Furniture Today - October 28, 2002

Sealy's struggling retail affiliates, Mattress Firm and Mattress Discounters, were overhauled last week in separate transactions aimed at solidifying the finances of the Top 100 chains and distancing Sealy from ownership ties to retailers. Houston-based Mattress Firm, which operates more than 300 company-owned and franchised stores, was sold to an affiliate of Sun Capital Part...

• Special Report
• Market Highlights
• New looks score in casual dining
• Broad range of beds wins buyer applause
• Bedding gets good marks
• Adjustable goes mainstream
• La-Z-Boy's England aims to raise Englander profile
• Largo, Serta gallery unveiled
• New glider rockers get positive marks
• Tables serve up tons of storage
• Lane recreates author's heirloom cedar chest
• Lane revamps occasional
• Busy market for motion
• Niche approach keeps recliner resources busy
• RTA mfrs. try new twists, channels
• Gusdorf's 80,000-square-foot expansion nears completion
• Carina adds solid-wood faces to papered cases
• Leather players seek to stand out from crowd
• American Leather moves to nearly double capacity
• High-end leather lines spotlighted
• Cottage shows its youth
• Lift chairs touted as boost for stores
• Rug vendors: A tough sell here
• SOHO scores with style, value
• Best of market
• Case goods makers find new ways
• Canwood gallery program: 'Complete lifestyle look'
• Cottage's new upscale looks come home
• Casual comfort reigns in upholstery
• PeopLoungers scores with stationary intros
• New loft looks target 20- to 30-somethings
• Company offers product to adjust sofa seat size
• Market Parties
• City of Hope honors Klein, Waxman

• Bedding Today
• Serta 'sheepnapping' caper to end happily

• Business Today
• Havertys profits up 5.3% on 3% sales gain
• Sears Canada 3Q net earnings drop 59.2%
• FBI posts 4.5% 3Q sales gain
• Chromcraft Revington sales off 9.8%, income dips 4.5%

• Up Front
• Drexel takes first steps toward rebuilding brand
• Palliser goes after casual
• Rooms To Go closing Dallas Wickes stores
• Shootings slow D.C.-area retail
• Market Authority eyes more parking
• Sealy adds operations VP
• Maddrey joins Lea Inds.
• Steele returns to Ultimate Accents

• Store Openings
• Broyhill unveils in-store galleries in Ga. and Miss.
• Roomful Express opens larger store in Pittsburgh suburb
• 14th Kincaid store launched
• Missouri retailers install youth furniture areas by Lea

• Insider's View
• Maybe it's time stores tried something new

• People Today
• AFMA suppliers elect officers
• Bekins taps Vargo as CFO, sr. VP
• LHFRA honors top buyers, retailers of '01

• Opinion Today
• Make your consumers 'centers of attention'
• Good thing I was a lot more mobile this market
• Fabrics pop with colors, patterns

• News
• AFMA forecast more optimistic
• Dutchman awaits trial in Singapore market death
• Wampler removed from IHFC board
• Renovated Wright building set for 2003
• HomElegance buys Progressive building
• Kingsdown to make bedding for Drexel's stores, galleries
• Drexel and Miresco enter rug partnership
• Vaughan gives kids charity $25,000 check
• Trade Am remaking Home Co.
• OFMA names Ashton executive VP
• New Wellington Hall owners aim to grow
• Sun affiliate acquires Mattress Firm
• Mattress Discounters files Ch. 11
• WOW awards given to 4 industry leaders
• First Peterson awards go to Wolf, HPU student
• Hall of Fame inducts four
• S.F. market adding gift, jewelry venue