Ashley Homestores of Fort Wayne and Mishawaka and Homerooms Furniture & Mattress issued this news release today:
A group of local businesses are partnering up, to take the National Coronavirus Crisis head on to help their local communities, with the production of PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) Hoods for our frontline caregivers.
The Owners of the local retail Ashley Homestores of Ft. Wayne and Mishawaka & Homerooms Furniture & Mattress have partnered up with Brace Weiland the Founder of Transformations Furniture, a local manufacturer, to produce the high demand masks by sourcing and trucking over 10,000 yards of the needed fabric and materials from Pennsylvania back to Fort Wayne, where they will be able to manufacture an additional 30,000 protective hoods for those in our area.
The PAPR hoods are used to safeguard workers in contaminated environments and are specifically designed to provide healthcare professionals with superior respiratory protection against a range of infectious diseases.
Loren Klopfenstein, Owner of the Ft. Wayne Ashley Homestores and Homerooms Furniture & Mattress, commented, "When the opportunity to partner, presented itself we knew we had to do this for our Community. Our business is centered around people and families being comfortable and loving their homes. Safety of our community will help us all feel a little more comfortable in these uncertain times."
The Ashley Homestore/HomeRooms Truck picked up the material and made the long haul back to Fort Wayne on April 2nd to deliver the material for production to begin immediately of the PAPR Masks. Both Companies are going above and beyond their normal operations at this time and are helping to support staying home and staying safe, during the state imposed Stay-at-Home order started on March 23rd, 2020.
How To Make a DIY Mid Century Modern TV Stand | Woodworking
Law360 (April 6, 2020, 5:44 PM EDT) -- Citing a "parade of unfortunate events," a Delaware judge on Monday approved the conversion of home furnishing retailer Art Van Furniture LLC's bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on its Chapter 11 sale plans.
During a hearing held via telephone due to the ongoing public health crisis, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher S. Sontchi said he felt sympathy for stakeholders as circumstances worsened and the novel coronavirus crisis caused Art Van to change course in its bankruptcy and seek the Chapter 7 conversion.
"This case is very unfortunate," Judge Sontchi said. "It has really been a parade of unfortunate events."
Art Van filed its Chapter 11 petition early last month, citing extreme market conditions for its retreat into bankruptcy and carrying more than $200 million in debt. The company hit bankruptcy with plans to close down all but 44 of its stores while selling the remaining as a going concern.
However, Art Van closed all 169 of its retail locations March 19 after the governors of Michigan, Maryland and Pennsylvania — among others — instituted restrictions on the operation of nonessential businesses in an effort to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. The store-closing sales were halted by the shutdowns, and the going-concern sale was terminated.
Founded in 1959, Art Van operated 169 furniture and mattress stores in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri and Virginia under the names Art Van, Pure Sleep, Scott Shuptrine Interiors, Levin Furniture, Levin Mattress and Wolf Furniture.
Art Van's bankruptcy is set to officially convert to a Chapter 7 early on Tuesday, with a trustee to take over as operations wind down. Most employees have already been terminated, and the company is set to turn over its records to the trustee this week, according to comments in court.
"Everyone wishes the circumstances were otherwise," Art Van attorney Gregory W. Werkheiser of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff said.
At a hearing last week, Art Van told the court that it did not have enough cash to pay its currently accrued obligations without additional access to money from secured asset-based loan provider Wells Fargo, and that no revenue was coming in after it was forced to close all of its stores and terminate most of its roughly 4,000 employees on March 19 due to the state orders.
At that hearing, Wells Fargo attorney Jennifer Feldsher of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP said the economic conditions for Art Van were cataclysmic.
While the lender has funded all previous payroll requests that have come from the debtor, she said that the termination of the majority of its workforce has led to Art Van seeking funding for unbudgeted expenses related to unpaid paid-time-off accruals, earned sales commissions and health care obligations associated with the debtor's self-funded insurance plans.
In total, she said, there are $14 million in employee obligations as well as $2.5 million in professional fees carved out of the budget for the debtor's legal and business advisers. Werkheiser said at last month's hearing that Art Van had less than $13 million in its accounts, and no new revenue was coming in following the closure of its stores.
A proposal to suspend operations until Art Van could restart going-out-of-business sales and try to revive the going-concern transaction would require more funding than Wells Fargo was willing to provide given current economic circumstances, Wells Fargo said.
With no further chance to use lender collateral to fund operations during a Chapter 11, Art Van said it was forced to seek conversion to the Chapter 7 liquidation.
Art Van is represented by Gregory W. Werkheiser, Michael J. Barrie, Jennifer Hoover, Kevin Capuzzi and John C. Gentile of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, and Marc J. Phillips and Maura I. Russell of Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP.
Secured lender Wells Fargo is represented by J. Cory Falgowski of Burr & Forman LLP, and Marjorie S. Crider, Christopher L. Carter and Jennifer Feldsher of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.
The case is In re: Art Van Furniture LLC et al., case number 1:20-bk-10553, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
--Additional reporting by Vince Sullivan. Editing by Alanna Weissman.
For a reprint of this article, please contact reprints@law360.com.
36 Pieces Of Furniture And Decor That Only Look Expensive Looking for more stuff to help make your house a home? Check out the best places to buy inexpensive furniture online, the best places to buy couches online, cute home decor you'll wish you knew about sooner, or check out all of our home content for even more great ideas. back to top
36 Dollar Store Tricks Every Smart Person Should Know
Gardening is all very well, but have you tried curling up on a sunlounger — with an espresso martini at your elbow — and watching a movie? As well as a boom in buying seeds and compost since the lockdown, there has also been a rush to acquire the kit for some more indulgent outdoor pursuits.
Demand has soared for portable hot tubs, whose sales at Studio.co.uk last month were up 235.5% compared with March 2019. Its heated inflatable spa (£249.99) will probably have sold out by the time you read this. (Consider that a bullet dodged.) Terrace cushions have evolved, growing in size and comfort, and we have seen the birth of the terrace mattress. Who wants to perch when you can sprawl, after
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Folding furniture market research report provides detailed analysis on emerging market trends, regional outlook, competitive landscape, and a comprehensive analysis on different market segments. The folding furniture market is poised to grow by USD 3.84 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period. Request Latest Free Sample Report of Folding Furniture Market
The folding furniture market report provides detailed analysis of market overview, market drivers, opportunities, and its potential application.
Top Key Players of Folding Furniture Market Covered as:
Dorel Industries
La-Z-Boy
Lifetime Products
Meco
Walmart
The increasing demand for space-saving furniture is driving the growth of the global folding furniture market. Other growth drivers include increasing number of office spaces and rise in online sales.
The folding furniture market research report gives an overview of folding furniture industries by analyzing various key segments of this market based on the distribution channel and geographic landscape.
Have a query before purchasing folding furniture market report @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30602
Folding Furniture Market Split by Distribution Channel
Folding Furniture Market Split by Geographic Landscape
The regional distribution of folding furniture market industries is considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the international market over the period from 2019-2023.
The folding furniture market research report sheds light on foremost regions: China, the US, UK, and Japan
Imperative Insights on the following aspects:
What was the size of the folding furniture industry by value in 2019?
What will be the size of the folding furniture industry in 2023?
What factors are affecting the strength of competition in the folding furniture industry?
How has the industry performed over the last five years?
What are the main segments that make up the folding furniture market?
Folding furniture market research report presents critical information and factual data about folding furniture industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in folding furniture market study.
The product range of the folding furniture industry is examined based on their production chain, pricing of products and the profit generated by them. Various regional markets are analyzed in folding furniture market research report and the production volume and efficacy across the world is discussed.
Why buy?
Identify factors affecting growth prospects across markets.
Track competitor gains and losses in market share.
The folding furniture market research report gives an overview of folding furniture industry by analyzing various key segments of this folding furniture market based on the distribution channel and geographic landscape. The regional distribution of the folding furniture market across the globe are considered for this folding furniture industry analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the folding furniture market over the period from 2019 to forecasted year.
Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.
Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform
Table of Content:
PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT
2.1 Preface
2.2 Preface
2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$
PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE
Market ecosystem
Market characteristics
Market segmentation analysis
PART 04: MARKET SIZING
Market definition
Market sizing 2018
Market size and forecast 2018-2023
PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS
Bargaining power of buyers
Bargaining power of suppliers
Threat of new entrants
Threat of substitutes
Threat of rivalry
Market condition
PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
Market segmentation by distribution channel
Comparison by distribution channel
Offline distribution - Market size and forecast 2018-2023
Online distribution - Market size and forecast 2018-2023
Market opportunity by distribution channel
PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE
PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE
Geographic segmentation
Geographic comparison
APAC - Market size and forecast 2018-2023
Americas - Market size and forecast 2018-2023
EMEA - Market size and forecast 2018-2023
Key leading countries
Market opportunity
PART 09: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES
Market drivers
Market challenges
PART 10: MARKET TRENDS
PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE
Overview
Landscape disruption
Competitive scenario
PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS
Vendors covered
Vendor classification
Market positioning of vendors
Dorel Industries
La-Z-Boy
Lifetime Products
Meco
Walmart
PART 13: APPENDIX
Research methodology
List of abbreviations
Browse folding furniture market related details @ https://www.technavio.com/report/global-folding-furniture-market-industry-analysis
About Us
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Dr. Michael Lin: Coronavirus and COVID-19: The Basic Biology Behind the Epidemic
"Chilling Effect" of Silencing Workers Could Be Deadly Say Teamsters
NEWARK, N.J., April 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal counsel for The Professional Mover's Union, Teamsters Local 814, has filed unfair labor practice charges against Cort Furniture, a Berkshire-Hathaway subsidiary. The charges filed today with the National Labor Relations Board are based on what union officials say was the retaliatory firing of 19 workers, most of whom had spoken out about poor coronavirus safety practices and who had also recently signed cards to unionize.
The fired whistleblowers and their coworkers launched an online petition signed by a majority of the drivers, helpers, and warehouse workers, demanding their reinstatement and adequate safety equipment and workplace protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19.
"I was complaining to CORT's management about protecting my coworkers from coronavirus, but instead of listening, they fired me," said Walter Infante, a former CORT driver. "Just days after we petitioned for a union election on March 10, subcontracted trucks started coming in to do our work daily. Then, a few days after that, the Area Manager told us that our positions were eliminated because the COVID outbreak meant there wasn't enough work, even though CORT continues to use subcontracted trucks. We are hopeful that the NLRB will find the Unfair Labor Practice charge in our favor."
According to workers, the company was slow to provide workers any personal protective equipment (PPE) at all, not handing out anything until March 20. Workers kept asking for better protective gear and new protocols on distancing and other safety measures but were largely ignored, they say. Gloves and goggles were finally issued to some workers, although many workers said the gloves were too small and couldn't be worn without tearing.
In addition, social distancing recommendations were also allegedly disregarded as workers claim that groups of five to six employees were being ordered to attend meetings with management about why they shouldn't pursue unionization.
"During this crisis, we haven't felt protected at all," said Anthony Salcedo, another CORT driver. "The company ignored our safety concerns and seemed like they were more concerned with stopping us from having a union than with protecting their employees. Instead of listening to our requests to stagger shifts, and take other measures, the company actually hired extra sub-contractors and increased the amount of employees working during this time."
According to workers, the company plans to close the operation tomorrow for two weeks. It is unclear if the potential closure is related to the union and workers asking the State of New Jersey to investigate whether or not the hiring of additional sub-contractors was a violation of Executive Order 107.
Local 814 Organizer Sasha Hammad says that either way, the closure does nothing to remedy the firing of the whistle-blowing employees.
"To fire workers advocating for better safety protocols, in the midst of a global health crisis, isn't just irresponsible, it's also illegal," Hammad said. "CORT is trying to intimidate workers who just want to better protect their colleagues, their families, and the company's own customers. This is part of a pattern being followed by Amazon and other large employers that are profiting off of their status as an essential business during this crisis, while at the same time tamping down on workers' right to organize and improve their families' future."
"We're in touch with Governor Murphy and we're calling on OSHA, the Department of Labor and the NLRB to immediately intervene," says Julian Tysh, the union's Political Coordinator. "Companies like CORT cannot be allowed to retaliate against workers who are speaking up to help stop the spread of this virus -- the chilling effect of that could be deadly."
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-charges-filed-by-teamsters-against-warren-buffett-owned-furniture-firm-for-mass-firing-of-coronavirus-whistleblowers-union-supporters-301034484.html
SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 16
Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren's Health Care Plan Met With Harsh Criticism
A 59-year-old Birmingham man has been charged and arrested in last month's theft of patio furniture from a Hoover restaurant.
Hoover police on Wednesday announced the arrest of Darryl Varner. He is charged with second-degree theft of property.
Authorities said investigators received a tip about Varner's identity after details about the theft were circulated on social media. They secured warrants against him on Friday and he turned himself in on Wednesday.
The theft happened between 10 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday, March 23, at Tre Luna Bar and Kitchen on Brocks Gap Parkway, according to Hoover police. "We are heartbroken and sad to report that during the worst of times, the very worst in humanity will appear,'' the restaurant posted on Facebook. "Last night all of our outdoor seating (barstools and chairs and a table) were stolen."
According to police, the suspect was driving a black SUV – believed to be a Cadillac Escalade – and pulling a trailer. Surveillance cameras captured an image of the suspect, and the SUV which were then distributed to the media and posted to social media.
Varner will be transferred from the Hoover City Jail to the Jefferson County Jail. His bond is set at $7,500.
Police are still hoping to recover the stolen furniture and return it to the restaurant.
"This case represents more than just a theft,'' said Capt. Gregg Rector. "Our detectives take great pride in solving every case that they can."
"Our business owners and residents deserve our best effort and that's what they're going to get,'' he said. "We may sound like a broke record but we're just not going to tolerate criminal activity."
