The Writer’s Bureau
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.
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... Read More
Comments (4)Gibson and Lacey: Round II
Arrogance of federal power. That's what Gibson's CEO Henry Juszkiewicz recently called the second raid on the company's factories in Tennessee by federal law enforcement officials enforcing new Lacey Act wood provisions passed in 2008. Juszkiewicz has suggested Gibson is the target of a political witch hunt. The politics of the Lacey Act amendments should have played out before the amendments were... Read More
Comments (27)Paying for peace or passing the buck
There's been good national news coverage this year of the antidumping case on wooden bedroom furniture. I continue to think this typically not very sexy topic warrants attention because it has layers of interesting storylines. The initial order placing antidumping duties on Chinese wood bedroom imports began in 2004 after the U.S. government concluded that those products were unfairly priced too... Read More
Comments (4)Robb & Stucky and the future of high-end retail
When a major retailer files for bankruptcy, their suppliers don't just take a hit because they won't be repaid all the money they're owed. They take a long-term hit on the future business they lose. Some companies can take those hits. Some cannot.In 2007, Wickes, then a 39-store retailer with $396 million in sales, filed for bankruptcy. You may remember that filing hit now-defunct suppliers Caye a... Read More
Comments (26)Thomas Day seeing renewed interest
Furniture maker and craftsman Thomas Day, nominated to the American Furniture Hall of Fame this year, certainly had a complex 19th century social structure to navigate. I've been reading about him in a book published this year called "Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color."Day also will be the subject of a presentation by Jo Ramsey Leimenstoll and Patricia Phillips Marshall... Read More
Comments (2)Details come to light on Gibson’s Lacey Act Raid
I've been waiting for more details on last November's raid by federal authorities on Gibson Guitar's Nashville, Tenn., facilities, which involved claims that wood the plant was using was illegally logged under the new Lacey Act amendments. This was the first major "bust" associated with the amendments, so there was a pretty big spotlight on it. But information on what was happening was s... Read More
Comments (13)China Labor Costs
We ran a story this week mostly dealing with raw material price increases as a factor that is pushing up the cost of home furnishings product this year. The verdict: Price hikes are coming if they aren't here already.An item that we didn't mention is that manufacturers in Asia, the source of much of our furniture, are seeing more pressure in labor costs. Several major news outlets have reported Ch... Read More
Comments (8)The times they are a changin’ – yet again
Auto maker Henry Ford - who named each of his models with a letter - took a few years before he made a lady out of Liz. He spent the late 1890s tinkering with experimental models. In 1903 he released the first Model A and it was not until 1908 that he hit it big with the first mass produced auto, the T-Model. Today, the internet is in its first great age of development and much like the Model T,... Read More
Comments (0)Premarket observations
If you walk enough markets two, three or four times a year, you pick up a few things. Especially in regards to introductions. This isn’t a definitive list, it’s just a few observations from last month’s High Point premarket: + Good news: There’s not an overabundance of merlot or espresso finishes on introductions. Browns are out there but they seem to be warmer, with an almost orange or a slight... Read More
Comments (6)House M.D.: Furniture and the Black Hole
Have you ever had that epiphany about furniture? One that comes at the most unlikely of times? That defines us without even trying? That tells us what the world thinks of us? One that makes you remember that our industry is less about distribution and low prices and that we’re actually kind of like a guitar that gets played every day, a favorite knife that cuts an orange, a favorite leather club c... Read More
Comments (13)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 find o... Read More
Comments (1)Stickley helps with an Arts & Crafts Mission
One of the things I’ve been caught up on in my time as a furniture reporter are the terms Mission and Arts & Crafts. It was my understanding that the terms meant the same thing, but I wasn’t sure of the reason. It’s kind of like the old sofa and loveseat, pop and soda or stocking cap and toboggan conversations we’ve all been a part of at one time in our lives. For my mission (couldn’t resist) I we... Read More
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