Furniture Today - January 28, 2008

Retailers shopping the furniture market here are facing the toughest business they have seen in years and, as a result, are counting on landing bargains like never before to help fill their floors and stimulate traffic. They want quality. They want quick delivery. They want specials and special pricing.

• Bedding Today
• Trumping the competition: The Donald adds star power

• Editor's Desk
• Are we seeing the changes?

• Industry Numbers
• Aaron Rents expects 4Q profits to dip
• The Brick reports 3Q growth spurt of 12.5%
• Foamex's 3Q sales decrease 7.1%
• Havertys sales down 4.3% in Dec., 8.7% for the year

• Insider's View
• It's time to review retail lessons of Levy

• News
• Cozzia makes Vegas debut
• Eastwood sues Palliser for using name
• Simmons upgrades Web site
• Investor buys T.L. Bayne Co.
• Y.E.S. holding Vegas party to support City of Hope
• RiversEdge merchandises occasional with upholstery
• F/T taps Evans, Gunin to cover fabric category
• Escalate upgrades e-commerce software suite
• Broyhill adds two merchandising managers
• Coe Ltd. taps Wampler to lead new business unit
• Three industry veterans form consulting firm
• Restonic's BrandSpeed tie results in new programs
• Century a key supplier to China retailer Alexandre
• Multimaster hosts R.C. Willey in Italy
• NRF predicts U.S. retail sales will grow by 3.5% in 2008
• Momeni moves HQ to New Jersey
• Ligo moves into larger High Point showroom
• Miller draws 300 to Carls' event
• AHFA honors environmental and safety leaders
• Canadian fabric show set for Feb. 11–15
• BK Home launches four buying programs
• Fash-n-Home adds stores
• ASID's Design Summit set for Feb. 28
• ASID awards three design scholarships
• Aspenhome China builds team spirit
• Kincaid welcomes retailer to televised charity event
• Sealy, Old Dominion sponsor donation challenge
• Annual Promosedia contest honors young chair designers
• Myriad conference set for March
• Brazilian furniture design competition to run in conjunction with Movelsul
• Shoppers use Web search
• Bachicha ready for Sealy job
• Domain files for Ch. 11 protection
• News From Casual Living®
• Avenue Six introducing Park Avenue modular line
• Kingsdown featuring two new bed systems
• Broyhill offering two looks for price of one
• Fendrich becomes president, COO of Simmons
• Pilgrim planning second store
• Jofran adds China facility
• Smith joins Barcalounger Homeas EVP
• Space for Karel's Jersey show filling up quickly
• Berkshire acquires rental co.
• Home Meridian moves into High Point HQ
• Lexington adds to Tommy Bahama
• Elmore named president of new import arm

• Opinion Today
• American fabrics shine at Heimtextil

• People Today
• Mata-Sprinkles launches PR, marketing firm
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Product Spotlight
• Product Spotlight
• Stationary upholstery
• Leather
• Motion upholstery
• Bedroom
• Dining
• Home entertainment
• Occasional
• Home office
• Rugs
• Bedding

• Product Strategies
• Wood sources take variety of approaches
• Occasional producers offer something for everyone
• Electronics continue to drive home entertainment category
• Casual dining buyers seek fresh ways to stir excitement
• Upholstery sources aim to kick-start new year
• Leather mfrs. look for strong West Coast reception
• Rug vendors diversify mix
• Overlap with Surfaces show seen as a plus

• Special Report
• Fashion Report
• Behind the Design
• Market Events
• Educational seminars set for Las Vegas Market
• Social events slated for the Las Vegas Market

• Tech Talk
• Retailers should prepare for switch to digital TVs

• bedding
• Vegas Market: Mattress producers offer innovations, new options
• Spaldin debuts foam mattress that consumers can customize
• Bedding Benchmarks
• Trzcinski wins with factory-direct model