Top Stories

• High Point leaders support Las Vegas Market
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 31, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - High Point Market and city leaders visited here on the Las Vegas Market's opening day, showing the spirit of cooperation that has arisen since the International Market Centers deal was completed last year.
  
• Primo International, Kathy Ireland expand licensing deal
  
  Ray Allegrezza, January 31, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Canadian upholstery and case goods supplier Primo International has announced a significantly expanded licensing partnership with Kathy Ireland Worldwide that has resulted in the soft launch here of new lines of stationary and motion upholstery in both leather and fabric, as well as casual dining, occasional seating and mattresses.
  
• Comfort Solutions introduces new branding on glitzy stage
  
  David Perry, January 31, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Comfort Solutions brought the glitz of this city to a special Las Vegas Market event here that highlighted the company's new brand positioning: Never Stop Dreaming.
  
• Bedding majors get aggressive with national advertising
  
  David Perry, January 31, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Bedding's majors opened the bedding-rich Las Vegas Market this week with announcements on some aggressive brand-building moves.
  
• Occasional furniture resources score with new looks
  
  Tom Russell, January 31, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Occasional resources came to the Las Vegas Market this week with a host of new looks, finishes and materials aimed at building business in 2012 and beyond.
  
• HGTV's Monica Pedersen talks trends at Vegas Market
  
  Chris Schultz, January 31, 2012
    Furniture Today's Ray Allegrezza talks to HGTV's Monica Pedersen about design trends during opening day of the Las Vegas Market.
  
• Rent-A-Center revenues up 8.9% in fourth quarter
  
  Jay McIntosh, January 31, 2012
  PLANO, Texas - Rent-A-Center said its revenues rose 8.9% in the fourth quarter to $737.5 million, largely driven by a gain in its RAC Acceptance business generated by kiosks in traditional furniture stores.
  
• Furniture Outlets USA completes multi-store complex in Minnesota
  
  Clint Engel, January 30, 2012
    ELK RIVER, Minn. — Furniture Outlets USA has completed the conversion of its former liquidation center here into a home furnishings complex featuring a 32,000-square-foot Ashley Furniture HomeStore, a 42,000-square-foot multi-line Furniture Mart and a Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts store.
  
• Norwalk Furniture opens showroom at its Ohio factory
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
    NORWALK, Ohio — Upholstery maker Norwalk Furniture opened a 6,500-square-foot showroom at its headquarters and factory with a launch party Jan. 20.
  
• Educational agenda set for Home Furnishings Industry Conference
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
  ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Organizers have set the educational agenda for this year's Home Furnishings Industry Conference, set for May 6-8 in Palm Springs, Calif.
  
• Longtime industry executive, developer Marvin Danto dies at 95
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
  BLOOMFIELD Hills, Mich. — Marvin I. Danto, a retired home furnishings executive and founder of the Michigan Design Center and Design Center of the Americas, has died at age 95.
  
• Retail sales gains spur buying as Las Vegas Market opens
  
  Clint Engel, January 30, 2012
  LAS VEGAS - With business solidly in positive territory for many furniture stores, buyers arriving at the just-opened winter edition of the Las Vegas Market are looking for the kind of goods that will keep sales flowing.
  
• Sealy enters gel bedding arena with two new lines
  
  David Perry, January 30, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Bedding sales leader Sealy is entering the fast-growing gel arena with two new lines tied to its flagship Posturepedic brand.
  
• Lifestyle Enterprise draws hundreds to first Las Vegas show
  
  Clint Engel, January 30, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Lifestyle Enterprise wowed dealers with its first Forbidden City Furniture Show in this city, unveiling extreme value-priced case goods and upholstery and rewarding many of its customers with its latest lavish giveaway - iPad 2s.
  
• HomElegance diving into upholstery in Las Vegas
  
  Gary Evans, January 30, 2012
    LAS VEGAS - Bedroom and dining room importer HomElegance is introducing a massive collection of upholstery at the Las Vegas Market as the company seeks to become a whole-home resource for its dealer base.
  
• Lincolnton Furniture report airs tonight on 'Rock Center'
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
  LINCOLNTON, N.C. - You can catch a segment on Lincolnton Furniture tonight on "Rock Center with Brian Williams" as the NBC show looks at how the company decided to open a plant to make furniture in the United States, rather than importing from overseas.
  
• Kathy Ireland to attend BrandSource reception Tuesday
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
  LAS VEGAS - BrandSource will host a reception at the Las Vegas Market Tuesday featuring Kathy Ireland, a brand ambassador and designer for the group and CEO and chief designer for Kathy Ireland Worldwide.
  
• Next Generation-Now hosting Las Vegas event Tuesday
  
  Furniture Today Staff, January 30, 2012
  LAS VEGAS - Next Generation-Now, the community of young home furnishings professionals, will host a Chatter over Cocktails reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the One-Six Club on the 16th floor of World Market Center Building B.
  
• Sherwood Bedding expanding plant in Phoenix, opening one in Orlando
  
  David Perry, January 30, 2012
    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Ellman family's comeback in the mattress business is taking a big growth turn this year.
  
• UPDATE: Ante4Autism event in Las Vegas moves up registration time Tuesday
  
  David Perry, January 30, 2012
  LAS VEGAS - Ante4Autism, a poker tournament here Tuesday that will raise funds for autism research, has bumped its registration time up to 6:30 p.m. to accommodate an appearance at 7 p.m. by professional poker player Karina Jett.