Aaron Nilsen(center) of N.E.W. visits with Adam Beck(left) and David Tomaschko(right)

Sony Bravia’s New Entertainment Experience

Sony is leading the way with a new Bravia line that is made to perform above and beyond your normal television.  This line of Smart TV’s will deliver to customers’ unprecedented connectivity and access to online entertainment. 

Product Highlights:

• Full HD 1080p Resolution
• MotionFlow XR 240
• Edge LED Backlighting
• LightSensor Technology
• X-Reality Engine
• Presence Sensor
• Internet Streaming & Connectivity
• Faster Start-Up
• BRAVIA Sync Compatible
• TV Guide On-Screen

The amazing HD and 3D capability of the Bravia will allow you to view dazzling images and rich color detail that look smooth and precise. 

You can find Sony Bravia televisions at retailers across the country.  Including these online retailers:

            Electronics-Expo.com

            B&H Photo Video

42nd President of the United States to keynote at this summer’s 2011 Las Vegas Market

President Bill Clinton will be joining the 2011 WMCLVM on August 1 as the markets keynote speaker. You will have the unique opportunity to hear the President’s insights and solutions on the most pressing economic and social issues in the United States and abroad. 

The President will focus on the challenge of globalization, emphasize our growing interdependence, and point the way toward a common future based on shared goals and values. 

There will be a moderated Q&A session following the address. 

For more information and to register you can head to www.lasvegasmarket.com. 

The World Market Center Las Vegas is the largest, fastest-growing, new home furnishings trade complex in the world. Drawing 50,000 qualified buyers and other industry professionals from around the globe.

Full Steam Ahead!

It is now possible to use steam to cook your food.  Steam is making its way from the iron and portable cleaners into your washer, dryer, dishwasher, and even your oven. 

Steam appliances might cost you $150 more up front, but it can save you money over the long run.  A standard steam front loading washing machine will use 15 gallons of water versus a top loader which uses, on average, 40 gallons.  While the washer can help overall performance, dryers have shown mixed results.  The steam dryers easily freshen up your clothes, but some have shown trouble with loosening those pesky wrinkles.  

Traditional dishwashers have always used steam in the drying cycle. Steam dishwashers, pictured above, use the steam on the pre-wash cycle which will loosen food prior to the normal wash cycle.   This feature allows you to skip the hated pre-rinse, saving water, money, and your time!

Steam is also being incorporated into the heart of your home, and the Gaggenau steam-convection combination oven and in-counter steamer is just the beginning.  The combi-steam ovens replace the work of the microwave. This is due to its ease of use and ability to make left-overs taste fresh from the oven.  Combination ovens reportedly can cook a 14 pound turkey in 90 minutes, asparagus in 3 minutes, and salmon in 10.  

For more information:

http://rismedia.com/2011-03-21/hot-mist-appliances-steam-up-technology/

Apples iPad 2 Gets Top Billing in New Consumer Report

The iPad 2 is still king.  A report by consumerreports.org ranks the top ten tablets and the new Apple still ranks supreme. iPad’s chief rival is the Motorola Xoom which boasts a 10-inch screen, plus includes a built in memory card reader and support for Flash videos and animations found on most websites. 

Each tablet was graded on 17 criteria, including touch-screen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare, and ease of use. The largest gap in performance was in the battery-life test.  The top scoring iPad 2 lasted 12.2 hours while the lowest rated lasted just 3.8 hours. 

The 32 gig iPad 2 will run you $730, while the first generation iPad, which tied for 2^nd cost $580.  You can currently find the Motorola Xoom for $800.  

www.consumerreports.org

La-Z-Boy to Offer Wide Range of High-End Furniture

Looking to reach the next level of comfort La-Z-Boy is stretching out its product line to put their stamp on premier comfort. This expansion include its Premier, Signature Leather, and Comfort in Motion product lines.

The new Premier pieces will refresh the collection with unique, upscale designs and lower price points.  The seven new stationary styles allow shoppers to add style to any room while keeping the comfort La-Z-Boy is know for. 

La-Z-Boy furniture will be on display at the High Point Market, in Space 103 of the Furniture Plaza Building in High Point, NC. 

For more information on the High Point Market Week, April 2-7, visit the website at : http://www.highpointmarket.org/

Trade-Ins Welcome. Target and Walmart Taking Your Old Nintendo DS Players.

Nintendo debuted its new 3DS handheld model, the first handheld glasses-free 3D player, this week.   If you want the new model, but have the old Nintendo DS, you’re in luck.   Target and Wal-Mart will take the old model off your hands and give you store credit for the 3DS model. 

Target will award you a $50 store credit, while Wal-Mart will up the ante and provide a $100 store credit. 

Wal-Mart’s $100 store credit will be provided until April 30 or while supplies last, and only if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina stores.  

So, if you’re in the market for the hottest game console release of the year, and live below the Mason-Dixon line head on down to a Wal-Mart or Target near you.

www.Target.com

www.Walmart.com

Hot Trends In Home Appliances

Trends are always important when you are discussing a kitchen renovation:  beer dispensing refrigerators, stovetops that boil water in record time, and appliances that keep track of your grocery lists.   These are just some of the options available to consumers.

Yet there is one type of style that is starting to take hold in kitchens around the world. 

An integrated kitchen.

This European design adds a flair to your kitchen by allowing you to blend your major appliances into your cabinetry.  These types of kitchens can also be extraordinarily efficient.  One of these “green” blended appliances, which is soaking up 50% of the high end market, is an induction stovetop.   These ranges convert 93% of the energy used directly into the pot.  

So if you’re looking for a new and modern way to reno your kitchen look into an integrated kitchen and you might like what you see,  or don’t.

Top Links for information on integrated kitchens:

http://site.integratedkitchens.com/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576190583636061262.html

2011 Thailand International Furniture Fair

TIFF 2011 is a “Go Green” oriented furniture fair based in Thailand.   This annual fair allows consumers to explore new designs and concepts from some of the biggest Thai designers. 

Some of the highlights for the show include: 

• Exciting new ideas in environmentally conscious design
• New furniture collections made from a wide variety of new materials
• Unrivaled quality furniture made by Thai craftsmanship

The show is open to the public March 19th -20th  (10am to 9pm).  If you can’t make it to Bangkok, check out the fair online:

 www.thailandfurniturefair.com

The New Way to Listen to your iPhone or iPad music.

Looking for a new and exciting product to buy? Tembo Trunks might be just what you’re looking for.  

The idea came from two Australian born brothers while on vacation in Africa.   The idea, speakers that don’t need electricity or battery power to work.  Easy to transport and use.  Just attach your ear buds to the Trunks and voila you have amplified sound.    Check them out here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tembotrunks/tembo-trunks-earbud-speakers

New Furniture Retail Index Unveiled at the Las Vegas Market

The first-ever ”Banner Retail Index: A report on Current Trends in the Retail Furniture Industry” , was released by Banner Marketing out of Spokane, WA.  The report used data from 126 websites across the country, and demonstrates how visitors are using websites, what promotions are working and those that aren’t. It also showcases the items that are being most searched online.

Highlights from the report:

•  Most effective coupons- Offers between $501 and $1,000 off the purchase price.
• Top offer resulting in coupon request- Enter to win a five-piece living room group, $250 gift certificate or free mattress set.
• Most popular offer- $500-$1,000 off.
• Most popular products searched online- mattresses
• Top offer on competitor website – Enter to Win 5 Piece Living Room Group.

For more information on the index you can go to www.bannerretail.com and download it from their Newsroom.