ATLANTA–Brett Austin has been named vice president in charge of AmericasMart marketing and sales services, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart Atlanta and its AMC, Inc., parent entity.
 
Austin’s appointment as vice president elevates and expands his previous position as AMC marketing and publishing procurement/production director, in which for the past four years he has managed all goods and services acquisition and directed production of all print material.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.–Chad Beasley has joined Caffco as its national sales manager for the independent and specialty retail market. Most recently, Beasley served as OneCoast’s southeastern regional sales manager.
Earlier this year, Caffco named Tim Matt its product development/designer. His work history includes stints with Transpac Imports, Clay Art and Pacific Rim.

PITTSBURGH–SnapRetail, the recently formed consumer-products e-marketing firm, has rounded out its management team with the hiring of Kelly Gunn as vice president of business development for the gift and collegiate industries.

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif.–Contemporary lighting and home decor company Nova has named Daniele Semeraro product design manager, where he will oversee the design process from development to completion.
Semeraro has previously worked at a Swedish car interiors company that developed materials for Volvo and Volkswagen, among other cars, as well as hospitality design company Hirsch Bedner Associations in the U.S. His background also includes extensive work in lighting design as well as the launching of his own company in Italy, which produced a stemless wine glass.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.–Hunter Douglas has appointed Michele Watson director of brand management for its Metal & Alternative Wood Blind business unit.
In this newly created position, Watson now oversees all product design, color development, merchandising support, sample and display programs, price lists, marketing direction, promotions and systems coordination for all Metal & Alternative Wood Blind products and programs. She reports to Kevin Armstrong, vice president and general manager of Hunter Douglas’ Horizontal Blinds division.

KINGSTON, N.Y.–Nancy Meyer, the former senior editor of furniture, lighting and home decor for HFN, has been named editor of New York House, a monthly magazine covering residential real estate, construction, design and green living in New York.
Meyer will oversee repositioning New York House for growth in green and sustainable home building, design and furnishings, as well as enhancing its home furnishings coverage.
She reports to Jonathan Schein, publisher of New York House and president and chief executive officer of ScheinMedia.

LOS ANGELES–Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., has named Mark Furlet vice president and general manager for the L.A. Mart, where he will oversee all operations, marketing, leasing and building support for the nearly 250 showrooms housed there. He replaces Michael Kessler, who left earlier this month to pursue other interests.
Furlet was previously the leasing director for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. He will begin his new role immediately.

ATLANTA–The Vera Company, a contemporary lifestyle brand founded by artist Vera Neumann, said it has created a Home division and appointed Kathleen Schaag Haffamier as division vice president.
With more than 30 years of experience in the home decor industry, Haffamier will assist in revitalizing the Vera brand in the home arena, and will develop licensing relationships with manufacturers and retailers.

DALLAS–Cyril Ip, a co-founder of Oriental Accent Inc., has taken on the title of president of the decorative accessory importer.
He takes over the title from his brother and co-founder Richard Yip, who continues as chief executive officer. Ip reports to Yip.
Ip, who founded the company along with Richard Yip and his sister-in-law, Trea Yip, has overseen product development and traveled to factories for Oriental Accent since 1979. Ip will continue to manage the product development team for Oriental Accent.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y.–Sculpture and home decor company Austin has announced that Maura Murphy has rejoined the company as director of marketing, reporting to Andrew Cymrot, senior vice president. She formerly served as district manager and director of special markets, where she gained experience in territory and product development and marketing. She also worked at Ellery Homestyles as merchandising manager of the decorative pillow, throw and bedding division.
In her new position, she will provide a greater level of service to Austin’s customers and sales team.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va.–Uttermost has added two additional designers, Matthew Williams and David Frisch, to support the company’s growth. Williams and Frisch began at Uttermost on a freelance basis in May 2007, and their initial product introductions will debut at the January markets.