to implement at least one of these TECHniques to feel more in control of your screen time and benefit emotion-ally and mentally along the way.
•   IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT NEURODIVERSITY AND DESIGN - No formal definition of neurodiversity exists, with vigorous conversations debating exactly who fits the label. Broadly speaking, developmental disorders and learning disabilities fall under the term neurodiversity. If there's no standard way to design for neurodiversity, what is the practical takeaway for designers? Offer choice. Monolithic interiors that assume everyone works or behaves in the same manner are a kind of psychological cubicle.
•   STUDY: YOUNG WORKERS NOW VALUE RESPECT OVER FUN PERKS IN THE WORKPLACE - Margaret Duffy, executive director of the Novak Leadership Institute believes employers risk losing younger employees if they don't make an effort to use respectful communication in the workplace. While previous studies have reported leaders and managers spend 70-90% of their time communicating, LaGree believes this study shows more emphasis needs to be placed on training leaders and managers on how to be effective communicators and convey respectful communication with their employees.
•   ROBIN HOOD MEETS THE OFFICE: HOW CORPORATE MANAGERS TRY TO FIX WORKPLACE INJUSTICES BY GIVING EMPLOYEES SECRET PERKS - Managers with an especially strong moral code can consider it their duty to right the wrongs they see, and to compensate victims in hidden ways — out of view of the top brass. Middle managers are in an especially tricky position because they can't punish the transgressor — their boss — but they want to keep the workers beneath them feel they are treated fairly.
•   TWICE AS NICE: SVIGALS + PARTNERS COMPLETES DUAL WORKPLACES FOR LEADING ED-TECH PROVIDER TECHNOLUTIONS - "Bringing this unique vision to life — not in one office, but in two simultaneously — was an exciting challenge," said Katherine Berger, Svigals + Partners' associate and director of interior design.
•   CONEXUS STUDIO DESIGNS NU SKIN SOUTHEAST ASIA'S FUTURE FORWARD OFFICE - Designed with employee feedback on their working needs and preferences, the design supports the diverse ways Nu Skin employees like to work. The wide variety of work settings include a lifestyle café, hospitality-inspired lounge settings, private pods, phone booths and height-adjustable desks. To ensure a balance of vibrancy and privacy in the open layout, a progressive zoning approach was adopted, with social and focus work areas delineated with different materials.
•   REVIEWS: BESTEK 300W POWER INVERTER - Before home offices became all the rage, the first "mobile" offices were our cars. In fact, our cars remain a part of our mobile offices. Whether traveling for business or vacation, a lot of us rely on our cars to get some work done.
•   REVIEWS: APPLE WATCH SERIES 6 - I could use the watch to quickly check text messages and Snapchats. But beyond that, it is hard to see the point of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a watch that isn't particularly attractive on the wrist. Our phones are a pocket away (and they tell time, too). Why add another digital product to your wrist?

Business of Furniture - August 4, 2021