Top Stories

• Showtime fabric fair to feature Oz-inspired trend event
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 20, 2009
  HIGH POINT — A number of events are planned for the Showtime fabric fair here Dec. 6 to 9, including a special trend presentation.
  
• Row One home theater seating uses wireless technology
  
  Heath Combs, November 20, 2009
  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Home theater furniture supplier RowOne, a division of Jasper Cabinet, has added eCoupled wireless power transfer technology to its line of seating.
  
• Leather veteran Scott Young launching Leather Apogee
  
  Larry Thomas, November 20, 2009
  TROUTMAN, N.C. — Scott Young, former CEO of upper-end upholstery producer Bradington-Young, is launching a company called Leather Apogee that will supply top-grain leather covers.
  
• Factory Direct, Sealy donating furniture for homeless in New Jersey
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 19, 2009
  PATERSON, N.J. — Factory Direct Furniture, which operates Ashley Furniture HomeStores in northern New Jersey and New York, and Sealy Mattress Co. here are donating new furniture and mattress sets for 15 Paterson apartments for homeless individuals.
  
• Sears Canada sales drop 9.2% in third quarter
  
  Michael Knell, November 19, 2009
  TORONTO — The consumer's lack of confidence in the economy continues to plague Sears Canada, which has reported falling same-store sales, revenues and earnings for the third quarter of its current fiscal year.
  
• Hooker Furniture launches Web site for Envision brand
  
  Thomas Russell, November 19, 2009
  MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Hooker Furniture has launched a Web site for its Envision brand of furniture targeted toward younger consumers.
  
• Grand Home Furnishings opening store in Beckley, W.Va.
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 19, 2009
  BECKLEY, W.Va. — Roanoke, Va.-based Grand Home Furnishings is opening a store here in a former Goody's building on Jan. 1, The (Beckley) Register-Herald is reporting.
  
• New Simmons owner will carry more than $1 billion in debt
  
  Larry Thomas, November 19, 2009
  WILMINGTON, Del. — The soon-to-be parent company of bedding majors Simmons and Serta will have more than $1 billion in long-term debt once Simmons emerges from bankruptcy protection, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court here.
  
• ‘Ringleader' in Bassett Furniture embezzling scheme released from prison
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 19, 2009
  MT. AIRY, N.C. — A former plant manager convicted of embezzling from Bassett Furniture is out of prison on medical parole after serving a year of a minimum four-year sentence, the Mount Airy News reported.
  
• International Sleep Products Assn. creating green task force
  
  David Perry, November 19, 2009
  BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — The International Sleep Products Assn. is tackling a green challenge.
  
• High Point's Radio Building gets landmark status
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
    HIGH POINT — The High Point City Council this week conferred landmark status on the city's downtown Radio Building, a fixture at the corner of Main and Commerce here for 85 years.
  
• Raymour & Flanigan opening Manhattan showroom on Nov. 27
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Raymour & Flanigan will open its third Manhattan showroom on Broadway at 66th Street on Nov. 27 in a site formerly occupied by Circuit City.
  
• Longtime fabric executive Leonard Zoref dies at 86
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  LOS ANGELES — Longtime fabric executive Leonard Zoref has died at the age of 86.
  
• Theodore Alexander strengthens management team
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — High end case goods manufacturer Theodore Alexander has named several individuals to various positions in the company in an effort to improve operations ranging from purchasing and sourcing to merchandising.
  
• Chromcraft Revington sales drop 30.5% in third quarter
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Chromcraft Revington, a casual dining, occasional and case goods resource, said third-quarter sales were 30.5% below last year's third quarter, but the company slashed its net loss by more than 90%.
  
• PMD Furniture Direct launches consumer Web site
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  COLUMBUS, Ohio — PMD Furniture Direct has launched a consumer Web site to help explain the evolution of the company's low-overhead, low-cost, and appointment-only approach to retailing.
  
• La-Z-Boy reports net income of $5.91 million for quarter
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 18, 2009
  MONROE, Mich. — Despite a sales decline of more than 9%, La-Z-Boy reported net income of $5.91 million for the quarter ended Oct. 24 - the company's third consecutive quarterly profit.
  
• Pearson launches upholstery fabric line
  
  Gary Evans, November 17, 2009
    HIGH POINT — Upholstered furniture manufacturer Pearson has launched a line of cut yardage fabrics available for use on Pearson pieces or in other applications.
  
• High Point hears objections to showroom zoning
  
  Heath E. Combs, November 17, 2009
  HIGH POINT — After hearing objections to its proposed showroom zoning district Monday, the High Point City Council voted to continue the hearing later to get more comments.
  
• Hassell Franklin wins AHFA Distinguished Service Award
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 17, 2009
    HIGH POINT — Hassell Franklin, leader of Mississippi upholstery producer Franklin Furniture, received the American Home Furnishings Alliance's Distinguished Service Award during the group's 2009 annual meeting earlier this month.