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Furniture|Today -- 01/27/2003
Bedding Today
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Bedding's 'new reality' confounded the experts
A funny thing happened on our way to a strong second half last year: It didn't materialize. Of course, that wasn't so funny. It made for a very challenging year, one that my friend Bob Naboicheck, president of Gold Bond, called "the toughest business environment of our business careers." That was one of the interesting insights to emerge from a comprehensive survey of bedding executives that I ...
Business Today
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FBI net sales jump 26.8%, net earnings double in '02
St. Louis— Boosted by its acquisitions of Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Maitland-Smith, Furniture Brands International said net sales jumped 26.8% to $2.4 billion in 2002. The company, which also owns Broyhill, Lane and Thomasville, said sales rose a more modest 6.4% excluding the acquisitions.
News
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Hines joins Ferguson Copeland
Morganton, N.C.— Andy Hines has joined high-end manufacturer Ferguson Copeland as vice president of upholstery products. He was director of furniture marketing/operations for Calico Corners, a 100-store retailer specializing in fabrics, trims and other home furnishings. Hines began his career with Drexel Heritage, and later joined Masco as vice president of marketing for its home furnishi...
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RTO consolidating under easyhome
Edmonton, Alberta— Leading Canadian rent-to-own retailer RTO Enterprises plans to consolidate its six banners under the easyhome nameplate in what it said is an effort to transform itself from a group of fragmented local businesses into a dominant Canadian national brand. RTO already has 20 easyhome stores and operates 116 others under the names First Choice Rent to Own, Louer Pour Achete...
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Ruehlmann appointed EVP of marketing at Mattress Firm
Houston— Former Sealy executive James Ruehlmann has joined major bedding retailer Mattress Firm as executive vice president of marketing and merchandising. "We are pleased to have someone of Jim's caliber join our talented team as we aggressively expand our business," said Gary Fazio, president and chief executive officer.
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Cargill Dow will push Ingeo generic fibers
New York— Cargill Dow has unveiled a new branding strategy for its generic fiber polylactide, or PLA, which is derived from carbons stored in plant starches like corn. The trademarked Ingeo brand will be marketed as a lifestyle brand, said Tim Eynon, general manager, fibers. Home furnishings-related producers among the 85 companies that have signed up to use Ingeo include Belding Hausman,...
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AICO tripling Tupelo market display space
Santa Fe Springs, Calif.— Importer AICO/Amini Innovation Corp. will triple the size of its Tupelo, Miss., market showroom to display more of its growing line of case goods, occasional and home entertainment product. AICO is moving to a 12,000-square-foot showroom in the Tupelo Complex's Building Three, space 3034.
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EU nations make less furniture, import more in '02
Brussels, Belgium— For the first time since the recession of 1993, the European Union's furniture and cabinet production declined last year. Larger EU countries such as Germany, Italy and France saw drops, while the smaller countries at best broke even with the previous year in production value of manufacturing.
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Office chain adds 6 more franchises
Birmingham, Ala.— Office Furniture USA has sold six new franchises in recent weeks on top of the 11 it added in 2002. The new franchises are in San Francisco, purchased by Dillon Lucas Commercial Interiors; two in Los Angeles, purchased by Jules Seltzer Associates and by Fulmer Interiors; Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Mich.
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Karastan debuts first printed rugs
Atlanta— Karastan Rug & Home introduced its first printed rugs at this month's rug market here, a major move for the company that became part of the Mohawk Home division last fall. The look, construction and price points signal a new, more youthful direction at Karastan, said Bill Storey, senior vice president and general manager.
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828 Intl. ranks high on growth
Greenville, S.C.— Rug vendor 828 International Trading has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in South Carolina. "Our company has experienced tremendous growth over the past two years and continues to enhance its position in the marketplace," said John Shepherd, chief executive officer of 828 International.
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ChosnFriends adds factoring
High Point— Import assistance specialist ChosnFriends has added factoring to its list of services. Port Capital Partners, a new division, will offer in-house factoring services to the company's offshore clients and to small companies in the United States. The company said it will offer competitive rates with no monthly minimum volume requirement.
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Genrich succeeds Parnell at CFMA helm
Anaheim, Calif.— After four years as president of the California Furniture Manufacturers Assn., Larry Parnell of Oakwood Interiors has passed the baton to industry veteran and CFMA Vice President Mike Genrich, most recently with Blackhawk Furniture, who will lead the trade group for the next two years.
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Dock shutdown had up side, down side
San Francisco— Last fall's West Coast dock shutdown is just a memory, and that's just fine with many of the exhibitors at the San Francisco market. The work stoppage led to countless hassles and delays and cost importers money. For domestic factories, however, the port closure offered a chance to make a little hay and, for a moment, reverse the rising tide of furniture imports.
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1st Generations of Pride award set for Hickory suppliers show
Hickory, N.C.— The first Generations of Pride award to a manufacturing industry veteran will be given on opening day of the 23rd annual Hickory Furniture Suppliers Show Feb. 6–7 in the Hickory Metro Convention Center. The award honors a person who has been in the industry 20 years or longer, and has an ongoing commitment to the good of the furniture industry.
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SF wins glowing reviews
San Francisco— While the furniture business is spotty everywhere, few would describe the winter market here in anything less than positive terms. In the warm glow of a market, exhibitors said they were getting the traffic they needed and that the show was serving as a nice springboard for their regional business.
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Federated shaking up Atlanta market
Cincinnati— Federated Department Stores will close 11 full-line stores this year, two of them temporarily, eliminating more than 1,500 jobs and cutting net sales by about $100 million. The move means big changes in the Atlanta market, where the company will consolidate its Rich's and Macy's stores under the Rich's-Macy's banner, while its upscale Bloomingdale's division enters the market ...
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Stultz assumes GM duties at Oriental Weavers
Dalton, Ga.— Rug manufacturer Oriental Weavers of America has assigned Steve Stultz the duties that were held by Paul D'huyvetter, senior vice president and general manager, who died in November. Stultz, previously vice president of sales and marketing, now is responsible for OWA sales, marketing, customer service, manufacturing and distribution.
- Obituaries
Wendy Carman, daughter of bedding exec
Medford, Mass.— Wendy Alexander Carman, the daughter of former International Sleep Products Assn. President Joe Carman IV, died in a house fire here Saturday. Wendy Carman, 20, was a junior at Tufts University majoring in Spanish. Survivors include her parents, Joe and Sally Carman of Lacey, Wash.
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BASF bowing out of fibers market
Ludwigshafen, Germany— Mammoth German chemical company BASF, a big worldwide supplier of nylon, is exiting the fibers market. Honeywell International, based in Morris Township, N.J., will acquire BASF's nylon fibers business, which includes the solution-dyed Zeftron 200 nylon used for upholstery fabrics, as well as fibers for carpets, apparel and automotive applications.
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Durham names Arthur EVP, COO
Durham, Ontario— Furniture industry veteran Jeff Arthur has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of solid-wood bedroom producer Durham Furniture. Also, Larry Palmer has joined Durham as chief financial officer. Both report to President and Chief Executive Officer John Scarsella.
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Corrections & Amplifications
A table in Furniture/Today's economic forecast survey, on page 9 of the Jan. 13 issue, incorrectly stated the percentage change in furniture factory shipments from 2002 to 2003. The change is 3.0% in current dollars and 2.8% in constant dollars.
Opinion Today
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Get over it! There's no whining in furniture
Anyone who has seen "A League of Their Own," that great movie about the first professional female baseball league during World War II, remembers the moment when manager Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks, looks over at one of his teary-eyed players and tells her, "There is no crying in baseball." Don Henley, formerly of the rock band The Eagles, said essentially the same thing in the song, "Get O...
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Think about the value of exposure, partnership
We recently wrote about nationally recognized celebrities in the furniture industry. Sometimes we forget the subtle benefits of having a high-profile spokesperson. On the Delta flight we took from Atlanta to the Furniture/Today Leadership Conference in Florida, the on-plane program included a lengthy Larry King interview with Kathy Ireland.
- Letters to the Editor
Mattress comparisons raise a few questions
I always get amused when a mattress manufacturer says they have a product that beats the big guys. They quote their independent research study showing how their product won over Sealy and Simmons when in direct comparison. But what's funny is that when that manufacturer shares the sales floor with a Sealy or a Simmons, they never beat them! And this so-called independent research study — ...
People Today
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Textile museum salutes Rogers
Lowell, Mass.— Samuel Stevens Rogers has received the first American Textile History Museum Community Service Award for exemplary volunteer service, compassion and involvement. About 200 guests attended a benefit gala honoring Rogers and raising $120,000 for the museum's programs and services. The award is expected to be presented annually.
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Stanley honored for donations
Stanleytown, Va.— The Dan River Regional Chapter of the Assn. of Fundraising Professionals has named manufacturer Stanley Furniture as the region's 2002 Outstanding Company. The wood furniture maker was honored for its many charitable efforts within the Dan River region and beyond. In addition to making furniture and financial contributions to Ronald McDonald House Charities and sponsorin...
- People on the Move
People on the Move
Executives Southern Forest Products Assn. Kenner, La. — Lionel J. Landry has been named president of the Southern Forest Products Assn. He succeeds the retiring Karl W. Lindberg. Landry began his career at SFPA in 1966 as office manager. He later was promoted to corporate secretary and exposition director.
Special Report
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American mfrs. make presence felt
Cologne, Germany— While their numbers were small, U.S. manufacturers made their presence felt at the Cologne market. Ashley and Stanley, for example, cracked the German buying group Atlas, which will install galleries of the companies' products at its 20 stores. "We already had some stores within the buying group who took a chance on our line in their stores, and they referred the group t...
- Retail Report
Ikea expansion, employee development plans on target
Conshohocken, Pa.— It's been a busy year and a half for Pernille Lopez. It started with a new title: president of Ikea North America. And the Sweden-based home furnishings retailing giant had just announced its most aggressive expansion plans ever — a net 50 new stores in 10 years in North America.
- Retail Report
Promotions drive throngs to flagship opening
Conshohocken, Pa.— The opening of the new Ikea store here drew thousands of consumers and scores of singers eager to shop the metro Philadelphia flagship store and help out local schools. With a bevy of opening-week promotions, the 325,000-square-foot store attracted enough new and previous customers to meet sales and traffic targets, although Ikea won't say exactly what those targets were.
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RTA vendors expand horizons
High Point—Ready-to-assemble furniture makers are trying to make it happen. New categories, new price points, new ideas — all are getting a workout in the world of flat-pack furniture. The category has been rocked by a three-year streak of losses, marked by disappearing retail accounts and generally weak demand, but this seems to have inspired some creative thinking.
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Tvilum offers kitchen cabinets
Cologne, Germany— Tvilum-Scanbirk, the Danish flat-pack furniture specialist, is bringing a new line of storage products, including flat-pack kitchen cabinets, to the U.S. market. Kitchen already is a strong category for Tvilum in Europe, where consumers typically take cabinets and kitchen appliances with them when they move.
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Studio RTA broadens appeal
Pico Rivera, Calif.— Studio RTA, whose products are most often positioned as starter workstations in office superstores, is making a move to higher price points with a new lifestyle collection covering both the SOHO and entertainment categories. The new Home Tech and Office Tech collections blend wood veneers and frosted glass for a contemporary look hitting price points several steps up ...
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Ameriwood eyes new distribution
Wright City, Mo.— Ameriwood Inds., the ready-to-assemble furniture division of Montreal-based Dorel, is readying stepup merchandise as it looks to jump-start sales and regain momentum. The company emerged last year as the No. 2 player among RTA producers, but has faced some difficulties recently, with accounts such as Ames closing and others not generating expected sales, said Jeff Sternk...
- Market Report
Wood action brisk in San Francisco
San Francisco— Strong order-writing at the winter market here sparked optimism for 2003 business among case goods and occasional furniture makers. Buyers came ready and willing to open their wallets, exhibitors said. A-America ended 2002 with "substantial double-digit sales growth," said Dave Pinamonti, senior vice president, with December the company's biggest shipping month ever.
- Market Report
Marchers protest war with Iraq
San Francisco— Many furniture market attendees took a long lunch break on the second day of market to watch a massive march organized by people opposed to taking military action against Iraq. The march, which ended about two blocks from the San Francisco Mart at City Hall, drew tens of thousands of people of all ages and races.
- Market Report
Upscale touches mark upholstery action
San Francisco— Better fabrics, premium seating and Asian imports were key elements in West Coast upholstery producers' efforts at the winter market here. Several factories added down seating, a few added products from Asia, and many upgraded fabrics. Price, while obviously a factor, took a back seat as manufacturers pumped up their value stories.
- Market Report
Klaussner program aims at 15-day delivery cycle
San Francisco— Klaussner Furniture of California is launching a quick-ship program designed to halve its 30-day delivery. The program, to be launched in the next 90 days, will put product at the dealer's door two weeks after order, said Greg Greenway, vice president of sales. He said retailers can reduce inventory and save money on warehousing.
- Market Report
Motion enjoys January sales spurt
San Francisco— Motion upholstery producers showing here said the new year is off to a fast start, with everything from entry-level recliners to high-end home theater seating selling briskly. They cautioned, however, that retail remains a bit soft overall, and many acknowledged they're uncertain if the sales momentum can sustain itself.
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Looking back to look ahead
High Point— Sometimes the best way to know where you're headed is to look back at where you've been. With that thought in mind, we asked bedding executives to tell us what surprised them about business last year. We weren't surprised that they offered us a variety of thoughtful, insightful answers to that question.
- Market Report
Leather holds its own
San Francisco— Leather upholstery manufacturers, well attuned to current events ranging from the economy to the possibility of war, welcomed a steady stream of Western buyers to their showrooms here last week. Exhibitors including Asian importers Homelegance, Emerald Home Furnishings and Diamond Sofa had more introductions on hand than usual.
- Market Report
Results mixed in youth furniture
San Francisco— Youth furniture makers showing here reported mixed results, with some ringing up strong sales and others disappointed with traffic. "We were quite pleased," said Don Redfern, director of marketing and product development for Thunderbird Furniture. He said the company had "very positive results" with an oak collection first introduced in July, as well as with a new finish co...
- Market Report
Opening night party attracts festive marketgoers
San Francisco— Several hundred attendees of the winter furniture market here turned out for the opening day market party, hosted by Furniture/Today and the San Francisco Mart. Retailers, manufacturers and other market participants gathered on the ninth floor of Mart I to mingle over drinks and hors d'oeuvres, sponsored by Emerald Home Furnishings and the California Furniture Manufacturers...
- Market Report
Price is king (mostly) in home office
San Francisco— A few new ideas and lots of imports characterized the home office programs on display here. With no major new technology demanding new furniture configurations, many producers are trying to differentiate their assortments with price, which is where the imports come in. As an example of the low-price values hitting the market, Surewood Oak came to San Francisco with a desk-h...
- Market Report
Home entertainment remains a bright spot
San Francisco— Home entertainment continues to be an industry bright spot, and this was reflected in market showrooms here, with introductions ranging from compact TV stands to sprawling home theater configurations. A broad spectrum of styles also was evident although, befitting the West Coast market, the designs leaned toward the casual.
Store Openings
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Norwalk installs two galleries
Norwalk, Ohio— Norwalk Furniture has installed Your Home Fashion Center galleries in stores in Ohio and North Carolina. Love Furniture in Tallmadge, Ohio, has unveiled a 4,000-square-foot gallery. Bill Gentry, Julie Morrison and Robin Seeley own the full-line store, which was launched by Tom Gentry in 1968.
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Aronson Furniture opens 12th unit
Matteson, Ill.— Aronson Furniture, a 62-year-old metro Chicago retailer, has opened its 12th store in this southern suburb on West Lincoln Highway. Robert B. Cremer is president of Aronson and Tim Taylor is manager of the Matteson store. The credit-oriented chain sells furniture, appliances and electronics from such vendors as La-Z-Boy, Broyhill, Serta, Sony and Whirlpool.
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Wisconsin's Colder's unveils La-Z-Boy Youth Collection area
West Allis, Wis.— Colder's Furniture has installed a 2,250-square-foot Lea/La-Z-Boy Youth Collection area in its 6,000-square-foot store on South 108th Street in this Milwaukee suburb. Colder's, which began as an appliance store in 1942, has grown into a second-generation furniture store with three units in metro Milwaukee.
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Designer's Choice launches Klaussner store at mall
Hickory, N.C.— Designer's Choice Furniture Galleries, in the Catawba Furniture Mall here, has opened a Klaussner Home Collection showroom. The 45,000-square-foot showroom includes lines by Distinctions, Klaussner Motion, Klaussner Leather, Klaussitalia and the Dick Idol Collection by Klaussner.
Up Front
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Bolick founds Shadow Mountain
Conover, N.C.— Alexvale Furniture founder and former president Charles H. Bolick Jr. has formed a lighting and accessories importer, Shadow Mountain Inc. Bolick is chairman and chief executive officer of the new company, which will source product from Asia. He has more than 30 years experience in importing.
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Cantoni brightens L.A. scene
Los Angeles— Upscale contemporary specialist Cantoni has opened a second Southern California store here, a 10,000-square-foot unit at 420 North La Brea Ave. It's the smallest of the Dallas-based retailer's four stores and its first non-standalone unit, part of a row of stores targeting affluent consumers.
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Aaron raises stake in Rainbow Rentals to 8%
Atlanta— Aaron Rents has increased its stake in rent-to-own competitor Rainbow Rentals to 8% with a $706,725 purchase of common stock. Aaron bought 174,500 Rainbow shares for $4.05 on Jan. 17, boosting its stake by three percentage points. Last year the company purchased two blocks of 150,000 shares for a combined price of $1.
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Weare, Watton swap jobs at Sears Canada
Toronto— Sears Canada has named Bruce Watton as national business manager/furniture, succeeding Dan Weare. Weare, who held the post for eight years, has replaced Watton as national business manager for window, housewares and lighting. Both men continue to report to Ashley Whicher, group vice president/home and hardlines.
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ISPA makes changes to its staff
Alexandria, Va.— The International Sleep Products Assn. has made several staff changes in line with its goal of advancing its strategic plan. Dick Doyle, ISPA president, who joined the association last year, said he is pleased with the expertise of the newly hired and promoted personnel. "Their contributions will be critical in achieving the goals of our new strategic plan, which emphasiz...
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Cologne show reflects soft business conditions
Cologne, Germany— Despite what they described as continued soft business conditions, many exhibitors at the 2003 Cologne International Furniture Market were pleased with their results at the show. There were 1,350 exhibitors, down from last year's 1,459. The number this year also included about 30 companies showing in IMM Cuisinale, a new area dedicated to kitchen furniture and appliances.
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Select Comfort, Culp, Bombay lead pack in 2002 stock derby
High Point— Gainers balanced out losers last year as Furniture/Today's furniture stock index stayed nearly flat, slipping just 1.2%. Not that it was a boring year. Most stocks were up or down by 10% or more. Of all 38 stocks in U.S. companies tracked by Furniture/Today, exactly half were up and half were down.
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AFMA realigns jobs, appoints study group
High Point— After the departure of three longtime professional staff members, the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. has reassigned some responsibilities. In addition, a new committee of industry executives has been appointed to study AFMA's organizational structure and make recommendations.
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