House Beautiful Editor in Chief Newell Turner, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), Rachel Kohler, House Beautiful Publisher Kate Kelly Smith, Thomas Pheasant, MADE: In America CEO James DeLorbe. Courtesy House Beautiful/Kevin Allen Photography.
"My favorite four words are Made. In. North. Carolina," joked Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) at a press conference earlier today. "But my second favorite are Made In America," she quickly added. Hagan was one of several industry leaders on hand to help House Beautiful announce the results of a survey about preferences for American-made furniture in conjunction with the publication of their April issue that focuses on American design. According to the the survey, 91% of consumers agree that when given a choice they would prefer to buy American furniture, but almost half of people surveyed said their last furniture purchase was either manufactured outside of the US or they weren't sure its origin. For the full results of the survey, click through the jump.
Also in attendance was Rachel Kohler, Group President of Kohler Interiors, who spoke about how her company has had to adapt in changing economic times. "Affluent people around the world want American-made products since they are known for quality," says Kohler. "But in Morocco they want pinks and oranges, in China they want royal blue and gold. Another example, is China wants more circular dining table with lazy susans to accommodate how they arrange a group meal. We've had to adjust our product to meet the consumer in different parts of the world."
House Beautiful has plenty going on this week in DC. Not only were they here to work with Sen. Hagan, they also have a two-day designer chair giveaway, and three social events that are open to the public. The social events are to honor their March issue that focused on green—the color, not just the eco-trend. Each party runs from 6-8 pm and will have cocktails and 'green treats' to go with the theme. The events are as follows:
· Tuesday, March 13th, at Design Within Reach, 3306 M Street. RSVP to jmanelli@DWR.com.
· Wednesday, March 14th, Arhaus Furniture, Tysons Corner. RSVP to hbrsvp@hearst.com.
· Thursday, March 15th, at Room&Board, 1840 14th Street NW. Click here to RSVP.
SENATOR KAY HAGAN AND HOUSE BEAUTIFUL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NEWELL TURNER CALL ON CONSUMERS TO buy “American-made” at U.S. Capitol PRESS CONFERENCE
New Survey Reveals Surprising Disparity Between Consumers’ Preference for American-Made Products and Actual Buying Habits
Support of American Furniture Industry Can Create Jobs,
Improve Economic Climate
Washington, D.C. (March 13, 2012) - U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) and House Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Newell Turner will lead a press conference on Tuesday, March 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the U.S. Capitol (Room SVC 208/209) at which they will call on consumers to take a stand for American jobs and the economy by buying American-made furniture.
Joined by leaders from the furniture manufacturing and design industries, Mr. Turner will reveal the findings of a new survey that, while confirming the value and appreciation consumers have for American furniture, shows a sharp disconnect between their stated preference for products that are made in the USA and their actual buying habits. According to a new survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of House Beautiful, 91% of consumers agree that when given a choice, they prefer furniture that is made in the USA. However, almost half (48%), reported that the furniture they purchased most recently was either not made in the USA or they just weren’t sure.
During part of her tenure in the state Senate, Hagan’s district included the world-renowned High Point Market. Hagan fought to keep the market, which is an important economic engine, in High Point. Last fall, Hagan, who visits the market regularly in the fall and spring, toured the new Made in America Pavilion at the Market that showcased 16,000 square feet of furnishings made in the USA.
The press conference coincides with the publication of the April issue of House Beautiful, which includes an extensive feature on American design. Senator Hagan will speak to the vitality of the furniture industry in North Carolina; Newell Turner will speak about the industry’s importance in relation to American design; Rachel Kohler, group president/interiors, Kohler Company’s Baker Furniture, will discuss American manufacturing and its role in the global furniture markets; James DeLorbe, chairman and CEO of MADE: in America, will highlight ways to revitalize and sustain the competitiveness of American commerce and industry; and Thomas Pheasant, furniture designer and interior decorator based in Washington, D.C., will share experiences gleaned from years of work with clients who understand the value of American made furniture
“America produces much of the finest furniture in the world,” said Turner. “And while consumers know that the quality and workmanship of our furniture is second to none, too often they buy from elsewhere, even while saying they prefer American-made. We want to change that and get them voting for American industry with their wallets.”
“North Carolina has a rich history in the furniture industry, and that sector of our economy supports jobs in our state,” added Senator Hagan.” The importance of the relationship between American-made furniture and our economic recovery should not be underestimated, especially as we see more and more of our furniture being exported to other countries. American-made furniture is second to none when it comes to quality and craftsmanship, and I am proud to support our American and North Carolina furniture makers.”
Among the other findings revealed by the Ipsos Public Affairs survey:
Respondents nearly universally agree (96%) that buying American-made furniture supports an important industry in our country
Nearly three in five respondents (57%) say that they would go out of their way to buy furniture made in the USA
Nearly three quarters (72%) of those surveyed believe that buying products made in the USA is a great way to rebuild our economy. However, just three in ten (29%) say that they use their buying power to create American jobs, suggesting that many do not see the connection between buying American and job creation
These are some of the findings of an IPSOS poll conducted February 24-27, 2012. For the survey, a national sample of 1000 adults age 18 and older from IPSOS’ U.S. online panel was interviewed online.
To exemplify artistry and craftsmanship, examples of American-made furniture will be on display at the press conference. The following day, March 14, 30 made-in-America chairs will be given away by House Beautiful in a social media-driven event on the streets of Washington, D.C. Simultaneously another set of chairs will be auctioned on charitybuzz.com to raise money for Homes for our Troops to benefit veterans’ families.
About House Beautiful
House Beautiful (www.housebeautiful.com) is a leading authority on American home design and decoration, reaching more than seven million readers every month. Founded in 1896, House Beautiful is the oldest continuously published shelter magazine in the United States. Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with House Beautiful mobile (m.housebeautiful.com). In addition to its U.S. flagship, House Beautiful publishes two editions around the world. House Beautiful is published by Hearst Magazines, one of the largest publishers of monthly magazines in the U.S. (ABC 2011), reaching 87 million adults each month (Spring 2011 MRI). Follow the brand on Twitter at @HouseBeautiful.
· House Beautiful [OfficialSite]
· Decorating With Green, March Issue [HB]