Woodworking Industry News Eames chair not ‘famous’ enough: Supreme Court denies Herman Miller trade dress appeal

Friday, 12 March 2021

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on March 8 declined Herman Miller‘s trade dress appeal petition, holding that the contract furniture company’s popular Eames office chair is not “famous” enough to qualify for trade dress dilution protection. The Supreme Court’s decision on Herman Miller Inc. v Blumenthal Distributing Inc. means the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling to partially overturn a jury verdict will stand.

Special Report: Q&A with Hawaii’s office furniture dealers

Friday, 12 March 2021

Pacific Business News polled the Hawaii companies on this year’s Office Furniture Dealers List on the new trends and challenges in the office furniture and design industry.

What has been the biggest challenge over the last year?

Stephan Edwards, president, The Systemcenter Inc.: One of the biggest external challenges we have faced in the last year has been adapting to the shipping and other logistic obstacles to continue to meet the needs of our customers and the community. This is along with the internal challenge of maintaining our company culture and making sure we take time to connect as a team, mostly virtually, through our weekly lunch and company update meetings.

AIS furniture continues churning out face masks, donates 25,000 more

Thursday, 11 March, 2021

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Massachusetts-based commercial office furniture specialist AIS has donated 25,000 face masks to the city of North Charleston, South Carolina. The company has been producing masks for communities in need since the pandemic began.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of AIS and its President and CEO Bruce Platzman, as there is no question that this nationwide charitable initiative has saved lives,” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey.

Steelcase Introduces More Than 40 New Products For New Employee Needs In The Office

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.March 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Steelcase today announces the introduction of over 40 products designed to meet the emerging needs and expectations of workers based on new global research. The pandemic has reshaped what people need and expect in the office, according to studies the company conducted in 10 countries, which engaged over 32,000 people in multiple studies. Synthesizing these studies uncovered new overarching needs that will drive macro shifts in the overall work experience and lead to new ways of planning and designing offices. The research also finds 95% of organizations plan to return to the office, most exploring hybrid work experiences and embracing new ways of working after employees reported drops in productivity, engagement and innovation while working from home. Steelcase designers crafted a new collection of product solutions designed to address employee needs that were amplified by or emerged during the pandemic.

BIFMA launches product registry platform: BIFMA Compliant

Thursday, 04 March 2021

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association launched the BIFMA Compliant product registry to provide clarity in the market about products that meet established industry standards.

The Grand Rapids-based nonprofit trade association BIFMA said Monday that it launched BIFMA Compliant, an industrywide registry of furniture products conforming to BIFMA safety and durability standards.

Herman Miller Introduces Fabric Line Made of Plastic Bottles

Wednesday, 03 March 2021

Herman Miller, a Zeeland-based (northeast of Holland) home and office furniture company, has introduced a sustainable textile collection, including fabric entirely made from recycled and ocean-bound plastic materials as well as a 100 percent post-consumer biodegradable polyester.

HNI CORPORATION REPORTS EARNINGS FOR FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2020

Monday, 01 March 2021

MUSCATINE, Iowa (March 1, 2021) – HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI) today announced sales for the full year ended January 2, 2021 of $1.955 billion and net income of $41.9 million. GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.98, compared to $2.54 in the prior year. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $1.79, compared to $2.59 in the prior year. GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations follow the financial statements in this release.

Haworth shuts down North Carolina furniture plant in consolidation effort

Thursday, 25 February 2021

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Office furniture giant Haworth – number 7 on the FDMC 300 – has closed one of its furniture manufacturing facilies in North Carolina. The closure is part of a consolidation effort.
“This decision was motivated by the strategic intent of consolidating our North Carolina operational footprint and was accelerated by current economic conditions,” the company said in a written statement. “The High Point facility and employees have a rich history of manufacturing Haworth furniture and we are grateful for their contributions.”

Kimball International Inc. (KBAL) Soars 2.3% on February 24

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Kimball International Inc. (KBAL) had a good day on the market for Wednesday February 24 as shares jumped 2.3% to close at $12.92. About 255,806 shares traded hands on 2,763 trades for the day, compared with an average daily volume of n/a shares out of a total float of 36.88 million. After opening the trading day at $12.73, shares of Kimball International Inc. stayed within a range of $13.00 to $12.60.

HNI Corporation (HNI) Soars 3.46% on February 24

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

HNI Corporation (HNI) had a good day on the market for Wednesday February 24 as shares jumped 3.46% to close at $37.67. About 243,951 shares traded hands on 3,249 trades for the day, compared with an average daily volume of n/a shares out of a total float of 42.71 million. After opening the trading day at $36.88, shares of HNI Corporation stayed within a range of $37.72 to $36.38.