Hearth & Home | Subscribe | eNews Archives | Vesta Awards

Housing Starts Back Above One Million Mark

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

 
From Wells Fargo Economics Group

Housing starts in March rose at a 1.04 million unit rate, the first time
starts have risen at a one million-unit plus pace since mid-2008. Previous months' data were also revised higher.

Multifamily units were the driver of March's gains, increasing 31.1 percent over the month. While volatile on a monthly basis, multifamily is up 85 percent over the past year as demand for apartments remains strong amid tight mortgage conditions.

Single-family starts fell 4.8 percent in March following a significant upward revision in February. The trajectory for the single-family market continues upward, but builders appear to be struggling with credit issues for lot development and rising construction costs. The NAHB index fell for the third straight month in April, and with permits running below starts in March, construction will likely proceed at a more modest pace in April.

Skyline Design Expands

at HD Expo in Las Vegas

MIAMI, FLORIDA

 

Skyline Design, a world-renowned luxury outdoor furniture brand will be exhibiting at the Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas, the premiere event dedicated to showcasing the latest design trends to the hospitality and contract community throughout North America. The show will attract over 7,000 attendees including architects, designers and contract buyers from May 15-17 looking for the best in contract furnishings, services and other products. Skyline Design will be located in showcase # 2583. 

 

"Skyline Design has expanded its showcase to three times as large as previous years so buyers can see a much wider presentation of our new contract collections," said Judy Calzadilla, vice president of Skyline Design. The new collections were inspired and designed to achieve a balanced lifestyle between indoor and outdoor living.  

 

Skyline Design has partnered with celebrity designer DANN Foley who has done design work for famous actors and actresses worldwide. His DANN Foley Lifestyle Collection is an international brand of furnishings and lifestyle goods for residential, commercial and hospitality use. DANN Foley's supple style is defined as valuable luxury with high style. 

 

Skyline Design's products incorporate extraordinary designs showcasing classic and contemporary styles in premium Viro, Rehau and Ecolene resin wicker fibers. Finely crafted aluminum frames with Batyline textiline sling eliminate the need for cushions. Additionally, the company's outdoor cushions are of the highest quality with Sunbrella fabric and signature mesh bottoms that make them the fastest-drying cushions in the industry. The North American headquarters maintains stock of the entire lineup in its Florida distribution center. 

 

As a global brand, specialty retailers, designers, resorts and restaurants use and specify Skyline Design luxury outdoor furniture on every continent around the world. There are installations in many high profile commercial properties such as Hilton, Marriot, St. Regis and retail stores such as Harrod's of London, El Corte Ingles and hundreds more around the world.  

 

Future exhibits will also take place in Chicago, Miami, Paris, Valencia, London, Dubai, Milan and Madrid. Contact Elaine Polo at elaine@skylinedesign.com.

 

Pride Family Brands Launches

Consumer Advertising Campaign

FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

 

Pride Family Brands, current two-time winner of the Manufacturer of the Year for Luxury Aluminum Casual Furnishings, announces the 2013 launch of a co-sponsored consumer advertising campaign. This marketing program is being undertaken in an effort to promote the Castelle brand and assist retail partners in regional promotion to the consumer marketplace. Pride Family Brands is utilizing Sandow Media's Luxe Magazine for the initial launch of the program. 

 

"Pride Family Brands has long placed considerable emphasis on the design, production and marketing of our luxury products as evidenced by our numerous awards and recognition," said Steve Lowsky, president, Pride Family Brands. "Future efforts within our marketing paradigm include additional brand promotion on the corporate level as well as in conjunction with our retailers."   

 

Over the past year, Pride Family Brands also has launched retailer focused marketing tools to engage consumers throughout the product selection and sales process. This included a high level upgrade to the Pride Family Brands website to allow better interaction between consumers and retailers.  

 

The campaign, which will launch within Spring and Summer editions, will feature a series of full-page advertisements running regionally in the high-end shelter publication, Luxe Magazine. Targeted markets include Southern Florida, Arizona, Houston, Dallas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  

 

The campaign will feature the Castelle brand with cooperative participation from retailers in the selected markets. The campaign, entitled "Luxury Outdoor Living," will focus on Pride's luxury products and provide full location and contact information for each of the participating retailers. The program is open to all qualifying Castelle specialty retailers.  

 

"We are committed to promoting our luxury outdoor living message and Castelle as the premier brand," said Lowsky. "This campaign gives us the opportunity to enhance these efforts and partner with local retailers to continue this messaging at the consumer level." Future plans for the program include expansion into additional advertising venues and markets. 

 

For more information about Pride Family Brands' consumer advertising program or their distinguished lines of casual furniture contact (855) 612-9800.

 

Jaccard Corporation Acquires

PigTail Food Flipper Business

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

 

Jaccard Corporation has purchased the assets and all intellectual property relating to the Original PigTail Food Flipper from K2 Development. 

 

"The Original PigTail Food Flipper is a great fit with our existing products," said Jaccard president Eric Wangler. "The enthusiasm for the product from users is very high; the product is extremely functional and over-delivers against consumers' expectations."  

 

The Original PigTail Food Flipper replaces tongs, forks and spatulas. Just lightly grab the food by the edge, roll your wrist and the food's turned over. Produced to exacting standards, it can pick-up any solid food - a whole rack of ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, chicken, bacon, shrimp, scallops, corn on the cob and much more. 

 

The Jaccard Corporation has been manufacturing and distributing quality products for preparing food on a worldwide basis since 1962. Its products have been used by some of the world's best chefs and largest food processors for more than 50 years.