Furniture-Today back issues from August 2008:
Miles Talbott taps Calhoun.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Custom upholstery manufacturer Miles Talbott Furniture has named Jim Calhoun director of special projects, working director with President George Jordan. In the new position, Calhoun will be responsible for enhancing Miles Talbott's brand awareness ...
Sheely's grows on deep roots.(Sheely's Furniture and Appliance, Inc.)(Company overview)
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Marc Barnes North Lima, Ohio-These days, Sheely's Furniture and Appliance has an 80,000- square-foot showroom, a 200,000-square-foot warehouse, more than 150 employees and a well-established market presence near the Ohio and Pennsylvania border. But its beginnings ...
Sheely's six ideas for growth.(Sheely's Furniture and Appliance, Inc. )(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff North Lima, Ohio- Sheely's Furniture and Appliances has some ideas on how retailers can build their businesses during tough times. Make a visit to your store an experience, instead of just touting the brands that you sell. That way, customers will come back to ...
Magniflex expanding U.S. dealer base.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By David Perry New York- Italian bedding producer Magniflex is expanding its distribution in the United States - and around the world. The high-end Italian bedding producer offers a line of environmentally friendly sleep sets and accessories that is gaining favor ...
Mattress Marshals inspects consumers' beds.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By David Perry Margate, Fla.- Larry Frank leads a posse of Mattress Marshals. His job is to bring order to the bedding marketplace. Frank is CEO of Mattress Marshals, a company based here that specializes in performing home inspections of sleep sets. His staff of 70 ...
Bedroom resources get aggressive with launches.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Thomas Russell Las Vegas- Facing tough economic conditions, bedroom resources spurred orders at last week's Las Vegas Market with aggressive product launches, incentives and pricing. In many cases, the strategy appeared to have paid off. AICO had one of ...
Plenty of new options available in formal dining.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Thomas Russell Las Vegas- Retailers seeking to keep the formal dining category vibrant on their showroom floors found plenty of options to choose from here. The category offered a range of styles from European-influenced traditional with heavily carved elements to ...
Casual dining sources see consistent activity.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Heath E. Combs Las Vegas- The definition of good traffic for casual dining sources from last week's market could be summed up in a word: consistent. New product was frequently cited as the key driver of traffic. Coaster's showroom was abuzz, even on ...
Bedding producers offer hot values.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By David Perry Las Vegas- A blockbuster bedding market unfolded here for buyers seeking to put zip into sluggish mattress sales. Retailers found sharply priced and value-added lines galore, as well as some spectacular showroom presentations designed to inspire and ...
Fairmont to buy Guildcraft.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell Expects to close deal early September Buena Park, Calif.- Fairmont Designs said it has agreed to acquire upholstery manufacturer Guildcraft of California as part of a strategy to further develop the living room component of its residential and ...
Guyon to lead Ferguson.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Morganton, N.C.- High-end upholstery and case goods resource Ferguson Copeland has promoted Gordon Guyon president and CEO, Donald Biggerstaff to executive vice president and David T. Edwards to senior vice president. Guyon fills a role previously held by Dan ...
Aaron's 2Q profit up 18%.(Financial report)
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Clint Engel Atlanta- Aaron Rents earned $23.3 million or 43 cents per share in the second quarter, up 18% from the same period last year as revenues improved. Total revenues for the rent-to-own and rental specialist grew 15% to $411.2 million. Aaron ...
Vegas market stays strong.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas Attendance better than expected Las Vegas- Fears of a lackluster market vanished in the desert wind as buyers and sellers crowded into the newly expanded World Market Center last week for the seventh Las Vegas Market. Most exhibitors said ...
Douglas Furniture files Ch. 11.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Clint Engel El Segundo, Calif.- Douglas Furniture has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after years of declining sales and after its lender cut off its financing, according to court documents. Douglas, once the world's largest producer of dinette sets, wasn't able ...
Norwalk, lender meet with equity firms.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Gary Evans Norwalk, Ohio- Officials at Norwalk Furniture Corp. were busy last week trying to get new financing and restore retailers' confidence in the custom upholstery manufacturer. Bob Wanat, Norwalk's chief operating officer, said executives of the company met ...
Fresh upholstery proves plentiful at market.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Gary Evans Las Vegas- There was no shortage of new upholstery products at the market here last week, ranging from Donald Trump's new collection for Lexington to the Museum of New Mexico collection for King Hickory. The idea behind most of the new groups was to give ...
Motion players draw their share of looks.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin Las Vegas- Despite a weak economy and a strong desert sun, motion upholstery producers were pleasantly surprised by business at last week's market here. Barcalounger showed with sister company Stanton in the Barcalounger Home space, with a display of ...
Leather sources pleased with market activity.
Aug 04, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin Las Vegas- Stationary leather upholstery resources at market were encouraged by the positive reactions generated by new products shown here last week. Newcomers to the category mingled with existing players. Jerry Ding, sales manager for ...
Fast-turning entertainment items grab attention.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas Las Vegas- Items that can sell - and sell quickly - garnered the most attention here in showrooms featuring entertainment furniture. Executives said traffic-starved retailers were looking for items that can deliver demonstrable benefits to the ...
Avenue Six adds entertainment.(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Avenue Six, best known for its ready-to-assemble upholstery, made its debut here in the home entertainment category. The company offers about a dozen consoles and related entertainment pieces, and said more could be added if interest in the category ...
Readers air views on FR, ISPA numbers, price hikes.(International Sleep Products Association)(Column)
Aug 04, 2008 ... David Perry, Executive Editor Today my readers get their say. My June 16 column about setting the record straight on the safety of fire-resistant mattresses provoked one reader to blast me for writing "a false article on the FR chemicals in mattresses." My critic continued: ...
Time to step up high-margin accessory sales.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Carole Sloan, Senior Contributing Editor Looking at the Furniture/Today sleep accessories survey that was published late last month points up opportunities that have been missed for decades by the country's furniture store retailers - the merchandising of go-with products that ...
Weak economy creates positives for our industry.(Column)
Aug 04, 2008; ... Jerry Epperson That loud noise you heard in late June was the economy bottoming out, according to several respected economists. Steps taken over the last nine months to reverse the economic decline should be having an impact by now. Lower interest rates, an ...
SFC stepping up education effort.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Heath E. Combs Las Vegas- The Sustainable Furniture Council plans to issue a revised set of standards this year and will focus on green product education efforts, officials said at the organization's general meeting here during last week's Las Vegas Market. The ...
Designers win awards for One Good Chair.(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Jessica Konawicz of Raleigh, N.C., and Jittasak Narknisorn of Woodland Hills, Calif., won the top prizes in the first One Good Chair International Design Awards at the Las Vegas Market. With more than 300 entries from around the world, the program ...
Mealy's opens biggest store.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Warminster, Pa.- Mealey's Furniture & Mattress, the family-run group of stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has opened its newest and largest store here. Dan and Kevin Mealey, are the company's co-owners. Mealey's is donating a portion of profits from every ...
Badcock opens 259th '& more' unit.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Ruskin, Fla.- Top 100 furniture retailer W.S. Badcock has opened its 259th store as the new Badcock Home Furniture & more concept on College Avenue East. Vince Denton is the manager of the 22,000-square-foot store. Denton has been employed with Badcock since ...
People Today.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Executives GMAC New York - GMAC Commercial Finance has promoted three employees in its Commercial Services Division, which provides factoring and other financial services to furniture and other industries. Frank Drucker has been promoted ...
Black's Furniture closes doors in Greensboro, N.C.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Greensboro, N.C.- Retailer Black's Furniture, which said last month that it had changed its business strategy to selling only merchandise in stock, closed its doors last week. The doors were locked during business hours July 30. A local television ...
Aspenhome to be honored.(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Los Angeles- Full-line resource Aspenhome will receive the Spirit of Life award during the annual City of Hope dinner at the April High Point Market. The award, City of Hope's top philanthropic honor, is presented to companies or individuals who have made ...
Guzzetta to lead Ralph Lauren Home.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff New York- Department store veteran Frank Guzzetta has been named president of Ralph Lauren Home Collection, a unit of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., effective Aug. 11. Guzzetta, who retired from Macy's earlier this year, will report to Roger Farah, president of Polo ...
Staying afloat requires work.(Brief article)(Column)
Aug 04, 2008; ... Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief I'm filing this column while at the Las Vegas Market, which was kicked off by an incredible performance by rock superstar Rod Stewart. But even with Rod's music still in my head, I find myself thinking about the lyrics from another ...
WithIt scholars named.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Two North Carolina college students in interior design are winners of WithIt scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year, the organization announced here during last week's market. WithIt, or Women in the Home Industries Today, also kicked off a new ...
Gerald E. Pauley Jr., president Tri-State HFA.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Media, Pa.- Gerald E. Pauley Jr., a retired sales representative and former president of the Tri-State Home Furnishings Assn., has died of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 74. In his 40 years in the business, Pauley worked with several manufacturers including ...
Rug resources looking to future.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Lissa Wyman Las Vegas- Rug exhibitors at last week's Las Vegas Market say they are investing in the future, rather than dwelling on the present. So, although hallway traffic was termed "typical summer market," rug people remained upbeat about the potential of Las Vegas as a ...
Natuzzi updates global structure.(Natuzzi Salotti S.p.A.)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Santeramo In Colle, Italy- The Natuzzi Group has developed a new business structure for its global operations. The new structure aims to strengthen Natuzzi's global identity, through closer cooperation of the company's Italian headquarters and six foreign ...
Campbell leaves Stanley Furniture.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Gary James Stanleytown, Va.- Longtime Stanley Furniture executive Robin Campbell has left the company as part of a restructuring of its sales and marketing department. Campbell has been with Stanley more than 30 years, serving most recently as manager of marketing ...
RAC earnings slip 8.5% in 2Q.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Plano, Texas- Rent-A-Center reported second-quarter net earnings of $37.7 million, down 8.5% from the same period last year. Total revenues for the giant rent-to-own operator dipped less than 1% to $710 million for the quarter ended June 30. The ...
Ethan Allen earnings down 45%.
Aug 04, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas Danbury, Conn.- Manufacturer and retailer Ethan Allen said its sales fell 8.8% in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, while profits tumbled more than 46%. The company, which operates seven factories and two saw mills in the U.S., said ...
Home Line appoints De Lisa vice president.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Philadelphia- Home Line Inds. has named Christopher De Lisa to the new position of vice president of sales for the East Coast, the latest move in a sales restructuring plan to help support the growth of the furniture manufacturer, distributor and importer based here. ...
Market Authority holding online marketing class.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff High Point- To help exhibitors make the most out of their High Point Market investment, the High Point Market Authority will present an Internet-based marketing seminar next week to provide training on effective showroom marketing techniques. Brian Casey, ...
Klaussner launching hospitality business unit.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Gary Evans Asheboro, N.C.- Residential manufacturer, importer and retailer Klaussner Home Furnishings is launching a contract division focusing on hospitality with a full range of sofas, loveseats, chairs, sofa-sleepers, sectionals, chaises and ottomans. Ron Werner, ...
Shepard, Porter join Selamat.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff South San Francisco, Calif.- High-end occasional furniture manufacturer Selamat Designs has hired industry veteran Randall Shepard as executive vice president of product development and former Palecek designer Anna Watkins Porter as lead designer. "In addition ...
C.S. Wo to use Storis software.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Top 100 retailer C.S.Wo has entered into an agreement with Storis Management Systems to use the software vendor's Vision R8 Retail Solution, according to Storis. ...
Austin Gray leasing former Carson's space.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Thomas Russell High Point- Brownlow Investments has purchased the former Carson's showroom at 208 E. Green Drive here and will lease a portion of it to case goods importer Austin Gray. Randy Brownlow, president of Austin Gray and principal in the investment firm, ...
Finger closes location in Houston.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Houston- Finger Furniture has closed its 150,000-square-foot store in the Greenspoint area of Houston. Earlier this year, the retailer closed its 65,000-square-foot store in Sharpstown Center, southwest of downtown, as part of an ongoing plan to close older ...
Thomasville adding 100 jobs at wood plant.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Staff Lenoir, N.C.- Thomasville Furniture Inds. says it will add about 100 jobs to its case goods plant here, bringing employment at the 1 million-square-foot factory to 800 by the end of the year. It's the second time in recent months that Thomasville has added ...
Innersprings dumped.
Aug 11, 2008; ... By David Perry Importers to pay preliminary duties WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a preliminary finding that mattress innersprings imported to the United States from China, South Africa and Vietnam were unfairly dumped in the U.S. market. ...
Rogers sets Sealy strategy.(Larry Rogers of Sealy Corp.)
Aug 11, 2008; ... By David Perry LAS VEGAS - Sealy's newly minted CEO and president knows exactly how he wants to navigate the bedding industry's largest producer through a challenging year. Sealy veteran Larry Rogers, who had been interim CEO since Dave McIlquham's abrupt departure ...
FBI posts 2Q loss.(Financial report)
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas ST. LOUIS - Furniture Brands International reported a second-quarter net loss of $23.9 million as sales fell 13.4%. The results, which include several one-time charges, reflected weakness across all its brands and the entire home furnishings industry, ...
Deal rescues Norwalk.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Jay McIntosh New owners resume production NORWALK, Ohio - Two investment firms have agreed to purchase the assets of Norwalk Furniture and the company has fully resumed operations, officials announced last week. IRG Capital Group, an affiliate of ...
Miskelly opens 'grand' Ashley store.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Clint Engel MADISON, Miss. - Miskelly Furniture has opened a 40,000-square-foot-Ashley Furniture HomeStore here, its first store off its main Jackson, Miss., campus and a reflection of its plan to gain market share even in the toughest of times. Ashley Chairman ...
Prospects dim for bedding rebound.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By David Perry HIGH POINT - As the mattress industry heads into two of its strongest sales months, hopes are dimming that a significant rebound is on the way this year. In fact, leading producers are not particularly bullish about prospects in 2009 either. ...
Offer customer a book or two.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief If you're in retail, you don't need me to remind you that this isn't the time to run your business by the book. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary tactics. But having said that, it may be the perfect time to integrate some ...
Miles Talbott to produce Ruggiero upholstery line.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Gary Evans HIGH POINT - Designer and television host Joe Ruggiero has signed on with upper-end manufacturer Miles Talbott Furniture to produce his line of upholstery, with the first introduction set for the High Point Market in October. George Jordan, president of ...
Sealy will close Pa. facility.(Sealy Corp.)(Brief article)
Aug 11, 2008 ... Staff ARCHDALE, N.C. - Sealy announced last week that it will close its Clarion, Pa., bedding plant in October. Sealy has operated the facility since 1981. 'In light of current economic conditions and continued softness in the retail mattress environment, we ...
Macy's shuffles execs.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Staff NEW YORK - Macy's Home Store has announced senior executive changes in its Big Ticket division, which covers products including furniture, mattresses and area rugs. Bob Weiser has been named senior vice president, general merchandise manager, for the division ....
F/T Web exclusives.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Staff Stories only on www.furnituretoday.com this week include: Upholstery fabric source Glen Raven Custom Fabrics was recognized by its home state of South Carolina for the company's exemplary environmental leadership. Each year, Glen Raven's recycling ...
Stainsafe, Multimaster merge, form Global Care.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Jay McIntosh PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Furniture care and warranty program providers Stainsafe and Multimaster North America have merged to form Global Care Solutions LLC. Palm Beach Capital, a private equity firm and majority owner of Stainsafe, and Uniters, an ...
Hudson's names new CEOs for The Bay, Zellers.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Michael J. Knell TORONTO - Two well-known Canadian retailers have been named to lead the Hudson's Bay Company's two key banners - Bonnie Brooks at The Bay and Mark Foote at Zellers. HBC's new owners are already charting a very different course from the regime of ...
Antidumping group asks for transshipping review.
Aug 11, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell WASHINGTON - Legal counsel for the petitioners who supported the antidumping investigation of Chinese-made wood bedroom furniture have renewed an effort to make sure that duties charged on the goods are high enough. At issue are high-duty Chinese ...
Britton buys Master inventory.(Master Design's warehouses )(Britton Inds.)(Brief article)
Aug 11, 2008; ... By Heath E. Combs EUPORA, Miss. - Former kitchen and bath cabinet maker Britton Inds. said it has purchased nearly all the inventory from Master Design's warehouses here and in Ontario, Calif. Britton, which leased its warehouse space here to case goods and ...
Department store Boscov's files Chapter 11.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Larry Thomas READING, Pa. - Boscov's, a family-owned department store chain with 49 stores in the eastern U.S., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. The company listed three furniture and bedding companies - La-Z-Boy, Serta and Sauder Woodworking - ...
Furniture factory orders decline by 6% in May.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Staff HIGH POINT - U.S. furniture factory orders in May were down 6% from the same month a year earlier while shipments declined 10%, Smith Leonard reported. For the year to date, orders were down 8% and shipments were off 7% from the comparable period in 2007, the ...
Fraenkel to close Louisiana facility.(Fraenkel Wholesale Furniture Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Aug 11, 2008; ... Heath E. Combs BATON ROUGE, La.- Manufacturer and distributor Fraenkel will close its case goods distribution and mattress manufacturing facility here and consolidate its functions into two other plants. Brian Akchin, president and CEO, said the company will shift ...