Help on the way
Industry gives money, goods for relief
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, September 23, 2001
HIGH POINT — The furniture industry has jumped into relief efforts for victims of the recent terrorist attacks, donating what could turn out to be millions of dollars, along with many items, for those most in need.
In an effort hatched by Chief Executive Officer Scott Hymas, Salt Lake City-based retailer R.C. Willey is giving $25,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On the Friday following the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, it set up stations outside each store encouraging employees and consumers to join the program.
The retailer was still counting last week, but it looked like the one-day effort would raise about $247,000, said Bill Child, chairman.
The event was incredibly touching, he said, adding that kids were breaking piggy banks. Elderly people using walkers, homeless people and others also were coming in to contribute.
In one respect, "We didn't have a good day," Child said.
"Business was down about one-third over a year ago. However, it was a good day."
Avon, Mass.-based Jordan's Furniture had scheduled its employee appreciation night for the Sunday following the attacks and fretted, at first, if it was wise to go through with it.
"We had mixed feelings ... but decided it would be, in fact, a very good time to come together as a company and really appreciate each other," said Heather Copelas, public relations director Jordan's chiefs, Barry and Eliot Tatelman, treated all employees to the Broadway show "Mamma Mia" and a '70s party afterward. They also announced the company would match every dollar employees contributed to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. And the Tatelmans, personally, would match it again.
Copelas said Jordan's collected more than $3,000 that night. The offer runs through Sept. 28.
In the aftermath of the tragic events of Sept. 11, office furniture producer Haworth and its employees expressed their sympathy and support for victims, survivors and rescue workers with an immediate gift of $350,000 and a total commitment of up to $1 million toward rescue and recovery efforts.
"We suffer, struggle and heal together as a company, as a community and as Americans. It is our honor and privilege to do all that we can to help America recover and rebuild," said Haworth President and CEO Gerald Johanneson.
Haworth has furniture on its way to the Pentagon and to government agencies working on rescue and recovery. The company also is donating panels, desks, chairs and files it has on hand.
Haworth opened its offices, showrooms and warehouses in the New York area to businesses that need new work quarters. An estimated 10% to 15% of New York's total office space has been destroyed or damaged.
On a long drive home from premarket in High Point, Bob Berman, president of Furniture Express in Romulus, Mich., listened to news reports and decided he had to do something to help.
All nine of his stores are serving as donation depots for the American Red Cross. Berman pledged to match the first $25,000 raised, and the response was generous.
"We generated more than $11,000 in six days," said Rick Schwartz, Furniture Express vice president of sales. "We're committed to this for at least 30 days because, like everyone else, we're just trying to help in any way we can."
In memory of the police and firemen who lost their lives in the rescue efforts, Alderman Studios and its employees are donating a bomb-sniffing dog to the High Point police.
Pete Williams, chairman of Alderman, which does extensive work for the furniture industry, said these specially trained dogs typically cost between $5,000 to $15,000. He was able to purchase one for about $6,000.
Williams, himself a victim of bomb threats to a former business, said he got the idea to buy the dog, in part, while watching rescue efforts at the World Trade Center.
"I told the High Point police that all we ask is that they nickname the dog 911, both for the emergency number and to remember the date of the terrible attack," Williams said.
Some stores showed respect for victims by limiting or dropping advertising altogether following the attacks. R.C. Willey dropped broadcast advertising over the weekend and Raymour & Flanigan pulled its normal advertising for the week.
Raymour did produce a special TV spot expressing its sympathy and support, urging viewers to donate to the Red Cross and help with blood drives. The retailer also was attempting to arrange a blood drive in its stores, and made a contribution to the Red Cross for an undisclosed amount.
Other efforts include:
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Cleveland-based OfficeMax pledged $1 million in college scholarships for families of rescue workers killed, through its OfficeMax Charitable Foundation arm. "At a time like this, it's not business as usual and a new priority emerges of helping to lessen the pain and suffering of victims," said Michael Feuer, chairman and CEO.
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Mastercraft Interiors of Beltsville, Md., will donate $10,000 from its September Warehouse sales to three agencies involved in relief efforts — the American Red Cross 911 Fund4Relief, The September 11 Fund of the United Way, and the New York Fire Fighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.
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American Furniture Warehouse in Denver set up donation centers at all stores for the American Red Cross and also donated $5,000 to the organization — money originally pledged for another event that was canceled in the wake of the attacks. The retailer devoted a full-page ad in the Sunday Denver Post to a color image of the American flag, subsequently displayed in cars and homes throughout the city.
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Pier 1 Imports of Fort Worth, Texas, pledged $25,000 to the Red Cross and is encouraging employees to donate. The company expects to send upwards of $40,000 to the organization and is asking the money be used to help children and families of those who lost lives.
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Leggett & Platt's Steel Products division sent 200 rollaway beds with mattresses to New York to fire and rescue crews.
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Little Canada, Minn.-based Sumberland worked with the Red Cross to encourage employees to donate blood, and is matching all monetary donations by employees.
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As it has after other disasters, Value City of Columbus, Ohio, will work with a local TV station to provide goods or other contributions.
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Wheeling, Ill.-based Wickes Furniture made an undisclosed contribution to the New York Firefighters Fund.
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Atlanta-based Havertys President and CEO Jay Slater has donated $1,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and the company plans its own donation.
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New York's Basics Furniture has set up a relief fund and is inviting industry contributions. The retailer plans to support a select number of relief projects on an ongoing basis. It also is selling T-shirts with a red, white and blue ribbon image, with all profits going toward relief.
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New York's Sleepy's chain donated more than 200 cots to assist workers and victims in the attacks.
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Office furniture dealer Corporate Interiors of Delaware conducted a company-wide drive to fill a 24-foot truck with such supplies as work gloves, face masks and bottled water. The goods, all paid for by employees, were driven by two company volunteers to New York the weekend after the attack.
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Breuners Home Furnishings Corp. of Lancaster, Pa., is raising funds at its stores to help relief efforts. CEO Joe Reddington said the company plans to match the amounts raised.
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Lea Ann Ogden, a manufacturers' representative in Southern California and co-owner of Internet shopping portal Got2goshop.com, placed a free banner ad on its home page asking visitors to donate through the Christian relief agency World Vision.
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Los Angeles-based Premiere Home Furnishings hung flags along the outside and inside of its stores, and each flagpole was adorned with a single black-ribbon bow. It also handed out 4-inch by 6-inch American flags. Through Sept. 30, it will contribute 5% of sales, up to $15,000, to relief charities.
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Benchmark Home Furnishings in metro Kansas City plans to donate to relief funds in both New York and Washington.
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Houston-based Star Furniture made a contribution to the Red Cross.
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Florida-based chain W.S. Badcock hosted a blood drive, and through Sept. 25 will match employee donations to the Red Cross. "As a personal aside, I would be happy to contribute to a fund that will help rebuild the World Trade Center just as it was," said Don Marks, Badcock president.
Staff members Ray Allegrezza, Jay McIntosh, Gary James and Tom Edmonds contributed to this story.
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Help on the way
Sep 23, 2001
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