CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — ServeCo North America has launched two upgrades to its software suite of services, rebuilding its call center call management software and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

During the first phase of the rebuild, completed in September, ServeCo overhauled the call center software, with improvements in monitoring answer speed and handling time, reporting and support for workspaces.

“More than changing phone providers, we wanted to have a platform that we could manage and direct inbound calls to a service advisor’s individualized skill set,” said CEO Tony Milano. “This cutting edge approach to call disbursement supports our customized product offering and graduated training initiative to assure that customers will be engaged with team members that can help them most.”

During the second phase launched this month, the company launched a pilot of its custom CRM solution. In development since 2021, it provides a consumer portal capable of allowing customers to manage their entire service process, a consumer and technician mobile application, service contract validation analysis, real-time service updates to consumers, clients and technicians as well as customized reporting.

ServeCo plans a full rollout of the CRM solution by the end of 2023 with a future enhancements outlined for the next five years.

See also:

• ServeCo North America hires Wayfair veteran for new service position
• ServeCo North America adds new SVP post

The post ServeCo North America launches 2 software upgrades appeared first on Furniture Today.

FONTANA, Calif. — GigaCloud Technology, a provider of e-commerce solutions for large parcel merchandise, has leased a new warehouse located here.

The new location, its 17th in the U.S., will add 423,400 square feet to GigaCloud’s overall warehouse space, increasing U.S. space by 9.3% to more than 5 million square feet total, with total global warehouse network space at approximately 5.6 million square feet.

“Our Fontana warehouse is the fourth new warehouse the company has opened in the past three months, a clear indication of the ongoing demand for our supplier fulfilled retailing business model and continued organic growth of our GigaCloud Marketplace,” said Iman Schrock, president. “The expansion of our warehouse footprint increases the efficiency of our network by enhancing our seamless load balancing and fulfillment capabilities.”

See also:

• GigaCloud named stalking horse for bankrupt furniture maker and retailer
• GigaCloud posts sharp increases for Q2

The post Technology company adds 17th warehouse in U.S. appeared first on Furniture Today.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —As part of its free series of seminars on the benefits of 3D and artificial intelligence, Imagine.io is hosting a webinar on “Unveiling the Power of A.I. and 3D in Visual Content Production.”

The webinar is set for 2 p.m. EST, Nov. 1.

Founder and CEO Preet Singh and Vice President of Creative Services Surbhi Kohil will discuss how to increase the speed of visual content production – imagery, video, augmented reality, 3D configurators – by 99% with A.I. Also, they will cover the role of 3D in the creative and design process, and how Imagine.io users can edit and customize A.I.-generated visuals. The presentation concludes with an interactive Q&A session.

“We know there is a need for increased adoption of A.I. in the home furnishings industry, especially for content visuals,” said Singh. “Furniture and home furnishings companies require highly detailed and accurate product visuals, and we found that when A.I. is combined with 3D, the speed and quality of visual content is unmatched.”

To register for the webinar, visit the Imagine.io website.

See also:

• Small businesses plan big: It’s deals and A.I. this holiday season
• Flying planes, saving pets, and changing business: Innovation Event keynote says A.I. here to stay

The post How can A.I. boost visual content production? Imagine.io answers with seminar appeared first on Furniture Today.

CINCINNATI — Tennis great Andre Agassi once said, “Image is everything.” Nowhere is that truer than a retailer’s webpage.

Cincinnati-based Furniture Fair found itself wanting for imagery, particularly 3D imagery, after a former partner ceased to offer the service, but it found what it needed in a new partnership with Nfinite.

The French company, which has U.S. headquarters in San Francisco, helps retailers develop product imagery at scale without needing photography by using 3D and CGI to automate product visuals for hundreds and thousands of products for a retailer.

“We’re getting so many more images,” Craig Daniels, Furniture Fair’s marketing director, told Furniture Today. “We’re bulk uploading the required images, and they’re building these beautiful CGI room settings and white room settings in a fraction of the time.”

Bradley Anderson, who handles strategic sales for Nfinite, said the company’s offerings enable Furniture Fair four advantages.

“Our work with Furniture Fair centers around helping their team develop compelling product visuals without the need for photography and helping them with providing greater context through visuals online and in printed materials; enabling flexibility for the team to customize and build each visual scene quickly using only Furniture Fair products; differentiating Furniture Fair from competitors working with the same vendors; creating rich/full product detail page that inform and inspire, which drives conversions both on- and off-line, and helping to materially drive down item return frequency, which is an expensive problem for many retailers,” Anderson said.

Daniels said the speed in which images are turned around is a potential game changer. “It’s cutting back on time. The person running the photo studio is just taking photos on her iPhone of angles they need, bulk uploading, and we’re getting a plethora of images for our website and ads,” he said.

One specific project involved a high-resolution image for a print display for a “small space living” area for products that fit dorm and apartment living.

“The original layout needed product adjustments and scaling for print; in a traditional photoshoot this would have been difficult to accomplish after the fact,” said Anderson. “Our team expertly moved products and scaled the image to fit their desired output in a short time. The finished output is an inviting and natural looking space with warm tones.”

And while it’s early in the relationship, Daniels is hopeful that having more, better images means more clicks and more online sales.

“We haven’t had enough data yet to do a case study, but we’re hopeful this will boost average ticket, engagement and will help lead to longer time spent on page because they’re looking at more photos and obviously conversion rate on the website,” Daniels said.

See also:

• How much did Furniture Fair’s golf tourney raise for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?
• Furniture Fair eyes first store in this hot Indiana metro

The post Picture this: Partnership boosts Ohio retailer’s visual presence appeared first on Furniture Today.

OSLO, Norway – A small startup in Norway is hoping to bring sustainability to the furniture industry on a new level, and through an unlikely source: Seaweed.

Agoprene is an Oslo- and Copenhagen-based biotech company recently founded by Celine Sandberg that’s working to develop a sustainable alternative to the oil-based foam widely used in furniture. Seaweed, Sandberg says, is a great candidate material, as the petroleum currently used to make foam is itself a product of biomass degraded over time.

“You can, in theory, use biomass to replace petroleum,” Sandberg told Wired. “In the furniture industry, everyone knows that foam is bad for the environment, and no one wants to use it, but there are no other alternatives. I want to supply an alternative to what we have today, with no petrochemicals.”

Sandberg started Agoprene with the intention of developing a furniture foam made of biomass but didn’t yet decide on seaweed specifically. But over the pandemic, she found herself forced to source biomass from Norway only, as access to European suppliers was cut off. Norway has the second longest coastline in the world, she says, which gave her the idea of seaweed.

Agoprene has been given funding from several science-based research organizations, including around $90,000 from the Norwegian Research Council and around $525,000 from the BioInnovation Institute Venture Lab in Denmark. Per the Venture Lab funding, the company has been given access to a bigger lab, as well as support and advice for developing a business plan and hiring a larger team.

The company has developed samples of its seaweed foam, recently completing a four-week pilot production. Sandberg told Wired she has gotten inquiries from furniture manufacturers, as well as a shoemaker and a soundproofing company.

She hopes to hit the market by the end of 2023.

See also:

• Case goods vendors ask: Do consumers want sustainable furniture? And will they pay more for it?
• How to use sustainability as a selling point

The post Startup aims to take furniture sustainability up a notch… with seaweed appeared first on Furniture Today.

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — Floor covering and home accents manufacturer Nourison Home has launched a room visualizer on its website that allows customers to view Nourison rugs and carpets with their own room images.

Customers can select from thousands of styles in various sizes and upload their own room images for visualization or choose from pre-selected rooms.

“We carefully considered several options when selecting a visualizer,” said Andrew Peykar, president. “We wanted an advanced solution that would allow customers the ability to see how our rugs and carpets would enhance their homes before committing to a purchase. Our room visualizer also is available to Nourison Home retailers and allows customers and dealers an easy way to engage with our products and make the right purchase.”

Nourison Home’s room visualizer is currently available online and can be accessed from each area and broadloom carpet product page.

Nourison Home is a family-owned company with a product assortment that includes licensed collections from brands such as Calvin Klein, Inspire Me! Home Decor by Farah Merhi, Nicole Curtis, Waverly and Christopher Guy. In addition to area rugs and broadloom carpets, the company offers home accessories and lighting, too.

See also:

• 2023 People to Watch | Andrew Peykar, Nourison Home
• Name change ushers in new era for Nourison

The post How will it look? Nourison Home adds website tool to help customers visualize appeared first on Furniture Today.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — La-Z-Boy has launched next-gen 3D product configuration and WebAR OnDemand technology as part of its investment in new shopping and brand experiences on its digital platform.

The upgraded product configurators and the addition of appless AR, powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent, provide an immersive brand experience that bridges online product research with the in-store experience.

WebAR On Demand offers more than 29 million possible configurations quickly and easily available to consumers. La-Z-Boy uses the technology to automate 3D content creation and deploy WebAR at scale.

“AR is table stakes for today’s furniture shopper. La-Z-Boy customers love it, so we set out to provide AR for every buyable option in our highly configurable catalog,” said Jill Brown Thomas, senior director of digital commerce at La-Z-Boy. “The 3D Cloud product experience platform and 3D Cloud Product Configurator make personalization at scale easy.  Shoppers can configure their desired product from millions of possible combinations and preview them in AR without any catalog knowledge and without an app.”

In addition, La-Z-Boy’s in-house design program uses the 3D Cloud Room Planner to deliver customized floorplans with photorealistic 3D renderings to design clients.

“This program exemplifies the Century Vision strategic plan in action,” said Brown Thomas, adding, “Our data show that, when customers conduct online research, they arrive at the store better informed, resulting in a more satisfying buying experience and ultimate product satisfaction.”

See also:

• Bullseye: La-Z-Boy hits its Q1 targets despite tough comparisons
• ‘The value of comfort’: why La-Z-Boy is recrafting its image

The post See what La-Z-Boy is doing with the latest AR technology appeared first on Furniture Today.

MEXICO – Furniture manufacturers and factories south of the border now can use Lectra’s Furniture On Demand production software, thanks to a recent expansion into Mexico.

Lectra’s cloud-based Furniture on Demand software allows manufacturers to offer customization to consumers through their website, which connects directly to the cutting machinery on the factory floor. Patterns, material specs and other production rules are pre-loaded into the system. Manufacturers can automate the pairing of multiple orders for max fabric yield, for example, as well as the cutting of plain fabric.

Other highlights include a digital fabric library, the capability to send orders to cutting in just minutes and optimized cost per piece, according to Lectra. As a result, companies can improve their flexibility and offer a larger and broader range of products.

“The furniture industry has undergone a major transformation post pandemic as more and more products are being made to order and customization continues to grow in importance for consumers,” said Leonard Marano, Lectra president. “As a result of this increase in demand, customers in all markets are rethinking their supply chain and turning to Industry 4.0 solutions such as Furniture On Demand.”

Lectra says by manufacturing after order reception, furniture companies are able to avoid overstocking their inventories and reduce waste, while increasing their sustainability efforts. Companies will also be able to combat labor shortages currently facing the industry by limiting the dependence on expertise thanks to digitalizing manual tasks.

See also:

• New sourcing startup connects producers with Mexican factories
• Efforts to reshore furniture manufacturing may be dwindling

The post Cloud-based software now enables Mexican furniture factories to automate upholstery production appeared first on Furniture Today.

LOS ANGELES — Offering to “add high-octane fuel based on what I know and do,” Antoine Grant, who took over as owner and CEO of online furniture and home furnishings retailer HomeThreads in May, is looking to take the company to the next level, including with an offline strategy.

“HomeThreads presented me with a lot of great raw material,” said Grant. “Our goal is to revolutionize home design through technology and to meet customers where they are.”

Grant, who at one point oversaw Wayfair’s $1 billion plumbing, vanities and hardware businesses, said he has always loved the home space and is now using the logistics, consumer and business development experience gained at the major online retailer and elsewhere at HomeThreads.

HomeThread’s founders — Neil Marcus and Brad Bruckner — are continuing with the business, said Grant, as is the rest of the team. Grant noted Marcus and Bruckner founded the direct-to-consumer company in 2017 as frustrated online shoppers and deployed technology to streamline processes such as product discovery.

Just as Google goes through millions of data points to pinpoint information that answers a user’s question, so too, said Grant, does the tech platform used by HomeThreads.

“We’re taking a similar mindset into shopping,” he said, narrowing the choices and giving customers a focused selection that is relevant to their space. Along with the proprietary back-end and front-end technology that allows HomeThreads to build new features, they are layering in A.I. based on individual shopper data.

“We have fertile ground to grow through better understanding of our customers,” he said.

Additionally, they are working with their supplier community, which includes many major furniture and home furnishings companies, to expand lines or create products that fit what consumers are seeking. “We see ourselves working with brands and being the connective tissue between the manufacturer and the consumer,” Grant explained.

While Grant acknowledges there are plenty of players in the furniture space — brick-and-mortar and digital-first — HomeThreads wants to stand out by focusing on four key areas: digital innovation, relying heavily on technology to solve customers’ frustrations; product quality, taking a “better is better” approach; personalized experience, using generative A.I.; and with a relevant, curated assortment.

An important next step is the see how HomeThreads can move beyond its e-commerce presence into the physical world. “We need a 360 approach to get in front of the customers because we know they get their inspiration everywhere,” said Grant.

The offline strategy may begin with pop-up stores, which have been successfully used by other online retailers. One version could involve celebrities, designers or influencers, he said, or it could be a more room-focused.

“To create a good company, you need to have different touchpoints,” said Grant.

He also envisions HomeThreads as an ongoing partner for shoppers as they move or remodel or refresh their homes, not just a one-and-done stop. Most people, himself included, said Grant, live in a multifunctional space that continues to evolve.

“We want HomeThreads to be people’s sidekick, their sherpa, their guide — and go with them for the rest of their life,” he said.

See also:

• New brand Floof positions dec pillows as the next DTC must-have
• The Citizenry’s vision for growth? A ‘long furniture pipeline’ lies ahead

The post New owner promises to bring energy, ideas to DTC retailer HomeThreads appeared first on Furniture Today.

In this sixth annual edition, Furniture Today spotlights 20 industry leaders and top executives (plus one honorable mention) whose career path and possible trajectory make them People to Watch. These are among the ranks of those who are using their talents, drive and determination to make a difference in their companies and in the furniture industry.

• Anthony Brooks, Brooks Xpress
• Marissa Brown, Stickley
• Nathan Cressman, Magnussen Home
• Kyle Deets, Deets Furniture
• John Eck, Mattress Firm
• Valerie Berman-Knight, Roomplace
• Stephen Kuhl, Burrow
• Rick Lovegrove, Four Hands
• Charlie Malouf, Broad River Retail
• Karen McNeill, AHF Hall of Fame Foundation
• John Merwin, 3Z Brands
• John Moray, Gorman’s
• Shawn Nelson, Lovesac
• Karen Olsen, Andmore
• Andrew Peykar, Nourison Home
• John Reed, Arhaus
• Jeff Seaman, Rooms To Go
• Stewart Shaeffer, Sleep Country Canada
• Scott Thompson, Tempur Sealy
• Becky Weber, M brand
• ChatGPT

See also: The People Issue names 2023’s 40 Under 40 | FT Exclusive

The post See our 20 People to Watch in the 6th annual People Issue | FT Exclusive appeared first on Furniture Today.