Read More Articles by Karen Koenig
Karen
Koenig
Editor
Karen M. Koenig has more than 35 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As senior editor, her responsibilities include writing and editing for Woodworking Network publications FDMC Magazine and Closets & Organized Storage Magazine, as well as the website. She also oversees many of Woodworking Network's special projects and programs, including Red Book: Resource Guide for Best Practice, FDMC 300, 40 Under 40, and the Wood Industry Market Leaders. She can be reached at [email protected].
Lumber Liquidators has fired its chief merchandising officer, William K. Schlegel. The position will be integrated with the flooring manufacturer's marketing department, with Marco Q. Pescara taking over as Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer, effective June 19. Pescara has served as Chief Marketing Officer with the company since 2006.
Lumber Liquidators Compliance Officer Resigns
Lumber Liquidators' chief compliance office has left the embattled flooring manufacturer as fallout from reports that the company sold "toxic" laminate flooring from China continues. Cotton's resignation comes as the company deals with allegations that the formaldehyde testing firm it hired sent homeowners screening test kits with false accreditation labels.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 12, 2015 | 11:27 am CDT
13 Composite Panel Plants Named Best in Safety
Thirteen composite panel facilities and one corporation were recognized for their safety achievements during the Composite Panel Association's annual spring meeting held last week in Bonita Springs, FL. Aurauco received the Safety Innovation Award.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 12, 2015 | 8:50 am CDT
Hardwood Ad Checkoff Amended, USDA Seeks Comments
The USDA is once again seeking public comments on the proposed Hardwood Checkoff program following seven editorial amendments made to the proposal. Similar to program such as "Got Milk," "Beef, It's What's for Dinner" and "Pork, the Other White Meat," the hardwood checkoff program would be a collective marketing effort funded by the lumber producers and run by an industry-governed board; coordinated through the USDA.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 10, 2015 | 3:59 pm CDT
Upholstered Furniture Maker H.M. Richards Expands Operations
GUNTOWN, MS — Upholstered furniture manufacturer H.M. Richards is investing $8 million to expand operations at its facility in Guntown, MS. The expansion is expected to create 500 jobs.Founded in 1997, H.M. Richards currently has 977 employees. For the expansion, the residential furniture maker is purchasing land adjacent to its 900,000-square-foot facility to build the new plant.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 9, 2015 | 9:45 am CDT
Producing Furniture: From the Ground Up
Full Grown takes zero-waste furniture manufacturing to new levels. Owned by designer Gavin Munro, the UK-based firm literally grows its furniture into the desired shapes. And with each piece of furniture produces, Munro says, "There's no way not to see it came from a tree.Read UK Designer Grows Complete Furniture Pieces on Woodworking Network.Visit Full Grown's website at FullGrown.co.UK
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 8, 2015 | 4:16 pm CDT
La-Z-Boy Opens New World Headquarters
MONROE, MI - Residential furniture maker La-Z-Boy celebrated on Friday the recent opening of its 200,000-square-foot, $60 million World Headquarters in Monroe, MI.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 8, 2015 | 12:33 pm CDT
Nucraft Expands Contract Furniture Facility
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Contract furniture maker Nucraft recently broke ground on a 47,700-square-foot expansion to its manufacturing facility. When completed, Nucraft will have nearly 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
“Nucraft is pleased to continue to invest in West Michigan, a community that we’ve called home since our founding in 1944,” said Matt Schad, CEO.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 4, 2015 | 2:52 pm CDT
Residential Furniture Importer Opens First US Plant; 150 Jobs Created
NEW ALBANY, MS — Furniture importer Emerald Home Furnishings is investing more than $2 million to open its first U.S.. furniture manufacturing plant, creating 150 jobs. Located in New Albany, MS, the production facility is the site of a former Hickory Springs plant.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 4, 2015 | 12:11 pm CDT
UK Designer Grows Complete Furniture Pieces
Gavin Munro has grown his business literally from the ground up. “We’ve taken a complete rethink of how wood is used as a material,” says Munro, a furniture designer and owner of Full Grown, an ecological, zero-waste producer of wood furniture.Instead of traditional methods — harvesting trees, milling, shaping and assembling the wood into furniture — “We’ve bypassed that completely and we now grow trees directly into the shapes and forms that we want,” he says.
By
Karen M. Koenig,
June 2, 2015 | 2:18 pm CDT