At LifeStyle's alwaysmarket.com, the Home Furnishings Market Never Ends.HIGH POINT, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 1999-- For decades, the business activity of the furniture industry has been keyed to the timing of the semi-annual home furnishings furnishings the extra type or quantity of hair on the head, tail, ears or legs, specified for a particular breed. For example, the feathers in setters, the beard in Bearded collies, the eyebrows in Schnauzers. Market. Now LifeStyle Furnishings International is using the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the to create an interactive community that will function as an extension of the Market all year 'round. LifeStyle's alwaysmarket.com will be a nexus for the collaborative energies of its member companies, retailers, and consumer focus groups. It will enhance the flow of strategic information, enabling LifeStyle companies and their retailers to be uniquely responsive to consumer needs. "Until now, major new products and programs were introduced just twice a year," says Geoff Beaston, vice president of Market Development for LifeStyle. "With alwaysmarket.com as a virtual product development laboratory, the process can be ongoing. "Retailers will be able to view and consult on new products and ideas as needed as needed prn. See prn order. , giving us feedback from the comfort of their own space. Suggested design modifications can be made on the fly." "Selected consumers will be invited to participate in online focus groups, giving us their input earlier in the concept and design process," says Geoff Beaston. "There will be more interaction across the board, and it will take place in a less compressed time frame. We are recreating the best parts of the Market environment online." alwaysmarket.com will also deliver product information and updates directly to the staff on retail sales floors. Although they constitute the most direct link with consumers, the majority have not routinely attended the home furnishings Market. Now the Market can come to them, making them better informed and less dependent on trickle-down trick·le-down adj. Of or relating to the economic theory that financial benefits accorded to big businesses and wealthy investors will pass down to profit smaller businesses and consumers. information. "This site will be informative and empowering," says Executive Vice President, Alan Cole. "Like the home furnishings Market, it is a forum for collaboration Working together on a project. See collaborative software. with LFI's business partners. It is a business-to-business site, not a retail showroom site. The general public won't be buying furniture at this site--but thanks to alwaysmarket.com, they'll be experiencing the kind of relationship they desire and seeing more of the products they want through our LFI LFI Local File Inclusion LFI Link Fragmentation and Interleaving (Cisco) LFI Landesforstinventar (National Forest Inventory, Switzerland) LFI Lethal Force Institute LFI Last File Indicator retailers." Now in the final stages of development, alwaysmarket.com will be fully operational in January 2000. LifeStyle Furnishings International Ltd. is the largest manufacturer and marketer of home furnishings products in the U.S., with 1998 sales of approximately $2.0 billion. LifeStyle leadership brands include Beacon Hill Bea·con Hill An area of Boston, Massachusetts, noted for its historic residences, brick sidewalks, and picturesque mews. Noun 1. Beacon Hill - a fashionable section of Boston; site of the Massachusetts capital building (R), BenchCraft(R), Berkline(R), Drexel Heritage(R), Henredon(R), LaBarge(R), Lexington(R), LifeStyle Contract Furnishings(R), Maitland-Smith(TM), Robert Allen Robert Allen may refer to:
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