Furniture Today Blogs
The Grist of the story
One of the great websites I've been reading a lot these last several weeks is Grist. It's based in Seattle and it has been around for more than a decade. I'll admit that I had a tough time keeping updated on green issues during the recession. Grist is really attractive if you took a green hiatus at any point during the recession and you want to catch up. What I like about Grist is its attitude. In... More
About this blog
In "Green Thoughts," Heath Combs will keep you on top of green initiatives across the home furnishings industry. Each week he will focus on an array of sustainability focused news, analysis and insights from government agencies, furnishings companies, marketing companies, trendsetting corporations, non-governmental organizations, the design community and researchers.
Memorial Day Means More than Furniture Deals --- But that Would Be Nice Too
Memorial Day Means More Than Furniture Deals --- But that Would Be Nice TooHere we are at the unofficial opening of summer ---- Memorial Day weekend. We join you in celebrating those who have helped make our country a great place and the freedom we cherish. On this special Memorial Day we particularly remember the men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our liberty.As you ar... More
About this blog
Hi, I'm Mike Root, President of Furniture Sales of Mid-America, (www.furnituresales.biz) a furniture wholesale company in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states. We have been recognized by numerous national furniture factories for sales excellence including multiple Salesman of the Year awards. I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the International Home Furnishings Representative's Association (IHFRA) as well as the CQRID Advisory Board of the Interior Design Society.
I see incredible opportunities for our industry to make a difference in people's lives. It is my intention to share with you positive stories and observations 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 with past experience in retail, rental, and wholesale. I also have the good fortune of working with my father, Emmet Root, who is still active as a rep after almost 60 years.
We also operate a consulting business to help retailers and factories use innovative marketing to capture the attention of the end consumer through the use of direct response marketing and social media (www.GetCustomersRigthNow.com). More information about me can be found on my blog at www.MikeRoot.com. To contact me by email meroot@mikeroot.com.
Malaysian leather producer Rubelli may reenter U.S. market
During my visit to the Malaysian International Furniture Fair earlier this year, I had the chance to see a company I visit almost every year at the show. Malaysian-based Rubelli is a familiar name to buyers in the U.S. It has shown its line of Chinese-made stationary and motion upholstery line in both High Point and Las Vegas over the years. Today, however, the name is likely a distant memory to m... 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)
New No. 1: Serta dethrones Sealy, ushering in era of opportunity
Now things get really interesting. We reported the news this week of an historic change at the top of the U.S. mattress rankings. Sealy, the king of mattresses for four decades, has been dethroned by fast-growing Serta. Sealy is now No. 2. (Read related article.)It's true that we all saw this change coming. We all knew that Serta was scoring major gains with its innovative iComfort line of gel mem... 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..
For New Buyers #10
Buying looks easy. Go to market, select some furniture to set on the showroom floor, write the PO, and then wait for the merchandise to arrive so it can be displayed. Sounds simple, right? This description is...but it is not all the merchant's job description entails. Not by a long shot; and the best merchants understand there is a great deal more organization involved if a store is to maximize it... 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.
Furniture's global future: Social commerce on mobile
THE AGGREGATE NUMBERS:Comscore's just released 2012 Q1 report states e-commerce spending was at 44.3 billion for the quarter, up 17% versus a year ago. This represents the 10th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and the 6th consecutive quarter of double digit growth."The first quarter of this year was especially strong for retail e-commerce as we returned to year-over-yea... More
About this blog
Hi, I'm Leslie Carothers, Chief Energizing Officer of The Kaleidoscope Partnership- a global social media agency started nine years ago for furniture, design and lifestyle brands to provide high level social media strategies along with execution capabilities for our roster of clients on http://tkpartnership.com. Having been in the furniture and luxury design business for the past 29 years, and having worked with consumers, retail sales consultants, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, designers and the media, I have a decent grasp of our industry and hope, through this column, to give you solid *Retail Ideas* around various facets of social media that will help YOUR business prosper!
Please feel free to start a conversation on my blog by leaving a question or a comment or contact me at any time at leslie@tkpartnership.com, on twitter at http://twitter.com/tkpleslie, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/TheKaleidoscopePartnership or through this group I run on Linked In: Social Media for Furniture Retailers, Manufacturers and Suppliers! If you're interested in having me speak to your organization or at your conference about a facet of social media, please email me at the above address.
Spring #HPmkt: The 10 market factors
Each High Point market, Furniture/Today's edit and research team put together a market overview. This year's report focuses on the 10 things to know during market. It presents the furniture industry's leading internal issues , including China, Made in America, price increases, retail expansions and investing in High Point; the top external issues, including stats on housing, unemployment, consumer... More
About this blog
Welcome to Furniture/Today’s Research blog where we take a look at interesting research data related to the home furnishings industry. Our focus 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.
7 Negotiating and Drafting Tips for Licensors
It seems that a day doesn't go by without an announcement of another licensing deal. Licensing has become a driving force in the furniture industry, but if licensors want to succeed they need to be mindful of the many pitfalls to avoid. My next post will discuss tips for licensees.1. Defensive Strategies for Low Sales and Royalties: If the licensee markets the product poorly, the licensor will... 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
High Point exhibitors invest in space
We're a week out from the High Point Market and even though everyone's working furiously to hit deadlines, I love the sense of urgency and excitement this time of year brings to the Furniture/Today newsroom. While I certainly don't want to jinx things, I can't believe we're finally heading into market with wind at our backs. The economy is holding up, unemployment is down, housing is stabilizi... 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
The Hunger Games gets furnished in N.C.
It's funny how work can creep its way into your personal life. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I'm realizing that after some time in the home furnishings industry you start to see things differently. Let me explain.I went to see a quaint, mom-and-pop film last night. You may have heard of it, it's called The Hunger Games and it took in $155 million at the box office last weekend. That's the thir... More
About this blog
Generation Next comments on the home furnishings industry from the viewpoint of a young journalist new to the business. Alex Lemonde-Gray, Furniture/Today and Home Accents Today assistant editor, uses a fresh eye to share observations on the industry - discussing everything from customs, processes, marketing, social media, products and more.
Facebook Timeline
Put your game face on. Just when you thought you had gotten the hang of managing your company's Facebook page, there are important changes. Effective March 30th, all business pages will be converted to the Timeline format. Any change, even for the better, is hard for most people. But there are some great advantages for brands if you effectively leverage the Timeline. In fact, the new features o... More
About this blog
Hi, I’m Penny Schneck, the Online Sales Manager for Furniture/Today. Over the last eight 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: pschneck@sandowmedia.com
Old San Francisco Mart area getting a facelift
Remember the old San Francisco Mart? I miss the strolls through the Tenderloin from our hotel to the market buildings (dodging the occasional drunk and panhandler), the morning runs up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower and its spectacular view of the Bay, and eating at that great dim sum restaurant in the financial district.Now it sounds like the landscape is changing for the old Mart district. My frie... 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.
Sleep: The Biggest Sleep Stories of 2011: Part II
Sleep was in the news throughout 2011, with breakthrough research and advances in our understanding of why we sleep, and how sleep-or a lack of it-can affect health and well being. Here are my picks for the most interesting and important sleep stories from the second half of 2011, with practical sleep suggestions you can start using today. July 2011Sleep suggestion: Your doctor's sleep matters to... 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.
Smith nixes Black Friday insanity
If there was a Heisman Trophy for CEOs, my vote would go to Alex Smith, who has led retailer Pier 1 Imports since February 2007.But my support is not because Pier 1 has recorded nine straight quarters of same-store sales gains, and it's not because merchandise margins hit a stratospheric 60.5% in the fiscal third quarter that ended Nov. 26.I'm a Smith fan because he is refusing to allow Pier 1 to... 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.
Premarket Reveals Trends to Watch for in October
There was plenty to write about from a style standpoint at High Point's Premarket this month. Probably the biggest continuing development in wood is that we're out of the espresso era. There are still dark finishes, but it's more like dull blacks or lighter coffee-bean browns. Many producers are trying to find the right light wood finish, but it's tough. Some of the best looking are a buttersc... 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@furnituretoday.com.
A clean takeaway
The Home Furnishings Industry Conference this month in San Antonio was a treasure trove of information and ideas on everything from social media to how to identify and target diverse consumer bases.But I kept coming back to one great takeaway in particular: I can't wait to try this new laundry detergent I discovered there.Phoenix A.M.D., a home furnishings protection and service supplier and one o... 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.
HIATUS
I have enjoyed to no end sharing my thoughts on Leadership via this blog for the past two and a half years. That said, I have decided to take a break. I would like to thank Ray Allegrezza for giving me the opportunity to write this blog. I so appreciate his confidence in me. If you take only one thing away from my blogs, I would like it to be that people matter most. Finding the right people... 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!
Going nowhere
Transitional, as a word, means moving from place to another. So as a furniture style, where is it going?The answer is probably nowhere – not for a long, long time. Everyone seems to like it. Manufacturers and retailers like it because it can easily be dressed up or down, and customers told that it’s whatever they’re looking for because it goes with everything. Tables with cabriole legs, you got it... 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.
