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May 20, 2013
Women instrumental in furniture industry
"State of the Industry 2013"Please join me in my upcoming webcast "The State of the Industry in 2013" as I discuss the external factors driving our industry and the changes that we see coming this year and next. Click here to register. The event is brought to you by Furniture Today and Nationwide Marketing Group. Early registrants also will receive for free my HomeCentric re... More
About this blog
W.W. "Jerry" Epperson Jr. is a managing director of Mann, Armistead & Epperson Ltd., 119 Shockoe Slip, Richmond, Va., an investment banking and research company that specializes in the furniture sector. Online at www.maeltd.com
May 20, 2013
Busy evening of highlights at our Bedding Conference
The evening began with cocktails and mattress-fueled conversations at dusk in the desert. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were initiated as the men and women of the bedding industry mixed and mingled on the well-manicured terrace of the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Ariz. (See video coverage.)That was the scene at our latest Bedding Conference, which drew a record c... 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..
May 17, 2013
Technology’s Impact
It goes without saying that the Internet has forever altered the way we all do business. In terms of the ways customers interact with retailers, it is a real game-changer. Amazon.com and eBay serve as good examples. Their customers today have more choices than ever before when it comes to being active participants in the delivery experience.It is a point well-taken in the home furnishings industry... More
About this blog
Pat Cory is the newly appointed CEO of Cory Home Delivery, one of the oldest and largest specialized home delivery carriers in America, today in its third generation of family management and ownership. Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, the company serves many of the top 100 furniture, appliance, and electronics retailers. corycompanies.com, patrickcory@corycompanies.com.
May 15, 2013
Industry still lobbying for more High Point Market funding
Even though North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has backed away from a budget proposal that would have slashed state funding for the High Point Market Authority, leaders of the group haven't dialed down their lobbying efforts. (See earlier article on McCory's change of mind.) They say continued state funding is critical to their efforts to attract new buyers and exhibitors and keep existing ones c... More
About this blog
I'm Larry Thomas, business editor of Furniture/Today. In my 24 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.
May 13, 2013
Digging down into statistics
Every time I read the latest round of government statistics regarding unemployment, housing or other drivers that impact our business, I find myself thinking of a phrase often used by Mark Twain, who observed, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."While I am not suggesting that any of these numbers for housing and unemployment are meant to intentionally misle... More
About this blog
Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief of Furniture Today welcomers you to Editor's Desk. Each week we will 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.
April 30, 2013
Exploring the Ideal Pricing Model
I'm excited - there are clear signs our industry is finally starting to move forward and implement change where it's been long-needed. Better late than never, right? But these changes are moving toward a problem that the industry of home décor has never really been able to get a handle on: pricing or more formally know as purchasing price parity which includes product cost, taxes, delivery, and co... More
About this blog
Barry Abraham and Dan Minor of Pure Home will discuss the need for change and integration within the home décor industry - it's time to change the way we do business, and we need to do it together in order to see a successful future in our industry.
April 19, 2013
Spring #HPmkt
Here's Furniture/Today's Spring High Point Market Overview. Our editorial and research teams put this report together twice a year. The in-depth report presents the information and data on five key segments crucial to the furniture industry. The five areas include details about:HousingConsumers and retailWashington, D.C.Wall StreetProduct and style trends - the key style directions for the April m... 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.
April 18, 2013
The Green Jacket
Anyone who knows me knows I love golf. My wife thinks I sell furniture so I can pay to play golf and she may have something there. Those of you who are golfers know this past weekend was kind of the unofficial opening of golf season for us Northerners with the Masters in Augusta. The Masters is considered one of the four major golf tournaments of the year. The prize of winning the coveted Gree... 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.
April 17, 2013
What Your Business Should Know About the Affordable Care Act
The bulk of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kicks in next year, and employers are bracing for the impact that providing the required health care insurance to employees will have on their business. Here are some facts to help you plan ahead.Required Coverage. Businesses with more than 50 "full-time equivalent" employees must offer coverage or be subject to a penalty. Both full time and part... 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
April 16, 2013
The Seamless Experience: A Brick and Mortar Retail Road Map
As we approach this spring's #HPMkt — I want to go back in time 6 years ago.. when I first wrote about Twitter on this blog. At that time, social media was in its infancy. Fast forward.. and now a Twitter hashtag is the official logo of the High Point Marketing Authority and we are lucky, as an industry, to have someone as smart and social media savvy as Cheminne Taylor-Smith as the VP of Marketi... 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.
April 5, 2013
A youth vacuum in furniture?
I'm not worried about any youth vacuum in our industry. It's folly - maybe even hubris - to underestimate any generation of people. Just look at the most powerful voting blocs in our nation. In fact, nationally I see less overall generational shift than generational melding. Regardless of whether it's gray hair or follicles dyed purple, heads - en masse - are bent over iPhones or Droids these days... 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.
April 2, 2013
State funding cuts would hurt market
When the NCAA basketball tournament sweeps us up in March Madness every year, millions of dollars are funneled into local colleges, communities and businesses. Whether via hotels, restaurants or team memorabilia, greenbacks surge along with the enthusiasm of sports fans during the tournament and the economic benefits last far beyond the final score.The High Point Market is another financial heavy... More
About this blog
As the Upholstery/Style Editor for Furniture/Today, I spend my work hours studying a rainbow of fabrics, the sloping curves of sofa frames and the nail head trim and button accents on a piece of upholstery. I research hundreds of companies who bring these things together for consumers, and I greet every new product introduction with enthusiastic anticipation. It's the perfect professional fit for a writer who once traded Barbie's best ball gown for a brightly-hued 12-inch Dream House bed, and it's a journey I plan to share with F/T readers who understand that furniture is so much more than simply a place to sit. I look forward to reporting on what I see in different markets, and I hope you'll reciprocate by letting me know when something impresses you. Email: chodnett@furnituretoday.com
March 7, 2013
Loyalty
When I was a kid, I remember my father only drove Buicks, my mother only shopped at the A&P, and we only ate Sunbeam bread. For furniture, my parents only went to Lester Brothers, a locally owned, hometown furniture store. I think in today's retail environment, consumers still have their loyalties to some products and retailers. My last four vehicles have been Honda products. We only shop at Publi... 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.
February 12, 2013
Lincolnton closing a sad development in U.S. furniture production
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/... 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)
January 30, 2013
Sorry, Cramer! Furniture Brands is still interesting, though
This is an update of the blog I posted yesterday, in which I was skeptical of Jim Cramer's suggestion that Furniture Brands International could be a takeover target, maybe by Masco.Turns out that's not what Cramer said. I finally was able to watch the video, and he's clearly talking about Fortune Brands, a different company. The summary of the video on the CNBC site, however, said Furniture Brands... 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.
October 24, 2012
Using sleep to improve your game
It was great to see this news of the New York Jets' recent decision to make sleep specialists part of their in-season training program. According to the news reports, sleep experts have worked directly with players, teaching them strategies for getting more and better sleep amid a physically and mentally demanding schedule of practice and games. In addition, the coaching staff has adjusted players... 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.
October 1, 2012
What about the 29%?
In a country obsessed with percentages as of late, lets take a look at a couple from Furniture/Today's biennial case goods style survey. The survey is currently available to readers as a free download via this link until Oct. 19. After that, it's for sale. There's some interesting data on the industry's eco-needle here. The report shows market share data based on units for all case goods and much... 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.
May 10, 2011
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.
April 7, 2011
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!
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