Pipefine Patio Furniture

WARREN, Mich. — Art Van Furniture teamed with WXYZ-TV here to collect more than 50,000 pounds of food this season in the Together We Can food drive.

Three Art Van semi trucks delivered the nonperishable items to Gleaners Community Food Bank, where they were to be sorted and delivered to needy recipients. One in every four Michigan households is facing hunger, officials said.

The food was collected at the 34 Art Van Furniture locations during the month-long campaign, the latest in a three-year partnership with the TV station.

“This is a great example of power in numbers,” said Art Van President Gary Van Elslander. “We are so grateful to our guests and all others who brought food to our collection barrels, allowing us to feed so many people, topping last year’s remarkable drive.”

Last year, the joint effort collected 40,000 pounds of food.

Every month, Gleaners feeds around 100,000 families in Metro Detroit. Anne Schenk, a spokesperson for the food bank, said the food drive “really comes right as we are leading into the holiday season when we see need really spike. When the community really comes together, it helps us help our hungry neighbors.”

Nearly 3,000 children will receive bicycles this year thanks to a campaign hosted by Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Huntsville, Ala.

This is the ninth year the retailer has hosted the Bikes or Bust campaign, which benefits the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots holiday program.

The Nov. 18-22 event brought in a record 2,849 bicycles. As part of the campaign, Mojo, a morning show host from local radio station 104.3, urged listeners to donate a new bike or money while he spent 104 hours on a 40-foot scissor lift in temperatures that dropped in the low 20s.

Woody Marks, owner of the Huntsville store, said he was pleased with the record-breaking campaign.

“A bike is one of our first freedoms as a child,” he said. “I love being able to have this opportunity to make a difference.”

Ashley Furniture said it will provide 500 or more sleep sets this holiday season with more in 2012 as part of its Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s A Hope to Dream program, which provides bedding for underprivileged children across the country.

“Seeing the warmhearted smile of a child who just received a new mattress to sleep on is on the most gratifying experiences you can ever imagine,” said John Disa, president of Ashley HomeStores.

“We have so many people to thank as we begin yet another year of helping those wonderful families, including our local stores, partners and all of the thoughtful community members who continue to nominate these exceptional kids and share their inspiring stories,” Disa said.

Since the program began in 2010, Ashley has made a $5 donation to A Hope to Dream for every mattress purchased by customers at participating locations. Thanks to these efforts, more than 1,300 children are sleeping on a new Ashley Sleep Augusta Memory Foam mattress, and the company plans to boost that number in 2012.

Some stores are going above and beyond the company donation, like the Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Jacksonville, Fla., which just donated 50 mattress sets to the Salvation Army’s Toy Shop.

“Without a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads, children are at a huge disadvantage,” said Disa. “But something as simple as a new mattress can impact a child’s overall health, mood and energy level in a profoundly positive way.”

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Ikea plans to install solar energy panels on nine U.S. stores and a distribution center in the South, in a move that should give the retailer solar energy at 33 U.S. facilities by the middle of next year.

Pending government permits, installation will begin this winter and will be completed by next summer at its stores in Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Frisco, Houston, and Round Rock, Texas; Orlando, Sunrise and Tampa, Fla.; and Woodbridge, Va., and at is distribution center in Savannah, Ga. The giant home furnishings retailer did not disclose its investment.

Together, the 10 locations will have 10.7 megawatts of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours, the company said. That’s the equivalent of reducing carbon emissions from 2,060 cars or powering 1,310 homes, it said.

The retailer will own and operate each of the solar energy systems atop its buildings.

“This investment by Ikea reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic technology,” Ikea said in a release.

The retailer already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operating and 11 more under way. Adding the new systems will give Ikea a solar presence in 75% of its U.S. locations and will increase its solar generating capacity of about 26.8 megawatts.

“Ikea believes we can be a good business while doing good business,” said Mike Ward, U.S. president for the Top 100 company.

Other Ikea sustainability efforts include recycling of waste, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and eliminating plastic bags from the check-out process. The company also incorporates environmental measures into building construction, with energy-efficient heating, air and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas and water-conserving restrooms.

The Sweden-based retailer has more than 330 stores in 40 countries, including 38 in the United States.

Consumers got some of their mojo back in November as the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index jumped to 56.0, up from 40.9 in October.

The Present Situation Index increased to 38.3 from 27.1, while the Expectations Index rose to 67.8 from 50.0, the research organization said.

“Confidence has bounced back to levels last seen during the summer,” said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, noting that the index hit 59.2 in July (1985=100). “Consumers’ assessment of current conditions finally improved after six months of steady declines. Consumers’ apprehension regarding the short-term outlook for business conditions, jobs and income prospects eased considerably. Consumers appear to be entering the holiday season in better spirits, though overall readings remain historically weak.”

Nov. 15 was the cutoff date for preliminary results from the monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen.

Consumers’ appraisal of present-day conditions improved in November. Those stating business conditions are “good” increased to 13.3% from 11.2%, while those stating business conditions are “bad” declined to 38.2% from 43.7%.

Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market was also more upbeat. Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” increased to 5.8% from 3.6%, while those saying jobs are “hard to get” decreased to 42.1% from 46.9%.

Consumers’ short-term outlook, which had declined in October, was less negative in November. The proportion of consumers anticipating business conditions to improve over the next six months increased to 13.6% from 10.2%, while those anticipating business conditions will worsen declined to 15.8% from 21.3%.

Consumers’ outlook for the job market also improved. Those expecting more jobs in the months ahead rose to 12.9% from 10.8%, while those expecting fewer jobs decreased to 24.1% from 27.6%. The proportion of consumers anticipating an increase in their incomes rose to 14.9% from 11.1%.