Hamilton Wrenn Elects New Officers

The Board of Directors of the Hamilton Wrenn Design District in High Point has elected new officers. Bill Cain, President of Chelsea House, has been elected President of Hamilton Wrenn, and Lisa Shankle, Leasing & Property Manager for Hamilton Properties, will serve as Vice President. Cain will take over as President for Rod Lambeth.

In October, the members of the association will vote to elect new Board members including: 

• Larry Platt of The Platt Collections.
• Charlie Coffey of The Sherrill Companies.
• Katherine Respess of Baker.
• Alan Barrows of Lorna Dewey of London.
• Kim Slater of Hekman.

When elected in October, the new Board members will join:

• Rod Lambeth of Tomlinson, Erwin Lambeth & Directional.
• Ann Pickering of 200 Steele.
• Anna Swing of Yorkshire House.
• Gail Slate of Ardley Hall.
• Sumner Finch of TRS Furniture. 

Beth Penley of Harden and Rebecca Atwell of Atwell Welch leave the Board in October when their terms expire.

7W New York Offers Online Market Planning Tool

7W New York has announced its new online market planning tool, called Plan 7W, to help buyers organize their buying schedules and build a custom walking map. Through Plan 7W, built by Whereoware, buyers can:

• Search showrooms, exhibitors and lines throughout the building.

• Browse and organize their favorite resources by category, location or company name.
• Take advantage of special offers, discounts and incentives exclusively for 7W buyers.
• Save a personal list of companies to visit while at 7W.
• Print a custom showroom list, including a walking map and floor plans.

To access Plan 7W, visit www.7wnewyork.com.

Merchandise Mart Properties Announces Changes In Chicago And D.C.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. has announced several additions, relocations and events for Chicago’s Merchandise Mart and The Washington Design Center. In Washington D.C., MMPI has announced that Donghia is expanding its showroom, suite #503, in The Washington Design Center. Donghia’s enlarged area will encompass more than 10,000-square-feet, and include new lines and products such as Bergamo Fabrics and Nobilis.

This October, the first Frank Lloyd Wright showroom will open Chicago’s Merchandise Mart Design Center. The showroom, named Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture by Copeland Furniture, will be located on the 16^th Floor and will carry Copeland’s exclusive licensed furniture based on the architect’s own designs. Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture by Copeland Furniture will include exact reproductions of Wright’s Prairie Style designs and Copeland Furniture’s Wright-inspired designs.

The new Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture by Copeland Furniture showroom is located on the 16^th Floor of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

Meanwhile, Woodard, an outdoor furniture manufacturer, has returned to the Mart’s expanding casual industry. The company’s new showroom will occupy 11,000-square feet in showroom #1534 on the 15^th Floor. Woodard’s Chicago showroom will open in time for the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, September 15-18, as well as to the design trade Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Design Resources Center, on the ground floor of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, will receive a new look and location in time for the LuxeHome Open House on Saturday, October 4. The Design Resource Center, home to more than 6,000-square-feet of luxury kitchen, bath and building products, is located in suite #163 and includes vignettes featuring hundreds of specialty and custom products from Aquaworks, Chicago Tile Institute, Closet Works, Contemporary Bath Design, Katonah, Architectural Hardware by LeFroy Brooks and ShowHouse by Moen.

The space will also include a dedicated luxury lounge area, Wi-Fi access for client convenience, dedicated computer stations to access LuxeHome boutiques, products and the Merchandise Mart, LuxeHome concierge and courtesy espresso bar.

MMPI has also announced the third installation of The Artist Project, December 4-7 at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, and released the names of the exhibitor selection committee. The show features original work from artists working in 2D, mixed media, photography and sculpture, and is complemented with special programming including VIP events, entertainment, special installations, and educational programming.           

The selection committee members are:

• Matthew Higgs, Director, White Columns, New York.
• Jeanne Long, Director of Special Exhibitions, School of the Art Institute, Chicago.
• Paul Morris, Founder, The Armory Show, New York.
• Howard Tullman, Collector, Chicago.
• Tricia Van Eck, Curatorial Coordinator and Curator of Artist’s Books, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.
• Jeff Zimmerman, Artist, Chicago.

The online artist application is available at www.theartistproject.com. For more information about exhibiting, e-mail Kathleen Hogan at khogan@mmart.com or call 312.527.7642.

New Dates, Location Announced For Gourmet Housewares Show

The Gourmet Housewares Show has announced both location and date changes, beginning with the 2009 edition. After a four-year stay in Las Vegas and Orlando, The Gourmet Housewares Show will return to San Francisco, August 8-10, 2009, at the Moscone Center. The Fall 2009 edition is expected to attract buyers and industry executives from high-end independent retailers, specialty chains, department stores and direct-to-consumer marketers. The Show will coincide with The San Francisco International Gift Fair, August 8-11, 2009.

Furniture Brands Launches “WOW” Strategy At Broyhill

Furniture Brands International has announced that it will continue to execute its strategic plan with the launch of the “WOW” strategy for its Broyhill brand. Incorporating the “WOW” strategy into all brand-level sales programs is a component of the “Win In The Store” pillar of Furniture Brands’ strategic plan.
The “WOW” strategy consists of three core elements:

• Win In The Store, a focus on retail fundamentals including merchandising, promotion and pricing strategies.
• Own The Customer, providing consumer insights, supply chain capabilities and strong branding to aid retail partners.
• Work Together, combining knowledge and experience across the organization to become more competitive in the market. 

Mark Stephen, formerly Vice President of National Accounts for Furniture Brands, will lead the sales team to implement the WOW campaign.

Anji Mountain Awarded Patent For Bamboo Rug Collection

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. for its Traditional Bamboo Rug Collection. Anji Mountain has been manufacturing and selling the Traditional Bamboo Rug Collection for several years and the collection now includes more than 70 different sizes, shapes and styles.

Colonial Candle Recognized As Green Facility

Midwest, manufacturer of Colonial Candle home fragrance products, has announced that Colonial Candle’s Elkin, North Carolina, production facility has been recognized as an Environmental Partner in the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (NCDENR) Environmental Stewardship Initiative. To receive the NCDENR’s Environmental Partner recognition, the company had to undergo an audit and share its on-going recycling and energy-saving activities with the NCDENR.

 Colonial Candle is one of approximately 40 organizations in North Carolina — and the first candle manufacturer — to be recognized as an Environmental Partner. The facility will be reviewed each year by the NCDENR to ensure strict guidelines continue to be met.

Foreign Accents Debuts Elementz Collection

Foreign Accents has debuted a new collection of contemporary rugs called Elementz. The collection is designed to complement the polished metal, brushed steel and chrome looks of high-end kitchens, media spaces and modern homes. The collection is hand-woven in India from a blend of soft metallic polyester. A variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures are available, as well as custom sizing.

Foreign Accents will showcase the collection at The Fall High Point Market, October 20-26, in the Suites at Market Square, #G-105.