Archive for February, 2010


Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

ANT4AUTISM SUCCESS

autismPMD Furniture Direct™ co-hosted the 2nd Annual Ante4Autism event at the Las Vegas furniture market on February 9th, giving back in a huge way to Autism Speaks. By  the end of the night, combined donations, entry fees, and corporate support totaled over $7,000!

“We had more players than our inaugural event last fall and we were very pleased with the turnout,” said co-host Doug Krinsky.  Scott Graham, Vice President of Operations of PMD Furniture Direct™, seller of Royal Heritage Home Furnishings™, was the Grand Champion this year and he graciously donated his winnings back to Autism Speaks, as did other top finishers. Charles Cadrecha finished in 2nd place and Doug Krinsky finished in 3rd place.

Krinsky added, “ We would like to thank everyone that attended or donated to the 2nd Annual Ante4Autism event. We will also continue to accept donations on line or by check as well.”  Donations can be made by visiting   www.ramarketing.com/ante4autism. The grand total does not reflect donations still being received.

“We were very pleased with the turnout this year and look forward to an even bigger event next February,” said Krinsky.  “The furniture industry has a big heart when it comes to giving back and once again we were not disappointed! There is hope with new treatments, therapies and the research being done right now that some day in the near future we can find the cause of autism, and prevent it. The prevalence of Autism is now 1 in 110 births and we need do more research to stop this epidemic from continuing to rise. We thank everyone for their support and hope to see everyone again next year.”

Co-hosts David Wachendorfer, Phil Miner, Jerry Williams, Scott Graham, Joe Amato, Randy Coconis, Stuart Carlitz and Doug Krinsky would like to thank supporters of the event for their corporate support or donation of prizes for the raffle drawing:  Leggett and Platt, David Wachendorfer of Tempur-Pedic, Jerry Williams of PMD Furniture Direct™, and Bob Quinn at Restonic.  PMD Furniture Direct™ would like to congratulate the night’s biggest winners: Chris Durley (Restonic queen set of bedding), Paul Cowe (2 tickets to the Ohio State vs. Miami football game), Brooke Palmieri (foursome of golf at The Ohio State University Scarlet course), and Scott Goldberg  (Tempur-Pedic queen set of bedding).  The hosts would also like to thank R & A Marketing, Marv Beneteau at RMG, The Lively Merchant and Binion’s for their help and support of the evening’s festivities.

Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of Autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for Autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with Autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with Autism. Bob Wright is a Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as Vice Chairman for General Electric, and Chief Executive Officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years.  Wright also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, RAND Corporation and Mission Product, LLC.  To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

What is Eco-friendly furniture?

eco-friendly-phonesThe way people think about our relationship to the earth is changing. The smallest details of the way we live our lives are now being reexamined for their effect on the ecosphere and changes to our lifestyles are being made accordingly. It might surprise you to hear, but this eco-consciousness has now even turned its attention to our furniture, probably one of the last places you’d ordinarily look when considering the environment. If furniture is made out of wood, and getting that wood is part of a process that could be putting strain on the environment, then you might be asking how a piece of furniture could ever be considered “eco-friendly.” Well, luckily for us there are a few standards already in place for such questions.

•    The first classification is the most clear. Has some material other than wood been used to create the piece of furniture ? Using a material other than wood shows that the manufacture of this product is not using resources from nature for the sole purpose of creating furniture.
•    The second classification is a bit surprising. The forest Stewardship Council has devised a certification that can deem a piece of furniture as Eco-Friendly. In order for a piece of furniture to be certified as Eco-friendly, the manufacturer must demonstrate that they are replanting trees in place of trees being cut down. So a piece of furniture can now be made of wood and still be considered Eco-friendly.
•    A final classification for Eco-friendly furniture is based on the amount of extras that are used to create the piece of furniture. Many people who are Eco-conscious believe furniture that is kind to the environment should be simple , using the bare minimum for wood, padding, vinyl, fabric, and leather. Simple styles and less-is-more design are key when considering whether a piece of furniture is Eco-friendly.

And there you have it. If reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, these tips should help you find the furniture that fits not just your home, but your ideals.

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Flipping your mattress

plush_sealy_mattress_1How many times have flipped your mattress in the past year. Once? Twice? Five times? 104 times? How ’bout NONE.

Surprisingly, 1, 2, 5, and 104 times are the number of times people assume we should flip our mattress in a given year. However, the number of times a mattress should be flipped depends solely on the individual and their sleeping situation – mostly whether they are sleeping alone or with a partner.

The question that popsinto most people’s heads when advised to flip their mattress is, “Why in the world should I even consider flipping a mattress?” The answer is simple, according to mattress manufactures: It will make the mattress last longer and prevent sagging, thus saving your back. A mattress that is flipped on a regular basis could last anywhere from 5-7 years longer than a mattress that hasn’t been flipped. Now, does this mean you should go on the far end of the spectrum and flip it twice a week for a grand total of 104 times a year? Back pain is more likely going to come from flipping your mattress that many times a year! The average you should flip your mattress is about once a month. This will prevent over-use in some spots.

Flipping your mattress is not the only thing you should be concerned with.  You also must make sure to turn it 180 degrees so that the whole mattress is being used and equally slept on. Permanent sags will eventually form if you do not flip or rotate your mattress. Most of the time these sags cannot be seen by the naked eye but they can lead to severe back pain. Sags tend to form in the middle of the mattress where two bodies meet. Pressure from both bodies can cause springs to loosen and not give the full support you need for proper rest.

So there you have it. Prevent back pain by flipping your mattress. And remember; always lift with your legs.

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

PMD Furniture Direct Announces 2010 President’s Club Winners

PMD Furniture Direct President's Club honorees are off to Punta Mita, Mexico

PMD Furniture Direct President's Club honorees are off to Punta Mita, Mexico

A select group of PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisees will head to Punta Mita, Mexico in May to celebrate becoming the latest members of the company’s esteemed “President’s Club.” This honor is given to the top performing franchise owners and is based on their sales performance and an internal point calculation system from the prior year. The newest class of winners was announced at an awards banquet held earlier this month during PMD’s National Sales Conference for franchisees in Glendale, Ariz.

“It’s always great getting together with everyone to share exciting company news and updates,” said PMD Founder, CEO and President Jeff Hosking. “But one thing that I look forward to most, during this time, is recognizing those members of the PMD family who’ve had an outstanding and fruitful year, and to encourage others to do the same. We believe it important to recognize great work, and the President’s Club winners are examples of hard work paying off in many ways.”

“Receiving this award is such an honor,” said Charlie Colwell of Birmingham, Ala., PMD franchise owner and President’s Club winner. “It’s feels good to be recognized by the company’s leadership in this way, which is something they don’t have to do. They are generous because they care about their franchisees.”

This year’s President’s Club winners have been awarded an all expenses paid trip to the five-star Punta Mita Four Seasons Resort. “PMD even invites our spouses as they recognize their roles in our success,” said Colwell. “My wife and I are very excited to relax and have fun with the others in Mexico.”

The 2010 President’s Club winners are:

  • Barry Bassett – Spokane, Wash.
  • Pat Benhoff – Baltimore, Md.
  • Larry Cartwright – Evansville, Ind.
  • Charlie Colwell – Birmingham, Ala.
  • Jerry Krieg – Tacoma, Wash.
  • Brad Loy – Boise, Idaho
  • Lynn Metzer – Denver, Colo.
  • Chuck Price – Tucson, Ariz.
  • Bryan Rackley – Charleston, W.Va.
  • Steve Sowers – Yuma, Ariz.
  • Sandi Varn – Tallahassee, Fla.
  • Bob Wert – Chico, Calif.

For more information about PMD franchise opportunities, please visit www.pmdfranchise.com. For more information about the brand Royal Heritage Home Furnishings™, visit www.royalheritagefurniture.com.

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

PMD Furniture Direct Kicks Off the Year With National Sales Conference

glendale

The PMD Furniture Direct™ National Sales Conference was held in beautiful Glendale, Arizona

PMD Furniture Direct™ recently completed its National Sales Conference in Glendale, Ariz., January 10 – 14. Held at the Renaissance Glendale, this was the first national sales conference hosted to help the company’s new roster of franchisees gear up for 2010. PMD executives and franchisees came together as a team to share and hear of the company’s plans and strategies, and to give franchisees the opportunity to preview new lines of furniture to help jump-start the new year via an exclusive Furniture Market.

The conference, themed “We are go for launch!”, highlighted the new offerings. PMD Founder, CEO and President Jeff Hosking and the PMD executive team provided updates on the company’s private label furniture brand, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings™, and various internet-related strategies that are in the process of being rolled out to the franchisees. The agenda included sessions focused on generating higher profits, building stronger organizations and improving presentation and selling skills.

The conference also featured a presentation by Joel Weldon, a highly sought after motivational speaker and sales training consultant. Weldon enthusiastically reminded conference-goers to be adaptable to change, harness the power of teamwork, and have the courage to be unstoppable to achieve their goals.

“It’s an exciting time to be a part of PMD,” said Hosking. “Despite a questionable economy, we are adding new franchisees and have experienced steady sales at retail. We remain positioned to continue offering our retail customers affordable options to help them furnish their homes while providing the support and tools needed by our franchisees to operate successful businesses.”

The company held its annual awards ceremony during the conference, in which Hosking announced the 2009 Sales Champions, 2010 President’s Club inductees and winners as well as the PMD All-American winners. These programs recognize top performing PMD franchise owners with exciting prizes including an all-expense paid trip to a worldwide destination, this year to be held at the Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico.

PMD is a leader in the furniture industry, and with their new franchise model, they can offer a nearly recession-proof business platform to PMD franchisees because of their low-overhead, profitable approach to retail. Their system-wide sales are projected to reach $150 million in 2015, making PMD one of the fastest growing retail franchises in the country. For more information on PMD franchise opportunities, please visit www.pmdfranchise.com. For more information about the brand Royal Heritage Home Furnishings™, visit www.royalheritagefurniture.com.

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Sealy Mattresses Available at PMD Furniture Direct

sealyWhen Daniel Haynes of Sealy, Texas decided to help a neighbor stuff cotton into a mattress, he had no idea the decision would eventually result in one of the most respected and comfortable mattresses money has to buy from one of the largest mattress manufacturers in the world, Sealy™. PMD Furniture Direct™ is proud to offer the Sealy™ brand, keeping up with our philosophy of giving our customers the furniture they need at the prices they want.

Sealy™ is one of the top mattress brands among the 900 manufacturers in the United States. With nearly one-third of your life sleeping, it is imperative that your mattress be one of comfort, giving your hectic work day a peaceful ending. Sealy™ mattresses include adjustable beds, airbeds, latex, “green” mattresses built with organic components, Sealy™ mattresses and space age memory foam, along with traditional high performance inner-spring sleep systems.

Sleep on a Sealy™ mattress from PMD Furniture Direct™, and see if you don’t agree “sleeping on a Sealy™ is like sleeping on a cloud.” Your shopping experience with PMD Direct™ will be a peaceful one, too.

Monday, February 1st, 2010

PMD Furniture Direct named “Furniture Retailer of the Year”

trophyEach year at the Tupelo Furniture Market, the “Furniture Retailer of the Year” is awarded to the top furniture retailer.  The bi-annual event, which is hosted in Tupelo, Mississippi and occurs every January and August, brings together the elite in furniture retail working with over 800 exhibitors from all over the world pairing them with the industry’s top buyers.  This year the award went to PMD Furniture Direct, retailer of fine furniture by Royal Heritage Home Furnishings.

“PMD has been showing incredible results and has supported the Tupelo market for over ten years now. We’re very proud that we are the recipients of the award,” said Joe Armetta, Chief Marketing Officer for PMD.

With the furniture marketplace being as unsteady as it is in today’s economy, the “Furniture Retailer of the Year” award is just an exclamation point on our already stellar service to our dealers and franchisees, making sure that our relationships and partnerships with others in the furniture retail industry are carried out to the maximum extent.

“We’re thrilled to have been selected for this award, which is truly a celebrated achievement for a company as young as ours,” said Armetta. “We’re changing with the times, our affiliate PMD Furniture Direct, Inc. is offering a franchising model to take advantage of the endless opportunities we see in the future for the company. It’s great to be recognized for our efforts.

Congratulations are in order for everyone in the PMD family for making this win possible. Keep up the hard work!