Furniture-Today back issues from March 2008:
NHFA offers online professional sales training.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- The National Home Furnishings Assn. has introduced an online professional sales training course in partnership with the Furniture Training Co. The specialized curriculum, structured to train new hires and bring underperforming sales associates up to ...
ITMA moves Showtime up a week to June 1-4.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- The International Textile Market Assn. has rescheduled the next Showtime fabric show here for June1-4, a week earlier than the previous dates. "A majority of our members polled indicated to the board that a change in dates are warranted," said ...
Scoperta moving back to Chiasso.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Cirencester, England- Scoperta, the home textiles trade show that runs concurrently with Italy's Proposte fabric fair, is moving back to Chiasso, Switzerland, its original home and its location during eight of its 11 years. The Scoperta show runs May 6 to 8, ...
NHFA members get Citi rebates.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Almost $3 million was rebated to retailers last year through a Citi Retail Services program for National Home Furnishings Assn. members, NHFA announced. The ...
Powell launches series of 40 promotions.(Powell Co.)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Culver City, Calif.- To commemorate its 40th year in business, case goods, accent and occasional furniture importer Powell Co. is offering dealers a new promotion every week for 40 weeks. The Ruby Specials - so called for the gemstone that signifies a 40th ...
Westgate by ADF buys Quaker Brazil assets.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Joan Gunin New York- Fabric supplier Westgate by ADF has acquired the Brazilian assets of bankrupt Quaker Fabrics and will sell under the Quaker brand name in Brazil. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved Westgate's purchase of Quaker ...
Function, comfort drive motion.
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin High Point- Be it a specific cover, program concept, frame design or pricing strategy, various factors are helping the motion category maintain its status as a retail standout. But in the end, sometimes it all comes down to comfort. The ...
Motion sources make best of slow market.
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin Tupelo, Miss.- Making the best of a slow situation, motion upholstery resources showing at the Tupelo Furniture Market looked to the bright side as they waited for buyers and responded to those in attendance. Yes, some important majors showed up, but ...
Having the right bait pays off for wood sources.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Jeff Linville Tupelo, Miss.- Slower traffic left market exhibitors fighting over those who did attend and, like a fishing outing, the ones with the best bait caught the most fish. While some exhibitors were bemoaning the shortage of big retail names, Kerry ...
Tupelo honors Ramel with sales rep award.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Tupelo, Miss.- George Ramel, a salesman for case goods source Orleans Furniture, was honored here with the Tupelo Furniture Market's Manufacturers Representative Award. Ramel has been a sales rep for more than 35 years for companies including ...
Tupelo Market honors Furniture Outlets USA.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Joan Gunin Tupelo, Miss.- Furniture Outlets USA, a Sioux Falls, S.D.-based retailer that has grown and diversified greatly over its 31 years in business, received the National Buyer Appreciation Award from the Tupelo Furniture Market. In accepting the award, JR ...
People Today.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Executives Select Comfort Minneapolis - Ernest Park , senior vice president and chief information officer for airbed manufacturer and retailer Select Comfort, is leaving the company to become chief information officer at 3M, a Securities and ...
Wickes liquidation set.(Wickes Furniture Company Inc.)
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Clint Engel Group pays $17M for rights to sale Wheeling, Ill.- A U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the liquidation plan for Wickes Furniture last week, signaling the beginning of the end for the Top 100 company. A group of liquidators is paying nearly $17 ...
Hike for Hope April 5.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Grand Marshal Jayson Friedman of Coconut Creek, Fla.-based retailer Carls Furniture will lead the third annual Hike for Hope here on Saturday, April 5, just before the High Point Market. Last year's event drew more than 200 participants and raised ...
Culp sales up 8.6%.(Financial report)
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Gary Evans High Point- Culp said sales for its third quarter ended Jan. 27 were up 8.6% from a year earlier to $60.5 million, powered by increases in sales of mattress ticking and non-U.S. produced upholstery fabric. Net income was $903,000 or 7 cents per share for ...
Tupelo shortens schedule.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Gary Evans No decision yet on consolidating space Tupelo, Miss.- Officials at the Tupelo Furniture Market will shorten future markets by one day, but haven't made a decision on consolidating space or making other major changes to the twice-annual event here. ...
ISPA: Bedding sales inch up.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By David Perry Alexandria, Va.- The U.S. mattress industry posted a 1.5% unit sales gain last year and the dollar value of bedding shipments rose 4.4%, according to a preliminary look at last year's performance by the International Sleep Products Assn. ISPA based the ...
Johnson City wins Springwall license.(Springwall Mattress)
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Michael J. Knell Johnson City, Tenn.- Canadian mattress producer Springwall Sleep Products is looking to expand its U.S. distribution in a big way by licensing Johnson City Bedding to make and distribute the line. Johnson City will begin shipping Springwall ...
One size does not fit all at Mattress Barn stores.(Company overview)
Mar 03, 2008 ... David Perry, Bedding Editor EDITOR'S NOTE: Mattress Barn, based in Rockledge, Fla., has built a reputation for good service. The 23-unit bedding specialty retailer, founded by furniture veteran Ron Bolding in 1989, has carved out a solid niche in the ultra-competitive central ...
Flexible tactics keep retail afloat.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Susan M. Andrews Tulsa, Okla.- A good day at retail doesn't happen automatically as it did once upon a time. Furniture retail is getting more challenging by the minute, with consumers barely able to afford the drive to work and home heating costs expected to be up ...
Eaton-Young runs several high-impact events a year.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Cumberland, Md.- George Young, an independent retailer who owns Eaton-Young Furniture Galleries here, makes the most of his position as the largest furniture retailer in his market, running high-impact sales several times a year. Last Labor Day, Young ran his ...
'Big deal' works for Casabella Furniture.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Corinth, Miss.- Ryan Casabella, owner of Casabella Furniture, is a believer in what Cosec International's Michael Larson says - adaptation is crucial to survival. According to Casabella, "you have to make it a big deal if you want it to be a big deal." He did ...
Sav-Mart sale breaks records.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Wenatchee, Wash.- Sav-Mart committed to a weeklong "End of Summer" promotion that broke sales records for the locally owned furniture retailer, which has operated here for 40 years. "Competition here is really tough," said Karen Spragg, who spoke to ...
Sleep Country USA adds Seattle unit.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Seattle- Northwest bedding retailer Sleep Country USA has opened a new store at Renton Landing on North 10th Street in Seattle. The new, 5,000-square-foot location is the tenth store that Sleep Country USA opened in 2007, bringing the total count of its stores ...
Ward adds Hooker gallery.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Huntsville, Texas- Ward Furniture, a full-line furniture and home electronics, appliance and decorative accessories store here, has opened a 3,000-square-foot SmartLiving ShowPlace by Hooker Furniture. The gallery offers a full display of Hooker's complete wood ...
HW Home opens fourth store.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Denver- Interior design firm and home furnishings retailer HW Home has opened its fourth HW Home store here. The new unit is located in the Village Shops of the The Landmark, West of I-25 between Belleview and Orchard. The Landmark development ...
Long warranties: Weapon or problem on retail floors?(Viewpoint essay)
Mar 03, 2008; ... David Perry, Executive Editor One of the great things about being out in the field is the reality check that it provides. Sometimes I hear things I don't necessarily want to hear, but I benefit, nonetheless, from the varied voices at retail. For example, a ...
Durham shrinks to survive.(Durham Furniture Inc.)
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Michael J. Knell Durham, Ontario- Solid wood bedroom specialist Durham Furniture is getting smaller to survive and will refocus its sales and distribution on its two key markets: Canada and the United States east of the Mississippi River. "Durham needs to be a ...
Nominations due March 11 for Withit's WOW Awards.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Women in the Home Industries Today is seeking nominations for its WOW Awards, to be presented during its annual education conference on Aug. 13 in Charlotte, N.C. Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and other industry professionals are invited to ...
New Mexico group sets line.(Museum of New Mexico Foundation)
Mar 03, 2008; ... By Jeff Linville Santa Fe, N.M.- The Museum of New Mexico Foundation is planning a new licensed line with three manufacturers to launch products at the July Las Vegas Market. The nonprofit foundation is licensing designs from the archives of four state-owned centers ...
Select Comfort CEO may skip pay.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Minneapolis- Select Comfort's CEO is giving up his title of chairman and also will voluntarily forgo his pay for the rest of the year unless the company's performance improves, according to the airbed manufacturer and retailer. Select Comfort announced that its ...
It's a good time to be different.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Editor in Chief, Ray Allegrezza Centuries ago, underscoring our nation's escalating hunger for independence, Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls." Today, those words aptly describe the frustration we feel with the current retail environment ....
N.C. tax ruling may hurt many interior designers.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Larry Thomas, Business Editor After recovering from the shock of an audit that claimed she owed thousands of dollars in uncollected North Carolina sales tax, Emmy Williams felt good about her chances of getting the findings overturned. Williams, who runs an interior ...
Florida retailer sues Ethan Allen.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Stuart, Fla.- Ethan Allen licensee Treasure Coast Interiors of Florida has sued Ethan Allen for breach of contract, saying the company wrongfully terminated the business relationship after 13 years. The suit was filed Sept. 14 in a Florida Circuit Court ...
ISPA leaders huddle with retailers to establish closer relationship.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Alexandria, Va.- Leaders of bedding manufacturers and suppliers in the International Sleep Products Assn. met with mattress retailers recently in Naples, Fla., to explore opportunities to work together to expand the market for bedding sales. ISPA officials said ...
Industry veteran Roan named COO at Surya.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Calhoun, Ga.- Rug resource Surya Carpet has named Steve Roan to the new post of chief operating officer, responsible for all operations. President Satya Tiwari will continue to head sales and marketing. Roan reports to Tiwari, along with Surya ...
La-Z-Boy sues former Kincaid retailers, liquidator.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Greensboro, N.C.- La-Z-Boy is suing the owners of three former Philadelphia-area Kincaid Home Furnishings stores and liquidator M.G. Smith, charging that the companies and their owners owe La-Z-Boy about $1.3 million. The suit, filed Feb. 8 in Guilford County ...
Primo meets U.S. Customs' security standards.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Montreal- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has awarded mattress and case goods supplier Primo International the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) designation. The designation means that Primo meets effective security measures in the ...
Transportation conference set for April 16-18 in Florida.(Conference news)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Gardner, Mass.- The International Furniture Transportation and Logistics Council will hold its 48th annual conference April 16-18 at the Largo Mar Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The conference theme is "How To More Effectively Control Your Company's Domestic ...
Steve McCracken, former Invista CEO.(Obituary)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Toledo, Ohio- Steve McCracken, former president and CEO of Invista, the onetime DuPont textile business that was sold to Koch Inds., has died of stomach cancer. He was 54. McCracken most recently was chairman and CEO of glass and plastic container manufacturer ...
Lane promotes 3, creates supply chain role.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Tupelo, Miss.- Lane Furniture has promoted Donnie Lesley from assistant merchandise manager for wood products to merchandise manager of wood products. The company also has promoted Danny McClellan to vice president of cost control and inventory management and ...
Furniture Foundation seeks grant applicants.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- The Furniture Foundation of the American Home Furnishings Alliance is accepting grant applications for education or research programs aimed at improving management, manufacturing and marketing in the residential furniture industry. March 14 is the ...
Hendrickson named president of Valspar.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Minneapolis- Gary Hendrickson has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of finish supplier Valspar. He had been senior vice president heading the company's architectural and global wood coatings divisions and the Asia Pacific region. He retains ...
Pino joins Restonic in global post.(Michael Pino of Restonic Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Palatine, Ill.- Bedding manufacturer Restonic has named former Therapedic executive Michael Pino as a liaison to work with the company's international licensees. Pino, a 20-year industry veteran, has extensive experience in international mattress brand ...
Consumer confidence nosedives in February.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff New York- Consumer confidence plunged in February, falling more than 12 points to 75.0 from an already weak 87.3 in January, The Conference Board reported last week. Based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted through Feb. 19, the research organization ...
Easyhome revenues up 21.7% in quarter.
Mar 03, 2008 ... By Michael J. Knell Edmonton, Alberta- Easyhome, Canada's largest rent-to-own merchant, reported a 7.2% earnings gain in the fourth quarter as revenues jumped 21.7%. Same-store revenue grew 13.5% from the comparable period a year earlier and the company also opened ...
Century names Shuford president and CEO.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Hickory, N.C.- Alex Shuford II has been named president and CEO of Century Furniture, a job he has handled on an interim basis since the departure of Bob Maricich in late January. Shuford also remains president and CEO of CV Inds., parent company of Century ...
December orders drop 8%.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- U.S. residential furniture factory orders in December were down 8% from the same month a year ago, leaving orders for the full year down 4% from 2006, according to Smith Leonard. The accounting and consulting firm said its monthly survey also showed ...
Polish company plans Va. plant.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Danville, Va.- A Polish company will invest $36.3 million to open a manufacturing facility here to make upholstery and mattresses for Swedish retailer Ikea, officials said. The company, Com.40 Ltd., will open the plant in the former Universal Leaf facility, ...
Barcalounger pres. to retire.(Wayne T. Stephens of Barcalounger Co.)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Rocky Mount, N.C.- Barcalounger President Wayne T. Stephens has announced that he will retire from the motion furniture specialist effective May 9. Stephens joined the company as president in 1992 and has held additional administrative positions within the ...
Tempur-Pedic chief leaving.(Thomas Bryant leaves Tempur Pedic Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Lexington, Ky.- H. Thomas Bryant, president and CEO of mattress manufacturer Tempur-Pedic, has announced that he plans to retire in the middle of this year. Bryant, 60, joined the maker of visco-elastic foam mattresses and pillows in 2001 and has been CEO and ...
Stepakoff joins Albany.(Joel Stepakoff of Albany Inds.)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff New Albany, Miss.- Joel Stepakoff has joined upholstery manufacturer Albany Inds. as regional key accounts manager, a newly created position. A 40-year industry veteran, Stepakoff most recently was national accounts representative for ...
60 showrooms open for premarket this week.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Some 60 exhibitors say they will open their showrooms here for premarket March 3 and 4. Twenty-four companies are sponsoring the event. Showrooms on both days will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Broyhill is among the event sponsors but ...
DeCoro lawsuit claims Rooms To Go copied designs.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Leather furniture producer DeCoro USA is suing retailer Rooms To Go for allegedly knocking off one of its designs. According to documents filed last week in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C., DeCoro claims that the giant retailer's River ...
Rosebrock rejoins Lloyd/Flanders as senior VP.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Menominee, Mich.- Lou Rosebrock has rejoined casual furniture resource Lloyd/Flanders as senior vice president of sales and marketing. He replaces Dale Campbell, who resigned in late 2007. Rosebrock was with Lloyd/Flanders for seven ...
Aspenhome debuts ASAP quick-ship program.
Mar 03, 2008 ... Staff Phoenix- Full-line furniture source Aspenhome is introducing a quick-ship delivery program called ASAP, promising to get furniture to retailers anywhere in the United States in 10 days or less. The program began March 1. ASAP, an acronym for Aspenhome Ships as ...
Shermag closing plant.(Shermag Group closes eight of its manufacturing plants in Quebec)(Brief article)
Mar 03, 2008; ... Michael J. Knell Lennoxville, Quebec- A union representing workers at the Shermag factory here said it has been told that the plant will close in about eight weeks for an indefinite period. Shermag recently announced that would close four of its eight manufacturing ...
Configurable upholstery attracts growing interest.
Mar 10, 2008; ... By Gary Evans High Point- Configurable upholstery is part of a strategy that manufacturers and retailers are using to slow the flow of imports. The shape of upholstery pieces and the ability to adapt to the way today's consumers are living is emerging as another tool ...
Latin connections.
Mar 10, 2008 ... Staff High Point- With two slots on the Top 10 list of countries exporting furniture to the United States - No. 4 Mexico and No. 10 Brazil - Latin America continues to play a big role in this market. But fierce competition from China and currency pressures have ...
Mexico slips to No. 4 but still a key source.
Mar 10, 2008; ... By Thomas Russell High Point- When it comes to sourcing product around the world, most industry executives remain fixated on growth markets like China and Vietnam. But Mexico remains a key source for the U.S. furniture industry and the most important player in Latin ...
Dollar's plunge causes challenge for Brazil.
Mar 10, 2008; ... By Thomas Russell High Point- From a furniture exporting and sourcing standpoint, Brazil has had its share of challenges. Its shipments to the United States fell 10% in 2007 to $321 million, while overall furniture shipments from other parts of the world to this ...
Export groups aim to help.
Mar 10, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell High Point- Many Brazilian manufacturers have found themselves in a sales slump as a result of the continuing strength of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. But many of these same manufacturers also are finding support in trade ...
CPSC offers uph. FR reg.
Mar 10, 2008 ... By Joan Gunin Sources: Proposal looks workable Greensboro, N.C.- A proposed federal standard on upholstered furniture flammability issued last week should be effective in preventing fires and not too difficult or costly for manufacturers to comply with, industry ...
Graydon leaving Mega Group.(Michael Graydon resigned from Mega Group )(Brief article)
Mar 10, 2008 ... Staff Saskatoon, Saskatchewan- Michael Graydon has resigned as president and CEO of Mega Group to take a similar post at the British Columbia Lottery Corp. He will be ...
Restoration rejects Sears Holdings bid.
Mar 10, 2008 ... Staff Corte Madera, Calif.- Home goods retailer Restoration Hardware has announced that it will stick with a management-led buyout proposal backed by Catterton Partners, rejecting a bid by Sears Holdings, parent of Sears and Kmart. Restoration said an independent ...