CHILE – SACI Falabella has unveiled its USD 3.900 million regional investment plan for the 2018-2021 period. The plan includes projects in logistics infrastructure and systems, as well as store’s expansions and remodeling, which seek to enhance the omnichannel operation and increase efficiency.

NETHERLANDS – The EU, through the European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into the Netherlands’ tax treatment of Inter IKEA, one of the two groups operating the IKEA business.

CHILE – On November 9, SMU entered into a binding agreement with Larraín Vial Servicios Profesionales Ltda. for the sale of 100% of its subsidiary Construmart S.A.

U.S. – Virginia-based Lumber Liquidators Inc (LL) has agreed to a USD 36 million settlement to resolve claims on behalf of more than 700,000 people who bought Chinese-made laminate flooring reported to contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde.

U.S. – Amazon has launched two furniture brands, called Rivet (the cheaper one of the two brands) and Stone & Beam. Despite the fact it is a new market for the online giant, it has immediately revealed quite an extensive product range, including sofas, chairs, tables and several hundred other products.

SERBIA – The IKEA store opening on August 10 in Belgrade East, Serbia, is the first in the country and the 400th IKEA store in the world. This new store is operated by IKEA Serbia, part of the INGKA Group, by franchise agreement with Inter IKEA Systems B.V.

PERU – By the end of june, Homecenters Peruanos(Promart), with USD 7.7 million and Sodimac, with USD 7.4 million, lead the ranking of importers of wooden furniture to Peru.

U.S. – According to a recent report by e-commerce research specialist One Click Retail, furniture is one the fastest growing retail product categories on Amazon.

U.S. – Lowe’s, the world’s second largest home improvement retailer, reported sales of USD 19.5 billion in the 2Q-2017, an increase of 6.8% from USD 18.3 billion in the 2Q-2016. Comparable sales – or same store sales (SSS)- increased 4.5 percent.

U.S. – The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

COLOMBIA – In Girardota, Antioquia, a town about 36 kilometers from Medellín, Madecentro opened a new wood panel processing and distribution centers – CEDI. The Madecentro chain, with 117 stores throughout Colombia, will designate this new CEDI to supply the 27 stores located in its area of influence.

COLOMBIA – Madecentro, the largest company in the Colombian wood and furniture sector, closed 2016 with sales of COP 430 billion (approximately USD 145 million), growth of 28.7% over the previous year and a network of 105 specialized stores for the furniture industry and carpentry.