Furniture Today Blogs
The Magnussen Throwdown: Are you in sync with consumers?
Now, more than ever, suppliers need to “get it right” before they bring new collections to market. Let’s face it– investing money, especially in this economic climate, on things that “will never see the saw “ is not only a major waste of dollars, but it doesn’t make much sense either. Recently, a handful of suppliers are investing money ... More
About this blog
Ray Allegrezza Editor in Chief Welcome to Furniture/Today\'s latest Web site feature--blogs. Each week in my Editor\'s Desk blog we\'ll take a look at interesting news or events in the furniture industry. The most important part of this whole process will be your input. So, take a look at my posts below and weigh in with what you think by clicking on \"Add Your Comment\" at the bottom of each blog. -- Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief
By the numbers: Gen Y
Gen Y demographics Born between 1976 and 1994 Between the ages of 16 and 34 in 2010 Total 76 million Account for 26% of the adult population Race/ethnicity of Gen Y members ages 18 to 29:61% White19% Hispanic14% Black5% Asian1% Other Furniture buying and Gen Y 61% plan to buy new furniture in 2010 45% are redecorating in 2010 to furnish a new home; 41% are replacing worn furniture; 32% are c ... More
About this blog
Welcome to Furniture/Today’s Research blog. Each week we\'ll take a look at interesting research data related to the home furnishings industry. Our focus for the week may come from research we have conducted ourselves or it might be something we’ve come across and just want to share. We hope you’ll use this space too, to share your thoughts or to weigh in with what you think about the topic under discussion. Three members of Furniture/Today’s Research team, Research Manager Dana French and Research Specialists Judi Fulbright and Daphne Garland-McLean, will be sharing this forum, each bringing our own unique perspective. We look forward to hearing from you!
Credit scam making rounds
No retailer can afford to lose thousands of dollars right now to a couple of matchstick men. A Florida home furnishings retailer, who asked not to be named, reported a scam to me last week that has apparently snared a few stores recently. It cost his store thousands of dollars and has been targeting upper-medium-priced to high-end stores. It’s not a new scam, from what little research I can ... More
About this blog
My name is Heath E. Combs and I am a staff writer for Furniture/Today. I cover casual dining, occasional and green product categories here and often write about regulatory issues affecting our industry. In my blog “The Writer’s Bureau” I’ll discuss the general business climate may be, any interesting trends I find that could carry over into our industry and what I’m hearing from you in our conversations or in my travels. I’m interested in hearing from you here and feel free to contact me directly at heath.combs@reedbusiness.com.
Bedding Conference focuses on female consumers
Our upcoming Bedding Conference, set for the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Fla., May 5-7, is focusing on the key drivers of the mattress purchase: Women. “Consumer Connections: It’s All about Her” is the conference theme, and we are backing that with more than a dozen female speakers from inside and outside the industry. Bridget Brennan, a leading expert on marketing to women, is o ... More
About this blog
David Perry Bedding Editor Hi! I'm David Perry, the bedding editor for Furniture/Today. This is an online version of my Bedding Today column, which appears weekly in the pages of Furniture/Today. I invite you to take advantage of this blog format to share your comments on the topics that I tackle each week..
Big Hearted Rep Has Big Marketing Idea for His Retailers
One of the great things about writing this blog is I get guys that reach out to me and have me share marketing tips that are working for them and their dealers. One such case happened today when I got a call from legendary rep Marty Libowski. Marty is always so enthusiastic about everything he does, and so it is with this idea Marty is sharing with his dealers in the Southeast.Usually when I com ... More
About this blog
Hi, I’m Mike Root, President of Furniture Sales of Mid-America, a furniture wholesale company in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states that has been recognized by numerous national furniture factories for sales excellence including Salesman of the Year more than 10 times. Recently I was appointed to the Executive Committee of the International Home Furnishings Representative’s Association (IHFRA), and asked to write this blog. I see incredible opportunities for our industry to make a difference in people’s lives. It will be my intention to share with you whatever positive stories I hear from around the country as they relate to the home furnishings industry. True, this is a blog for furniture representatives. But the reality is that we are all representing the home furnishings industry. Therefore I will write to and for reps, but hopefully the message will resonate with all throughout the industry. My perspective is one of a third generation furniture guy. My father, Emmet Root, is still active as a rep after over 50 years. I myself have been a rep since 1994. Before that I was in furniture retail, wholesale and rental for over 10 years where I was recognized by the Small Business Administration as an Entrepreneur of the Year. I was also honored by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce for leading a company as one of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Enterprises three years in a row. I’ve seen just about all sides of the industry, and I love every bit of it. My background of sales and marketing has led the past several years to extended studies in direct response marketing to help my dealers sell more with less effort. Some cost effective promotional items for reps and retailers to help maximize your customer’s value can be found on my website at www.FurniturePromotions.com. I recently co-authored a book “Secrets of Peak Performers: Wealth Creating Strategies from the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs”. More information about me or my book can be found on my blog at www.MikeRoot.com. To contact me please email me at meroot@mikeroot.com.
NEGATIVE ONLINE REVIEWS - WHAT TO DO?
Consumer opinions. Good ones? You love them. Bad but balanced? Hate to see them, but try to listen and learn, right? But, when they’re both bad AND unfair? They make you boiling mad and defensive!Why? Because you know you did all you could to help solve their issue. Your people went above and beyond the call of duty and handled the customer with respect, care and kindness. You bent your ... More
About this blog
Leslie Carothers Retail Ideas columnist Hi, I\'m Leslie Carothers, principal of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, a national company specializing in helping retailers and manufacturers use the internet and their websites to powerfully drive traffic and profitability. I have been involved in all aspects of the retail home furnishings business for over 25 years-especially with respect to sales, sales training, writing, speaking and consulting. By writing this blog, I hope to educate, inform and stimulate you to try new ideas in your own businesses that can help you make money and engage with today’s customers in ways that are fun, personalized and relevant –to them. I welcome all of your comments so we can have a shared dialogue benefitting our entire industry. Please feel free to either email me at leslie@tkpartnership.com or call me at 713-705.2482.
Forget the Sheep: Try This Instead
Just where did the idea of “counting sheep” to get to sleep come from? Some say it goes back to the days of ancient Britain when shepherds used a certain tallying system-one that must have been so monotonous that it quickly found its way into the sleep vernacular. But does it really work? Nope. At least that’s what a group of researchers at Oxford University are saying. In the ... More
About this blog
Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was one of the youngest people to have passed the Board at age 31 and, with a specialty in Sleep Disorders and Neuropsychological Testing, is one of only 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinction. His first book, GOOD NIGHT: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health (Dutton/Penguin), an Amazon Top 100 Best Seller, has been met with rave reviews and continues to change the lives of readers. It is now available in paperback as BEAUTY SLEEP: Look Younger, Lose Weight, and Feel Great Through Better Sleep. As the subject of sleep gains greater momentum in our sleep-deprived society, Dr. Breus has become a widely recognized leader in this highly- evolving field. Dedicated to raising awareness of both sleep disorders and what he calls “disordered sleep” in the public and healthcare communities, Dr. Breus is on a mission to develop innovative education and communication programs. In addition to his private practice where he treats athletes, celebrities and the like, he also trains other sleep doctors and consults with major airlines, hotel chains, mattress manufacturers and retailers to provide the optimum sleep experience for their customers. His audio relaxation CD, distributed by Crowne Plaza Hotels and the online record store CD Baby, has been distributed to millions of listeners; and for the past 10 years, he has served as the Sleep Expert for WebMD Health, a leading Internet site for health-related information and pens “Sleep Matters” a monthly column in WebMD magazine. You can also find him on AOL where he is a Wellness Coach discussing topics from mattress choice to sleep apnea. His blogs can be found at WebMD, The Huffington Post, The Insomnia Blog and coming soon, Psychology Today.
Mini massage chair gets maximum exposure
Although 2010 is less than three months old, it already has been a good year for Cliff Levin and the folks at Inada USA, a distributor of massage chairs. Orders in January and February tripled the orders received in the same two months of 2009, and that was before two major publicity “hits” that are sure to boost spring orders. “We are having trouble catching up with demand,& ... More
About this blog
I\'m Larry Thomas, business editor of Furniture/Today. In my 17 years here, I\'ve written stories about everything from box springs to wicker chairs. For 12 years, I wrote the weekly \"Bedding Today\" column, which is now in the capable hands of executive editor David Perry. Since being named business editor in 2001, most of my stories have dealt with home entertainment furniture, recliners, financial news and furniture markets. I look forward to discussing key industry issues in this forum, and I welcome your thoughts and opinions.
NEED TO ACHIEVE or NEED FOR POWER
One of my favorite courses in college was Entrepreneurship. There were a number of experiences that stood out, especially helping local small businesses. However, one of the most germane topics we studied was human behavior and what drives leaders.As leaders we deal with people everyday. Understanding them is challenging and at the same time gratifying. The more we understand those we interact ... More
About this blog
Hi. I'm Eric Easter. I am CEO of Kittle's Furniture. I've been in our industry for over 30 years. During that time I’ve held positions ranging from cashier to CEO. Along the way, I've held executive leadership positions both in manufacturing and retailing. I've also been responsible for leading initiatives in merchandising, marketing, sales, and operations for leading companies like Kittle's, Thomasville, Boyles and Huntington Furniture. Leadership has always been a passion of mine and nothing delights me more than seeing good people become great leaders. This blog, while discussing a myriad of topics, will focus on leadership. I look forward to hearing from you!
Reporter returns to Malaysia, Singapore furniture shows
This is the time of year the Asian show circuit heats up. Buyers from around the world travel to shows in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The China shows by far are the largest and represent a diverse product mix of indoor, outdoor and home accent products. But while smaller in size, the others also have a diverse product mix that appeals to many retailers. &#x ... More
About this blog
Tom Russell Associate Editor I’m Tom Russell and have worked at Furniture/Today since August 2003. Since then, I have had covered the international side of the business from a logistics and sourcing standpoint. Since then, I also have visited several furniture trade shows and manufacturing plants in Asia, which has helped me gain some perspective about the industry in that part of the world. As I continue covering the import side of the business, I look forward to building on that knowledge base through conversations with industry officials and future overseas plant tours overseas. From time to time, I will file news and other industry perspectives on-line and, as always, welcome your response to these Web postings. ( to view or add public comments click on \"Add your Comment\" below each blog post)
YourFurnitureLink.com, Harrington College of Design Chicago and TLS by Design!
The arrival of the classic “show badges” every three months or so always brings about two very strong, visceral reactions.Reaction One: “Ug, is it time for that show again already? ” My senses go into auto response. The backache from that old mattress at the rental house, the lack of energy from eating fattening, rich food at overpriced restaurants, the constant grazi ... More
About this blog
Hi! I'm Vicki Semke. Mig and Tig is a Furniture store in Chicago that I started with my husband, Kirk Schlupp. We have been on the retail front lines since 1993. Inspired by Mig and Tig Furniture, Yourfurniturelink.com was launched with Jerod Lazan of Mortise & Tenon, Los Angeles. Yourfurniturelink.com is a furniture directory that features furniture manufacturers ranging from contemporary to antique and eco-friendly if you are going green. Consumers and Retail Buyers view furniture lines and manufacturers direct consumers to local furniture stores for product purchases. Our perspective comes as a home furnishings retailer on the front lines. We will explore how to meet the challenges we face in this new era. Today's rapidly changing marketplace requires intuitiveness and flexibility. With this blog on Furniture Today, we hope to share insight, strategies and practical solutions for the long term sustainability of our businesses. I invite you to share your comments, suggestions and ideas as we move forward into a very dynamic time in our industry. I look forward to hearing from you at Vicki@yourfurniturelink.com Yourfurniturelink.com MigandTig.com MortiseTenon.com
Retailers are back in expansion mode
This week’s issue of Furniture/Today has something I haven’t seen in a long time. I’m sure there are plenty of things to insert right here (like “my byline”) but what I’m really talking about is: lots of retail expansion news. On the first few pages, there are five stories talking about hundreds of stores planned. Granted, most of it comes courtesy of Ashl ... More
About this blog
Hello! I’m Clint Engel senior retail editor at Furniture/Today, where I cover all things retail. I’ll use this blog to offer my thoughts on both the furniture retail scene and general retail, but more importantly, as a vehicle to bring in and link to other ideas and sources of information that could prove useful to you. I hope you’ll use this space to share your thoughts, too. Also feel free to contact me directly at clinte@reedbusiness.com or 336-605-1129.
HOW AICO PROTECTS ITS DESIGNS FROM INFRINGEMENT
Larry Rinaldi, President of Amini Innovation, Corp. (“AICO”), doesn’t believe in the adage “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Designing product for its clients is a challenging creative process that AICO performs exceptionally well. Rinaldi exclaims, however, that infringement of its designs is distracting, costly and frustrating, which e ... More
About this blog
Jerry Cohen Hello. I\'m Jerry Cohen and with this blog I\'ll be providing insight and solutions regarding legal matters affecting the furniture industry, including operational issues, trends, and current and proposed legislation. I’ve worked on the business and legal side of the furniture industry which gives me an unusual perspective on the complexities we face. My firm and I currently counsel furniture manufacturers and national, regional and local retailers with their corporate, commercial and intellectual property transactions, as well as day to day matters. In the course of our work we deal on a regular basis with federal, state and local authorities, attorneys general, financial institutions (such as banks, asset based lenders, hedge funds and private equity); licensors and licensees; the media; sale promoters; creditors and debtors, landlords, and others. Have a comment? Add it to this blog or write to jcohen@homefurnishingslaw.com
Reminders
I enjoy writing this blog. In a way, it allows me to relive the past a bit. If you read my posts you probably know that a good deal of what I write is not terribly original. Indeed, I tend to address strategies, outlooks, and tactics, many of which have been around a mighty long time. I think it is easy to forget many of them, or if not forget them put them in some dusty compartment in the backs o ... More
About this blog
Jim Green Hi, I’m Jim Green, author of the three volume set of books on the retail furniture business, Furniture Retailing 101 . The set of books looks at the industry from a newcomer’s perspective and covers the fundamentals and basics of nearly every aspect of furniture retailing. Though it has been written for the novice, I believe the book set will have real value to individuals entering the business from other industries, journalists, analysts, manufacturing executives and representatives and anyone with an interest in learning more about our industry. I have over 30 years experience in both the supply and retail sides of the furniture business, and hold an MBA in Management. In this Web log I will write about some of the more basic and rudimentary aspects of our business and present observations of some of what I have learned over the past three decades. Visit my web site at www.furnitureindustry101.com . Contact me at jim@furnitureindustry101.com or phone 727 347-1201.
And then there were 2!
Now that Yahoo and Microsoft have come to an agreement to make Bing the provider of search services on Yahoo, you might be wondering how this will impact your search marketing program. This deal combines the number two and number three players in search to create a contender with about 30% of the search market. This is still a distant second from Google’s 65% market share. Still, Bing may b ... More
About this blog
Hi, I’m Penny Schneck, the Online Sales Manager for Furniture/Today. Over the last seven years I’ve seen the Internet transform not just the way we advertise, but the way we do business. It is the great disintermediary. I’ve personally seen it change the travel, financial services and employment advertising businesses. I’ve no doubts that its impact on the way we buy and sell home furnishings will continue to grow. This growth will be accelerated by the recession as consumers and businesses look for new ways to communicate and transact business. The Web is certainly the Wild West of our time with global implications and new technologies at every turn, but that’s what makes it exciting. Join us on this special blog for a lively discussion on the benefits and challenges the Web offers to our industry. I look forward to a lively debate! Email: penny.schneck@reedbusiness.com
Is the Furniture Industry ready for RFID?
In the last couple of years, RFID (Radio-frequency identification) has been used in many industries. Although there are many cost saving opportunities by using RFID in furniture manufacturing and retail, RFID has not been adapted by the industry. The ability of scanning many items without line of sight, the ability to identify many items at once with fixed readers without any manual scan makes R ... More
About this blog
Hi, I’m Riaz Husein, Vice President of Operations and IT at Morris Furniture Company. I have spent over 20 years in Supply Chain and Logistics operations. During that time, I have developed supply chain strategies as a management consultant and managed operations as an executive at Fortune 500 companies. As I led initiatives across a variety of industries, a common trait that I noticed is that well executed Supply Chain and Logistics operations can provide a clear competitive advantage to any business. As a participant in a furniture operations performance group, I realized that business owners and executives in the furniture industry also had a keen interest in achieving excellence their distribution, delivery and customer service operations. I hope that this blog will serve as a forum to share best practices and improve our operations. Along the way, we will discuss innovative supply chain solutions as well as new technologies in the furniture industry. I welcome your feedback, questions, and topic suggestions. Please contact me at rhusein@morrishomefurnishings.com.
Artistry in Atlanta
Eco-friendly materials, patterns inspired by nature, and bright, cheerful colors were among the themes seen in new furniture and rugs introduced at this month’s gift, rug and home furnishings market here. Here are some highlights: This hand-painted bow-front chest with polka-dot pattern is new from Sterling Inds. This Greek key accent table is new from Global Views. A whimsical botanical ... More
About this blog
Hi, I’m Gary James. I’ve been with Furniture/Today for 20 years. I started my career here reporting on case goods and now serve as special projects editor. I’m responsible for the newspaper’s First Look and Best of Market product sections and, as a result, enjoy a front-row seat for observing the industry’s key style trends. I’ve also covered a number of international furniture and fabric shows, traveling to Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia and Egypt. In this blog, I’ll be highlighting the latest developments on the furniture design front. I’d welcome your input into what’s hot in furniture. Contact me at gjames@reedbusiness.com.
"Furniture Wars" a good summer read
I just finished Mike Dugan’s book “Furniture Wars: How America Lost a Fifty Billion Dollar Industry” and I highly recommend it. Not to find out why Asia makes most of our wood furniture these days. That’s a two-word answer: Lower costs. No, what’s really interesting about “Furniture Wars” is its blow-by-blow account of the decades of infighting in t ... More
About this blog
Jay McIntosh News Editor Hi! I’m Jay McIntosh, news editor at Furniture/Today, and it’s my job to keep track of the issues and events of the day. I’ll use this space to offer comments or insights that I hope will bring something new to the table. I welcome your responses and suggestions.
No knockoffs, please
Here are a few upholstery pieces that won’t be knocked off anytime soon: One is William Gordon’s Kimono Chaise, covered with obi fabric, the same finely woven fabric that’s held kimonos together through centuries of Japanese women and men (even Samurai warriors wore them). The Kimono Chaise was shown recently at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York by kimo ... More
About this blog
Welcome to the Furniture|Today weblog and, in particular, to my own piece cyber-chatter. They tell me this is the newest place to communicate, and my doing it tells you that, yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I go back to \'79 when F|T was a baby, and have covered almost every beat in the industry. Currently, my specialty is stationary upholstered furniture and retail technology. Occasionally, I\'d like to share some thoughts with you about the seating segment of the industry and other things as well. And since this is an open forum, I\'ll hope you\'ll share some with me.
