|
|
|
|
Furniture|Today -- 11/17/2003
Bedding Today
-
Friedman: Out of the rain and into bedding
Ernie Friedman did something very nice for me many years ago. As I reflect on his career in bedding, which continues now as a consultant to King Koil, I would be remiss not to thank him for that kind gesture. It was back in 1988, when Friedman was president of the International Sleep Products Assn., a group he served with distinction for several years.
Business Today
-
La-Z-Boy sales drop 9.3%
Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy last week reported its fourth consecutive quarterly decline in sales and said the outlook for the current quarter isn't much better. The second-largest U.S. furniture manufacturer said revenues for its fiscal second quarter ended Oct. 25 dropped 9.3% from the same quarter a year earlier, while net income, which was reduced by a restructuring charge related to three...
-
Natuzzi sales up in dollars, units
Santeramo in Colle, Italy— In U.S. dollars, Natuzzi's third-quarter 2003 sales of $195.9 million were up 15.8 % from the same period a year earlier. But because its sales are denominated in euros, which have strengthened against the dollar, the company reported a sales gain of just 1.2%. Third-quarter net income was the equivalent of $7.
-
Simmons 3Q earnings surge 82.4%
Atlanta— Strong performances by its retail and wholesale businesses helped bedding major Simmons record double-digit sales and earnings increases in the third quarter. The company said wholesale bedding revenues were up 11.4% to $199.6 million for the three months ended Sept. 27, while retail sales leaped 42.
-
Bush posts net loss as 3Q sales slip 6.4%
Jamestown, N.Y.— Sales declines have slowed to the single digits for Bush Inds., parent of ready-to-assemble and case goods producer Bush Furniture North America, although the company posted a net loss in the third quarter ended Sept. 27. Sales of $79 million in the quarter were down 6.4% from the same period a year earlier.
News
- Obituaries
E. Kelly Pearson, veteran rep
Houston— Longtime furniture sales representative E. Kelly Pearson II died Nov. 7 in Houston. He was a rep in Texas for Riverside Furniture and Broyhill Furniture for more than 25 years. He is survived by his mother. Memorials may be made to the Helping Hand Fund, Broadway United Methodist Church, 309 E.
-
Factories seek bankruptcy for retailer Brandon House
Little Rock, Ark.— Three furniture and bedding manufacturers owed nearly $560,000 have filed a petition to force retailer Brandon House Furniture into bankruptcy and possible liquidation. Simmons, Lane and Broyhill filed the involuntary Chapter 7 petition against the Little Rock-based retailer in U.
-
Hickory Springs names 5 execs as officers
Hickory, N.C.— Industry supplier Hickory Springs' board has named five company executives as officers of the company. Their job responsibilities haven't changed. The executives are James J. "Jimmy" Bush, a 25-year company veteran who is vice president of the Bedding Division; Hunter L. "Lee" Lunsford III, senior vice president of operations, who joined Hickory Springs in April after a lon...
-
Museum talk on plastic furniture set
Greensboro, N.C.— Plastic furniture in the 21st century will be the topic when Judith Cushman Hammer, of J.Z. Cushman & Co. and an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, speaks at the Weatherspoon Art Museum here on Friday, Nov. 21, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Her discussion accompanies the exhibit One Word: Plastic, on display through Dec.
-
Wearbest sets Crypton line for Jan.
Garfield, N.J.— Industry supplier Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills has become the latest licensee of Crypton, whose patented process makes fabrics resistant to soiling, stains, liquids and bacteria. Tom Notaro, director of sales and marketing, said Wearbest's first Crypton collection for upholstery will preview at Winter Showtime, Jan.
-
Antidumping investigators must take narrow focus
High Point— Retailers fighting the antidumping petition argue that steep duties on Chinese bedroom furniture would spell disaster for hundreds of stores. But does that matter to the government bodies deciding the fate of the petition? The answer may be "no." That's because the focus of the U.S.
-
Retailers on both sides of issue
High Point— A group of big retailers battling a petition seeking duties on Chinese bedroom imports said last week they were gaining strength, but retail support appears strong on both sides of the issue. As of late last week, the retailer group's membership was pushing 40 companies, said Mike Veitenheimer, vice president and general counsel for The Bombay Company.
-
Sphinx, OWA to combine rug operations by Jan. 1
Dalton, Ga.— Rug resources Sphinx by Oriental Weavers and Oriental Weavers of America will combine operations effective Jan.1, parent Oriental Weavers Group of Cairo, Egypt, said last week. The two will retain their brand identities, but production and sales will be combined, with both divisions using the same manufacturing and importing resources, and the sales forces selling both lines.
-
AFMA, Roadway offering discount LTL carrier program
High Point— The American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. has launched an LTL, or less than truckload, carrier program with Roadway Express, giving AFMA members a discount on Roadway E-Z rates. The discount is applicable to inbound collect, outbound prepaid, collect and third party shipments, where the AFMA member is shown as the invoice recipient.
-
Rules allow exceptions for short-haul truckers
Washington— Realizing the burden a shorter work day could have on short-haul, multi-stop truck drivers, the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow exceptions under new rules taking effect Jan. 4. Short-haul truckers, who routinely return home at the end of the day, may go beyond the standard 14-hour day once during any seven-consecutive-day period.
-
Accent sources eye sleep shops
High Point— Consumers shopping for mattresses might be inspired to buy some furniture too. That thought is behind a move by some producers of occasional furniture to place their goods in bedding stores and specialty sleep shops. Butler Specialty Co., Powell Co. and Madison Square Furniture are among the manufacturers pursuing the sleep shop channel.
-
Levin breaks ground on superstore
Monroeville, Pa.— Levin Furniture has broken ground on a new superstore here, aiming to gain market share in this hotly contested yet stagnant market. The two-level, 75,000-square-foot store on William Penn Highway in this eastern suburb of Pittsburgh will replace a 26,000-square-foot store. The Top 100 company is spending about $6 million on the project and expects to open in the spring,...
-
IHFRA gains 49 members at market
High Point— The International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. said it racked up a record increase in membership during the October High Point market, signing up 49 new members. IHFRA mounted a campaign during market to increase awareness of the association and its benefits. In addition to its existing services of professional development, access to health insurance expertise, legal...
-
Hickory Chair plants seeds of change
Hickory, N.C.— During a tour of the company's Ninth Street plant here, Hickory Chair President Jay Reardon and Vice President of Manufacturing Kevin Ward check a chart detailing cross-training efforts. The color-coded chart indicates about half the training has been completed in the upholstery area.
-
Investment, training said key for U.S. plants
High Point— A study of the competitiveness of the U.S. wood products industry suggests that proximity to market will be a major advantage for domestic manufacturers. That's good news for U.S. furniture companies competing against a flood of inexpensive imports. Along with speedy delivery, proximity will allow U.
-
Retailers step up fight
High Point— A group of large furniture retailers stepped up their fight last week against proposed duties on Chinese bedroom furniture, calling on retailers for monetary support and other help to defeat the effort. A memo from the group opposes an antidumping petition filed by a group of U.S. manufacturers, calling it "nothing less than a declaration of war against U.
-
Trucking charges may rise
High Point— New federal rules on how many hours a day commercial drivers can work could prompt trucking companies serving the furniture industry to raise rates after the rules take effect Jan. 4, but nobody's sure yet exactly what will happen. The regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation give drivers one more hour a day to drive, but add two hours to the mandatory rest time, r...
-
Office Depot readies Christopher Lowell RTA line
Delray Beach, Fla.— Office Depot is adding softer styles and a name designer to its office furniture lineup with the new Christopher Lowell Collection. In partnering with Lowell, a designer, author and television personality, Office Depot is breaking new ground among office-product superstores by adding an exclusive fashion brand.
-
Toms-Price to open 3rd Chicago store
Skokie, Ill.— Toms-Price Home Furnishings will open its third store here at Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard, a major Chicagoland mall for high-end merchandise. The new two-story, 30,000-square-foot showroom on Old Orchard Road at I-94 is scheduled to open in early spring. "Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard provides Toms-Price with outstanding visibility and excellent synergies with it...
-
Piehl joins Rockford/American Woodcrafters as sales, mktg. VP
High Point— Case goods importer Rockford Furniture and American Woodcrafters, its youth and second-bedroom division, have appointed industry veteran Vernon J. Piehl vice president of sales and marketing. He will manage sales and marketing functions for both companies, overseeing some 30 sales representatives and several staff members in the High Point office.
-
Smaller factories more optimistic about future
Raleigh, N.C.— A study by several wood products experts shows smaller furniture manufacturers are more optimistic about the future of the industry than their larger counterparts. One reason, the experts suggest, is that smaller manufacturers see themselves fitting into the product niches that will still be available even if imports dominate much of the market.
-
Kincaid fills two executive posts
Hudson, N.C.— Case goods manufacturer and importer Kincaid Furniture has promoted Bob Lemons to the new post of senior vice president of sales and marketing, and named Todd Hady vice president of retail operations. The moves are part of an effort to strengthen retailer relationships and boost the company's in-store gallery and dedicated store programs, said President Steve Kincaid.
Opinion Today
-
Change 'ugh' to 'wow': How are you different?
The recent high point market was a real treat for me. Yes, it helps to have sales on an up trend for a change, and most people expressed high hopes for 2004. Attendance was the best in several markets, and the international buyers were back after war and SARS worries kept them away in April. Like other oldtimers, we got to see many friends and catch up on their families and who they are working...
-
Where you should be when December knocks
I get my best answers by posing questions to people most knowledgeable on the topic. If you share that premise, I strongly urge you to attend Furniture/Today's Leadership Conference on Dec. 3-5 in Orlando, Fla. Considering the unprecedented changes the industry faces, we think this year's theme, Opportunity Knocks, is particularly appropriate.
-
When alternative becomes mainstream
A look at the retail landscape makes it clear that, little by little, "outsiders" are nipping away at the conventional furniture store community. We at Furniture/Today used to refer to these upstarts as "alternative retailers," but today it seems they are becoming more and mainstream. We've tracked for some time the Wal-Marts, the Costcos and the Big Lots of the retailing universe.
People Today
-
Two Lexington employees honored for leadership
Lexington, N.C.—Jim Tysinger, corporate human resources director, and Jennifer Rumple, brand manager for Liz Claiborne, are the recipients of the Lexington Home Brands bi-annual leadership award. Tysinger, a 15-year Lexington veteran, was instrumental in implementing workforce reductions associated with the company's recent plant closures.
- People on the Move
people on the move
Executives Sleep Country Canada Toronto — Sleep Country Income Fund, parent of Sleep Country Canada, has named Vicki Jones chief financial officer and secretary, succeeding Pete Pigott. Jones joined the 86-store bedding retailer a year ago. Pigott has accepted an appointment as chief operating officer of West 49, a retailer of apparel, accessories and footwear.
Special Report
-
Style, color, comfort leading motion's charge into 2004
High Point— Buoyed by an upbeat High Point market and modestly improved third-quarter business, producers of motion sofas and sectionals say they're poised for brisk business in the first quarter and beyond. Manufacturers say improved styling, vibrant colors and increased comfort will lead motion's charge into 2004.
-
Up-and-coming bedding producers
High Point— They don't get all the attention of the Big "S" brands, but there are many well-respected smaller bedding producers that have carved out profitable niches over the years and say they are thriving in the highly competitive bedding arena. While some of these smaller producers are "S" brands in their own right — Symbol, Shifman and Springwall spring to mind immediately R...
-
Other players to watch
High Point— With approximately 800 bedding producers in the United States, there are far too many for any single bedding report to list. But in addition to the eight companies profiled elsewhere in this report, there is a group of other conventional bedding producers who are especially notable in their own right.
Store Openings
-
N.C. retailer has Rowe gallery
Black Mountain, N.C.—Town and Country Furniture has installed a 3,000-square-foot StudioRowe gallery in its 8,000-square-foot store here. Chip Sabol opened the specialty home furnishings store eight years ago and has sold Rowe upholstery for six years. Sabol's sister, Christy Miller, and mother, Beverly Sabol, are involved full time in the business.
-
6 stores add Norwalk galleries
Norwalk, Ohio— Upholstery manufacturer Norwalk has opened Your Home Fashion Center galleries in six independent stores. Room to Room in Tupelo, Miss., and Granville Home Furnishings in Montgomery, Ala., have installed 3,000-square-foot galleries. Fine Designs Sofa Gallery in Sylvania, Ohio, and Becker Furniture World in Becker, Minn.
-
Sixth House of Denmark opens
Holly, Mich.—House of Denmark has opened its sixth Michigan store on East Holly Road here. Store owner John Bech, a native of Denmark, launched the chain in 1962. The new Holly store is 15,000 square feet and is managed by Denise Evans. Key vendors include Ekornes, Benny Linden, Baronet, Flexsteel, Alf and Buus.
-
Mass. chain unveils larger units
Natick, Mass.—In Home Furnishings has opened a 25,000-square-foot store here, replacing a 12,000-square-foot unit that opened in 1989. The Massachusetts retailer, an importer of English, French and other antiques and reproductions, also has opened a 10,000-square-foot store in Norwood. The Norwood store replaces an 8,000-square-foot location opened in 1989.
Up Front
-
Futon group moves ahead with Expo
Orlando, Fla.— The Futon Assn. International said it is moving "full steam ahead" on plans for the 2004 Futon and Specialty Sleep Expo, despite a decision by a sister association to end its involvement with the show. The show is set for March 21-23 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The Specialty Sleep Assn.
-
Bloomie's first SF store to be largest outside NY
San Francisco— Bloomingdale's broke ground last week for its first store in San Francisco, destined to be a 337,000-square-foot West Coast landmark second in size only to the company's New York flagship. The five-level store will include furniture, unlike the six other Bloomingdale's stores in California.
-
Thomasville to lay off 200
Thomasville, N.C.— Manufacturer and importer Thomasville Furniture Inds. will lay off 200 workers at 13 North Carolina wood furniture factories and supporting supply plants over the next two to three months. Most of the facilities are in the Thomasville area. Tom Tilley, president of the Furniture Brands International company, said the layoffs adjust employment to current demand.
-
AFMA members visit Leather Research Lab
Cincinnati— Members of the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. took a field trip this month to the Leather Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati to see firsthand the scientific methods used to identify leathers best suited for residential upholstery. Thirty members took the tour, held in conjunction with the AFMA's semiannual Joint Industry Fabric and Leather Standards an...
-
200 exhibitors set for Vegas show
Las Vegas— Organizers of the International Furniture & Accessories Marketplace, a new trade show featuring temporary exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, say they have signed some 200 exhibitors for the inaugural show. Show manager Shane O'Sheeran said the event, scheduled for Feb.
-
HFIA helps industry reach consumers
Dallas— The past year has been one of change at the industry trade group Home Furnishings International Assn. In addition to acquiring the assets of the Home Furnishings Council, HFIA is bringing back one of that group's most treasured efforts, Haven magazine. In April, HFIA said it would resume quarterly publication of the magazine and launched the first issue this fall.
|
|
|
