Furniture Today - February 21, 2005

Best idea contests often justify the time and expense involved in attending conferences, and the Furniture Marketing Group's symposium here offered two such contests, one on advertising and marketing, the other on operations. Here are a handful of the group's ideas. For competitive reasons, the identities of some stores are withheld.

• Bedding Today
• Therapedic's $599 bedding 'rabbit' a noteworthy reminder

• Editor's Desk
• Google 'furniture' for fun reading

• Industry Numbers
• Canadian dollar hits Shermag
• Valspar sales rise 11.1% in 1Q
• Key indicators strong in December
• Cost Plus 4Q sales up 9.7%
• Sears Canada to restate 2004, 2003 earnings
• CFC to post record sales

• Insider's View
• Change is inevitable; reinvention can help

• News
• Tupelo opens strong
• Wickes names two execs
• RTO lobbying schism
• Schneiderman's draws crowds
• Stakes high for upcoming Asian shows
• APRO 2nd-front effort to focus on commerce panels
• Target spotlights Global Bazaar area
• Shermag moving to centralized line structure
• Shermag plant lays off 80
• Glen Raven realigns staff
• Magnussen launches Ferrare gallery at Furnitureland South
• Thurmo-Pudic introducing second-generation visco foam
• Storis rolling out software to streamline special orders
• Culmone, DeMatteo promoted at Storis
• Davis sets 4th High Point building
• Coalition: Some FR chemicals may fade
• Badcock promotes Price to top stores post
• Natale appoints Riddle U.S. national sales manager
• Zocalo realigns marketing
• IHFRA plans March 12 gala
• Century names 4 product managers in upholstery
• Manness gets Mexico post at Good Cos.
• Bedding Benchmarks
• Teamwork brings Saliture Award home at Simmons
• Sealy helping oxygen-deprived skaters sleep
• Park Place moves up in S.C. business ranking
• Obituaries
• Obituaries

• Opinion Today
• Consumers have a thing or two to tell us

• People Today
• Lexington taps Bishop for Western sales VP post
• Albanese gets new American Drew, Lea post
• McCole joins Nourison

• Special Report
• RTA furniture: A constant evolution
• Sauder expands craft line
• O'Sullivan rolls out kitchen collection
• Golden Oak moves into RTA
• California Closets line serves variety of household needs
• Novimex expands desk offerings
• Furniture Marketing Group flexes muscles
• Group gets in some social time at Disney
• Speakers examine caring, loyalty issues

• Store Openings
• Broyhill opens 4 Showplaces