Top Stories

• Unfinished Furniture Assn. members to show at Las Vegas Market
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 17, 2009
  LAS VEGAS — Unfinished Furniture Assn. members will show as a group for the first time at the Las Vegas Market Feb. 1-5 in a dedicated area on the fifth floor of Building C, officials announced.
  
• Orleans Furniture to close Mississippi case goods plant
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 17, 2009
  COLUMBIA, Miss. — Wood furniture source Orleans Furniture says it is closing its case goods manufacturing plant here and plans to focus on imports.
  
• John Bray elected 2010 chairman of American Home Furnishings Alliance
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 17, 2009
  HIGH POINT — John Bray, CEO of full-line producer Vanguard Furniture, was elected 2010 chairman of the American Home Furnishings Alliance during the organization's annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., this month.
  
• Hundreds ride to honor Sealy's David Sherman
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 17, 2009
  HIGH POINT — More than 600 cyclists gathered here Sunday to ride in honor of David Sherman, the Sealy vice president who died in a hit-and-run accident in October, the Greensboro, N.C., News & Record reported.
  
• De Leo Textiles promotes Ismail Arslan to VP
  
  Gary Evans, November 17, 2009
  HIGH POINT — Ismail Arslan has been promoted to vice president of operations for Turkish fabric source De Leo Textiles.
  
• UPDATE: Former Bassett Chairman, CEO Bob Spilman dies at 82
  
  Jay McIntosh, November 17, 2009
  RICHMOND, Va. — Robert H. "Bob" Spilman, the retired chairman and CEO of Bassett Furniture Inds. and once one of the most powerful figures in the American furniture industry, died here Sunday night. He was 82.
  
• Former logistics exec Patrick Smith charged with taking kickbacks
  
  Gary Evans, November 16, 2009
  HICKORY, N.C. — A longtime former employee of a freight company that serves the furniture industry has been indicted on charges of taking kickbacks from suppliers, the Hickory Record reported.
  
• Retired Bassett Chairman, CEO Bob Spilman dies
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  RICHMOND, Va. — Robert H. "Bob" Spilman, the retired president, chairman and CEO of manufacturer and retailer Bassett Furniture Inds., died here Sunday night, according to reports from industry sources and local media.
  
• Investors acquire bedroom source Embassy International
  
  Thomas Russell, November 16, 2009
  ROCKWALL, Texas — A group of private equity investors called Elements International Group has acquired promotional bedroom importer Embassy International.
  
• La-Z-Boy extends brand into portable spas
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  TORONTO — La-Z-Boy Inc. and Canada-based Hydropool have partnered to launch a new line of luxury portable residential spas under the La-Z-Boy brand.
  
• Troutman Presidential Rocker presented to Japan's prime minister
  
  Heath Combs, November 16, 2009
    TROUTMAN, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue presented a Troutman Chair Presidential Rocker to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during a trade and cultural mission to Japan in October.
  
• Aaron's gives away $14,000 in goods to Lucky Dog Day winner
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  ATLANTA — Aaron's Inc. surprised Ruth Usher, the grand prize winner of the rent-to-own giant's National Lucky Dog Day Sweepstakes, last week at her home in Perry, Ga., with a houseful of furniture, name-brand appliances and electronics valued at $14,000.
  
• Simmons files prepackaged Chapter 11 to pave way for acquisition
  
  David Perry, November 16, 2009
  ATLANTA — Bedding major Simmons today filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The filing, which was expected, does not include Simmons' Canadian and Puerto Rican operations.
  
• Furnitureland South celebrates 40th anniversary
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  HIGH POINT — Furnitureland South here is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month and next with a dining room giveaway and other discounts.
  
• La-Z-Boy makes Web site more inviting for consumers
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  MONROE, Mich. — La-Z-Boy says it has revamped its online presence to provide a "go to" shopping destination for consumers.
  
• Wiseway Transportation moves terminal to Bourbonnais, Ill.
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 16, 2009
  HUDSON, Wis. — Specialized furniture carrier Wiseway Transportation Services has moved its terminal in Kankakee, Ill., to a larger facility in nearby Bourbonnais, Ill.
  
• Woolrich introduces online home furnishings catalog
  
  Furniture Today Staff, November 13, 2009
  WOOLRICH, Pa. — Outdoor lifestyle brand Woolrich has launched a comprehensive online catalog for retailers, featuring products from all of its home furnishings licensees.
  
• Judge names Paul and Leonard Frankel as defendants in AICO copyright suit
  
  Thomas Russell, November 13, 2009
  PICO RIVERA, Calif. — A U.S. District Court judge has named former Collezione Europa USA executives Paul and Leonard Frankel as defendants in AICO's ongoing copyright and patent infringement case against Collezione.
  
• California extends formaldehyde deadlines six months
  
  Heath E. Combs, November 13, 2009
  SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Air Resources Board has granted a six-month extension to give furniture retailers more time to clear inventories that don't comply with the first phase of the state's strict new formaldehyde emission standards.
  
• Habersham reaches seven-figure settlement in copyright case
  
  Thomas Russell, November 13, 2009
  TOCCOA, Ga. — High-end case goods manufacturer Habersham Plantation Corp. said it has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit against wood furniture importer G&J Styles Inc. and sister company Halo Styles LLC.