Furniture Today - January 12, 2004

If you liked 2003, you should be happy with this year and the next. Furniture/Today's new consensus forecast for the U.S. furniture industry and the overall economy calls for continued modest growth. Total retail sales, reflected by U.S. consumer spending on furniture and bedding, is predicted to rise 4.

• Bedding Today
• Borreggine is right on key role of retailers

• Business Today
• Select Comfort tops list with 163% stock gain
• Havertys posts strong Dec. gains

• News
• Spring Haven issue available soon
• Groups host fundraiser to help Florida panther
• Universal Leather enters alliance to show in China
• Corrections & Amplifications
• Private group acquires Calif. wood factory
• La-Z-Boy Canada adds 22nd store
• Internet proving both blessing and bane
• Retailers OK with Google searches
• Bruehl North America launches Web site
• City plans growth push
• Showtime buyers like what they see
• Stickley set to begin $6M plant expansion
• WHFA debuts Solutions idea sessions for retailers
• Obituaries
• Larry Grossman, veteran retailer

• Opinion Today
• Private companies worth more today than in years
• Hope for the best, plan for the worst in 2004
• Getting a handle on global marketing

• Special Report
• WithIt, YHFE set conference
• Showtime full of color
• Non-Asian leather suppliers struggle to hold prices
• Mad cow not a concern
• Oclas Leather joins forces with Americo Gaita in North America
• Marlatex doubles capacity in N.C.
• Chesnutt replaces Moore at ATMI
• Hill tapped as Nicopel agent
• Rug Preview
• Clean colors, streamlined styles driving
• Rug introductions
• Shaw licensing Mary-Kate and Ashley

• Up Front
• California fire regulations stay on track
• Austin, Shaak leave Hickory White
• AmericasMart plans massive expansion
• Scott, Carothers to lead Levitz
• ITC's 6-0 vote clears way for probe of China imports
• Innerspring group files petition
• FFDM promotes, hires sales execs
• Williams joins Universal
• Doxey ends operations
• FMG sets symposium