Simon & Co. Acquires Dallas-based POD (People of Design)

Furniture World Magazine

Acquisition increases output for 2004, resulting in three new collections and over one hundred new items. Simon &Co., the specialty home lighting and accessories manufacturer, has acquired Dallas-based POD (People of Design). The acquisition has resulted in the creation of three new collections for the January markets and brings together the talents of Simon & Co. founder, Simon Scott, with POD partners Michael Baker and Kevin Stephens. Baker continues to design lines for Simon & Co., while Stephens takes on the role of Sales Manager. Simon & Co. will introduce the new collections at the January markets, including theAtlanta,Dallas,Los Angeles,Seattle,Chicagoand New York. The new lines include: x The Tiffany Collection, featuring droplets of Tiffany glass dangling from distressed, Moroccan-styled light fixtures x The Estate Collection, an affordable but extremely stylish collection of poly-resin lamps highly embellished with beads, feathers, eyelash trim and an innovative mix of fabrics x The Villa Collection, forged metal pieces highlighted with antique and distressed mirrors In addition, Simon updates his lighting line with multi-color,stripeycorduroy fabric lampshades. All the new lines are in keeping with Simon & Co.’s signature rustic elegance and all will be available in specialty retailers throughout the US,Canadaand theUnited Kingdom. The extensive line offerings, combined with the POD acquisition, increases California-based Simon &Co.’s estimated annual sales revenues by $2 million for 2004.