INDUSTRY UPDATES

New Clic-Clic Frame from Adonis

San Francisco, CA - Adonis Furniture introduced a new contemporary collection of metal frames at the July Summer Market. The design-oriented, contemporary metal frames are made on robotic production lines and feature a sophisticated “clic-clic” mechanism.

“The graceful, sculptured lines of the Ario, Palermo and Xilo made a big impact. We wrote a lot of advance orders,” said David Lee, General Manager for Adonis Furniture. “The prices are as much as 50% below comparable products. These products are sold in huge volume all across Europe, and we feel fortunate to have become the exclusive North American distributor of this frame line.”

Adonis Furniture will be introducing additional frame styles, as well as exclusive styles for container buyers. The current collection can be seen at their website http://www.adonisfurniture.com.

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SIS Covers Goes Cubist

Fun, functional high-density foam cubes are now available from SIS Covers. Cubes measure 19x16x21 and cleverly multi-task as seating, footstools, or occasional tables. Wrap a cube in any SIS fabric, or go for the impact of pure color with a solid Brushed Twill as shown.

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Zad Designs Shows 90 Fabrics In SF

Zad Designs and Zad Home Collections offers a unique mix of styles and looks in their collections. As featured in San Francisco Summer 2000 Design and Furnishings Show Zad Design offered a bedroom collection as well as a futon collection that uses fabrics from the Zad Home Collection.

"Dealers can use any fabrics in the Zad Home Collection to order upholstered bedroom collection, slip covered bed and upholstered futon collections Zad Designs offers," said company CEO Akim Azad. "With ninety different fabric collections Zad Designs can offer our customers a wide range of choices," he said.

Azad believes Zad Designs offers complete support to futon specialty stores — with a company manufactured line of futon frames and soft goods with a unique mix of designs and mechanisms. Dealers who want to create a different approach to futon retailing can call Zad Designs at (805) 486-8393.

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August Lotz Updates Logo

Boyd, WI — The August Lotz Company, manufacturer of solid wood futon frames, futon mattresses, and bedroom furniture recently unveiled its new, updated logo. The company plans to incorporate it into its advertising, point of purchase materials, and other collateral materials.

“The changes are minor,” states company president Mark Schlichter. “We felt our old logo portrayed us as a first-class, wood working company. We are still that, but we offer so much more today.” August Lotz has a long heritage of craftsmanship. The company has been manufacturing solid wood products since 1897.

The oval-shaped logo has a drawing of a nineteenth century craftsman smoothing a board with a hand held plane. The design depicts the heritage of quality, bench-made, American craftsmanship, a culture that has disappeared from many companies, but that can still be found at August Lotz. “We wanted the logo to show our quality and class,” Schlichter siad.
The new logo is a better fit for the direction the company has taken for the past decade. Once known as a manufacturer of quality wooden component parts, August Lotz is now a vertically integrated furniture manufacturer. Their production has expanded from parts to finished products and from strictly wood to include softgoods and an extensive futon mattresses line. Lotz has two plants. One that specializes in solid wood furniture and one that produces a line of fifteen futon mattresses. Most of their products are sold to fine furniture stores and specialty shops. In wood, they offer a wide variety of futon furniture as well as master bedroom furniture and occasional tables.

Look for the new logo to appear soon in the company’s ads and correspondence. A new catalog is also in the works. It will feature the company’s new products and new photography of the best-selling products from the current line. It will be available this fall. For more information contact August Lotz at (715) 667-5121.

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Coveralls The Latest Fashion For Fall At Omni

It you’re wondering what to do about that less than attractive back on your metal decked frames, Omni Softgoods may have just what you need…Coveralls. Available in all standard Omni line fabrics and also in their Limited Edition line, Coveralls feature a back panel that reaches to the floor, covering the entire back portion of the frame. Gone are the problems usually associated with metal decks and frames. Because the back of the frame is covered, it is possible to position your futon in the middle of the room and present a fully “dressed” appearance.

In addition to the new Coveralls, Omni will also debut over 40 new fabrics for the Fall season. Recent arrivals include the “Manhattan Collection,” a group of contemporary coordinates in a silver taupe tone and the “Maine Collection” in navy and toast for the cottage crowd. Company president Robin Reid says, “We have something for everyone and every price range but we’re most excited about our new animal skins, which will be offered at a very attractive price point!” Rounding out this update are several new offerings in floral, stripe, and plaid patterns as well as the ever popular lodge look.

For more information contact Omni Softgoods at 800-283-8037.

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CPSC Commissioner Commends Cotton Batting Institute’s Certification Program; Updates Bedding Products Organizations on Flammability Issues

Memphis — Thomas H. Moore, one of three CPSC commissioners, congratulated the National Cotton Batting Institute (NCBI), the Futon Association International and the Specialty Sleep Products Association for their efforts to encourage mattress and futon manufacturers and retailers to sell only complying products.

Moore, addressing a flammability issues seminar sponsored by the three organizations in Orlando, FL, updated the groups about CPSC’s activities on small flame testing involving bedding products/mattresses and upholstered furniture and the possibility of a mandatory flammability standard for upholstered furniture.

Moore said he knew of the groups’ concerns about compliance with the current mattress flammability standard.

“I know, from their visits to the Commission, that both the National Cotton Batting Institute and Futon Association International are very concerned about compliance with the current mattress flammability standard,” Moore told the 100-plus participants. “The various programs such as the NCBI/Upholstered Furniture Action Council quality assurance program and the third-party certification program that NBCI has instituted with Underwriters Laboratories attest to that. You are to be congratulated for your efforts to encourage manufacturers and retailers to sell only complying products.”

NCBI’s certification program requires its members to submit to quarterly, unannounced UL inspections that include testing for cigarette ignition resistance, smolder resistance and open flame resistance.

“Third-party certification and good quality control…will go a long way to solve the compliance problems,” Moore said. “Safety is not an area where you want to take short cuts to get a price advantage over your competitors.”

In updating the groups on the CPSC’s rule making to address both mattress and upholstered furniture fires, Moore said the focus has shifted from cigarette ignition fires, which have decreased dramatically in the past 25 years, to fires started by small open flames, principally by lighters and matches.

He said furniture flammability tests and toxicity and durability testing of fire retardant fabric treatments must be completed before any proposed flammability standards are offered for upholstered furniture. CPSC also must address whether futons would be included in the proposal.

Regarding mattresses and bedding, the CPSC commissioner said the sleep products industry is sponsoring tests to evaluate a “real world” small open flame fire that takes into account bedding products, such as sheets and blankets, which can affect fire behavior.

“It is hoped that the results of this testing, which should be available in the next few months, will provide some guidance on possible strategies for addressing small open flame fire in mattresses,” Moore said.

He also reminded the participants that it is the responsibility of retailers and distributors of mattresses and futons to “know your suppliers” and make them provide testing reports stating that the products meet the federal flammability standard.

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Bluestone To Show Front Operated Frame

Bluestone Mills new futon furniture line is now front operated in an effort to put more features and benefits into its futon furniture line. The Appalachian oak producer has added a patented front open/close mechanism that also has a reclining position. Other features include upgraded deck construction and non-exposed hardware. “We have also added a new “Driftwood” finish to the line,” said Robert Thomas, company spokesperson. “It’s a washed look with underlying tones of gray.”

Bluestone Mills is also introducing two new oak bedroom collections for this fall High Point market. The Plantation collection is a southern traditional group featuring a shuttered look. The Bungalow collection features hand leaded Tiffany glass doors in a mission style. The groups include a dresser, mirror, mule chest, nightstand and bedstead. Construction features include solid oak tops, dovetailed drawers, aromatic cedar drawer bottoms and shelves and Accuride® drawer glides. For information contact Bluestone Mills at 336-783-0782 or stop by their High Point showroom at 164 S. Main St 4th floor (Radio Bldg.).

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