kiWW® and kathy ireland Home by Martin Renew Agreement & Expand Their Partnership

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- kathy ireland Home by Martin (kiHbM), a leading manufacturer and wholesaler of fine home office and entertainment furniture, announced that by mutual agreement their partnership with kathy ireland Worldwide® (kiWW®) has been extended through 2015.  2011 will be a year for renewing and expanding the kathy ireland Home by Martin collection.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/LA34400)

Kathy Ireland, CEO and Chief Designer for kiWW® will provide Martin with fresh ideas for new designs for 2011 with the mission of "...finding solutions for families, especially busy Moms." ™

"Gil Martin is an extraordinary leader who has brought kathy ireland Home by Martin to new heights," said Kathy Ireland, Chief Designer and CEO of kiWW®. "His company's ability to translate our designs into exquisite home office and home entertainment furniture has changed the landscape of excellence in the category.  Our kathy ireland Home by Martin products are the couture of home office and home entertainment furniture.  Gil and his team are extraordinary and we are proud and delighted that our agreement with this company will continue through 2015 and hopefully far beyond," said Ireland.

"Kathy and her design team have been responsible for developing some of our most successful collections ever," said Gil Martin, CEO of kathy ireland Home by Martin. Kathy is hands-on in every area from concept to construction to showroom and actual customer sales. Kathy's very loyal customer tells her what she needs and at what price point. We need to listen and build on that.  Being in close contact with retailers, Kathy understands the needs of the marketplace.  She advises us on style, design and price. Our partnership with kathy ireland Worldwide® has been and continues to be a beneficial and wonderful experience for me personally and for our company. We have grown over the past few years with the partnership being an important contributing factor.  We are looking forward to creating more kathy ireland collections than ever before."

In 1981 Gil Martin founded Martin Furniture, a premier producer of home office and home entertainment furniture. In April 2003 Martin Furniture partnered with kathy ireland Worldwide® and became kathy ireland Home by Martin (kiHbM), the sole licensed manufacturer of home office and home entertainment furniture under the kathy ireland Home brand.  In 2007, kiHbM and kiWW® signed an agreement giving the parties mutual rights to extend their partnership which has now been completed.

In August 2010, kiWW® partnered with Bush Furniture, a ready-to-assemble home office and entertainment furniture specialist.  The initial products will be kathy ireland Office by Bush.  "I have always viewed Bush Furniture as one of the most respected manufacturers in the ready-to- assemble category," Martin said.  While designs from both manufacturers promise Fashion, Value, Quality and Safety™, kathy ireland Home by Martin offers fully assembled, better to best price point products while kathy ireland Office by Bush offers ready-to-assemble designs at entry level pricing.

About Martin Home Furnishings

In 1981 Gil Martin founded Martin Furniture, a premier producer of home office and home entertainment furniture. In April 2003 Martin Furniture partnered with kathy ireland Worldwide and became kathy ireland Home by Martin (kiHbM), the sole licensed manufacturer of home office and home entertainment furniture under the kathy ireland Home brand. In late 2008, Martin Furniture acquired Highland Design to create the brand Curt Christian Design by Martin which produces bedroom furniture, and changed its name to Martin Home Furnishings.  Martin products are sold through several retail channels all over the country including warehouse clubs, commercial office, catalogs, Top 100 Retailers, and specialty stores.  For more information please visit www.martinfurniture.com, or follow Martin on Twitter @MartinFurniture.

About kathy ireland Worldwide®

kathy ireland Worldwide® (kiWW®) is the design and marketing firm founded in 1993 by CEO and Chief Designer, Kathy Ireland.  

The mission statement of kiWW® is "...finding solutions for families, especially busy Moms."™ kiWW® turns to design experts in many areas, kiWW® Brand Solutions include ACafe Society by Chef Andre which addresses cooking and entertaining and Jardin J du J by Nicholas Walker, which celebrates the gardens of the world and brings the outdoors in. Forbes.com names Kathy Ireland one of the 20 Best-Branded Women on Twitter.  Forbes Magazine reports that kathy ireland Worldwide® (kiWW®) is a "design empire which grosses over 1.4 billion dollars annually in retail sales." 2010 License Global Magazine names kathy ireland Worldwide #28 most powerfully licensed brand globally.

kathy ireland Worldwide® products include furniture, flooring, decorative surfaces, lighting and accessories, window treatments, replacement windows, home office and entertainment, leather and microfiber, infant, youth and adult top of bed, bedding, candles, hand-painted fine porcelain, decorative shelving, apparel, fresh-cut flowers, skin-care for men and women, wall coverings, ceiling fans, mattresses, totes, hand bags, travel bags, frames, wall decor, clocks, Design It Yourself jewelry and crafting supplies, kitchen and bath cabinetry, infant furniture, Ready to Assemble (RTA), decorative shelving, fine jewelry, wigs and hair extensions, real estate, vacation events, wedding program licenses, music and film licenses, publishing, greeting cards, Kathy is the author of six books: Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons that Will Change Your Life, Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide To Success and Sanity, Real Solutions for Busy Moms Devotional: 52-God Inspired Messages for Your Heart and children's books: What Do Mommies Do?, An Angel Called Hope and Mona's Favorite Words.

kiWW® maintains offices and design studios in Los Angeles, Rancho Mirage, and Santa Barbara, CA, Hawaii and Israel. Additional information is available at kathyireland.com.

SOURCE Martin Home Furnishings