Furniture Today - October 29, 2001

Occasional furniture producers enticed retailers with plenty of new and different looks this market. Business has been off for many manufacturers and importers this year. "People want to see fresh new designs," said Bill Becker, president of Becker Designed Inc. "Now more than ever, people need a reason to smile.

• News
• Better than expected
• Casual dining gets assertive
• August orders off 4%, BDO says
• Sluggish economy limits 1st-half import gain to 3%
• Furniture exports register 7% decline
• NHFA's Haimsohn aims to deepen industry ties
• Tomlinson purchases Directional
• Furniture First explores own bedding line
• Board members pleasantly surprised with fall market
• Authority bids farewell to Morgan and Phillips
• Marketgoers suggest shuttles start earlier
• IHFMA backs application for transit funds
• Harleys reflect brother's love
• Vegas city council delays tax vote
• Hickory Chair licensed for Mariette Himes Gomez line
• Toronto winter market renamed
• Corrections & amplifications
• Nationwide files Chapter 11, names Meiser CEO
• Hakakians receive court OK to acquire Krause's
• Natuzzi to make retail moves

• Up Front
• R.C. Willey in Las Vegas
• JCPenney may add bedding to as many as 500 more stores
• Sears also may expand bedding's reach
• Great American Oak shuts down
• Moh sets up $3M scholarship fund
• E-commerce players don't expect taxes
• Havertys eyes additions
• Palliser, partner buy C&D
• Hall of Fame inducts 4

• Bedding Today
• Latex shortages? Not in High Point showrooms

• People Today
• Brinkley named Home Gear president
• Giles joins Universal as vp of merchandising
• DeRose is Lane's case goods merchandise mgr.
• Frank tapped to manage sales in U.S. for Leda
• La-Z-Boy revamps sales regions, adds 2 regional mgrs.

• Special Report
• Market Highlights
• Good product wins good business
• BenchCraft 'Murphy Home' collection gets good reception
• Watch out, loveseats! Settees are sitting pretty
• Leather arena brimming with better values
• Big walls, smaller pieces a hit in home entertainment
• Price takes back seat to style in motion
• Size counts among recliner, motion upholstery intros
• Popcorn pulls up chair for women
• RTA resources cover more and more bases
• Entertainment: It's a matter of adjustment
• Beds show their mettle
• Smaller is beautiful in SOHO showrooms
• Bestar eyes traditional furniture stores
• Youth segment continues growth spurt
• Softer, plusher mattresses prove hard to ignore
• Rug vendors take style pulse for January
• Fashion, innovation propel glider rockers
• Faux suedes a real hit
• Best of market
• Fund raiser nets $1.3M
• Case goods mfrs. put feet on promos
• Mark David joins hands with Classic Gallery
• Upholstered beds, platform looks build on leather, sleigh bed trend
• Southern changes to SouthPort
• Market Highlights

• Store Openings
• Badcock launches 3 more
• Coopers opens Kincaid gallery
• Kittles expands Ft. Wayne unit
• Cost Plus World Market adds 2
• Carl's installs French Heritage

• Opinion Today
• 'Asterisk market' poses some new questions
• The show must go on, at market and in stores
• Assessing a play-it-safe market

• Business Today
• Havertys earnings drop 23.9% as sales fall 3.8%
• FBI has cash, hints at acquisitions
• O'Sullivan's operating earnings rise
• Financial results