Furniture-Today back issues from April 2008:
New licenses, slimmer scaling mark wood intros.
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Jeff Linville High Point- Licensing, scaling and European designs are three of the hot topics for case goods products going into market. After a drop in licensing in recent markets, more than a dozen licensed groups will debut this market - both as new lines and as ...
Occasional sources bring lots of fresh merchandise.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell High Point- Occasional and accent furniture vendors showing here this week haven't let the economic slowdown affect their product offerings. In fact, they are being as aggressive as ever, launching numerous groups with combinations of style and ...
Halvorsen joins West Bros. as VP sales, marketing.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Hanover, Ontario- Industry veteran Tom Halvorsen has joined solid wood producer West Bros. Furniture as vice president of sales and marketing, a new position. "Tom's extensive knowledge of the furniture retail marketplace will be a great asset to our company as ...
Violino hires Reichick.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Atlanta- Richard Reichick has joined leather upholstery producer Violino as president of sales and marketing for the Americas. Reichick, most recently sales manager for Italian leather producer DeCoro, is an industry veteran who has worked in the upholstery ...
Upholstery makers keep a fresh outlook.(Habersham Furniture launches its first collection of upholstery)
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Gary Evans Custom goods part of strategy High Point- Asked what they're expecting for the market that takes place here this week, stationary upholstery execs are likely to answer like Matt Eddy. "I've got a zero reading on it," said Eddy, president of ...
New entertainment sports step-up features.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas High Point- Hoping to capitalize on the continuing popularity of flat-panel televisions, entertainment furniture sources are unveiling a wave of new products aimed at increasingly sophisticated consumers. Executives say the industry's current sales ...
Sunrise relocates to IHFC.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Sunrise Home Furnishings, an importer specializing in entertainment, dining and home office, has moved to a new showroom on the sixth floor of the International Home Furnishings Center. The new ...
Martin revamps Web site.(Website overview)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff San Diego- Kathy Ireland Home by Martin, which specializes in home entertainment and home office furniture, has revamped its Web site to make it more consumer-friendly. The site, www.martinfurniture.com , now includes larger product images, a retail store ...
Modern looks gaining strength in home office.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Heath E. Combs High Point- Based on the focused nature of home office introductions this market, furniture companies can certainly be said to be buckling down and trying hard to make an impression with retailers. Home office vendors are introducing a lot more ...
Motion producers promote domestic programs.
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin High Point- Manufacturers of motion upholstery are putting a big push on their domestic programs this market, as Chinese imports continue to be bogged down by pricing issues. In addition, most motion executives expect a decent turnout this week with ...
Bedding majors roll out new brands, additions.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By David Perry High Point- Call this bedding market A Tale of Three Brands. The big bedding news here is being made by three Top 15 bedding producers. One is rolling out a reinvented brand, one is launching a new brand, and one has additions to one of its key brands. ...
Green, Olympic, RTA mattresses in market mix.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By David Perry High Point- Green beds, gymnastic-themed beds and ready-to-assemble beds will be featured in the mattress mix at the market here as bedding producers pursue a variety of strategies to stimulate sales. Bemco is introducing three new models that salute ...
Rug vendors get innovative to combat tough economy.
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Lissa Wyman High Point- Rug vendors are coming to High Point with a healthy attitude despite the sick economy. Looking at the current state of the home furnishings business, they are not expecting this market to be a record-breaker. However, many vendors have ...
Valdese Weavers promotes several executives.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Valdese, N.C.- Fabric supplier Valdese Weavers said that because of its dramatic growth, it has promoted five of its executives to new positions. "We recognize that since we made significant acquisitions last year and have had dynamic growth internally over the ...
RTG opens in Houston.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Houston- Rooms To Go has opened the first of four stores it has planned for this metro area. The 35,000-square-foot showroom is at the Gulf Freeway and Bay Area Boulevard, adjacent to Baybrook Mall. Over the next few months, the Top 100 company also will open ...
A good mattress helps you do what?...
Apr 07, 2008; ... David Perry, Bedding Editor It is the magic question, a single, simple question that helps consumers unlock the secret to a happier, more fulfilled life. And, best of all, the consumers supply the answers to that question themselves. All they need is a little prompting. ...
Ling to speak at F/T Bedding Conference.(Conference news)
Apr 07, 2008 ... David Perry, Bedding Editor Kurt Ling will share some of his consumer insights on the mattress shopping experience in an address at Furniture/Today's upcoming Bedding Conference. He is one of the speakers in the Retail Workshop session at the conference, set for May ...
AICO's Vizcaya takes inspiration from Spain.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Ray Allegrezza High Point- In keeping with a history of bringing retailers designs from around the world, AICO this week is introducing the Vizcaya collection of case goods and upholstery, said to capture the opulent styling of upscale furniture from Spain and the ...
La-Z-Boy installs galleries in Pennsylvania, Kentucky.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Monroe, Mich.- La-Z-Boy has added galleries to stores in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. In Rockton, Pa., a new 7,300-square-foot La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio has been added to Steeple Furniture, located on North Street. Shirley Conrad owns the store with ...
Christensen's adds Flexsteel gallery.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Charlotte, Mich.- Family owned retailer Christensen's Furniture has installed a new 5,000-square-foot Flexsteel gallery in its 17,800-square-foot showroom here. The ...
Winchendon adds two Ekornes galleries.(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Winchendon, Mass.- Winchendon Furniture has installed Stressless Comfort Zone galleries by Ekornes in its retail stores here and in Amherst, N.H. The new 850-square-foot Stressless Comfort Zones were installed in Winchendon's 25,000-square-foot store on ...
Green signing copies of new book at market.(Calendar)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Industry veteran Jim Green has scheduled a series of dates at the High Point Market to sign copies of his new book, "Furniture Retailing 101." Green, who was a retailer and sales rep for 30 years and has an MBA degree in management, authored the ...
Smith to kick off WithIt seminars at market.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Jaclyn Smith will kick off the Women in the Home Industries Today's seminars at this week's High Point Market. Smith will be guest speaker for the industry organization's educational breakfast on Tuesday, April 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Club ...
FBI appoints Rolls CFO.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff St. Louis- Furniture Brands International has hired Steven Rolls as chief financial officer, filling a post left vacant since Denise Ramos left 10 months ago. "With our executive leadership team now complete, we all look forward to delivering on the promise ...
America's Mattress unveils new store concept.
Apr 07, 2008; ... By David Perry Schaumburg, Ill.- The America's Mattress program unveiled its new "customer experience" store here, a 3,000-square-foot sleep shop with all the comforts of home. Designed to appeal to all five senses, the concept store aims to stir an emotional ...
Serta offers tools to help retailers grow.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By David Perry Schaumburg, Ill.- Serta officials and members of their America's Mattress team rolled out a series of presentations at a retailer meeting here, outlining the support they offer to their dealers in the Serta-exclusive sleep shop network. Officials said ...
Casual Living[R].(Glen Raven, Inc. unveils the name for its new distribution division, Tri Vantage LLC)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Glen Raven forms Tri Vantage division Glen Raven recently unveiled the name for its new distribution division, Tri Vantage LLC. In May 2007, Glen Raven acquired long-standing business partners The Astrup Co. and John Boyle & Co., two of the nation's ...
Mittelman signs on for Kansas City show.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Kansas City, Mo.- Mittelman Furniture, one of the largest furniture distributors in the Midwest, has confirmed that it will show at the first Kansas City Furniture & Accessory Market Sept. 13 and 14. This is Mittelman's first time exhibiting with show organizer ...
Robert Allen plans WMC showroom.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Decorative fabrics company Robert Allen Group said it plans to open a showroom for fabrics and upholstered furniture in the World Market Center here this summer. The nearly 30,000-square-foot showroom will be located in the Las Vegas Design Center on ...
Zorio teams up with Nick Oak for new line.(Sergio Zorio joins Nick Oak Inc.)
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Thomas Russell Tijuana, Mexico- Sergio Zorio, former vice president of sales at case goods manufacturer Sunny Designs, has formed a sourcing partnership to produce and export goods from Mexico. Zorio worked for Sunny Designs for the past eight years and decided to ...
Davis opts to make promo upholstery in Miss.(Davis International Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Ray Allegrezza West Point, Miss.- With shipping costs rising, Davis International has resumed manufacturing some upholstery frames in its Houlka, Miss., factory rather than importing them from China. Lynn Davis, vice president of the manufacturer, said the Houlka ...
Give us your best market photograph.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Furniture/Today is soliciting photographs of product introductions for its Best of Market section, to appear in the April 21 issue. To be considered, products must be well-received introductions at this market. Furniture and rugs in all categories ...
'Ask the Experts' panel ready for questions.(Discussion)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Retailers attending market will be able to "Ask the Experts" about topics like merchandising, operations, interior design, finance, human resources, and real estate, courtesy of the National Home Furnishings Assn. The retail trade group will arrange ...
Stewart, Sills to share home decorating ideas.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Home products icon Martha Stewart will take the stage at the High Point Theatre at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, to discuss home decorating and her design inspirations before a High Point Market audience. Interior designer Stephen Sills also will speak ...
BB&T wins Factor of Year recognition.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Winston-Salem, N.C.- BB&T Commercial Finance has received the Import Factor of the Year award from financial company Factors Chain International. The award recognizes the FCI member that provides the highest level of import factoring service and business volume ...
Familiar faces in new showrooms this market.
Apr 07, 2008; ... By Jeff Linville High Point- Changes of venues have caused many High Point Market exhibitors to scramble to be ready for opening day today. Dozens of companies are either new to market or have changed locations since the October show. Among those on the march: Pulaski ...
Mesa Brasileira ceases operations.(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Deerfield, Fla.- Mesa Brasileira, an importer of mosaic stone-top dining and occasional tables, is winding down operations after a five-year run. Company principal Chris Figueira, a mechanical engineer by training, said he closed down the Virginia Beach, ...
LeggettSleep makes permanent home on Web.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By David Perry Carthage, Mo.- LeggettSleep.com , the Web site launched last year during Leggett & Platt's national Spring Alive Tour, is back in cyberspace. This time, officials say, it will have a permanent home. The site originally gave L&P's Mark Quinn and the ...
Jordan's customers will win big again if Red Sox sweep.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Boston- Jordan's Furniture customers will have another shot at free furniture this year, but the bar has been set higher. Last year, the official furniture store of the Boston Red Sox promised free products if the Sox won pro baseball's World Series. ...
Cologne fair draws more international visitors.(IMM Cologne )(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Cologne, Germany- The IMM Cologne furniture fair drew 107,000 visitors from 130 countries, up slightly from the 106,000 who attended the show in 2007. Of those, an estimated 31,000 were international visitors and another 21,000 were consumers who came in during ...
Free furniture offered to Cubs fans.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Clint Engel Algonquin, Ill.- Another furniture retailer is tying free furniture to a home team sports victory. SuitePlay, a four-store Chicagoland retailer of home entertainment furniture, games and accessories, will reimburse all purchases made at its stores from ...
Company offers innovations with adjustable foam beds.(Sleep Studio)
Apr 07, 2008; ... By David Perry New York- Innovative foam systems meet sophisticated German engineering in new specialty sleep sets offered by Sleep Studio, say founders of the supplier. Foam bedding veterans Michael Rothbard and Chris Ann Ernst have joined forces again to head Sleep ...
Big Tree to introduce Simmons brand futons.(Big Tree Furniture )(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Atlanta- Bedding major Simmons has signed a licensing agreement with Big Tree Furniture for a new collection of branded innerspring futon mattresses. Big Tree, which makes futon mattresses, frames, and covers under the Big Tree and Big Sleep brand names, will ...
Sleep Country Canada expects to add stores.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Michael J. Knell Toronto- Sleep Country Canada will enter the Saskatchewan market in May with two stores and a distribution center in Regina and two stores in Saskatoon. Company President Christine Magee said that once those stores are open, the only major region ...
MCM planning center in Columbia.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Dallas- Market Center Management, the company behind the Dallas Market Center, Shanghaimart and Brussels International Trade Mart, has announced plans to develop a market center in Bogota, Colombia. To be known as the Latin-American Trade Mart, the 2.5 ...
Room Planners studies consumer behavior in home.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Centerport, N.Y.- When Loreen Epp was directing marketing and merchandising for furniture makers and retailers such as Staples, Levitz, Seaman's and Palliser, she often longed for reliable information about what consumers really wanted - not just what they saw in ...
Bernie & Phyl's planning sixth.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Norton, Mass.- Bernie & Phyl's Furniture will open its sixth New England store this spring in the Cape Cod town of Hyannis, Mass. The Top 100 company said it is purchasing a 12,000-square-foot store at 20 Airport Road in Hyannis, across from the Cape Cod Mall, ...
McKay joins Protect-A-Bed as EVP of sales.(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... David Perry Chicago- Bedding veteran Larry McKay has joined Protect-A-Bed in the new position of executive vice president of sales. The 30-year bedding veteran was most recently president of Comfort Solutions and earlier worked at Sealy, Spring Air and Serta. "Larry ...
Pride Sasser taps Chiappa as president.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Morganton, N.C.- Industry veteran Peter Chiappa has been hired as president of high-end accessories and furniture resource Pride Sasser Home Furnishings. Chiappa left Thomasville Furniture as a senior marketing representative for the Southwest late last year ....
Hige joins IBC.(Daniel Hige has joined International Bedding Corp as senior vice president)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Fort Lauderdale, Fla.- International Bedding Corp. said Daniel Hige has joined the company as senior vice president of manufacturing, a new position for the company. Hige has worked in the bedding industry more than 15 years and most recently was vice president ...
Flexsteel promotes Freeman, Piekenbrock.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Dubuque, Iowa- Flexsteel Inds. has promoted executives Chip Piekenbrock and Roger Freeman to new management positions. Piekenbrock is now director of marketing, a newly created post. He has worked in varied sales and marketing roles at Flexsteel for 22 years ...
Chinese sources face variety of cost pressures.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell High Point- To find the roots of this spring's price hikes, retailers need look no further than the manufacturers producing the merchandise that ends up on their sales floors. Interviews with Chinese manufacturers at furniture shows in southern ...
Carpet One names Demaree president.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Manchester, N.H.- Eric Demaree has been named president of retail group Carpet One Floor & Home. Evan Hackel, former president of Carpet One Floor & Home, has been named president of Biz Unite, a new division of CCA Global. In addition, Hackel retains his ...
Goss joins Highland House in VP post.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Hickory, N.C.- Industry veteran Parker Goss has joined upholstery and occasional manufacturer Highland House as vice president of sales. Goss had been vice president of sales for Southern Furniture, a post he held from late 2003 until last December, when he ...
Kahan family buys Covington.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Carole Sloan New York- The Kahan family, a Massachusetts retailer, has bought decorative fabric producer Covington Holdings LLC from Covington CEO Roger Gilmartin and other investors. Gilmartin, who will remain president and CEO under the new owners, and his ...
Vaughan taps Miller.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Galax, Va.- Vaughan Furniture has named industry veteran David E. Miller to the newly created position of senior vice president of merchandising. Miller, a former president and founder of case goods importer Huntington Furniture, also held sales and marketing ...
American Leather taps Archer for merchandising.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Dallas- Amy Archer has joined custom upholstery specialist American Leather as director of merchandising, a new position. In her 25 years in the industry, Archer has worked in manufacturing and retail, including sales and merchandising. She is known as a trend ...
Huntingdon promotes Frenzel.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Case goods importer Huntington Furniture has promoted Bruce Frenzel to manage company's product development efforts, in addition to his duties as senior vice president of sales and marketing. A 30-year industry veteran, Frenzel had similar roles at ...
Natuzzi names Gaipa CFO.(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff Santeramo in Colle, Italy- Upholstered furniture major Natuzzi said that Filippo Simonetti has resigned as chief financial officer and will be replaced by Salvatore Gaipa, former CFO of Panasonic Italia. The ...
Obituaries.(High Point Market Authority)(High Point Market Authority)(Obituary)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff John Hale Yokley Jr., Mount Airy Furniture Staff Greensboro, N.C. - John Hale Yokley Jr., whose family founded upscale furniture manufacturer Mount Airy Furniture, has died of acute leukemia. He was 64. Yokley was the third generation of ...
Bernhardt achieves environmental status.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Heath E. Combs Lenoir, N.C.- Bernhardt Furniture has successfully completed registration of all five of its U.S. facilities in the American Home Furnishings Alliance's Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture, or EFEC, program. Bernhardt also is the first AHFA ...
Chamber supporting designers in tax fight.
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff High Point- This city's Chamber of Commerce has lent its support to designers fighting a proposed North Carolina state sales tax on their services. The N.C. Department of Revenue wants designers to collect a 6.75% sales tax on consulting fees from clients who ...
Bassett, La-Z-Boy, Select get flak from shareholders.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas High Point- Furniture Brands International isn't the only publicly held home furnishings company facing criticism from disgruntled shareholders. In recent weeks, Bassett, La-Z-Boy and Select Comfort have been targeted by shareholders unhappy with the ...
Chromcraft reports 27.2% drop in sales.(Chromcraft Revington Inc. revenue report)(Financial report)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Staff West Lafayette, Ind.- Chromcraft Revington posted a sales decline of 27.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007 and an operating loss of $8.3 million, citing competition from imports, shifts in product and selling strategy and weak retail sales. For the year, the ...
Brace for higher prices.
Apr 07, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell Companies eyeing 3%-6% hikes High Point- The already tough business of selling furniture is about to get a little tougher. While retailers are on the lookout this market for even sharper price points to help them cope with one of the ...