Pipefine Patio Furniture

Retailer Ikea has launched its first set of assembly videos to help guide customers through the process of assembling some of its furniture items.

Ikea’s first assembly video features a couple assembling the retailer’s Malm bed frame.

Designed to complement printed instructions, the short videos provide a visual reference for consumers and feature Ikea employees assembling the products from start to finish. The first video in the series, which demonstrates how to assemble a Malm bed frame, is now available on the Ikea U.S.’s YouTube channel.

The company plans to unveil new videos weekly. They’ll cover some of Ikea’s most popular items, including the Pax Lyngdal wardrobe sliding doors and the Galant corner desk, according to the company.

“At Ikea, we’re always listening to our customers to learn how we can better serve their needs and improve their lives at home,” said Christine Whitehawk, external communications manager, Ikea U.S. “We understand that not everyone is a natural DIY-er at heart, so we have created this fun, easy-to-follow video series as an additional tool to lend a helping hand to our customers.”

Each video features pop-up tips along the way, and the YouTube video browser allows viewers to pause, rewind or replay as needed. The video does not feature narration, but offers a numbered sequence of blueprint-themed slides paired with assembly action scenes.

Sleep Train, a West Coast mattress retailer based here, collected more than 160,000 items for foster children last year as part of its award-winning Foster Kids Program.

And Northwest mattress retailer Sleep Country USA, owned by Sleep Train and based in Seattle, collected more than 101,000 items for foster children last year, more than in any prior year.

The retailers collected items including clothing, pajamas, shoes, school supplies, and, during the holidays, gifts and toys.

Sleep Train also raised more than $500,000 last year at its annual Charity Golf Classic. The money helps provide assistance to foster youth aging out of the foster care system to further their education after high school and help them obtain independent living skills support.

Sleep Country, meanwhile, raised more than $125,000 from its annual Pajama Bowl events to fulfill foster children’s wishes, such as attending summer camps where they are often reunited with their siblings, obtaining tutoring and counseling, playing a musical instrument, or participating in a sport.

“We’re thrilled to report the tremendous results of our efforts to help the region’s foster children and their families,” said Terry Horsley, vice president of brand strategy for Sleep Train and Sleep Country USA. “We are humbled by the kindness and openhandedness of individuals, families, businesses and organizations … and overjoyed to be able to contribute to our community in a way that will help it grow, thrive and position at-risk children for a successful future.”

Sleep Train donations in 2011 were distributed to the more than 60,000 foster children in California by the retailer’s 19 foster care partner organizations.

Sleep Country donations in 2011 were distributed to the nearly 20,000 foster children in the Pacific Northwest by the retailer’s 16 foster care partner organizations.

Both companies have started 2012 with their annual Pajama Drives for foster children, which run through Feb. 26.

ALBANY, Ga. — Several furniture store owners here expressed their frustration to city commissioners Tuesday about temporary furniture peddlers who sell out of trucks, TV station WALB reported.

“Furniture peddlers have an advantage over us. For $100 they set up shop. They pay no inventory tax, no property tax, no school tax, no city tax or county tax,” said Jeff Neal of Railway Freight Furniture.

City officials said the peddlers’ operations are legal, as long as they buy a tax certificate and abide by hourly restrictions. The city attorney said he’d look into additional restrictions for the peddlers.

Neal said tax refund season, when residents may have extra cash, is a popular time for the peddlers to come to town.

Editor’s note: This is (supposed to be) America. Land of initiative and free enterprise. Maybe the store owners should rent a truck instead of getting politicians to help them compete!

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Touched by a 4-year-old girl’s battle with cancer that already had claimed both of her eyes, Bob’s Discount Furniture and several employees of its Orange, Conn., store gave the girl a set of bedroom furniture that her family could not afford.

According to a story in the New Haven Register, store employees learned that a $400 gift card she had received from a local cancer treatment center would not cover everything she needed.

One of them contacted the retailer’s corporate office, who agreed to donate a mattress and bedroom furniture. Store employees then donated lamps, a quilt set and a stuffed animal.

Swedish retailer Ikea said worldwide sales increased 6.9% in the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, while profits jumped 10.3% despite higher raw materials costs.

The privately held retailer said worldwide sales totaled 24.7 billion euros, equivalent to about $31.9 billion. Total revenues, which include sales and rental income from commercial properties, were 25.2 billion euros, or about $32.6 billion.

Profits totaled 2.97 billion euros, or about $3.84 billion.

Comparable store sales rose 7%, the company said. It didn’t release specific sales and income figures for its U.S. or Canadian stores.

“It’s evident that what we offer is relevant to more and more U.S. customers,” said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president. “We remain dedicated to growing even stronger as the leader in life at home, as well as a responsible partner in living a more sustainable life, while supporting our communities with socially responsible programs.”

The company said a key growth driver was its lower pricing strategy on top-selling products. For example, U.S. stores dropped the price of the popular Hovas sofa from $699 to $499, and the Hemnes queen bed frame went from $299 to $199.

The reductions were made possible by shipping larger quantities through flat packing, keeping designs smart and not compromising on quality, the company said.