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Sourcing Strategies by Tom Russell
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)
Lincolnton closing a sad development in U.S. furniture production
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2013-02-12 21:52:42
Working this week on a project about Made in America that runs Feb. 25 calls to mind one of the most disappointing news stories so far this year: the demise of Lincolnton Furniture. In the first week of January, the case goods manufacturer announced it was abruptly shutting its doors. The news was particularly surprising given all the publicity the case goods manufacturer received after Furniture/... Read More
Comments (3)Forbes article analyzes changes in China
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-12-26 16:57:02
Earlier this month, Forbes published an article, http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2012/12/09/move-over-michigan-china-is-the-worlds-next-rustbelt/?utm_source=forbespicks&google_editors_picks=true, that is of likely interest to people in the furniture industry. The title alone, "Move Over, Michigan, China Is the World's Next Rust Belt," should pique the curiosity of many readers. T... Read More
Comments (2)Forbes article analyzes changes in China
Posted
by Retail Editor 4
on 2012-12-26 16:47:15
Earlier this month, Forbes published an article, http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2012/12/09/move-over-michigan-china-is-the-worlds-next-rustbelt/?utm_source=forbespicks&google_editors_picks=true, that is of likely interest to people in the furniture industry. The title alone, "Move Over, Michigan, China Is the World's Next Rust Belt," should pique the curiosity of many readers. T... Read More
Comments (2)Hardwood plywood antidumping case has uncertain implications for industry
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-11-27 18:22:01
On Nov. 12, Furniture/Today wrote about another petition involving allegations of antidumping, or the sale of foreign-made product at unfair prices into the U.S. market. This particular case involves Chinese-made hardwood plywood, which is used largely in kitchen cabinets but also in RVs, boats and some furniture. A week later, we also ran a story that the U.S. International Trade Commission found... Read More
Comments (7)More thoughts on Indonesia
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-10-26 15:45:26
As some readers know, it's been about a month since Furniture/Today published its three-part series on Indonesia. Many who read the articles mentioned it to me during market and asked more questions about what I saw on the ground there. The questions, to me, meant that many are eager for more information and that the series, while lengthy, was just a start to the discussion about Indonesia. In fi... Read More
Comments (1)Many Chinese bedroom producers appear to abandon U.S. market
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-08-28 19:45:02
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Commerce published the final results of its latest administrative review in the wooden bedroom furniture antidumping case. This list marks the completion of the DOC's analysis of 2010 shipments of Chinese bedroom producers. What was interesting about this case wasn't the large number of Chinese factories cited on the list, but rather the high number of fac... Read More
Comments (5)Philippines furniture industry official raises alarms about regulation of wood supply
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-07-31 15:40:35
The furniture industry in the Philippines has had its share of challenges in recent years. Fluctuation in currency rates, competition from other Asian producers and economic hard times around the world in general proved too much for some manufacturers to bear. Some were forced to lay off workers, while others had to shut down factories. Now the industry faces another challenge that one well known... Read More
Comments (2)Malaysia sees easing of worker shortages
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-06-29 16:14:44
Furniture importers who bring in product from Malaysia have long dealt with factories facing worker shortages. One of the main reasons for these shortages is that the industry relies largely on imported labor from places like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal. According to the manufacturers, these workers have the skills necessary to do the job. The problem is that they are in Malaysia on temporary... Read More
Comments (2)Malaysian leather producer Rubelli may reenter U.S. market
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-05-23 20:34:45
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... Read More
Comments (2)Mexico remains an important customer and source for furniture
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-04-26 20:06:26
Sometimes proximity to a market can be one of the best forms of economic stimulus. Such has been the case with Mexico, which has been a big customer for U.S.-made goods of late. According to a column that appeared earlier this spring in the Wall Street Journal, Mexico's economy grew at 5.4% in 2010 and another 3.9% in 2011. The same article said that Mexico also receives about 13% of U.S. exports.... Read More
Comments (5)Kiplinger Letter addresses China
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-03-02 16:53:50
On many occasions, Furniture/Today has spoken with industry sources about the challenges associated with importing from China. Issues ranging from rising labor and transportation costs, not to mention labor shortages that cause disruptions for factories, are some of the frustrations importers have dealt with regarding Chinese-made product. But a recent issue of the Kiplinger Letter continues to as... Read More
Comments (8)DaVinci allegations raise questions about integrity of Chinese reporting
Posted
by Tom Russell
on 2012-01-27 17:18:54
Those following the DaVinci Furniture scandal in China may have noticed some interesting developments in the story.The retailer, originally accused of selling Chinese-made furniture it marketed as Italian-made, said the TV reporter that first broke the story blackmailed DaVinci by taking an estimated $150,000 for not publishing more negative reports about the company.This indeed is a serious charg... Read More
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