Furniture Today Blogs
Retail Ideas 
Weight Loss
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Many of you are probably going to be working right through it figuring out ways to trim the fat from your budgets for 2009. In the spirit of a little fun, since so much of the news has been so heavy lately, I thought I would write one post with a lighter message. This year, I have lost 51 pounds. Yes, it’s true. Why would you care? Y ... 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.
Law and the Business of Furniture
Interview With California’s Lead Formaldehyde Inspector
As I discussed in a previous post, California’s new formaldehyde regulations that affect manufacturers of composit ... 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
Green Light
Greenthoughts 17
Mentally Spent I’m as distracted as anyone from green issues right now. With lower gas prices (anything less than $2.50 a gallon is pretty sweet), the bailout, its aftermath and just an awful economy right now, who can blame you and I? That’s why it’s good to have developed some green habits this year. I’m still carpooling with Tom Russ ... More
About this blog
Editor in Chief Ray Allegrezza and Staff Writer Heath Combs welcome you to Furniture/Today’s latest blog – Green Light. Each week, we’ll look at interesting news and updates about specific sustainability proposals in the home furnishings sector while identifying broader eco-friendly global trends and initiatives. The most important part of this whole process will be your input. So, take a look at our posts below and weigh in with what you think by clicking on “Add Your Comment” at the bottom of each blog.
Bedding Today
Caught in a vortex: Industry must adjust to a new reality
I came across the perfect phrase the other day for the not-so-great year we are experiencing in Mattressville: Vortex of Defeat. Jack and Suzy Welch, the authors of “The Welchway” in BusinessWeek, part of my regular weekly reading, came up with that phrase in their Sept. 29 column. Writing a ... 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.
Editor's Desk
Digital TV switch creates opportunity
There’s an old saying that suggests that whenever a window closes, a door opens. Based on current economic realities, I think it’s safe to conclude that our industry is more than ready for that door to swing open and swing our way. The good news is that I believe I hear opportunity knocking. In this case, I think it will officially manifest itself in February, when U ... 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
Talking Business
Here’s why our industry won’t ever get a bailout
Here’s a message I think we’ll hear on our voicemail sometime in the next six months: Greetings from the Federal Bailout Administration. We have taken the U.S. furniture industry’s request for a bailout under advisement. In case you are unfamiliar with Washington-speak, that means we are sitting on it, buddy. Your chance of getting a bailout is about as good as ... 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.
Sourcing Strategies by Tom Russell
China’s furniture industry appears strong despite recent challenges
In some respects, China’s furniture industry has taken a beating. Import growth to the United States slowed in 2007 thanks largely to the stagnant American economy combined with rising prices on finished goods. Some Chinese manufacturers also faced damage due to heavy snowstorms this past winter. The end result, some sources claim, was the closing of some 2,000 furniture plants on ... 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)
Furniture Biz 101
Familiarity and Contempt
This falls under the heading of Pet Peeves. I’m not a particularly formal kind of guy. I don’t generally stand on ceremony. When I enter a retail store, any retail store, I don’t expect the sales person to grovel at my feet, genuflect, or fawn all over me. A simple polite greeting will do just fine. I visited an electronics store recently, part of a ... 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.
A Rep's Perspective
A Rep’s Perspective
After thirty years as a representative in the furniture industry, I can safely say that this industry is totally unique and different from other consumer good suppliers. We are an antiquated, archaic, one of a kind industry that fits no business school primer! After watching companies come and go, with more going each day: this recent market a prime example with untold empty spaces available in ... More
About this blog
Ray Isser Ray Isser joined the Tri-State Chapter of IHFRA in 1978 and has been active in his Chapter holding every office possible including President in 1996 – 1998 and Chairman of the Board in 1998 – 2000. Becoming more involved with IHFRA on a national level, Isser “went through the chairs” and became IHFRA’s 68th President in 2006. Ray completed his educational course requirements to become a CHR in 2003. Ray is a graduate of Columbia University and a furniture industry veteran with over thirty years as a sales representative. He has represented such diverse lines as Wicker and Cane, King Koil, AICO, Chromcraft, Blackhawk, Stratford/Stratalounger, SLF and Leather Italia. He has three children, a son who recently graduated college and twin daughters just starting college.
