Sun European Partners Sells Furniture Group Sharps to Epiris

Monday, 21 June, 2021

Sun European Partners has agreed to sell U.K. furniture company Sharps, its second major exit in a matter of weeks.

The private equity firm is selling the group to funds advised by Epiris for an undisclosed amount, according to a statement Monday. During its ownership, Sun shifted Sharps’s focus toward direct-to-consumer sales and advertising and made what it called “significant operational improvements” at the company.

Public filings shine unusual spotlight on $1.8B Herman Miller-Knoll deal

Sunday, 20 June, 2021

As a transformational merger between two office furniture giants heads for final approval, the details of their seven-month courtship offer insight into a deal that could change the industry’s landscape.

Zeeland-based Herman Miller Inc. in April shocked the industry when it announced it would purchase long-time competitor Knoll Inc. in a $1.8 billion cash-and-stock deal.

The pending deal, which is up for shareholder votes at both companies on July 13, was the result of back-and-forth proposals that began in December 2020 and nearly fell apart because of eleventh-hour renegotiations just four days before news of the merger became public.

Steelcase recognized as 2021 honoree of The Civic 50

Thursday, 17 June, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase has been recognized for its community involvement as a 2021 honoree of The Civic 50, part of the Points of Light volunteer service initiative.

The company was recognized for a number of service initiatives such as providing volunteer time, product and service donations and financial gifts as well as its “integration of community commitment into business policies and practices.”

New social innovation platform ensuring equity and wellbeing in education

Wednesday, 16 June, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we live, work, play and study. The impact has been particularly disruptive in our teaching and learning environments, with the pandemic highlighting the growing crisis surrounding equity and wellbeing, affecting both teachers and students.

Steelcase has responded to this issue by creating the Steelcase Social Innovation Lab to identify and accelerate the development of solutions addressing issues of equity and wellbeing in the education environment.

La-Z-Boy annual, quarterly profits surge

Wednesday, 16 June, 2021

MONROE — La-Z-Boy Inc., one of the nation’s leading furniture makers, on Tuesday reported a fiscal 2021 profit of $106.5 million, or $2.30 a share, as it began restarting then expanding its manufacturing operations to meet increasing demand across all of its business units.

Sales for fiscal 2021 totaled $1.73 billion, compared with $1.704 billion in fiscal 2020. Its fiscal 2020 profit was $77.5 million, or $1.66 a share.

Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) gains 0.8940% for June 15

Tuesday, 15 June, 2021

Herman Miller Inc. (NASDAQ: MLHR) shares gained 0.8940% to end trading Tuesday at $48.53 per share – a net change of $0.43. Shares traded between $48.61 and $47.73 throughout the day.

Only 4.8% of designers are Black. Herman Miller, Adobe, and Gap unveil a plan to change that

Tuesday, 15 June, 2021

Design is a particularly white profession. Depending on the poll, only 3% to 4.8% of designers are Black. But a powerful new collective of design companies is looking to change that.

Launching today, the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative is a group of nearly two dozen companies from across the design world—ranging from the furniture company Herman Miller to the software maker Adobe to the ubiquitous fashion brand Gap to the brand consultancy Wolff Olins—all of which are pledging meaningful efforts to bring equity to the field of design. Equity matters for any profession, but it has outsized importance within the world of design, which influences the look and feel of just about every product and service. Design can help create or crush equity.

Herman Miller Group addresses changing consumer needs at new Chicago destination

Tuesday, 15 June, 2021

Herman Miller Group, whose high-end commercial and residential brands include Design Within Reach, HAY, Geiger and Maharam, as well as Herman Miller itself, recently opened a standalone destination in Chicago’s Fulton Market.

The 45,000 square-foot multi-brand, multi-use development includes a retail level for the Herman Miller, Design Within Reach and Hay brands, each with its own distinct perspective, entrance and storefront. They are positioned side-by-side and the open layout allows customers to easily shop across the brands.

Companies Wrestle With Plans for Post-Pandemic Offices

Monday, 14 June, 2021

What will office spaces look like moving forward?

That’s the question on the mind of many landlords, tenants, architects and designers.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work has proliferated. But now, as the number of vaccinated people rises and Covid cases decrease, many businesses are pondering the future of their office environments.

While some companies may allow employees to work from home full time, less than 20% nationwide expect to reduce their average square footage, according to a survey from office furniture-maker Steelcase Inc.

La-Z-Boy Foundation makes dental school donation

Thursday, 10 June, 2021

La-Z-Boy probably won’t make dental chairs anytime soon, but it helped make a dental school Wednesday.

On a day when the Neosho plant produced its 19 millionth product, company officials visited the Joplin campus of Kansas City University and presented a $20,000 donation to its College of Dental Medicine.