|
|
|
|
Furniture|Today -- 03/21/2005
Bedding Today
-
Industry could get burned by wrong use of FR terms
Don't do a slow burn. We all need to begin thinking about how we are going to talk to consumers about mattress flammability. This will not be simple. On the one hand, we need to tell consumers why improved flammability protection in our bedding products should matter to them. But we don't want to scare them or cause needless alarm.
Editor's Desk
-
Market designs targeted appeals
Attention ASID members: If you have never attended the High Point furniture market, Judy Mendenhall, president of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority, is taking aim at you. But not to worry. You don't have to duck. Simply take in your mail and open and read the special mailer that the Market Authority designed just for you.
Industry Numbers
-
Hudson's Bay sales decline 7% in 4Q
Toronto— Venerable Canadian retailer Hudson's Bay Co. said its fourth-quarter sales slid 7% to C$2.3 billion from the prior year's C$2.4 billion, while net earnings rose 2.9% to C$106 million from last year's C$103 million. Same-store sales fell 2.6% and gross margins declined 160 basis points.
-
Financial results
Earnings per share are fully diluted, and all figures in parentheses are loses or declines.
-
Strong 4Q helps Simmons Canada to 9.3% profit gain in yr.
Mississauga, Ontario— A robust fourth quarter coupled with determined efforts to contain costs led to improved profits on relatively flat sales last year for SCI Income Trust, parent of bedding major Simmons Canada. Fourth-quarter revenues of C$30.5 million were up 4.4% from the same period the prior year.
-
BMTC sales in 4Q, year flat due to competition, strike
Montreal— The entry of rival retailer The Brick into Quebec helped keep sales flat in the fourth quarter and year for BMTC, whose performance also was dragged down by a three-week strike at its distribution center here and by strong price deflation in consumer electronics. Sales in the fourth quarter were C$212.
-
Easyhome doubles profit in '04
Edmonton, Alberta— Easyhome, Canada's largest rent-to-own furniture merchant, added 14 stores and 7,000 customers last year, spurring a 13.3% rise in revenues and more than doubling profits. The fourth quarter also was strong, with revenues up 17% over 2003's last quarter to C$23.9 million, and net income up 7.
Insider's View
-
Bedding folks know how to get value story across
Bedding sales last year were up 10.4% in dollars, 3.5% in units. Why the difference? First, as you might remember, there were a lot of raw materials cost increases in 2004. Steel and other metal prices spiked upward. Anything petroleum-based, like foam, fabrics and, of course, transportation, rose dramatically.
News
-
Main Street building eyed for prime showroom space
High Point— A prominent downtown office building that now is largely vacant is being marketed to potential developers as prime furniture showroom space. The eight-story building at 101 North Main St., which once housed the headquarters of Culp Inc. and GE Capital's factoring operations, is a half block north of the Radisson Hotel and would be an excellent location for showrooms, said Tim ...
-
Schmeling joins Palliser
Winnipeg, Manitoba— Gail Schmeling has joined Canadian leather upholstery producer Palliser as retail chair specialist for the United States. Schmeling previously worked at Norwegian chair maker Hjellegjerde and in retail. At Palliser, she is responsible for working with sales representatives and retailers to expand and develop the company's Fashion Island chair program.
-
Schillig USA taps Stewart
High Point— David Stewart has been promoted to product manager at German leather upholstery manufacturer Schillig USA. Stewart, who joined the company nearly six years ago, was regional sales manager. He will continue to work with key accounts in addition to overseeing training and product development for sales representatives and retailers.
-
Basic browns are back in dynamic leather arena
High Point— Leather upholstery manufacturers at last week's premarket unveiled new programs from China, new pricing strategies, new leathers and a newfound respect for basic browns. Several European producers, including Chateau d'Ax, Calia Italia, Nicoletti and Schillig, are still designing in Europe but have followed Natuzzi to China to manufacturer their promotional product.
-
828 prize: Beijing trip
High Point— A trip to Beijing will be the grand prize in 828 International Trading's High Point showroom promotion during the April market here. To celebrate the launch of the rug resource's Dynasty Collection, visitors to the 828 showroom at Market Square 123 will be served a special batch of fortune cookies.
- Obituaries
Baxter Wrightson, manufacturing veteran
Lancaster, N.H.— Veteran furniture executive Baxter H. Wrightson has died. He was 67. Wrightson was co-owner and vice president of manufacturer Brown Street Furniture. He had been with the company since 1975. He is survived by his wife and two children. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Lancaster, Attn: Abby Goolman, 278 Main St.
-
Interactive Health takes iJoy massage chairs on tour
Long Beach, Calif.— Interactive Health, a marketer of robotic massage chairs and upper-end recliners, has wrapped up a nine-city promotional tour for its iJoy massage chair line that generated considerable local news coverage at each stop. Meanwhile, the company also is set to roll out a top-of-the-line robotic massage chair that features optical sensors which target pressure points along...
-
Masco honors Akzo Nobel with supplier award
Taylor, Mich.— For the third consecutive year, home products resource Masco has honored Akzo Nobel Coatings under its Masco Supplier Team Award Recognition program. Masco, which owns three companies that make ready-to-assemble furniture, says the MASTAR award recognizes leadership, communication, commitment and cooperation of suppliers and is based on performance measures.
-
ProfitSystems to demo latest retail software
Colorado Springs, Colo.— Furniture retail software producer ProfitSystems is about to introduce its Version 11.0, the latest generation of ProfitWindows, created using Microsoft's new programming system called VisualStudio.Net. The company will demonstrate the version at the April market, in the National Home Furnishings Assn.
-
ProfitSystems puts library on Web site
Colorado Springs, Colo.— Retail furniture software provider ProfitSystems has relaunched its Web site at www.profitsystems.net. It has a library of articles, tools, downloads and educational materials tailored to furniture retailers. Subjects from inventory reduction methods to gross margin discussions can be accessed 24 hours a day, with an improved navigational interface.
-
Lawhon gives retailers peek at programs
Tulsa, Okla.— Selling Retail International's John F. Lawhon recently previewed his Ultimate Agenda and Management Missives training programs to a group of retailers here. Participants were furniture and bedding retailers from the United States, Canada and Australia. Lawhon will introduce the programs industrywide at the April High Point market in the National Home Furnishings Assn.
-
Designer line at Powell
Culver City, Calif.— The Powell Co. is making a big push further into case goods with a licensing agreement with Michael Payne, interior designer and host of HGTV's "Designing for the Sexes." The importer initially will introduce four collections, three of which will debut at next month's High Point market.
-
Vegas sets winter dates
Las Vegas— The World Market Center here has set dates for its second market in a move that could put the squeeze on a competing furniture show here, and give the San Francisco market another attendance headache. WMC's first winter market is slated for next Jan. 30–Feb. 3, which overlaps with the San Francisco Mart's Feb.
-
LHFI's Carothers steps down; Scott interim CEO
Woodbury, N.Y.— Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. CEO Jay Carothers has resigned, and the company's board has named President Mark Scott interim CEO. The move followed a downgrade in LHFI's debt rating this month to junk bond status by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which cited a "sharp decline in profitability" in the retailer's fiscal third quarter ended Dec.
-
F/T adds blogs to Web site
High Point— Furniture/Today has updated its Web site to feature the latest tool in communication — the blog. The blog format lets readers talk online with the paper's editors and writers, and also communicate with others in the industry. Each day readers can tune in to the Web site at www.
-
IHFRA gala honors Paul Long
High Point— Mark Craven, new president of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., welcomed members and guests to the group's 71st annual gala here earlier this month. Other newly elected officers on IHFRA's executive board are Ray Isser, first vice president; Rick Gillispie, second vice president; Jim Craven, secretary treasurer; and Terry Hollingsworth, chairman of the ...
-
Indiana's DIA closing
Jasper, Ind.— Occasional and dining furniture maker Design Institute America will cease production at the end of this week. DIA is closing "because of current economic pressures, including increased overseas competition, escalating steel costs and a shrinking customer base," said President Neil Frindel.
-
Orsborn gets new Lee post
Newton, N.C.— Designer Laura Orsborn has joined upholstery producer Lee Inds. as creative director, a new position. She is responsible for product design, fabric selection and merchandising, and reports to President Norman Coley. "We're excited about Laura's talent and the chemistry she'll bring to our organization," Coley said.
-
Buffett heralds R.C. Willey in shareholders letter
Omaha, Neb.— In his annual letter to shareholders, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett holds up R.C. Willey as one of two retail standouts for the investment company (along with jeweler Ben Bridge). It's not the first time Buffett has showcased the Salt Lake City-based retailer of furniture, appliances, electronics and flooring.
-
Castella resigns at Guardian
Ceres, Calif.— Jack Castella Sr. has resigned after 12 years as general manager of furniture protection products supplier Guardian Products. Linda Lemar has been promoted to replace him. "My decision was based solely upon my family and career needs," said Castella. "Guardian is a fine company with a strong, long-term position within the retail home furnishings marketplace.
-
NHFA, IHFRA honoring four execs at market
High Point— Four leaders will be honored during the April market here at the 11th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala. Alperts in Seekonk, Mass., will be named Retailer of the Year by the National Home Furnishings Assn. Hershel Alpert, president and CEO, and Burt Tassel, executive vice president and general merchandise manager, will accept the award.
-
F¦T's antidumping news wins Neal award
New York— Furniture/Today's coverage of the controversy over U.S. antidumping duties on Chinese wood bedroom furniture has won a Jesse H. Neal Award, the top honor in American trade press journalism. Case Goods Editor Powell Slaughter led the coverage, assisted by Clint Engel, senior retail editor; Jeff Linville, staff writer; Jay McIntosh, news editor; and Thomas Russell, associate editor.
-
Shermag closes BR plant in move to boost profits
Cotstown, Quebec— Shermag has permanently closed its bedroom and juvenile factory here, part of a restructuring effort to reverse the severe drop in the full-line producer's profitability. The closure will mean job losses for 84 workers, 37 of whom were laid off in January. Early last month, Shermag cut the workforce at its plant in Victoriaville, Quebec, in half, laying off another 80 wo...
-
Make mine modern
High Point— Case goods suppliers continued a swing toward the modern at premarket here last week, with true contemporary looks and a round of Art Deco-leaning product adding a modern flair to April introductions. Other case goods themes that emerged from the preview to spring market include: Mainstream case goods manufacturers will display as much true contemporary furniture at April mark...
-
Robb & Stucky, FBI team up
Fort Myers, Fla.— Robb & Stucky will open five stores through early next year dedicated to Furniture Brands International's Henredon and Hickory Chair brands. It's an unusual move for the retailer and its suppliers. Robb & Stucky doesn't have any dedicated stores or even in-store manufacturer's galleries, while Henredon has only a few single-brand stores and Hickory Chair has none.
- Bedding Benchmarks
FR material suppliers expect busy 2005
Greensboro, N.C.— Suppliers of fire-resistant mattress materials said at a Flammability Workshop here that they believe 2005 will be a busy year for them. The suppliers exhibited their wares at tables set up around the outside of the meeting room at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel, where the industry gathers each March to talk about flammability issues.
- Bedding Benchmarks
Fortune recognizes Simmons as one of the top workplaces
Atlanta— Simmons again has been named to Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For." In fact, the bedding major is an even better place to work this year, its ranking suggests. Last year, Simmons made the elite list at the No. 100 spot. This year, Simmons has moved up seven notches to No.
- Bedding Benchmarks
Verlo Mattress introduces IntraTouch bedding
Whitewater, Wis.— Verlo Mattress Factory Stores says it is pushing the envelope in product development with its new IntraTouch Sleep System. The system, which combines various technologies in the box spring, innerspring and upholstery layers, was the result of more than 18 months of designing and testing by the company, which operates 70 franchised stores in the United States, most of the...
Opinion Today
-
Gorillas, baby bears could eat your lunch
There are some 800-pound gorillas out there, and they have some friends, baby bear cubs by comparison but potent adversaries nonetheless. The gorillas are the giant retailers Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart, the latter soon to be Sears and Kmart. Wal-Mart steadily is building its furniture presence, both in-store and on the Internet, and Target just went full bore with a dramatically expanded furnit...
People Today
-
Currey named COO at family business
Atlanta— Brownlee Currey has been promoted to chief operating officer at his family's business, Currey & Co., an accent furniture and lighting resource. Currey, the son of founders Robert and Suzanne Currey, worked for the company in the summers during high school and college. He worked for Crate & Barrel Furniture in Chicago and Detroit for five years after college, then joined C...
- People on the Move
People on the Move
Directors IOPFDA Alexandria, Va. — Jim McCarry has stepped down as president and chief operating officer of the Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Assn., parent of the Office Furniture Dealers Alliance and the National Office Products Alliance. McGarry had served as president since 1997.
Special Report
- Premarket Report
Wood resources see better April than last year
High Poit— Retail sales have been up and down like a yo-yo so far this year, but case goods exhibitors at premarket here last week came away optimistic on the outlook for April market. Several manufacturers said buyers told them that, although retail has been spotty, recent sales upticks and a less clouded outlook should make for a better market than a year ago.
- Premarket Report
Upholstery makers pulling out the stops
High Poit— Stationary upholstery makers appear to be going all-out this market, preparing a large volume of introductions and major new programs aimed at luring the consumer dollar. That was evident at premarket here last week, where producers previewed a number of expanded tie-ins with brands, both celebrity and product, and signaled a growing emphasis on the casual/urban contemporary ca...
-
Upholstered headboards, beds gaining market momentum
High Point— Upholstered furniture manufacturers are venturing from the living room into the bedroom in search of extra profits from the hot new category of upholstered headboards and beds. These fabric and leather options have been showing up piecemeal in company offerings for about two years. But they're expected to receive more focus and attention at next month's market as more companie...
- Asia Report
Cebu by design
Cebu, Philippines— In promotional material, the CebuX International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition describes itself as the "Design Destination of Asia." It urges visitors to "Get to the Source of Design Passion." This year's show, held Feb. 26–March 1, lived up to those descriptions.
- Asia Report
Malaysia's modern mix
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia— The 11th Malaysia International Furniture Fair here this month delivered a strong mix of promotional to midpriced contemporary and transitional product lines. As in its previous runs, the show was heavy on casual dining and bedroom, although its mix also included leather and fabric upholstery, occasional and office furniture.
Store Openings
-
La-Z-Boy adds Wis., Ohio units
Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy Inc. opened two dedicated stores last month, in Wisconsin and Ohio. A La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store has opened in Warren, Ohio, on Niles-Cortland Road. The 18,200-square-foot store is owned by Ronald D'Alesandro Germantown, Wis., is home to a La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store on West 16920 County Line Road.
-
Thomasville opens Calif., Ohio stores
Thomasville, N.C.— Thomasville Furniture Inds. has opened two stores, in California and Ohio. The California unit is located on Lone Tree Way in Anitoch, and is the fifth corporately owned store in northern California. The showroom is 12,500 square feet. Aurora, Ohio, is home to a new Thomasville store owned and operated by Dan Dougherty, who also owns seven other Thomsville stores in Ala...
-
Iowa retailer moves, installs Rowe gallery
Newton, Iowa— Store for Homes Furniture has relocated from its downtown location to a new 15,000-square-foot showroom here, which includes a 3,500-square-foot studiorowe upholstery gallery. Store owners Nicki and Brian Shores have been in business for seven years.
|
|
|
