Furniture Today - February 16, 2009

LAS VEGAS — At a time when retailers and consumers alike are cautious about making big-ticket purchases, new value-added product proved popular for case goods vendors at last week's Las Vegas Market. While expectations coming into market were low, exhibitors said they were pleased by traffic, commitments and written business in bedroom and formal dining.

• Bedding Today
• Climbing the mountain: Vegas offers new strategies

• Editor's Desk
• Attendance isn't all that counts

• Industry Numbers
• Simmons reaches debt agreement
• FBI sales fall 20.1%
• Bassett sales drop 18.9% in fourth quarter

• News
• Sligh opens Vietnam facility
• Stylution Direct moving U.S. operations to China
• Belfort promotes Kennedy
• Serta plans to make Trump bedding
• DeCoro workers receive lost wages
• Discount offered on early rentals
• Pier 1 closing stores
• Web Summit shares ideas
• Sun Delivery adds Dallas
• El Dorado opening new store
• Maricich to address Michigan gathering
• City of Hope sets gala
• Lane forms strategic alliance with Samsung Electronics
• Eisler joins Classic Concepts
• Howard Miller working on big expansion of Pennington
• Schnadig to move HQ to High Point
• Valkanoff rejoins England
• Shawin Int'l Group buys Bedtime Holdings
• Maitland-Smith, Henredon to show together in High Point
• Producers team up to expand Canal Dover
• PMD converting business to franchising operation
• Snider rejoins IHFC
• FBI taps Johnson for logistics
• IHFC adds 7
• F/T Web exclusives
• Kantor takes new role at Macy's
• Fortunoff seeking approval for asset sale
• Hamilton Spill relocating offices to Hong Kong
• Vegas buyers find values
• Specialty sleep units drop 11.7%
• WHFA, NHFA offer retailers 'Survival' hotline
• Handy Living teams with TV's Surmelis

• Opinion Today
• Custom sizes, finishes keep U.S. plants busy
• $86,000 rug sets back industry's reputation for years

• Special Report
• Occasional vendors report good traffic, positive response
• Aspenhome launches fabric uph. program
• Fresh ideas stir casual dining
• Rug vendors giving retailers more service
• Buyers seek extras in home entertainment
• Fresh products generate good activity in bedding
• Upholstery buyer turnout, orders beat expectations
• Norwalk pleased with reception
• Metal bed sources promote value, design
• Leggett & Platt draws attention with new Prodigy bed
• Surya debuts Accessory Solution Center
• Home Entertainment
• New design twists create excitement in entertainment
• Digital conversion still holds opportunity for furniture
• R.C. Willey buyer sees benefits in marketing furniture with electronics