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Calling ALL Dealers, Manufacturers, Distributors and Designers/Builders
Please send your generosity and giving stories to be considered for our Heart of the Industry page. Submissions can be sent to: letters@retailobserver.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Calling ALL Dealers, Manufacturers, Distributors and Designers/Builders
Please send your generosity and giving stories to be considered for our Heart of the Industry page. Submissions can be sent to: letters@retailobserver.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
North Texas Factory Switches From Producing Furniture to Face Masks - The Leather Sofa Company in Lewisville is making face masks to help fill a critical gap in protective equipmentThe showroom at The Leather Furniture Company in Lewisville is quiet, but even though regular customer business is shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions, the factory behind the showroom is busy.
“I think Monday was the worst day I’ve ever had in my life,” said factory owner Mitch Lurie, who had to make the tough decision to send his employees home. After seeing local pleas for masks for doctors and nurses on social media, Lurie brought back as many employees as he could to get back to work. They’re not making sofas – they’ve now turned into a mask making machine, using all of the available sofa fabric materials. 
Half a million masks from China to Italy thanks to FederlegnoArredo, Salone del Mobile.Milano and VNU Exhibitions AsiaThanks to the mobilisation of the entire Chinese design world and furnishing industry, and the crucial input of VNU Exhibitions Asia (organisers of the Salone del Mobile.Milano Shanghai along with FLA China), FederlegnoArredo and the Salone del Mobile.Milano have managed to collect 545,000 masks (surgical masks and types FFP2, FFP3, KN95 and N95) at the Italian Embassy in Beijing, which will be delivered to the Italian Red Cross, which will distribute them amongst the health facilities most in need of immediate help.
FederlegnoArredo, Salone del Mobile.Milano and VNU Exhibitions Asia hope this gesture will underscore the fact that only by helping each other and pulling together can the challenges and dangers facing us today be overcome, and that every single contribution takes on a huge importance and an enormous human value in the complex battle against the COVID-19 virus decimating the whole world, and Italy in particular at this time, a country that has always enjoyed friendly relations with China and which provided support, assistance and help to the Chinese government as soon as the epidemic broke out in the province of Hubei. The Italian furniture and design industry has achieved amazing results in China over the last 20 years, and this has been made possible also thanks to the strong ties and friendship between Italian and Chinese professionals. This initiative, coordinated by VNU Exhibitions is thus not just an invaluable gesture of friendship and a means of helping Italy at this delicate time, it is also an expression of the desire and hope that we will all be able to start working together again as soon as possible, to further and bolster this profitable collaboration and achieve even better results for both countries. 
Serta Simmons Bedding to Donate 10,000 Mattresses to New York HospitalsSerta Simmons Bedding (SSB), the nation's largest bedding manufacturer, will donate 10,000 mattresses to New York City hospitals and temporary medical facilities fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is calling on its peers to do the same.
While the healthcare system's shortages of masks and ventilators have been heavily publicized, bedding is also expected to soon be dangerously scarce as the coronavirus spreads and hospitalizations surge. That is particularly the case in New York, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the state would soon require as many as 140,000 additional hospital beds; it currently has 53,000 in use. Beyond its 10,000 mattress donation, SSB also offered additional assistance, noting that its factories and expansive distribution network are capable of producing up to 20,000 beds per day at the lowest possible cost if needed. "As the largest American producer of mattresses, Serta Simmons Bedding is committed to ensuring those who are hospitalized have a bed available where they can receive care and heal," SSB Chairman and CEO David Swift said. "We're calling on our peers in the bedding industry to join us in addressing this need." SSB's donation, which is valued at $2 million, is being facilitated through its relationship with Relief Bed International, a nonprofit organization that provides beds to impoverished people and disaster victims around the world. LAKE INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES OPERATIONS SHIFT TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Since 1979, Lake Industries has been an international leader supplying distributors products that improve the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. We have been fortunate to build strong relationships with suppliers around the world and formidable supply chains that meet our customer’s needs. In light of the shortage of face masks, surgical gowns and face shields, we have tapped into our supplier network to procure and make available high-quality, PPE supplies at the most reasonable price possible to bring products that matter most to our customer’s communities.
To meet the immediate need, we are having face masks and other supplies flown in daily on a rush basis. Orders will be hand-delivered to Las Vegas healthcare providers and shipped to outside providers on a first-order, first-serve basis. “We plan to continue providing the essential supplies through Lake Industries for as long as the demand remains,” Saville Kellner, CEO of Lake Industries, stated. “In these unprecedented times, it’s gratifying for the Lake Industries team to carry out our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our customers, their families, and the communities they reside. We will continue to be here to accomplish this mission during and after the crisis.” PRICING AND AVAILABILITYLake Industries is doing its very best to keep a low price point and consistent daily volume of supplies, however, there are several factors driving up prices for most PPE supplies. “Every step of the supply chain is inflating the price of these essential items, and in some cases, disrupting the daily intake of supplies.” said Travis Keys, Chief Revenue Officer at Lake Industries. “Raw material prices have increase five-fold in the last two weeks, manufacturing equipment is impossible to obtain, and foreign governments are halting and confiscating shipments at their airports and borders. This increase in both cost and percentage of lost shipments is leading to an extremely fluid price point. We are working with many different manufacturers in order to minimize the risk to our supply chain.” TO ORDER:
Lake Industries is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. It can be reached by phone at 1-800-261-4501 or online at lakeindustries.com. Herndon's My Kitchen and Bath Will Deliver Groceries for Free to Local Community During COVID-19 RestrictionsMy Kitchen and Bath is dedicated to helping the community during the coronavirus-related restrictions in the Northern Virginia area. During this time, and as the spread of COVID-19 continues to be a growing concern, My Kitchen and Bath would like to help any single moms, the elderly or special needs adults with grocery delivery services.
Any interested parties should follow these instructions in order to have My Kitchen and Bath lend a helping hand:
Contact My Kitchen and Bath at 703-429-4323 or deliver@mykitchenandbath.com to get started.   MEMBERS OF NATIONWIDE DO WELL BY DOING GOODNationwide took advantage of PrimeTime to partner with No Child Hungry, the food distribution program of Orlando-based My Neighbor’s Children to harness the power of thousands of willing hands, all working together for good. On the heels of having packed over 125,000 meals at the group’s event in March, the group came to Las Vegas with a goal of matching their spring effort. According to Nationwide’s Strategy and Operations leader Sean Crane, they quickly realized reaching the goal was just the beginning.
Read More    WHIRLPOOL & KB HOME - RONALD MCDONALD HOUSESWhirlpool Corporation has joined KB Home’s 60 Acts of Kindness Effort in celebration of the home builder’s 60th anniversary. KB Home and Whirlpool Corporation will be working together to provide a new Whirlpool brand washer and dryer to 17 different Ronald McDonald Houses located in a KB Home market; one for each KB Home division. These appliances will service the needs of the families of critically ill children receiving medical treatment away from home.
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SPEED QUEEN - FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE  Speed Queen recently concluded its 2015 national sponsorship of Mudderella, an outdoor 5-7 mile obstacle course event designed for women. Speed Queen joined forces with Mudderella to promote their “Dirty for a Difference” campaign, which raised money for Futures Without Violence (FUTURES). FUTURES is a national nonprofit organization working to end violence against women, children, and families. Throughout the course of the program, Speed Queen donated a total of $30,000 to FUTURES, raising awareness for the cause and giving a voice to those who have been affected by domestic violence.
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TRUE MANUFACTURING - ROB'S RIDERSTrue Manufacturing is proud to join Pedal the Cause in the fight against cancer. The Trulaske and True Manufacturing family have been affected by cancer in many ways. Their founder of True Food Service, Rob Trulaske, passed away after a valiant battle to overcome cancer in 2008. Many of their cherished team members and families have also fought the good fight. Pedal the Cause is True Manufacturing's exclusive annual fundraising_ event because they want to see a world without cancer! Rob's Riders ride with TRUE pride.
    BRANDSOURCE BUILDS BICYCLES FOR PHOENIX-AREA CHILDREN’S CHARITIES
Christmas is a time for giving. And BrandSource executives did just that this past holiday season as they built and donated two dozen brand new bicycles for Phoenix-area children’s charities including the Boys & Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House and The Salvation Army.
During the annual BrandSource executive leadership conference at the Arizona Grand Resort, nearly 200 participants consisting of members, staff and vendors broke up into groups and assembled the bicycles as part of a team-building exercise. Each team had to complete a series of challenges to ‘earn’ the bike components, such as moving objects without the use of hands or being the first team to answer a series of trivia questions. Read More    Friedrich Air Conditioning - DYCD & NYCHATo help keep young people and families cool on hot summer days and nights, Friedrich’s donated 150 air conditioners to Cornerstone Programs now operating extended evening hours at New York City Housing Authority Community Centers - 38 centers were selected based on their need for air conditioning or replacement of their existing units.
“For over 60 years the people of New York have supported Friedrich Air Conditioning—you can see our units keeping New Yorkers cool across the City,” said Wink Chapman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Friedrich Air Conditioning. “It is a privilege for us to work with the City on its mission to improve the quality of life for thousands of New Yorkers this summer and throughout the year.” Find Out More!    Whirlpool & Maytag - HomeAid AmericaMore than 630,000 people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. To support those in need, Maytag brand is teaming up with HomeAid America to help supply temporary shelter for homeless families working to get back on their feet. As part of the partnership, Maytag will contribute appliances and funding to HomeAid, a non-profit organization that builds and renovates multi-unit shelters for America’s temporary homeless families and individuals. To date, HomeAid has built more than 350 housing projects nationwide at a value of more than $200 million – nearly 50 percent of which was donated by the building industry.
“Now more than ever there are people in America that need help, and Whirlpool Corporation has always been a leader in assisting with safe and secure shelter,” said Bob Bergeth, general manager, Whirlpool Corporation builder sales. “Just as Maytag brand is known for dependability, HomeAid has served as a dependable lifeline for thousands of Americans who needed a place to stay as they rebuilt their lives. For this reason, we’re very pleased to partner with HomeAid.” Find Out More!   Snow Brothers Appliance – American Cancer Society
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