Manufacturers and Vendors - News & Trends

Add the $16 quilted leather

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.— In today's economic climate, U.S. workers believe that small-ticket items, including stylish notebooks and file folders, are the secret to increased productivity, recognition and success - more so than dressing in flashy business attire.

More than half (55%) of workers reported that having stylish office supplies gets them noticed in the workplace, according to a survey by Staples. In addition, 81% of respondents indicated an increase in productivity when they are more organized and carry business tools that allow them to showcase their personality and make a statement (53%). Further, more than one-third of respondents believe having stylish office supplies is likely to lead to promotions and opportunities for advancement.

Other findings include:

When asked what is noticed first in business meetings, 82% of respondents first notice an office supply item such as a stylish journal, chic notebook, file folders, and pens, versus someone's shoes (18%).

While U.S. workers agree that success is a matter of hard work (92%), a vast majority agree that success is also linked to perceptions created in the workplace (76%).

More than half (51%) of U.S. workers believe dressing in business attire has no affect on their level of productivity.

Fully 61% of respondents want to break out of the mundane and personalize their workplace so that it showcases their own style.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) agreed that how their workspace is maintained reveals a lot about them and their personality, while 69% of respondents form their opinion of co-workers based on how they maintain their space.

Most (78%) report that either they or someone else in their workplace is an "Organizilla" - someone who is organized and who insists on having their workspace in a systematic order.

U.S. workers are willing to spend personal money on their own supplies that reflect their unique style. On average, workers spend $90.14 a year on office supplies. Interestingly, men are likely to spend more money ($134.00 per year) than women ($101.00 per year) on these products.

For more information, see investor.staples.com

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Snapple to it

DALLAS – CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. announced that Dr Pepper Snapple Group has selected it to provide transaction management and lease administration services for the company throughout the Americas.
The assignment covers approximately 13.5 million sq.ft. of industrial and office properties. For more information, see www.cbre.com

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InterFaceFABRIC takes new name

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – InterfaceFABRIC, a U.S. commercial contract manufacturer of interior fabrics has changed its name to True , Inc.

True is a leading provider of fabrics for the office, healthcare, hospitality, institutional, congregational and automotive markets. The renaming completes the company’s ownership transition since Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a private equity firm, purchased it from Interface, Inc., in mid-2007. For more information, see www.truetextiles.com

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Izzy buys Jami

SPRING LAKE, Mich. – izzy and its parent company JSJ Corporation have completed acquisition of Jami Inc. and its four furniture brands: Harter, Fixtures Furniture, Zoom Seating, and ABCO Office Furniture.

Chuck Saylor, founder and president of izzy, will oversee the izzy business as chairman and chief executive officer.

Harter specializes in higher design management, conference and executive seating and tables. Fixtures Furniture’s niche is stack seating and multi-purpose tables for education, healthcare and corporate spaces. Zoom Seating offers mid-market ergonomic task seating, while ABCO Office Furniture focuses on modular furniture, computer furniture, and conference and training tables. Each of the four brands new to izzy will continue to pursue its independent brand position, focused on market segments with established customer relationships. Sales will be managed on the brand level.

For more information, see www.jsjcorp.com

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Use of in-building wireless systems increasing

NEW YORK – Deployment growth of in-building wireless systems has accelerated to nearly 26%; and by 2013, more than 500,000 buildings will use an in-building wireless system, according to ABI Research.

Drivers for in-building system growth are region-dependent. They include frequency spectrum band distribution, network air interface protocol, data services adoption forecasts, customer ARPU spend and margin, building height, and materials construction.

Operators and building owners hold big influence on this market as a result of their propensity to deploy in-building wireless networks. Equipment used for in-building wireless systems includes the individual components of active and passive distributed antenna systems, repeaters, cabling, picocells, and femtocells.

ABI Research’s In-Building Wireless Systems: Connecting Networks and Services examines critical demand drivers for in-building wireless systems. Included in the analysis are demand driver forecasts and the impact they will have on different systems by region. The report also outlines the advantages and limitations of each system, and examines the motivations of companies providing market-leading equipment and services. For more information, see www.abiresearch.com

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Landscaping hits Dubai

KALAMAZOO, Mich.  – Landscape Forms, a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of commercial outdoor furniture and accessories, has appointed two new sales representatives for the United Arab Emirates who will work from their offices in Dubai.

Esther Arnan and Marian de Simon will represent Landscape Forms as well as the company’s marketing partner, Santa and Cole, as independent sales representatives for the rapidly expanding location currently undergoing the development of a dynamically high growth economy. For more information, see www.landscapeforms.com

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Developing solar-powered security camera

WEST HEATH, Ohio – Originally deployed in 2005 as a property management tool to watch construction of Kaiser Drive at the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center, a solar-powered, wireless-internet connected camera system has been in use for more than a year.

In that year, the system never lost power as it captured and delivered real-time video and digital images to the web.

The Port Authority is considering development of an economical, low-maintenance solar camera system that would be mounted on a trailer system and could be used by local governments and agencies in Licking County. The final product would be a mobile camera system useful for public events, safety, homeland security, and countless other uses. For more information, see www.hnlcpa.com

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J&J earns ISO accreditation

DALTON, Ga. – J&J / Invision, a privately owned commercial carpet manufacturer has earned the certification of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 14001 by NSF.  This certification comes as a result of an established organization-wide environmental management system.

J&J / Invision began the certification process in September 2007.  The certification exemplifies the company’s commitment to reducing pollution and minimizing the company’s environmental impact on air, water, and land.  These effects were determined as: waste water discharge, water consumption, electrical consumption, solid waste management and natural gas consumption. Improvement processes for each significant impact were developed along with a plan for continual improvement.

This certification is an extension of the existing environmental program at J&J / Invision, called EnAct®.  EnAct® is an organization – wide focus on reducing, recycling, reusing and creating a healthier, more sustainable environment.  For more information, visit www.jj-invision.com

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