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Furniture|Today > Archives > 01/05/2004 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 01/05/2004

Bedding Today
  • Shopping for appliances spins out some lessons
    If you want to learn more about how to sell mattresses, it might be a good idea to look at how washers and dryers are sold. After all, the two have a lot in common: Both do a lot of spinning. OK, I couldn't resist that one. Seriously, it does provide an interesting perspective to take a look outside our industry every now and then.

Business Today
  • Year's sales jump 24.4% at Hooker; profits slip
    MARTINSVILLE, Va.— Case goods and upholstery manufacturer Hooker Furniture said sales jumped 24.4% in the year ended Nov. 30, although net income declined 4.4% due to a one-time restructuring charge and lower margins on its domestic and imported wood furniture. In the fourth quarter, sales rose 13.
  • Consumer confidence dips
    NEW YORK — A slight drop in December consumer confidence, coupled with a similar slip in consumers' buying plans for big-ticket items, may signal that consumers have mixed emotions about present economic conditions while still looking for better times ahead. In December, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index was 91.

News
  • Dorell unveils Adaptations
    HIGH POINT— Dorell Fabrics has developed a collection of high-performance fabrics called Adaptations that combines microdenier solids, microdenier patterns and polyurethane fabrics in a range of prices and qualities. The collection is debuting at this week's Showtime fabric fair. "Adaptations is a natural evolution to solid suedes," said Dorell President Arnie Chasen.
  • Culp chenilles feature Marquesa Plush yarn
    HIGH POINT— Culp is introducing an exclusive line of chenille performance fabrics at Showtime here this week — the first-ever chenille constructions using American Fibers & Yarns' Marquesa Plush yarn. Liam Waters, design leader for textures at Culp Decorative Fabrics, said the initial collection includes about 20 patterns of chenille fabrics at prices that range from $4.
  • Microfibres' 24/7 resists stains
    HIGH POINT— Nylon velvet specialist Microfibres is introducing a performance fabric called 24/7 at Showtime here this week. Fabrics in the 24/7 line feature a barrier against stains, mildew, mold and odors. Anthony DiFoggio, director of marketing, said the protection is built into the fabric, rather than applied topically, so the protection will not wash out or wear off.
  • Dorell taps Ron Kneitel
    LOS ANGELES— Fabric industry veteran Ron Kneitel has joined Dorell Fabrics here in a newly created position that includes sales and product development. Kneitel spent 26 years at Chris Stone, a West Coast fabric source, and was president of the company when he left in 2000. Until joining Dorell, he was in sales and consulting in the textiles industry.
  • Waverly chenilles debut
    HIGH POINT — Waverly is extending its wovens business with a new collection of moderately priced chenille jacquards called Plush Patterns at Showtime here this week. "Waverly is known for coordinated home furnishings products and decorating solutions. Wovens are one more tool in the decorating story," said Pamela Maffei-Toolan, vice president of design for Waverly Lifestyle Group.
  • Unifi shows what it can do with yarn color
    HIGH POINT— Yarn source Unifi is showcasing its expanded ability to mix and match colors during Showtime here this week. "We can dye almost any type of yarn in existence, but many of our customers are unaware of the options available," said Ron Mangrum, business unit director of dyed and airjet-textured products.
  • Canada retailers wary
    TORONTO— A choppy and inconsistent 2003 has retailers cautious about buying deep at this weekend's Canadian Home Furnishings Market. Retailers from across the country say Canadian consumers had numerous reasons to sit on their wallets last year — a SARS scare, a West Nile virus scare, a confirmed case of mad cow disease and devastating forest fires in British Columbia.
  • October factory orders jump 9%
    HIGH POINT— U.S. furniture factory orders took a 9% jump in October and shipments were up 2% over the same month last year — the fifth monthly gain in a row, according to BDO Seidman. For the year to date, orders were running 3% behind the 2002 pace and shipments were down 2%. "We realize that a few months of increases don't solve all of the problems of the industry, but it does app...
  • Corrections & Amplifications
    A photo caption on page 16 of the Dec. 22 issue should have attributed the living room makeover to Nanette Hurley of Furnitureland South in High Point.
  • N.Y. textiles show sets dates back to October
    New York — The New York Home Textiles Show is shifting back to October dates for its 2005 show to bring it in line with other early fall shows in the city, even though it will create an overlap with the fall 2005 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point. The textile show will be held Sunday, Oct.
  • Letters to the Editor
    Economic principles and today's realities
    I enjoyed the letter from Jim Desautels (Furniture/Today, Dec. 1, page 32) but am not sure I agree with all his points. First, I am not certain that his economic principles are supported by reality: 1. Riley's Retail Law says there is a geographic circle for the vast majority of retailers. Yet, we see our industry moving towards oligopoly; the Top 100 are gaining in market share every year.
  • Hypnos bedding to make Canadian debut
    TORONTO— Hypnos, the luxury bedding brand based in the United Kingdom, is making its Canadian debut at the winter market here, Jan. 10-13. The line will be made by Araam, a new bedding company with a new 75,000-square-foot factory in Edmonton, Alberta, which will build each mattress in the same manner as in the U.
  • Obituaries
    Obituaries
  • Sklar Peppler founders honored
    TORONTO— The four brothers who founded what is today Sklar Peppler Furniture are this year's recipients of the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn.'s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented Sunday evening, Jan. 11, at a gala honoring the winners of the second annual Canadian Home Furnishings Awards.

Opinion Today
  • Accents can point way toward industry growth
    Because of its durability, most furniture tends to hang around for many years, and sometimes gets passed down to younger generations. The heirloom nature of these pieces simply doesn't get people out shopping for new product as often as furniture makers and retailers would like. Consider these figures from a 2003 report by North Carolina State University and the U.

Special Report
  • Canadian Report
    Factories will earn, not buy, retail slots
    TORONTO— Value and innovation will be the keys to winning and keeping retail floor space, manufacturers exhibiting at this year's Canadian Home Furnishing Market believe. While buyers attending market will find show specials, they shouldn't expect deep discounts, extra-generous terms or other super-incentives seen at previous markets.
  • Canadian Report
    600,000 square feet and growing
    TORONTO — This year's Canadian Home Furnishings Market will be the largest ever, said Jean François Michaud, president and chief executive officer of the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn., organizers of the event. Canada's only national furniture market kicks off its four-day run Saturday, Jan.
  • Canadian Report
    Toronto Winter Market Introductions
    ALPIN WOODWORK Booth 2358 Aspen, a six-piece adult bedroom suite in solid pine in eight color choices, $4,350. AMBASSADOR DINETTES a la CARTE Booth 1672 Homestyle and Motion series of casual metal dining featuring the latest designs and colors in steel and chrome construction; opening price points, $499 to $599.

Store Openings
  • Phillip Levy opens Wis. store
    MADISON, Wis.—Phillip Levy Fine Furniture & Interior Design has opened near East Towne Mall here. The 6,100-square-foot store features furniture from Sherrill, Hickory Chair, Superior and Crescent. Phillip Levy, founder, has been in the interior design profession for more than 15 years.
  • Inkwell Home Store expands; Ekornes gallery quadrupled
    CORVALLIS, Ore.—The Inkwell Home Store here has completed an expansion from 7,800 square feet to 18,000 square feet, and quadrupled the size of its Ekornes Stressless Zone gallery from 350 square feet to 1,400 square feet. Pat and Amy Lampton own the store, which was opened in 1964 and purchased by Lampton's parents and an uncle in 1974.
  • Pierre Deux launches 2 stores
    SECAUCUS, N.J.—Pierre Deux, the French country home furnishings retailer based here, has opened stores in Westport, Conn., and Ardmore, Pa., the latter in metro Philadelphia. In addition to furniture reproductions, the stores offer fabrics, wallpapers, decorative accessories, tabletop, gifts, and bed and bath items.
  • Natuzzi adds two galleries
    HIGH POINT— Italy-based upholstery maker Natuzzi has opened galleries in Furnitureland South, Jamestown, N.C., and in Inspiration, a contemporary, full-line furniture store in Marlboro, N.J. Furnitureland South's Natuzzi Harmony Gallery showcases tables, lamps, rugs and accessories that coordinate with the producer's sofas, chairs and ottomans.

Up Front
  • ITMA: More than Showtime's sponsor
    HIGH POINT — It's not easy to separate one of the largest home furnishings textiles shows in the world from the group that organizes it. After all, much of the International Textile Market Assn.'s work revolves around the semiannual Showtime trade shows in High Point. Held in January and July, Showtime showcases the latest in home furnishings fabrics and materials, including leather.
  • Accent source John-Richard looks to Vietnam factory
    GREENWOOD, Miss.— John-Richard has established a source factory in Vietnam that will play a major role in its continuing production of hand-crafted accent furniture. The link with the 189,000-square-foot plant in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, was developed through an alliance with three English business partners.
  • Dick Idol Ventures considering expansion into stand-alone units
    HIGH POINT — Pleased by the success of a series of in-store galleries in western Canadian furniture stores, Dick Idol Ventures is considering opening full-fledged dedicated stores. "We're just in early conversations about that," said Jim Williams, chief marketing officer for the company that markets product by outdoorsman/artist Dick Idol, including furniture from Klaussner.
  • AWFS moving to Vegas
    COMMERCE, Calif.— The Assn. of Woodworking & Finishings Suppliers is moving its biennial trade show to Las Vegas, with the next event set for July 2005. The AWFS Fair began in Los Angeles in 1957 and has been held in Anaheim, Calif., since 1987. In recent years, it has averaged 27,500 participants and 760 exhibiting companies.
  • Sears Home increases network to 48 units
    TORONTO— Sears Home has opened stores in Red Deer and South Edmonton, Alberta, and Boisbriand, Quebec, and is set to add outlets this month in Lethbridge, Alberta, and Ste. Foy, a suburb of Quebec City. This will give the stand-alone home furnishings banner of Sears Canada a total of 48 stores.
  • New Sklar galleries boost Sears Home's upholstery presence
    TORONTO— Sears Canada has rolled out Sklar Peppler Design Centres in each of its 46 freestanding Sears Home stores. The centers feature six to eight frames in a 1,500-square-foot presentation that also offers over 500 fabrics and colors as well as leather. Also offered are two levels of cushion firmness — soft and relaxed "casual comfort" or comfortable but firm "firm support.
  • Thomasville accelerating dedicated store program
    THOMASVILLE, N.C.— Full-line manufacturer Thomasville Furniture Inds. plans to open between 25 and 30 new dedicated, independently owned stores in 2004, putting it on track for its goal of 250 new locations by 2007. Seventeen Thomasville Home Furnishings stores opened in 2003. Much of the expansion in both 2003 and 2004 is coming from existing store owners, who plan to open additional sto...
  • Henslee retires at Hekman
    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Dan Henslee has retired as president and chief operating officer of Hekman Furniture after 32 years with the case goods manufacturer and importer. He will remain with the company to assist in the search for his successor. "Henslee has been instrumental in the growth of the company and the development of Hekman's consumer brand name," said Buzz Miller, president and ch...
  • Ohio taking Craftmatic to court
    COLUMBUS, Ohio— Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro is suing adjustable bed marketer Craftmatic over alleged false advertising and high-pressure sales tactics. Petro filed a five-count complaint against Craftmatic Organization and J. KAZ Inc., doing business as Craftmatic of Pittsburgh. The complaint asserts that Craftmatic targeted Ohio's vulnerable populations, the elderly and the mentally ...
  • Hayworth Roll closes
    HIGH POINT— Veneer panel and drawer front supplier Hayworth Roll and Panel Co. here has closed after nearly a century in business. The company said in late November it would close in mid December if it did not find a buyer. Although several prospects emerged, no deal materialized in time to save the operation and its 75 jobs.
  • HON to buy Klaussner's Paoli
    MUSCATINE, Iowa— Office furniture major HON Inds. has agreed to buy Paoli, a small office/home office producer, from Klaussner Furniture Inds. in a cash deal to be completed this month. The purchase price was not disclosed. Based in Orleans, Ind., Paoli makes wood case goods and seating, primarily for office furniture dealers serving small and midsized businesses.
  • Wool joins Incanto Divani
    ALTAMURA, Italy— Industry veteran Herb Wool has joined Italian leather upholstery producer Incanto Divani as vice president of North American operations, a new position. Wool, who's been involved in the industry for 33 years, had been national sales manager for Chateau d'Ax, another Italian leather manufacturer.

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