Twin-Star Expands: Headquarters, Personnel, Product Lines

Mark Asofsky, President and founder of Twin-Star International, announced today that
they are expanding into a new corporate office in Delray Beach, FL., more than doubling their current work space.

“We are fortunate that in this tough economic climate our sales continue to improve. Without question the time is right for us to invest further in our growth.” says, Asofsky.The expansion plans also include bringing on more personnel to boost progress and efficiency. Some areas the new hires will specialize in are design, consumer support and web based services.

Asofsky attributes Twin-Star’s forward momentum in large part to the success of
ClassicFlame, their electric fireplace brand. “Consumers are spending less, and while
replacing your furniture may not be fiscally responsible, adding an electric fireplace not only spruces up the look of an old room, it also serves as alternative heat, which is less expensive and could save money on heating costs in the long run.”

Retailers are so hot on the category due to its high gross margin dollars to sqft., thatTwin-Star has sold their products into more than 4000 new doors so far this year. Andy Bandremer Twin-Star’s Senior Vice President says, “There’s no secret to our success, we just have a great team of smart and forward thinking associates who enjoy working together and they always put our dealers first. We are a customer driven company and we will always find ways for them to be successful and for their customers to be proud of their purchase.” Consumers are so proud in fact that 99.4% of people who purchased a Twin-Star product say they would buy another one.

At this past Fall High Point Market, Twin-Star also doubled their Plaza Suites square
footage to make room for Tresanti media consoles, the company’s newest venture. The
Tresanti name will bring some very exciting, highly original, and functional furniture to the upcoming Las Vegas Market and the Consumer Electronics Show.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Twin-Star’s Marketing & PR Director, Alexia Rouquette at 561.665.8093 or visit us at Twinstarhome or Classicflame.

ClassicFlame goes Hollywood

In an effort to amp up exposure and brand recognition among consumers, ClassicFlame has launched a game show campaign for their beautiful electric fireplaces.

So far ClassicFlame has been featured on the hit TLC show “Your Place or Mine” with the stylish Metropolitan and on CBS’s The Price Is Right hosted by Drew Carrey with the Annapolis! On both shows the game players did win the fabulous prize, and are said to love their new ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces.

Video clips of the shows can be seen on www.classicflame.com, and two more appearances on The Price Is Right are scheduled for the 4th quarter so stay tuned for more ClassicFlame appearing on a TV near you!

ClassicFlame has received numerous awards for their finely crafted furniture including a 2008 and 2007 Platinum ADEX, Award for Design Excellence. ClassicFlame is an electric fireplace brand within the Twin-Star International portfolio. Twin-Star, founded in 1996, is located in Delray Beach, FL.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Alexia Rouquette at 561.665.8093 or e-mail ARouquette@twinstarhome.com or visit Twinstarhome and ClassicFlame.

Retailers Partied like Rock-Stars with Twin-Star at the Hard Rock, Las Vegas

Twin-Star International, known industry wide as the manufacturer of ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces and Tresanti Media Consoles, can now add Pre-Market Party Savants to their list of successful ventures.

On Sunday July 27th, Twin-Star hosted their first annual “Party like a Rock-Star with Twin-Star” event at Body English Nightclub in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

The night was organized to thank customers, sales representatives and employees for their business and hard work. The fun and care-free event had people dancing up a storm to a live DJ, in the popular Las Vegas Venue. Guests were treated to an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and a dinner menu including such savory bites as Caribbean style pulled pork, crab cakes, filet mignon and fois gras sliders, Mediterranean salad, and red bliss potatoes with caviar.

Some industry notables in attendance: Alice Higgins from Fortunoff, Jeff Weinstein from PFD, Bob Grenzer from Addco Electric Fireplaces, Lee Goodman from Jerome’s, Brian Thornfeldt from CSN Stores, Ken Hguyn from Furniture USA, and Giff Gates from Gates Furniture.

After the event, ClassicFlame and Tresanti’s Showroom, C-1578, was buzzing with positive feedback and eager customers, all market long.

If you would like more information or images on this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Alexia Rouquette at 561.665.8093 or e-mail ARouquette@twinstarhome.com Please visit twinstarhome and classicflame.

Year End Sales Contest Winners, Announced

Twin-Star International awarded their top three sales reps with cash prizes on Monday at the High Point Market.

First prize of $5,000 went to Jeff Colletto for his outstanding sales achievements in the Western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Second place of $3,000 was awarded to Len Goldberg who reps the New York/New Jersey area. And the third place prize of $1000 went to Tom Harrington for superior sales in the Midwest.

Congratulations gentlemen!

Founded in 1996 by Mark Asofsky and Michael Horvitz, Twin-Star International, Inc., located in Delray Beach, FL, is an award winning home furnishings manufacturer which strives to enrich and enhance lives by providing classic furniture designs crafted with old fashion care, quality and attention to detail.

For more information, image requests, or to schedule an interview, please call Alexia Rouquette at 561.713.5001 or e-mail ARouquette@twinstarhome.com or visit Twinstarhome or ClassicFlame.

Electric Fireplaces; At the Cutting Edge of Environmentally Conscious Warmth and Ambiance

ClassicFlame by Twin-Star Intl. is widely recognized for having the “Finest Furniture in the Electric Fireplace Industry”, and now retailers, designers, builders, and journalists alike are realizing electric fireplaces are both beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Electric Fireplaces were recently mentioned in the New York Times as an alternative to wood and gas fireplaces for creating a safe, affordable and clean way to enjoy all of the features of a traditional fire without the hazards.

One of the most prominent ways this is achieved is with zero emissions. The indoor and outdoor pollution of a traditional fireplace are alleviated because an electric insert requires no venting, filtering or maintenance to ensure no toxins such as Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide or Formaldehyde are being released into the home or the environment.

Also unlike wood or gas burning fireplaces there is no waste or expense of natural resources in order to supply ambiance and warmth to the home. 100% of the electric input energy is used to create a flame effect and a heat source, which will warm approximately 400 sq. ft. Additionally, if you zone heat your home, you won’t be wasting energy heating rooms that are rarely used which according to the Energy Information Administration will save consumers on their overall annual heating costs.

ClassicFlame broke the energy efficiency barrier of electric inserts in 2008 when it
introduced an industry first, all LED electric insert. Conventional electric inserts require up to 120 watts of incandescent candelabra light bulbs, while the LED’s in a ClassicFlame insert use a mere 11.2 watts. The LED’s also give maximum function to ClassicFlame’s inserts as recently exhibited by their patent pending on-screen indicator which displays flame brightness settings, down lights, logset and ember bed undulation, a digital thermostat, and even a timer that can be set between 30 minutes and 9 hours to allow for maximum efficiency.

Twin-Star International, the parent company of the ClassicFlame brand was recently
admitted to the Sustainable Furnishings Council for their commitment to ensure a healthy balance between social equity and environmental issues. “Our SFC certification designates us as an organization committed to an improved global environment, and holds us accountable for our own impact as we continue to implement and modify our manufacturing processes in the most earth friendly direction possible.” says Alexia Rouquette, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

To be accepted as a member of the SFC Twin-Star committed to a program that continually improves their impact on people, the environment and the economy. Ways Twin-Star has ensured to meet this goal include regularly requiring a verifiable chain of custody on wood products they purchase. They’ve also decreased their use and acceptance of toxic chemicals common in binders, finishes and treatments that are known indoor air quality hazards, and they recycle all post construction wood materials to be reused in future production.

In addition to the SFC, ClassicFlame’s PRO division is a certified member of the USGBC(United States Green Building Council). ClassicFlame PRO inserts are specially designed to be built directly into the wall of any building. Ideal applications for this insert include apartment buildings, health care facilities, assisted living homes, RV’s, boats, and the list can go on, but the premise here is that builders, specifiers and even home owners can easily add a “built-in” fireplace to any project without the need for permits and venting, and without the eco and safety hazards of a traditional fireplace.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Alexia Rouquette at 561.665.8093 or e-mail alexia@twinstarhome.com or visit Twinstarhome or Classicflame.

Twin-Star Intl. Launches 300 Cube Split Container Program for its ClassicFlame,

Twin-Star International is announcing the launch of a 300 cube split container program for the company’s ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces, Tresanti Media Consoles, Thermoelectric Wine Coolers, Beverage Cabinets, Kitchen Islands, and Duraflame Infrared Quartz Heaters and Fireplaces. Twin Star will be fully operational in its 180,000 square foot warehouse in the Shenzhen free trade zone by June 15th. The 300 cube split container program is operated in conjunction with Zenith Global Logistics.

Retailers who participate in the program can now take advantage of china direct pricing while being able to order in small quantities. Any or all of Twin-Star’s brands and products can be mixed in one 300 cube order making it easy for the retailer. Prices to the retailers include all duties and freight from Twin-Star’s China warehouse to their retail store. Split container orders are targeted to arrive at the retailer's door within approximately six weeks. Zenith’s program also includes 24 hour a day web portal access for live updates on status and location of all orders.

“We built our business by giving our customers the unique ability to mix all our diverse product categories in one container, now the smaller retailer or a customer who does not choose to buy a whole container will also have the option of buying at less than domestic prices by split container. We believe in giving our customers options and in selling them the way they want to buy. With the split container program all of our customers have the ability to buy either domestically or by direct import or both at any time.” says Bill Caples, Twin-Star’s VP of Sales & Marketing.

According to Caples “The response from our entire sales force and our customers has
been very positive. Our customers really like that this program allows them to bring in as little as one of an item on a direct import basis as part of their 300 Cube orders.”

The combination of faster turn around and smaller orders at import pricing sounds like a home run for Twin-Star Intl. and their wide range of furniture categories and brands including ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces, Tresanti Media Consoles, Wine Cabinets and Kitchen Islands, and Duraflame Infrared Quartz Heaters and Fireplaces. Twin-Star will be at the National Hardware Show Las Vegas 5/10-5/12 – Booth 5606 If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Twin-Star’s Marketing & PR Director, Alexia Rouquette at 561.665.8093or e-mail ARouquette@twinstarhome.com or visit us at http://www.twinstarhome.com/or ClassicFlame.com

Twin-Star International takes to the ballpark with SOS Children’s Village and local Literacy AmeriCorps volunteers

Twin-Star International welcomes the kids and staff from the SOS Children’s Village, and AmeriCorps volunteers working with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, to Sun Life Stadium on Friday, October 1st as the Florida Marlins take on the Pittsburg Pirates. The Delray Beach based furniture manufacturer hopes to build awareness and support for the SOS Children’s Village and AmeriCorps, while providing an entertaining experience for the children, SOS staff, and the volunteers.

SOS Children’s Village provides foster children with a unique opportunity to flourish in a nurturing environment while empowering them to achieve their full potential. Since 1993 SOS has helped raise more than 255 foster children and with cornerstones such as keeping biological and foster siblings together in safe secure homes, in a village of neighbors and friends, each child is afforded a chance to grow into productive and mature young adults.

Literacy AmeriCorps Palm Beach County is a national service program that recruits recent college graduates to provide literacy services to adults, children and youth in our community. This "domestic literacy Peace Corps" contributes over 42,500 hours per year by tutoring and teaching, providing reading enrichment activities for children, participating in community service projects and recruiting community volunteers.

Attending the event are approximately 100 children and staff from SOS, over 30 AmeriCorps members, and about 90 Twin-Star employees, friends and family. “Giving back to our community, and taking time to appreciate the people making a difference everyday in South Florida, is an important part of Twin-Star’s corporate make-up.” says Alexia Rouquette, Director of Marketing & PR for Twin-Star. “Everyone has been looking forward to Friday’s event for months now, and we can’t wait to see the smiles and excitement on everyone’s faces as the umpire calls out that first “Play Ball!”

In the past, Twin-Star has also held a “Take Your Dog to Work Day” event to collect supplies for Boca Raton’s Tri County Humane Society, assembled and shipped nearly 200 care packages to an Army Ranger Force overseas and to the Angels for Soldiers Foundation, and they also regularly donate their unique furniture to silent auctions and events held locally and nationwide.

“By inviting our staff and their families to participate in this exciting evening, I hope we’re opening their eyes, as well as our community’s, to the important work that SOS Children’s village and Literacy AmeriCorps do.” Says Mark Asofsky, Twin-Star’s President & Founder; a sentiment that after Friday will surely be shared by all. Twin-Star International was founded in 1996 and is the manufacturer of ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces; the finest furniture in the electric fireplace industry, and of Tresanti Media Consoles and Tresanti Refrigerated Wine Cabinets; changing the way you view entertainment. If you would like more information, or to schedule an interview, please call Twin-Star’s Marketing & PR Director, Alexia Rouquette at 561.713.5001 or e-mail Alexia@twinstarhome.com or vistit Twinstarhome and Classicflame.