Furniture and Social Media Bring People Together

Some of you may be wondering why, as a distribution service for retailers, Manna would start a consumer blog. Simply put, we believe in the power of social media as a tool for generating discussion, action, and good outcomes.

We see retail changing dramatically. Part of this change includes a healthy amount of information and conversation online. We aim to discuss topics regarding the products we deliver for retailers to consumers. That’s what we do best.

This space is not just about words, but about people. That’s another major reason why we are involved in this blog, with our readers and retailers. In social media, you’ll find people sometimes need help. Case in point, Manna Distribution services offered to deliver furniture to Daniela, a Romanian woman who recently made the decision to remove herself and her three children an abusive domestic situation.

It started when a blogger, David Armano, writer of the Logic + Emotion blog, caught wind of Daniela’s story, and asked his readers to help raise support. Not only did his readers come through, but he, along with his wife and children, opened his home to Daniela’s family. The story was retweeted (that’s repeated on Twitter) and passed around the world within hours. More than $16,000 was raised to find Daniela a new apartment and beginning.

An empty apartment without furniture paints a dreary picture. Vicki Semke, owner of www.migandtig.com, an independent retailer in Chicago, and Jerod Lazan, owner of www.mortisetenon.com, an independent retailer in Los Angeles, heard about the story and chipped in. That’s when we found out about the story and offered to handle the transport from LA to Chicago.

Distributing large items, from retailers to consumers’ homes is what Manna does best. The furniture will arrive on Friday, April 24 at Daniela’s apartment

The Internet has helped create great change in the world, We are delighted to support the social community, and the hundreds of retailers whose products make a house a home.

Trends in Wood Furniture

Wood furniture is always in style. Sturdy, timeless, and (usually) eco-friendly (because trees ARE renewable), wood furniture has now moved beyond dining room tables and chairs. Below are some of the more notable trends:

Recycled wood – Unlike synthetics, wood can be re-purposed. An old couch can become a new coffee table, or even vice versa. One enterprising North Dakota businessman is even recycling old barns into furniture and signs.

Contemporary flair – This is not your grandfather’s wood furniture. Designers are incorporating a variety of woods to craft very modern looks for your living space.

Sustainability – It’s not just a buzz word anymore. Consumers want to limit their impact on the environment, and designers are starting to catch on. Visit the Sustainable Furnishings Council to find a designer near you.

Of course, before you buy any wood furniture, it is worth determining which wood, um, would look best in your home. You can look here for a complete summary , and below are some of the more popular options in contemporary furniture:

Oak: One of the strongest woods commonly available, oak has long been a fixture in solid furniture and for veneers (shielding weaker particle board or other compressed woods in less expensive furniture).

Teak: A contemporary staple of Danish furniture. Admired for its color contrasts, it tends to be quite expensive, and is especially popular in modern style furniture.

Poplar: Lightweight and not at all durable, poplar is better left to kitchen utensils.

Cherry: Another wood that has seen resurgence of late. Its deep color is often used for accent pieces and frames, but also for showpiece furniture. It ain’t cheap, but the high quality and resonant beauty make for a lasting piece of furniture.

What trends have you noticed of late? Feel free to share.

The Real Scoop on Ice Machines

Buying a refrigerator is a bit like buying an automobile. We all know what to expect from an excellent refrigerator. Quality design, energy efficiency, temperature and humidity controls, shelf space. The best refrigerators have these qualities, and the worst ones don’t. Consumer Reports can tell you which is which.

And so, often times, buying decisions hinge on the little things. For cars, there are amenities such as cup holders and heated seats. For refrigerators, there is the ice maker. I love ice makers for the reason that I hate ice cube trays. Overflowing water, oversized trapezoidal cubes, weird little crumbs on the bottom (where DO those come from?), and if you want ice, but don’t have ice… Well, you can’t rush chemistry.

Apparently, I am not alone. Take this ranking of the best refrigerators available online cites the Maytag Side by French Door as the best refrigerator available. The criteria? Best icemaker.

The LG Stainless Steel Side by Bottom is relegated to second… Alas, it’s not good for tall glasses, though another LG model is cited for being the first to replicate the shape of the old ice cube trays. Um, that’s a good thing?

Oh, and for those who are interested in learning how refrigerators make ice, now you know.

Firefighters Redux

Remember our story of the Illinois firefighters who had their equipment removed over workers compensation complaints? The city of Albany, New York is taking a slightly different approach. Recognizing that physical fitness for firefighters, who must carry 60-70 pounds for long periods of time, is paramount to their survival, the city is spending $294,000 to “equip” the eleven stations it maintains.

The move comes on the heels of a study in The International Journal of Obesity, indicating that 77 percent of firefighters are overweight or obese.

The village of Howard, near Green Bay, WI, is going one step further, performing annual examinations on their on-call staff. Those who don’t make the grade are re-assigned.

On a positive note, this should be of some comfort to us all. If firefighters, paragons of strength, are struggling with obesity, then it’s harder to feel bad about a couple extra inches of flab. On the downside, it looks like the firefighters are doing even more to make us look like wimps.

Already, there are already firefighter training programs, with some pretty stringent requirements. Would-be firefighters can expect the following requirements:

The ability to carry a 12 foot ladder through an obstacle course.

Operating a 30 foot ladder, simulated by pulling a rope with the tensile equivalent of a 50 pound bag of cement.

Climbing an aerial ladder set at a 60 degree angle up to 50 feet.

That explains the need for fitness training. If any firefighters are reading this, how do you keep in “firefighter” shape?

Eco-Friendly Furniture

For someone who is concerned about the environment, the decision to purchase new furniture can be difficult. After all, what’s wrong with that old hand-me-down you had in college? Sure, a couple of springs are broken, and it doesn’t match the décor, and it has plenty of cup stains on it… Okay, maybe it’s time to bite the bullet.

Fortunately, there are plenty of eco-friendly furniture options available. The theme for the Thailand International Furniture Fair is “Imagine Green Living.” Long lasting, sustainable products are en vogue, and even offices and businesses are getting into the act.

There are eco-friendly options in virtually any style and at any price point . There’s even green furniture available for babies, which is fortunate, since baby probably won’t sleep too well in your living room.

If you’re not sure how to start your hunt, HGTV has you covered . If you’re worried about what to do with Grandma’s old couch, you can always donate it to Goodwill. You’ll be doing a favor for a good organization and, likely, a poor college student.