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Furniture|Today -- 06/30/2003
Bedding Today
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Retailer visits will be key for new Spring Air home
Spring Air hosted a festive party at its new Elk Grove Village, Ill., headquarters earlier this month. An A-list of retailers and suppliers joined members of the Spring Air family for two days of tours and fellowship. Your Faithful Mattress Correspondent (that's me!) joined the crowd and offers these first-hand impressions.
Business Today
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Hooker 2Q sales up 28.7%; charge hurts profits
Martinsville, Va.— Sales from its recently acquired Bradington-Young upholstery division and improved performance in its wood business pushed manufacturer and importer Hooker Furniture to sales of $80.1 million in its second quarter, a jump of 28.7% over last year's comparable period. A one-time, $1.
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Bassett 2Q sales skid 11.6%
Bassett, Va.— Full-line manufacturer and importer Bassett Furniture Inds. said sales in its second quarter skidded 11.6% to $71.5 million as net income plunged 58.6% to $1.2 million. The company attributed the declines for the quarter ended May 31 to industrywide soft retail conditions and the previously announced sales decrease of its product to retailer JCPenney.
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Gold sale puts Rowe in black
McLean, Va.— The Rowe Companies said the recent sale of the Mitchell Gold division enabled it to remain profitable in its second quarter. Net income for the three months ended June 1 totaled $89,000, or 1 cent per share. However, Rowe reported a net loss of $642,000 from continuing operations. Rowe, which sold upholstery maker Mitchell Gold in April, reported a net gain of $462,000 from t...
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Consumer confidence barely slips in June
New York— The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index slipped a scant 0.1 points to 83.5 in June from May's 83.6. The Present Situation Index also was off, dropping 2.4 points to 64.9, while the Expectations Index rose 1.4 points to 95.9. Reversing May results, two-thirds of the nine regions were down from month-prior figures.
News
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Corrections & Amplifications
Martin Ploy's company affiliation was given incorrectly in a caption on page 24 of the June 23 issue. He is with AICO/Amini Innovation Corp.
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Dealer Days serves up training, ideas and fun
McConnellsville, N.Y.— Several times a year, Harden Furniture hosts Dealer Days at its plant to exchange ideas, give sales training and renew contacts. This month, retailers from 18 furniture stores and their Harden representatives gathered here to tour the plant and get an update on manufacturing initiatives and product direction.
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BDO: Factory orders off 9% in April, 10% for year
High Point— April's factory orders were down 9% from the same month a year ago, the fifth straight monthly decline, according to BDO Seidman. Shipments at U.S. residential furniture factories dropped 7% as manufacturers continued to work off backlogs, the accounting and consulting firm said. The order backlog in April was 13% smaller than in April 2002.
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New Levitz financing to fuel improvements
Woodbury, N.Y.— Levitz Home Furnishings, parent of the Levitz and Seaman's retail chains, said it has obtained financing that will enable it to improve its distribution facilities, particularly in California, and open new stores. A new three-year, $110 million credit facility with a lender group led by GE Retail Finance replaces a $95 million facility with a group led by Heller Financial,...
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La-Z-Boy wood group fills five new positions
Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy's Case Goods Group has filled five new management positions aimed at consolidating key functions, further refining the centralized structure announced earlier this month. The executives all report to Bill Johnson, recently named president of operations for the wood group.
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Araam, Hypnos bedding enter Canadian market
Calgary, Alberta— Two bedding brands made their Canadian debut at Market Showplace here last week, the home-grown Araam and the high-end British label Hypnos, both of which are being made in a new 75,000-square-foot factory in Edmonton, Alberta. The new venture, Araam Inc., is owned by Chatur Holdings, a family-owned company that also operates Eztia Furnishings, an importer of case goods ...
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Buffett: Integrity, character critical assets in business
Las Vegas— Warren Buffett brought his sermon on value-oriented, buy-and-hold investing to the land of the quick buck. Buffett, chairman of investment company Berkshire Hathaway and the world's second-richest person, spoke to about 600 invited guests at a hotel and casino just before the grand opening of a new R.
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Reinvesting during boom now paying off for Harden
McConnellsville, N.Y.— In the furniture industry's salad days a few years ago, a lot of U.S. manufacturers were happy to crank out product and pull in the cash. China was building market share but, hey, there was plenty to go around. In retrospect, Harden Furniture, a domestic producer of high-end case goods and upholstery employing 500 people at two plants in upstate New York, looks pret...
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Relax-R goes adjustable
Calgary, Alberta— Glider rocker and massage chair specialist Relax-R entered the adjustable bed arena here, showing four models at Market Showplace. Daniel Ide, vice president of sales and marketing, said the new Relax-R Therapy collection is a natural extension of the company's massage chair line.
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Matthews promoted at Wild Rose
Calgary, Alberta— Gary Matthews has been named president of case goods manufacturer Wild Rose Furniture after the retirement of founder Jack Friesen. The moves are part of a plan inaugurated 18 months ago when a group of private investors acquired a majority interest in the promotional producer.
- Obituaries
Obituaries
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Hall of Fame seeks nominees
High Point— Nominations will be accepted until July 15 for the American Furniture Hall of Fame, which will honor new members at the October market here. The Hall of Fame has mailed nomination forms and related materials to AFHF sponsors. On Aug. 15, the organization will send each sponsor a roster booklet with histories and photos of the nominees, along with a numbered ballot.
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Textile group decries currency tricks
Washington— A top executive of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute called currency manipulation by China and other Asian exporters "nothing short of devastating" for the domestic textile sector at a hearing last week of the House Small Business Committee. Cass Johnson, senior vice president of ATMI, said Asian currency manipulation is the single most important issue facing textil...
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Rhodes to replace warehouse
Greensboro, N.C.— Rhodes will open a 320,000-square-foot leased distribution center here early next year, replacing a smaller warehouse, to better handle existing business as well as to prepare for growth. Work has begun on the $11 million project at the intersection of Interstates 40 and 85. The facility should be ready in March, said Joel Dugan, executive vice president and chief financ...
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Ethan Allen supersizes
Alpharetta, Ga.— All of a sudden, Ethan Allen is a superstore. At its just-concluded spring dealer meeting in this Atlanta suburb, the company raised the curtain on its new store prototype, which is twice as big as most of the 315 Ethan Allen stores worldwide. While the 35,000 square feet of display may not rival the acreage at Furnitureland South in High Point or Nebraska Furniture Mart ...
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High hopes for latest R.C. Willey unit
Las Vegas— R.C. Willey's newest store in this city's fast-growing western suburb of Summerlin is destined to be the chain's busiest, says Chairman Bill Child. "I'm very high on the store," Child said days after the grand-opening ceremony at the 145,000-square-foot furniture, appliance and electronics store.
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Household to manage Furniture Row credit program
Denver— Home furnishings retailer Furniture Row Cos. has signed an agreement with Household International for a private- label credit card program. Household, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, will manage a program offering Furniture Row customers "special financing options, exclusive money-saving offers and online account management and bill payment," according to a news release.
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Runyan joins show company
Hickory, N.C.— Larry Runyan, a 30-year furniture industry veteran, has joined Hickory Mart Shows as business development director. His duties include planning for the 24th annual Hickory Furniture Suppliers Show, set for Feb. 5–6, 2004, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. "We feel fortunate to have obtained the services of someone with Larry's depth of experience and expertise,"...
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Connell, Scarlata get promotions at rug resource CMI
Pawtucket, R.I.— Mary Jane Connell has been named vice president of sales, and Lynne Scarlata appointed marketing manager at braided rug and accessory maker Colonial Mills Inc. The promotions will help CMI keep pace with rapid growth, said Don Scarlata, president and chief executive officer. Connell has been with Colonial for over 16 years.
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Cribs give youth segment a fresh hook
High Point— Infant furniture may be the best way to catch a customer for life — at least that's what some manufacturers and retailers are betting on. At the April High Point furniture market, Stanley Furniture, a major player in the youth category, introduced its first crib as part of the Isabella collection.
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Dealers applaud prototype
Alpharetta, Ga.— Ethan Allen store owners attending a dealer meeting here applauded a new store prototype, and the new products introduced inside it, as a healthy next step for the chain. Unlike the store-design overhaul that started in the early 1990s, the latest prototype is seen by dealers as evolutionary rather than as a radical change.
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Kids area aims to attract young shoppers
Alpharetta, Ga.— A harbinger of the specialty store concept to be introduced later this summer, the first Ethan Allen Kids department has opened inside the company's new prototype store here. Besides serving as a showcase for the company's youth furniture, starting with cribs, Ethan Allen Kids attempts to involve children in the design process with its own design area and room-planning so...
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New Country blends casual, traditional design elements
Alpharetta, Ga.— An updated blend of traditional elements is at play in Ethan Allen's newly introduced casual contemporary collection, New Country by Ethan Allen. The underlying style of the collection, which includes case goods, coordinating upholstery and accents, is a relatively relaxed and simple country design that can work well with existing Ethan Allen collections such as Country C...
Opinion Today
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We should acknowledge human cost of imports
I got dressed down the other day. Usually that happens when I get something wrong in a story, or a particular company doesn't show up in a report. This was different. I'd made an exploratory call to someone I figured was in the loop on a certain topic. It happened to be the day the announcement of Thomasville's closing of its case goods plant in Winston-Salem, N.
People Today
- People on the Move
People on the Move
Awards Atrium Furniture Mall Winston-Salem, N.C. — Judie Holcomb-Pack, marketing director for the Atrium Furniture Mall in High Point. has been presented with a distinguished alumni award for 2003 at Forsyth Technical Community College here. She graduated in 1999 from the school's marketing and retailing program and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Special Report
- Exclusive Survey
Independents benefit from flexibility
High Point— Many Beyond the Top 100 companies are expanding or upgrading their stores, looking to capitalize on soft real estate prices and grab market share during this slow swing in the economic cycle. The opportunism speaks to the nimbleness of these smaller retail operations and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives them.
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Recliners still hold untapped potential
High Point— When Don Hunter conducted his first retail sales training session in 1971, only 20% of U.S. homes had recliners, so it was natural for him to stress the growth potential of the product. Hunter, now vice president of merchandising for Catnapper, still is talking about that growth potential.
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Mall display pays off for Ekornes dealer
Knoxville, Tenn.— Like many men, Jim Arnwine needed a place to rest when he went to the local mall with his wife. Of course, he could sit on one of those generic wooden benches, but Arnwine, the owner of Arnwine's Home Furnishings here and one of the biggest Ekornes dealers in the eastern United States, wasn't exactly satisfied with the comfort.
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Klaussner gets serious
Asheboro, N.C.— About a year ago, upholstery giant Klaussner decided to get serious about reclining chairs. And the results have been impressive, even though the timing for such a major rollout couldn't have been much worse. "Our program has been working real well," said Jay Foscue, the company's vice president of merchandising for motion furniture.
- Exclusive Survey
Sales showing signs of rebound
High Point— Spotty sales trends across the country may be giving way to a more vigorous and consistent second half for the independent retailers who make up Furniture/Today's Beyond the Top 100. Although there is certainly some variance from region to region or from retailer to retailer, the lethargic sales pace of late 2002, which extended into early 2003, picked up a bit this spring.
- Exclusive Survey
Single-market players continue to be a force
High Point— Furniture/Today's annual Beyond the Top 100 list presents the backbone of furniture retailing — the smaller independent stores. Operating primarily within single markets, these retailers do big local volume, but in the grand scheme of things they are considered small businesses.
- Exclusive Survey
Retailers leverage power of own brand
High Point— Most of the retailers on Furniture/Today's 2003 Beyond the Top 100 list occupy large positions in their local markets. While many emphasize brand-name furniture, the most powerful brand tends to be their own name and reputation. And that local strength, combined with an ability to change gears or direction, represents the small and midsized retailer's greatest advantage.
- Exclusive Survey
How the list was compiled
Furniture/Today's exclusive report, Beyond the Top 100, lists 100 independent furniture stores that are significant players in their respective markets. This list is by no means comprehensive. Many more than the 100 furniture stores listed here are strong retailers within their communities. This survey does not rank companies.
- Exclusive Survey
Where the Beyond the Top 100 retailers are located
All Wood Furniture Home base: Farmingdale, N.Y. President: Cvonko Crkvencic www.allwoodfurniture.com Total stores 2002: 6 Estimated 2002 total sales: $15 million to $19.9 million Stores are located in Long Island, N.Y., and Fairfield, N.J. Units contain a total of 80,000 square feet of selling space.
Store Openings
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Fla. store has Broyhill gallery
Ocala, Fla.— Furniture Country Galleries has opened a 12,500-square-foot Broyhill Furniture Showplace in its new 15,000-square-foot store here, It is the sister store to the award-winning Broyhill Showcase Gallery store located in Leesburg, Fla. "Initial response to the new Broyhill Showplace gallery has been very encouraging," said Ella Padgett, chief executive officer of Furniture Count...
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Norwalk adds five galleries
Norwalk, Ohio— Five retailers have unveiled Norwalk Your Home Fashion Centers in their stores. In Topkea, Kan., Sofas, Etc. has installed a 2,500-square-foot gallery. In West Lebanon, N.H., Brown Furniture has unveiled a 2,500-square-foot gallery. Therrien Furniture in Rochester, N.H., has a 3,600-square-foot gallery.
Up Front
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Calgary slower, but still important
Calgary, Alberta— Western retailers continue to support the regional furniture market here, although tougher times and tighter open-to-buy made for reduced attendance and lower order-writing. Organized by Furniture West, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based factory group, Market Showplace wrapped up its annual three-day run last week at the Round-Up Center here, with the overwhelming majority of ...
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Retailers win big at Showplace
Calgary, Alberta— More than 400 furniture people from western Canada attended this year's Market Showplace reception, greeting old friends and enjoying a bluegrass band. Market organizer Furniture West held hourly drawings throughout the three-day event, awarding cash prizes between C$75 and C$1,000 to buyers.
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Harden pouring millions into defending its niche
McConnellsville, N.Y.— With China grabbing an ever-larger share of the U.S. market, Harden Furniture is investing millions in its plant here as it fights to keep its American-made niche. That niche is high-end case goods with a broad selection of finishes and distressing, and upholstery in a selection of 1,000 fabrics — all delivered within 30 days.
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China sourcing trips resuming
High Point— With the immediate threat of SARS apparently under control, furniture companies sourcing product in Asia are getting back into their normal travel patterns. Some executives kept going to China despite the dangers of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Klaussner Furniture Inds. curtailed travel by U.
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Rowe hires Lucas, promotes Corso
McLean, Va.— Upholstery maker Rowe Furniture has hired former shoe company executive Stefanie Lucas as senior vice president and promoted Heath Corso to vice president of sales. Lucas, previously vice president of global marketing for Reebok International's Rockport brand, will oversee all sales and marketing activities for the company.
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Welch is Hickory Furniture Mart chief
Hickory, N.C.— Retail center Hickory Furniture Mart has named Dwayne Welch, a former Hickory Springs Mfg. executive, as president. Welch succeeds John Schenk, who left the company in January. Hickory Furniture Mart, founded in 1959, opened its doors to the public in 1985 and how houses more than 100 factory outlets, stores and galleries.
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Weir's promotes Moore
Dallas— Weir's Furniture Village here has promoted Mark Moore to president of the two-store retailer, replacing his uncle, Dan Weir. Moore becomes the third-generation president, following Weir and Moore's grandfather and Weir's founder, J. Ray Weir. Dan Weir, without a new title, remains involved in the business, focusing on special projects as well as customer, employee and vendor relat...
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Cubberley joins Royal Patina
High Point— Industry veteran Bill Cubberley is joining Royal Patina as executive vice president of marketing and business development, a new post at the case goods and occasional importer. He reports to Bill Rogers, chairman and chief executive officer. "He will have complete responsibility for all sales and marketing functions, and we look forward to his expertise in working with our sal...
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Martin to direct Natuzzi training
High Point— Lauren Martin has rejoined upholstery resource Natuzzi Americas as director of training. She served as director of merchandising and design from 2000 to 2001. Martin now is responsible for Natuzzi University, the company's in-house training program, which offers intensive two-day programs to Natuzzi dealers, sales representatives and others.
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Rent-to-own pioneer Ernie Talley dies at 68
Dallas— Ernie Talley, a pioneer in the rent-to-own industry and retired chief executive officer of Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest RTO chain, has died after a six-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 68. Talley got his start in the industry in the mid-1960s, operating Mr. T's Rental in Wichita, Kan.
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Four will receive SFM Gold Passes
San Francisco— Two veteran retail teams, George and Greg Follett of Follett's Furniture in Lewiston, Idaho, and Bob Ammirato and Valerie Valentine of Design Galleria by Valentine in Sacramento, Calif., will receive the San Francisco Mart's Gold Passes at next month's market. They will be honored in a ceremony at 6:15 p.
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29-store Workbench files for Chapter 11
Bayonne, N.J.— Retailer Workbench Furniture, which several weeks ago announced the closing of 11 stores and three satellite warehouses, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The retailer, which specializes in midpriced and upper-end contemporary furniture, hopes to stay in business with its 29 remaining stores in nine states.
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BART extends service to San Fran's airport
San Francisco— Bay Area Rapid Transit has extended service to the San Francisco International Airport, giving visitors to the San Francisco Furniture Market, July 18–21, an inexpensive way of getting to the San Francisco Mart and Union Square area hotels. The trip from the airport to the Civic Center station at Eighth and Market streets costs $4.
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Tietex appoints Henderson to market development post
High Point— Doug Henderson has joined fabric source Tietex Interiors in the new position of vice president of sales and market development to spearhead the company's renewed push into the residential arena. Henderson most recently was vice president of marketing at Main Street Textiles, a division of Joan Fabrics.
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