Posts Tagged ‘Office Furniture Trends’
Quebec group buys Groupe Lacasse from Haworth
Haworth, Inc. and Groupe Lacasse announced an agreement finalizing the sale of Groupe Lacasse to an independent investment group headed by Sylvain Garneau, president of the Quebec-based company since 2010. The group of private investors includes the family of Guy Lacasse.
Groupe Lacasse was originally founded in 1956, and manufactures office furniture products in St. Pie, Quebec.
“We look forward to Haworth and Groupe Lacasse maintaining a relationship as mutual customers and suppliers,” said Franco Bianchi, Haworth president & CEO. “Groupe Lacasse will experience greater opportunity to operate in the marketplace as an independent company, while maintaining a strong connection to the business opportunities offered by Haworth. It will be an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity for Sylvain and the entire team as they build on the positive momentum they have been developing.“
“This represents an exciting opportunity for Groupe Lacasse to strengthen our core business and drive our performance to the next level,” said Sylvain Garneau, Groupe Lacasse CEO and chairman of the investors’ group. “Our entire organization appreciates the support of Haworth and the confidence of our new business partners.”
This action allows Haworth and Groupe Lacasse to more effectively serve customers in a focused and agile way and ensures that the companies have the opportunity to achieve the best possible sustainable long-term growth and profitability without losing the potential to serve market-specific needs.
Office-contract furniture industry index remains steady
The office and contract industry index remained steady in January 2012, according to the MADA / OFI Trends Survey, a tool designed to measure the current business activity of the office furniture industry and its suppliers by Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC. This survey was completed during the month of January 2012. This is the third quarter in a row that has seen improvement.
The January 2011 Overall Survey Index is 54.46, compared to 56.36 in October 2011, 55.57 in July 2011, and 55.38 recorded in April 2011.
“Although this represents a slight decrease, it is very modest. The steady index during the past 12 months indicates that the industry is still on solid ground and on a positive track.” Mike Dunlap commented.
The survey focuses upon 10 key business activities, with respondents rating each area on a scale of 10 (the highest) to one (the lowest). The business activities are Gross Shipments, Order Backlog / Incoming Orders, Employment Levels, Manufacturing Hours (Overtime vs. Reduced Hours), Capital Investment, Tooling Expenditures, New Product Development Activity, Raw Material Costs, Employee Costs, and the respondents’ Personal Outlook on the industry.
The Industry Index Number quantifies where the industry is currently performing on a scale of 1 to 100. In October 2011, gross shipments were about equal with the previous survey, employment index dropped slightly, capital and tooling expenditures held steady, with new product development improving but below the average of all the previous surveys.
Dunlap stated, further “The weaker Gross Sales and Order Backlog index values are of some concern to me, as both have declined during the past two quarters. I am not worried about the very slight dip in the Employment or Hours Worked index values because both manufacturers and suppliers are hiring on all levels.
“The steady performance in Capital Expenditures, Tooling Expenditures, and New Product Development are encouraging, too. I am excited to see the steadiness in Raw Material Costs. Higher Employee Cost index values are always a concern and never seem to show a lot of improvement. Although still in the 40’s, they are much better than I had anticipated.
“The increase in Personal Outlook is very encouraging.”
The majority of the respondents cites increased energy costs, material costs, and increased health care costs as the “largest cost threats to the industry”.
For more information, see ww.mdunlap-associates.com.
NeoCon East hosts successful November show
The ninth annual NeoCon East drew 6,748 attendees and 267 exhibitors to the Baltimore Convention Center, in November.
“NeoCon East has grown tremendously since it was launched in 2003, which is indication of how important the federal government has become to many manufacturers,” said Mark Falanga, president, MMPI. “We continue to see growth in the number of attendees, which is an 8 percent increase over 2010, as well as the numbers of quality exhibitors. These numbers prove that the NeoCon East show is the largest and fastest growing commercial furnishings exposition on the East Coast.”
Show organizers said that of the 267 exhibitors NeoCon East hosted, 189 were on the GSA schedule, more than any other NeoCon East show. The show also featured government interiors, which focused on products and services geared to federal government procurement specifiers, and a GSA Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center booth on the show floor to assist attendees.
NeoCon East also offered more than 30 CEU-accredited programs in 12 educational tracks. It also offered free 60-minute GSA-sponsored seminars. Keynote speakers included Victor Olgyay of the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Jhane Barnes, men’s fashion designer.
NeoCon East 2012 will return Oct. 17-18, 2012, to the Baltimore Convention Center. For more information visit www.neoconeast.com.
Gunlocke seating, wood casegoods earn ‘level’ certification
Gunlocke's Trio Training tables earned BIFMA's level certification.
Gunlocke, an office furniture and wood casegoods manufacturer, renewed and added to its “level” certification from the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association’s Product Sustainability Standard.
BIFMA’s level certification is an independent assessment of the environmental and social impacts of a product’s manufacturing, which considers energy usage, material selection, and human and ecosystem health impacts.
Gunlocke products that meet the level standards include its Converge, Kenna, Kennsington, Medley, Surfaces, Trio, Trio Training, Medley and Sojourn table lines, as well as the Amalfi, Alti, Attract, Austin, Washington, Liza, Mara, Miles, Scarlett, Stretto, Valor, Debonair, Cali, Camille, Carver, Contura, Harlow, Olla, Monde, Fitzgerald, Gracile, New Yorker, Vili, Sojourn, Molti, Porter and Ciji seating lines. Additionally, all of Gunlocke’s casegoods and conference collections were renewed at level 2 criteria.
BBF targets business scenarios, remote worker
Bush Business Furniture, the office furniture and commercial division of Bush Industries, emphasizes how its office furniture lines fit into four market scenarios at the NeoCon show. These four transactional market scenarios are the remote office space, the office at home, the traditional small business, and the non-traditional small business.
“It’s been nearly a year since we rebranded our commercial division as BBF, and in that short period of time, BBF is establishing itself as a leader in serving the needs of the transactional customer,” says Jim Sherbert, Bush Industries CEO.
BBF is targeting transactional customers in all business scenarios, including the corporate employee working remotely, the entrepreneur launching a business from home to the small graphic design firm or other non-traditional business office. BBF’s product lines at NeoCon included Momentum, Sector, Milano2, Quantum, Enterprise, and Syndicate. The lines are flexible and modular and designed for the office-at-home, and can be quickly shipped and assembled. The company says it offers simplified ordering and fulfillment for smaller installations and immediate needs for furniture dealers that don’t have the resources and infrastructure to support larger projects.
Office furniture industry index remains solid
Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC unveils the results of its most recent quarterly MADA / OFI Trends Survey. The July 2011 Overall Survey Index is 55.57 compared to 55.38 recorded in April 2011.
“Although this represents a slight increase, it is very modest. The steady index indicates that the office furniture industry is still on solid ground and on a positive track.” Mike Dunlap commented.
Gross shipments measured 64.08, well above the 29 survey averages of 57.62 and order backlog recorded 62.77, significantly above the 29 survey average of 56.81. The employment index improved to 55.00 and is well above the 29 survey averages of 51.50. Hours worked also improved to 56.59 and is also above the 29 Survey Averages of 55.54. The Capital Expenditures dropped to 54.78 and Tooling Expenditures slipped to 55.78 compared to their 29 Survey Averages of 55.22 and 55.75.
“The strong gross sales and order backlog index values are very encouraging, as these typically drive positive improvements among at least six of the other indexes,” Dunlap says. “I am also pleased to see the strong employment and hours worked index values.
“I am pleasantly surprised to see the raw material cost and employee cost index values. Although in the 40’s, they are much better than I had anticipated.
“The decreases in capital expenditures, tooling expenditures, new product development, and personal outlook are not alarming, as each is still in positive territory. The majority of respondents continue to cite increased material costs, energy costs, and increased health care costs as the “largest cost threats to the industry.”
For further information, contact: Mike Dunlap, 616-786-3524 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 616-786-3524 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, e-mail: mike@mdunlap-associates.com, www.mdunlap-associates.com.
Izzy+ shows classroom storage options, modular furniture at NeoCon
The furniture series, Keel, debuted at NeoCon 2011.
At NeoCon2011 in Chicago, office furniture manufacturer izzy+ introduced storage and filing options, as well as a range of lighter-scale modular casegoods.
The company introduced its expansion to the Dewey collection with classroom storage and filing solutions, including the Connection Cart mobile stand and a mobile pedestal file.
It’s the same kit of parts, with more functionality and flexibility,” explained Brandon Reame, brand manager for izzy+. “It’s reconfigurable, freestanding, modular furniture which allows us to swap out shelves with different storage components.”
izzy+ also premiered a lighter-scale modular casegoods series, Keel. The series is organized around the “keel,” a design based on a panel with an extruded-aluminum rail, with connecting cabinets and furniture pieces.
Teknion introduces casegoods product lines at NeoCon 2011
Teknion also premiered the Dossier casegoods range of aesthetic and functional options for storage, which includes table desks and traditional desks, in a range of natural and reconstituted veneers.
Teknion Corp. introduced two new furniture and storage product lines at NeoCon, which was held at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart in June.
The company introduced its Livello collection of height-adjustable tables for workstations and mobile flip-top tables for meetings. The company says its Livello collection aims to promote productivity and collaboration, and allow for aesthetic expression.
Teknion also premiered the Dossier casegoods range of aesthetic and functional options for storage, which includes table desks and traditional desks, in a range of natural and reconstituted veneers.
Steelcase Exponents conference room collection debuts at NeoCon
The Exponents collection, designed by Coalesse, debuted in June at NeoCon.
Steelcase’s Coalesse Exponents collection of conference room products was debuted at NeoCon 2011.
Designed by Coalesse, the Exponents collection includes conference products such as credenzas, carts, lecterns, mobile technology displays, mobile storage and overflow bench seating options.
“The breadth of the furniture line makes it an ideal platform for a wide range of conferencing applications,” said Robert Arko, Coalesse creative director. “The vertical and horizontal planes create compelling space division and storage elements that support collaborative space needs.”
OFS shows casegoods office furniture lines at NeoCon
Contract furniture manufacturer OFS showed off its office furniture lines and casegoods collections at Chicago’s NeoCon 2011 in June.
OFS introduced its “Eleven” executive desk and casegoods platform, which was designed by Swiss architect Daniel Korb. The furniture line got its name from the 11 components it was built with, for flexibility without excessive structure. The company’s Offerings casegoods collection was displayed with a contrasting band design on the upper and lower cabinetry. The Impulse G2 casegoods office collection that was on-display at NeoCon features exposed wood surfaces in natural cherry, maple, walnut and quartered oak veneers. The company also showed its Sebree line of furniture for schools and offices, with a design that features veneers and glass with solid wood edges.
