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Furniture|Today -- 06/16/2003
Bedding Today
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Chicago dept. stores offer much in bedding
Department stores have hit the skids in bedding, our recent report on bedding retail distribution revealed. In the last two years, department stores saw their market share drop from 13% to 11%. But I didn't see any signs of declines the other day when I made "mystery shopper" visits to the mattress departments of two famous Chicago department stores, Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field's.
Business Today
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Culp's 4Q sales drop 16.8%
High Point— Fabric and ticking supplier Culp reported net income of $3.3 million in its fiscal fourth quarter ended April 27, compared with a $1.6 million loss a year earlier. Excluding restructuring and related charges in both periods, the company said its earnings amounted to $3.9 million versus net income of $4.
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Home sales show gains in April; other indicators mixed
High Point— Compared with month-earlier data, April economic indicators for the furniture industry were mixed, with three up, three down and one even with March results. Four of the seven were up compared with April 2002 figures. Existing single-family home sales posted the best performance in April, up 5.
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WSJ salutes Singleton, Havard for stock selections
Richmond, Va.— Furniture industry analysts Pam Singleton, formerly of Merrill Lynch, and Joel Havard of BB&T Capital Markets were among the "Best on the Street" in The Wall Street Journal's annual survey. Singleton, who has left Merrill Lynch to start a consulting practice, ranked second in the home construction and furnishings category, and Havard was third.
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Bureau revises methodology on furniture factory employment
Washington— Starting with May 2003 data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has revised its employment survey methodology. The Current Employment Statistics, or CES, survey changed the basis for industry classifications from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification system to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System.
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Jennifer moves to Amex
New York— Jennifer Convertibles has shifted its stock from over-the-counter trading to the American Stock Exchange, a move the retailer's management believes will increase visibility. "The company has made substantial progress during the past few years, and the enhanced visibility we shall get by being listed on the Amex should increase investor awareness and enhance shareholder value," s...
News
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LBC wins advertising awards
Phoenix— LBC Advertising, a marketing communications firm serving the home furnishings industry, won six honors in the Communicator Awards for Excellence in 2002. LBC won three Crystal Awards of Excellence, the top prize, for television commercials — two for Fort Myers, Fla.-based retailer Robb & Stucky, and one for Karastan, a division of Mohawk Inds.
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Mathis Bros. buys Evans
Oklahoma City— Mathis Bros. has acquired a majority stake in competing retailer Evans Furniture, furthering its market dominance here and in Tulsa, Okla. The Top 100 chain and individuals affiliated with Mathis purchased the two-store business from the Evans family on June 6 for an undisclosed amount, said Bill Mathis, president of the now nine-store company.
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Weak dollar hurts European manufacturers
High Point— For European-made furniture, times are doubly difficult in the U.S. market. The retail furniture scene is soft and has been for about 18 months, or for roughly the same period that the dollar's value has steadily eroded against the euro. European-made goods have become more expensive, with or without price increases levied on the continent, and that makes the prices from alrea...
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Buying groups anticipate strong turnout for Calgary
Calgary, Alberta— Cantrex Group and Mega Group believe their western Canadian members will turn out for the market here this weekend, and should have some open-to-buy available to freshen floors for the fall. Rob Alexander, vice president of merchandising for Mega, said his members' business, generally tracking a bit below last year, has seen an uptick in recent weeks.
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Corrections & Amplifications
In the Top 100 furniture stores report beginning on page 32 of the May 26 issue, the 2002 average sales-per-square-foot figure was omitted for Rooms To Go, No. 1 on the list. Estimated sales per square foot for the Seffner, Fla.-based chain were $800, which would have placed it third on the list of top performers in the category.
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PMI ready to source upholstery
High Point— Sourcing agent Pacific Marketing International, which has been focused on case goods, has launched a living room division. Gil Sturtzel, vice president of sales and marketing, will head the division, which will develop and source collections to create full living room presentations.
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Coja sets 21-day program
Concord, Ont.— Canadian leather upholstery producer Coja plans to introduce e-way, a better leather seating program with 21-day delivery. Twelve new sofas, tagged from $1,299 to $1,999 retail, feature eight-way hand-tied construction and down-blend seats and backs. The program will be unveiled at the San Francisco market in July, said Mark Parris, Coja's vice president of sales and mercha...
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Furnitureland South, Lexington link with FurnishNet
High Point— In separate agreements, North Carolina retail giant Furnitureland South and manufacturer Lexington Home Brands have signed on with Internet company FurnishNet to manage their electronic transactions and data exchanges with their respective trading partners. High Point-based Furnitureland South is outsourcing its electronic data interchange, or EDI, "to reduce errors on hand-ke...
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Harlem to raze original store for new flagship
Chicago— Harlem Furniture The Roomplace will tear down its successful flagship store at 2525 North Harlem Avenue here and replace it with a 28,000-square-foot store with a better layout and a fresh look. Harlem expects a bump in sales when the project is completed late this year or early next year, said Bruce Berman, chief executive officer of the family-owned business founded here in 1912.
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FDC showcasing chairs of famous people
High Point— An exhibit at the Furniture Discovery Center here is showing the public the real seats of power. "Famous People — Favorite Chairs," running until July 1, features replicas of 10 chairs that were owned by historical figures. Visitors can try to match each chair to its owner. Shown are replicas of chairs belonging to John F.
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NHFA, Exim Technologies aim to connect industry
High Point— A new initiative from the National Home Furnishings Assn. to connect retailers and their trading partners via the Internet is the latest evidence that business-to-business e-commerce is becoming a common practice in the industry. The product of more than four years of study and evaluation, the NHFA initiative partners Exim Technologies of Greenville, S.
- Obituaries
Obituaries
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SFM to honor rug makers Capel brothers
San Francisco— Rug supplier Capel Inc.'s three owners will be honored by the San Francisco Mart in July with Lifetime Platinum Passes. Brothers A. Leon Capel Jr., Jesse S. Capel and Arron W.E. Capel will receive the awards July 17 in a ceremony at the SFM's Tenant Luncheon. The event precedes the San Francisco Summer Market, set for July 18–21.
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England's gallery program expanding
New Tazewell, Tenn.— England's in-store gallery program is expanding at a rapid rate, and the La-Z-Boy upholstery producer also plans to unveil this year two prototypes for freestanding stores. The company has 125 in-store galleries in place, with another 30 commitments in hand. The store program hasn't yet hit its stride, but England is taking steps to get it jump-started.
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Solutia ads feature England group
New Tazewell, Tenn.— Solutia, a supplier of acrylic Wear Dated yarn, is featuring a seating group from England as part of a year-long consumer advertising campaign. The Solutia ads, with a photograph of a bright red England sectional and a patterned occasional chair, will run throughout 2003 in a variety of shelter magazines, including Country Home, Midwest Living and Renovation Style.
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N.C. Web furniture seller blocked from taking orders
Raleigh, N.C.— A North Carolina furniture seller that deals over the Internet and owes consumers nearly $800,000 has been ordered to stop taking new orders until it resolves existing claims, according to the state attorney general. A state court has blocked Henry Privette and his businesses, Carolina Furniture and Miller Burns International Home Furnishings, from taking new orders.
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Stronger euro stings European leather mfrs.
Matera, Italy— The strengthening euro has formed a speed bump on the Pelle Highway, the home of Italian leather upholstery manufacturing. Leather upholstery producers based in Italy and other euro-using countries are watching helplessly as they get less for the product they sell in the United States.
- Bedding Benchmarks
Therapedic hosts Far East meetings
Middlesex, N.J.— Therapedic International, based here, recently held a series of high-level meetings with licensees in the Far East. Michael Pino, president of Therapedic International, led the meetings, which included the inaugural conference of the group's Asia/Pacific licensees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Bedding Benchmarks
Simmons names Grohs rep of year
Atlanta— John Grohs, a 25-year veteran of Simmons Co., has been honored with the company's Sales Representative of the Year award. He works out of Simmons' Seattle plant. In presenting Grohs the award, Simmons Senior Vice President of Sales Kevin Damewood complemented him on his accomplishments in 2002 as well as his successful 25 years representing Simmons.
Opinion Today
- Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Greed is killing 'Golden Goose' I have read with great interest about (High Point Market Authority President) Judy Mendenhall's quest for state or federal money to assist the furniture market. My first market trip was 1969, and I was impressed with the price fixing and gouging that we as buyers were forced to accept.
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A strange world where burglars steal ... furniture!
Something is rotten in Denmark. People there are burgling high-end furniture. With guns. Can you imagine an armed robber walking into a Baker, Knapp & Tubbs somewhere in America, the land of Columbine, gangsta rap and "going postal"? No, I can't either. It's not a bad problem to have, provided it remains a very rare occurrence.
People Today
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Louisiana reps salute outstanding buyer, store
Metairie, La.— The Louisiana Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. hosted the annual Bill Feldman Memorial Banquet here honoring its Buyer of the Year and Retailer of the Year. Compass Furniture of Jefferson, La., was named Retailer of the Year. Aldrich Watts of V. Watts Furniture in Livingston, La.
- People on the Move
People on the Move
Directors Aaron Rents Atlanta — David L. Kolb has been elected to the board of directors of rental and rent-to-own store operator Aaron Rents. He is chairman of Mohawk Inds., a major floor coverings producer. DMI Louisville, Ky. — Gerald L. Von Deylen has been named to the board of directors of DMI Furniture, a maker and importer of home office furniture.
Special Report
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Casual dining reaches new heights
High Point— Casual dining producers are developing a new niche business with dining tables and chairs at taller heights. The typical casual dining set has a table that is 30 inches tall and chairs with seats 18 to 19 inches high. But several companies received a strong response to High Point introductions in April that were six inches taller.
- Market Report
It wasn't all luck for 'the luckiest man alive'
Windsor, Ontario— Bill Tepperman believes he's the luckiest man alive, saying he couldn't have had a better life if he had planned it before he was born 66 years ago to Russian immigrants who came to Canada to build a new life. "I feel tremendously lucky to have been born into this family and to be born into this family in Canada," says the president of Tepperman's Furniture, a five-unit,...
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AFMA study: Home takes on new meaning for consumers
Charlotte, N.C.— Five years makes a big difference in how consumers think about the home and its furnishings. In 1998, jobs were plentiful, mobility was more important than durability, and U.S. consumers believed their lives essentially were stable. No more. With a faltering economy, terrorism and the U.
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Quaker's Liebenow: Counterfeiters beware
Charlotte, N.C.— Quaker Fabric's president and chief executive officer warned last week that his company will go after anyone who infringes on the company's copyrights. Calling China a major violator of copyrights, "the elephant in the living room," Larry Liebenow said the upholstery fabric supplier would protect its $20 million investment in product development by using advances in copyr...
- Market Report
Canadians call for June show overhaul
Toronto— Manufacturers and retailers are calling for a repositioning of the Toronto Summer Furniture Show, saying that if something can't be done to make it more meaningful, it should be scrapped. "If we can't make it more important to the dealers, it's simply not worth doing," said Ron Dennis, vice president of marketing for bedding major Simmons Canada.
- Market Report
Hundreds hail Tepperman as OFMA's Retailer of Year
Toronto— Over 300 people turned out for a gala dinner here honoring Bill Tepperman as the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn.'s 2003 Retailer of the Year. The event, in the Aviation Ballroom of the Toronto International Center, was held on the evening before the official opening of the Toronto Summer Furniture Show.
Store Openings
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La-Z-Boy adds youth area at Texas store
El Paso, Texas— Regis Bernard Furniture here has installed a 1,500-square-foot La-Z-Boy Youth Collection area in its 40,000-square-foot store. The gallery features furniture by La-Z-Boy subsidiary Lea Inds.
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N.J.'s Silvert's Furniture has Berkline gallery
Freehold, N.J.— Silvert's Furniture on South Street here has installed a 4,500-square-foot Berkline gallery. Larry Iserson is owner of the 40,000-square-foot store. He is the third generation to operate the store, founded in 1929.
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Consignment store relocates
Westlake Village, Calif.— Home Furnishings on Consignment, a retailer of high-end, one-of-a-kind furniture, home accessories and jewelry on consignment, has moved to a new location on Via Colinas here. The original location, opened in 1998, was 8,900-square-feet. The new store offers more than 20,000-square-feet.
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Flexsteel gallery installed by Fla.'s Tegge Furnishings
Melbourne, Fla.— Upholstery maker Flexsteel has installed a 6,000-square-foot gallery in Tegge Furnishings' 25,000-square-foot store on North Wickham Road here. Tegge became a Flexsteel retailer in 1999 and has been at its present location since November 2002.
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Kittle's adds ULC youth line
Indianapolis— Youth furniture from University Loft Company here is being showcased at Top 100 store Kittle's, also based in Indianapolis. ULC youth vignettes have been installed in five Kittle's stores, and eventually will be added to all units. Each vignette includes five furnituer sets with neon signage, college pennants and product posters.
Up Front
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AFMA plans to revamp organizational structure
Charlotte, N.C.— The American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. plans to replace its nine divisions with a less formal "council" structure, with a goal of becoming a more effective trade organization. AFMA President Steve Kincaid announced the proposed change last week at the summer meeting of the association's Marketing Division at the Ballantyne Resort here.
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AFMA to develop marketing campaign
High Point— An American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. committee is spearheading development of a marketing campaign it hopes will make furniture as emotionally enticing as diamonds. The multiyear effort, approved by AFMA's board, will be modeled after the widely recognized "A Diamond is Forever" campaign.
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Consumer buying report available
High Point— Who's shopping for furniture this year? Furniture/Today's 2003 Consumer Buying Trends report gives the answer. On a product-by-product basis, 31,505 consumers told Furniture/Today researchers what furniture they shopped for in 2002, what they actually purchased and how much they spent for it.
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Fairfield promotes Posey
Lenoir, N.C.— Longtime furniture executive Dick Posey has been promoted to president of upholstery manufacturer Fairfield Chair Co. He succeeds Harper Beall III, who remains as chairman and chief executive officer. Posey joined Fairfield in 2001 as senior vice president of marketing. Previously, he spent eight years as senior vice president, sales and marketing, for upholstery maker Clayt...
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AAdvantage moves to larger facility
Tupelo, Miss.— Fabric importer and converter AAdvantage International Fabrics has moved from its former 10,000-square-foot facility into a 55,000-square-foot distribution center here. "We had to expand due to the tremendous growth of our business in the past five years, and the overwhelming demand for our product," said President Danny Kingsley, who launched the business in 1999.
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Holliman says deflation pains self-inflicted
New York— Price deflation has wounded the furniture industry in the past couple of years, but the head of the nation's largest furniture manufacturer argues that many of those wounds are self-inflicted. Mickey Holliman, chairman and president of Furniture Brands International, said many manufacturers and retailers aren't pricing imported products correctly, and he believes such practices ...
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Calgary expects strong turnout
Calgary, Alberta— Furniture manufacturers showing at Market Showplace here this weekend expect a strong turnout by retailers from western Canada, even though business in the first half has been fairly weak. "Business has been soft since the beginning of the year, although the indications are the show will be as well attended as it normally is," said Barry Palethorpe, president of Vancouve...
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Sealy ships new Posturepedics
Trinity, N.C.— Sealy begins shipping its new Posturepedic line this week, officially entering the one-sided marketplace with a product on which it is pinning high hopes. A number of retailers have given good reviews to the new line, which was introduced at the April market. Now, as the models begin going on retail floors, Sealy will see how consumers respond.
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Bosworth joins Thomasville
Thomasville, N.C.— Thomasville Furniture Inds. has named former Preview Furniture executive Sharon Bosworth to the new position of vice president of upholstery design. In addition, Doug Rozenboom has been promoted from manager to director of case goods design and will take over some of the responsibilities of Guy Walters, former vice president of merchandising and design, who has left the...
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