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Furniture|Today > Archives > 04/25/2005 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 04/25/2005

Bedding Today
  • Thanks for the memory foam: Here's another round of Perrys
    Another High Point market is in the record books, but before we say goodbye, it's time for another round of the Perrys, our awards for notable bedding developments. Well, I'm out of space already. Hope you had a good High Point market. I did. Contact David Perry at dperry@reedbusiness.com

Best of Market
  • Best of market
    Decor-Rest The latest edition of Decor-Rest's Blissfull Comfort collection provides sink-in comfort with the addition of white duck feather blends. Sofa retails for about $1,299; chair, $599; ottoman, $499. Lane The Robert Idol collection's suite-oriented Pacific Heights flavor shows off the case goods importer's first-ever use of rosewood veneers.

Editor's Desk
  • Consumers talk, market listens
    As soon as the dust settles from market, people ask me what was the hottest thing I saw while working the showrooms. While there was an abundance of hot new products this market, I have to confess the hottest thing at market wasn't anything I saw. Rather, it was what I heard. And it was music to my ears.

Industry Numbers
  • Jennifer revenues off 19.6% in 2nd qtr.
    Woodbury, N.Y.— Sofa-sleeper specialty retailer Jennifer Convertibles recorded a 19.6% revenue drop in its second quarter, and more than quadrupled its net loss for the period. Revenues in the quarter ended Feb. 26 were $24.9 million, compared with $30.9 million for the comparable 2004 period. The quarterly net loss grew to $5.
  • Sealy sales up 12.8%
    Archdale, N.C.— Sealy Mattress recorded a 12.8% sales gain in its first quarter as net income soared 94.1%, compared with first-quarter 2004. Sales in the quarter ended Feb. 27 were $359 million, up from $318.2 million a year ago. Net profits jumped to $21.9 million from $11.3 million. Both quarters included royalty income, $2.
  • Quaker 1Q sales fall 29.8%; net loss comes to $3.1 million
    Fall River, Mass.— First-quarter sales for Quaker Fabric fell 29.8% to $59.2 million from $84.4 million in the comparable 2004 period, and the fabric supplier recorded a net loss of $3.1 million, compared with profits of $2.4 million a year ago. President and CEO Larry Liebenow said, "Domestic and international fabric sales of $46.
  • Ethan Allen sales slip 5.5%
    Danbury, Conn.— Retailer-manufacturer Ethan Allen reported sales of $231.2 million in its third quarter, off 5.5% from sales of $244.6 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. Net income plummeted 22.5% to $17.9 million from $23.1 million a year ago, as same-store sales decreased 6%. The vertically integrated Top 100 company said delivered sales in the quarter ended March 31 in its r...

Insider's View
  • Like numbers? Here's just what you're looking for
    Ready to talk statistics? Boy, have we got some for you! While many folks discuss only annual numbers, we try to evaluate them quarterly, and sometimes we get some surprises. For example, total retail sales of furniture and bedding were up 6.4% in the fourth quarter and up 7.8% for the entire 2004 year.

News
  • McBrair, Hudson head Rhodes store divisions
    Atlanta— Rhodes has named Jerry McBrair and Alan Hudson to head divisions for Southeastern stores previously led by Joel Lanham, who has left the company. McBrair, former executive vice president of retail operations, president and chief operating officer of the defunct Breuners Home Furnishings Corp.
  • Galvin is Stanley sales VP
    High Point— Manufacturer Stanley Furniture has named Tom Galvin vice president of sales for Stanley Collections, a new position. He reports to Phil Haney, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Stanley Collections. "Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to our management team," Haney said.
  • Smith is Hickory House pres
    High Point— Longtime industry executive Jay Smith has joined upholstery producer Hickory House Furniture as president. He succeeds Hickory House owner Archie Eckard, who is now CEO. Smith, who most recently was vice president of sales and merchandising at Wesley Hall and earlier was with La-Z-Boy, Hickorycraft and Simmons, has been in the industry for 27 years.
  • Powell taps De La Cruz as VP
    High Point— Jose De La Cruz, a former furniture designer for retailer The Bombay Company, has been named vice president of merchandising at Powell Co. In the newly created post, De La Cruz will concentrate on ready-to-assemble accent furniture, beds and home entertainment furniture. He reports to David Walker, senior vice president of merchandising.
  • Bedding Benchmarks
    Majority of dog, cat owners sleep with their furry friends
    Archdale, N.C.— Dogs, cats and people are in bed together in many homes across the country, research done for the Sealy Snooze Report suggests. The new report has survey data from dog and cat owners that indicates the family pets have found a comfortable home in their masters' beds. A total of 67% of the dog and cat owners said they routinely bed down with their furry friends.
  • Bedding Benchmarks
    Kingsdown, Oscar de la Renta team up for bedding line
    New York— Kingsdown launched its new Oscar de la Renta bedding line with a media event here that was right out of the fashion world where the designer looms large. The fashionably dressed de la Renta stood next to one of his new high-end beds for a magazine photo shoot, then mingled easily with the mostly New York-based consumer media editors drawn to the new line.
  • Bedding Benchmarks
    Elk Technologies adding VersaShield FC to FR line
    Dallas— Elk Technologies has added VersaShield FC to its portfolio of fire-resistant products for bedding manufacturers. A subsidiary of Dallas-based ElkCorp., Elk Technologies said the new product is an all-natural, nonwoven fabric with a non-toxic fire barrier coating. It said the product can be used in mattresses, upholstery and in bedding materials.
  • Second Retail Ideas workshop set for Atlanta
    Atlanta— Reed Business Information has scheduled its second Retail Ideas workshop for May 15–17 at the Sheraton Suites Galleria here. Back-to-back sessions will focus on two pertinent industry issues. "Driving Profits with the Right Product Strategy" will highlight ways to gain a competitive edge with a strong product and merchandising plan, including methods to manage and measure p...
  • Russo named president at Consolidated Bedding
    Tampa, Fla.— Consolidated Bedding, Spring Air's largest licensee, has promoted Steve Russo to president to replace Les Ayers, who has left the company. Russo had been chief operating officer. Steve Antinori, chairman and CEO, announced the change. Consolidated Bedding, a new entity, was created last month in a merger of Spring Air Partners and American Bedding Inds.
  • Magnussen revamps product management
    High Point— Case goods and occasional importer Magnussen Home Furnishings has reorganized its product development and merchandising team, a move intended to help it hit targeted market segments, track emerging trends and meet retailer needs. "Our merchandise/product managers are involved in every aspect of a product's life cycle," said Richard Olmeda, senior vice president.
  • Progressive restructures management positions
    High Point— Case goods and occasional manufacturer and importer Progressive Furniture is restructuring its management team to strengthen both domestic and international operations with several new positions. Rick Stroud has joined Progressive as vice president of sales for the Eastern region, replacing Marc Alters, who left the company.
  • Chinese mfr. eyes U.S. sales, stores
    High Point— Simplified, a Hong Kong-based line of ultramodern, Italian-style contemporary case goods, occasional and upholstery, came to market here for the first time with an ambitious two-pronged approach. On one hand, Simplified looks to build distribution among independent furniture retailers.
  • Obituaries
    Ruth Walker, retailer
    Las Vegas— Ruth Walker, co-founder of retailer Walker Furniture here, has died. She was 88. Local newspapers reported that Walker and her husband, George Walker, who survives her, started the furniture business in 1963. She sold it to the Alterwitz family in 1973, said Deanne Alterwitz-Stralser, Walker's chairman.
  • Rosenberg retools its team
    Enfield, Conn.— Sales specialist Gene Rosenberg Associates and Planned Furniture Promotions has retooled its management with an eye on expansion opportunities, adding a tier of regional managers and bringing back a former employee. The company also aims to reduce confusion by putting the emphasis on the latter part of its name.
  • Stein World promotes 1, hires 2
    High Point— Occasional specialist Stein World came to market with 120 new products and three new executive positions. Earlier this year, Stein World promoted Mat Marsh from vice president of sales to the new post of executive vice president. Marsh has been in the industry more than 20 years and with Stein World for five.
  • Correction
    In a story on page 118 of Furniture/Today's market daily issue on Friday, April 15, Rob Pitt was incorrectly identified. He is a senior product manager at Crate & Barrel. Gordon Segal's correct title is CEO of Crate & Barrel.
  • Henredon alumni gather for dinner
    High Point— About 65 members of the Henredon Alumni group gathered at the High Point Country Club for a market reunion dinner. Plato Wilson, a former Henredon sales representative in the American Furniture Hall of Fame, and former Henredon President Bill Smith presented a plaque to the group honoring what they described as America's finest sales team from the golden age of furniture.
  • Branscome joins WMC
    Las Vegas— The World Market Center has hired Tim Branscome as director of international business development. The North Carolina native was International Trade Director for the N.C. Department of Commerce from 1993 to 2000, based in London. In his new post, Branscome will lead the Las Vegas furniture market's international team, charged with developing strategic partnerships with European...
  • Nicholson joins Silver Furniture
    High Point— Industry veteran Reb Nicholson has joined dining and occasional furniture source Silver Furniture as vice president of sales and marketing for the eastern United States. Nicholson has more than three decades in the industry, including stints at The Powell Co., Magnussen Home and Stoneville Furniture.
  • Pair to buy out Sunset partners
    High Point— Gary Chase and Harry Leighton plan to buy out business partners Kenneth J. Smith and Gary Stanieich to assume full ownership of dining and youth importer Sunset Trading. The deal should be completed in about 30 days, Chase said. Chase, now vice president of sales, will become CEO, and Leighton, now vice president of merchandising and marketing, will be president.
  • Use of Peruvian mahogany under fire
    High Point— Two national environmental groups asked furniture manufacturers at market here to avoid using big-leaf mahogany from Peru, citing what they called the Peruvian government's failure to enforce logging regulations. In a press release issued the day before market's official opening, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Defenders of Wildlife said almost all Peru's mahogany ex...
  • Toronto mini-market set for June 21–23
    Toronto— A small group of manufacturers with permanent showrooms in and around the International Center here will hold a three-day mini-market June 21–23. The Toronto Summer Furniture Show is being organized by the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and co-sponsored by Cantrex Group, which plans to hold member merchandising meetings during the market.
  • Quality Canada launched
    High Point— Canadian furniture manufacturers launched a Quality Canada marketing program at market here designed to position the country as a source of high-quality products. The effort includes a logo, a Web site at www.canadianfurniture.com, and a CD-ROM. The logo will be used on hangtags identifying Canadian furniture on retail floors.
  • Ashley giveaway includes Haggard guitar
    High Point— As part of a just-announced dealer promotion, Ashley Furniture is giving consumers a chance to shop, rock and feel like a star. The promotion, to run from June 20 to the first week of August, is dubbed the Ashley VIP Pass and will include one grand prize of a trip for two to New York City, $10,000 in MasterCard gift certificates, a six-night stay at the Marriott Marquis Hotel ...
  • Leon's teaming up on RTO, e-commerce
    Toronto— Major Canadian retailer Leon's Furniture will test the rent-to-own market in a joint venture with Easyhome, the country's largest RTO merchant. In another arena, Leon's also is partnering with U.S.-based Furniture.com to sell furniture, appliances and electronics online to Canada's 32 million consumers.
  • Brick Group plans bedding chain
    Edmonton, Alberta— The Brick Group Income Fund will roll out a national bedding chain beginning this year as part of a multi-pronged growth strategy designed to cement its position as Canada's largest furniture and bedding retailer. "The Brick Group is already a leading mattress retailer through its existing banners — The Brick, United Furniture and HomeShow Canada," said Brick Grou...
  • Cavitt honored by WHFA
    Roseville, Calif.— Dave Cavitt, president of the seven-store Furniture Enterprises of Alaska, has been named the 2005 Western Retailer of the Year by the Western Home Furnishings Assn. The annual award recognizes a retailer who is exemplary in merchandising, advertising, store design and betterment of the industry.
  • Winans files for bankruptcy, will close stores
    Reno, Nev.— Winans Furniture has filed for bankruptcy and will close its two remaining stores in the Reno area. The family-owned business, which was facing new competition from R.C. Willey, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under the Carson Furniture name, listing assets of $1.3 million and liabilities of about $5.
  • Office Star cleared in patent suit
    Ontario, Calif.— Office seating producer Office Star Products has prevailed in a patent infringement lawsuit filed against the company last year by competitor True Seating Concepts. True Seating contended that Office Star had infringed two of its patents, but a federal judge disagreed, ruling there were no patent infringements.
  • Market Authority: More funds from N.C. coming
    High Point— An upbeat International Home Furnishings Market Authority board last week declared the just-concluded market a success and promised to keep lobbying the North Carolina legislature for more funding for transportation and marketing. During a meeting near the end of market, board members gave generally positive assessments of the event.
  • Industry's 'Men of Cloth' bare not quite all for charity
    High Point— On a bracing spring morning last week, 14 of the industry's best sports gathered at the home of Stephen and Kathryn Giles here to pose for the cover of "Men of the Cloth," an upcoming calendar that will be on sale at next October's market to raise funds for child advocacy programs and scholarships.
  • Mattress Giant refinances
    Addison, Texas— Mattress Giant, one of the largest U.S. bedding retailers, has completed a long-term refinancing that it says positions the chain for growth. In a letter to the company's business partners, CEO Barrie Brown didn't reveal specifics but said CIT Retail Finance is the new senior lender, with additional financing from Laminar Direct Capital.
  • Tomlinson, Directional to build showroom at Hamilton, Wrenn
    High Point— Owners of manufacturers Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth and Directional plan to build a 20,000-square-foot showroom building at Hamilton and Wrenn streets, to open in time for the October market. Business partners Rod Lambeth and Howard Williams said the companies' new showroom address will be 531 N.
  • Berkline to go public
    Morristown, Tenn.— Upholstery major Berkline/Bench-Craft is set to go public this year with a common stock offering that could raise as much as $138 million. Proceeds from the initial public offering, disclosed in an April 11 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be used to repay debt, repurchase preferred stock, and make a cash payment to the company's current majority...
  • Collezione on grow
    High Point— Importer Collezione Europa plans to buy a domestic upholstery factory and open a Southern California warehouse and distribution center in preparation for ultimately offering a dedicated store program to dealers. Leonard Frankel, president and CEO of the fast-growing case goods, upholstery and accessories resource based in Englewood, N.
  • Homestead in play
    Englewood, Colo.— American Furniture Warehouse here may be buying the three Homestead House stores in Colorado. Christine Herbert, director of communications for nine-store American, confirmed that "we're in discussions with" Homestead House for the Colorado stores. But she said the companies haven't reached a deal and she had no additional comment.

Opinion Today
  • Winds of change blow through market
    It wasn't really a WOW! market, but for many the April show was a vast improvement on the last two or three High Point events. For the most part, retailers were talking about a pretty good beginning to the year. And there were no instances of gloom and doom. Notable this market were the conversations about the growing significance of the Internet in marketing furniture, and how best — or ...

People Today
  • Grow's new company to offer manufacturers strategic advise
    High Point— Industry veteran Dan Grow has formed a company to advise domestic and overseas high-end furniture producers on design, marketing and distribution strategies. D.M. Grow has been launched with two primary clients, a Chinese case goods producer and a North Carolina upholstery manufacturer.
  • People on the Move
    People on the Move
    Sales Butera Home Furnishings High Point — Tiffany Olsen has been named national sales manager for high-end California upholstery manufacturer and retailer Butera Home Furnishings. She replaces Nikky De Lemos, who left earlier to pursue a career in the movie industry. For two years, Olsen has been retail sales manager for Barclay Butera Inc.
  • Phillips will head AICO's new upholstery division
    High Point— Laurie Phillips has been named director of upholstery merchandising for importer AICO, and will head the company's new upholstery division. Phillips most recently was with Schnadig Corp., where she held the posts of vice president of merchandising and vice president of marketing. Previously, she spent 17 years as a buyer with JCPenney.
  • Importer Kemp appoints Dobbins to sales VP post
    High Point— Jim Dobbins has been named vice president of sales at case goods importer Kemp Enterprises. He replaces Ted Philpott, who joined Pennsylvania House earlier this year. Dobbins, a 32-year industry veteran, most recently was director of East Coast sales for Kimball Home Furnishings. Prior to that, he was with American Drew.
  • Springmann is sales manager for new Hamilton & Spill div.
    High Point— Canadian-based importer Hamilton & Spill has named retail veteran Dirk Springmann to the new position of sales manager, focusing on U.S. sales in the company's new Leather and Mattress Division. He will lead territory managers in the division, while Brenda Plowman will focus on the company's case goods categories in the United States, in addition to her corporate marketing...

Product Highlights
  • Leather players find comfortable niches
    High Point— Leather upholstery manufacturers are finding comfortable niches for their lines, and seemed less concerned at last week's market about Chinese product, probably because many are now offering some version of it themselves. But whether made in Asia or the Americas, Italy or Germany, leather seating introductions got strong receptions all around.
  • Nicoletti, Natuzzi expand abroad
    High Point— Italian leather upholstery producer Nicoletti now owns its production facility in China, and next year its compatriot Natuzzi plans to open its first tannery in South America. Nicoletti had owned the 80,000-square-foot China factory 50/50 with a Chinese furniture company when it opened last July, but Chairman Giuseppe Nicoletti bought out his Asian partner in February, U.
  • DeCoro plans to add case goods this year
    High Point— Italian-owned, China-based leather upholstery manufacturer DeCoro will add a case goods collection this fall, with production set to begin in late May, said President Luca Ricci. Ricci, who set himself apart from other Italian leather upholstery makers six years ago by operating out of China, is poised to expand beyond his mid-priced seating line with the addition of occasiona...
  • Bedding draws good response
    High Point— Bedding may not have been the main draw at this market, but it once again performed well in more than two dozen showrooms. Top 10 and second-tier producers rolled out a variety of new products, and said retail response was generally good, pointing the way to a solid second half. Some manufacturers said traffic was light, but a number reported good results nonetheless.
  • Chinese aren't snoozing
    High Point— China-made mattresses proliferated at market here, popping up in a number of showrooms. And marketers of Chinese bedding said their products sparked interest from U.S. buyers. Summit upgraded its visco offerings with six-pound visco in its Sleep Therapy line, which retails from $699 to $899 in queen.
  • Hamilton & Spill: Ready for prime mattress time
    High Point— Hamilton & Spill got retailers ready for bedtime by hosting a market pajama party, with company executives and associates putting on their best PJs and serving cookies and milk to guests. The party highlighted the company's launch of a line of Chinese-made mattresses targeting premium price points.
  • Tempur-Pedic goes stylish with EuroBed
    High Point— Memory foam leader Tempur-Pedic looked abroad for inspiration for a sleep set it debuted here. The EuroBed is based on a design it launched in Europe last year. David Fogg, president of the company's retail division, said the bed was "very well received" at market. "People loved it.
  • RTA sector perks up
    High Point— Innovation and design were the watchwords among ready-to-assemble furniture producers at market here last week as they showed their wares to a broad range of distribution channels, from conventional furniture stores to mass merchants and the new wave of online retailers. RTA executives said they saw some of the hottest action in years, with retailers committing to new products...
  • O'Sullivan marks anniversary as 'rebirth'
    High Point— Not all the celebration at the O'Sullivan showroom here involved product introductions. The company also marked its 50th Anniversary in its newly remodeled 21,000-square-foot showroom at 220 Elm. "The combined impact of our 50th anniversary, newly established management and focused strategy that has resulted in the rebirth of O'Sullivan really made this as much a coming out pa...
  • Home office expanding reach into new rooms
    High Point— Home office busted out of second bedrooms and into living rooms, great rooms and master bedrooms at market here last week, accelerating the shift from modular looks to styles more in tune with dining room, bedroom and entertainment furniture, particularly at higher-end retail price points.
  • Outlook rosier for metal beds
    High Point— Metal bed importers and manufacturers came out of market with a renewed sense of optimism that could help lead to growth in the category this year. The optimism correlated with dealer traffic and response to a host of new products. Wesley Allen, a design leader in the category, offered a number of introductions and new finishes in its namesake line.
  • Casual dining sources add products, programs
    High Point— With retail sales a bit sluggish, casual dining producers came to market armed with more than just new goods. While new styles are important, manufacturers need to find ways to help attract consumers and help retailers make more money, said Davis Beaston, vice president of John Thomas.
  • Dinec introduces personalized Diva line
    High Point— The contemporary Diva collection, which uses chair, table and storage unit components to create custom furniture configurations for the dining room to the home office and for a variety of rooms, proved a hit for Quebec-based casual dining producer Dinec at the just-concluded market here.
  • Hekman creates occasional 'shop'
    High Point— Hekman Furniture redesigned its showroom this market and wants to help its customers do the same. On a bargain budget, Hekman turned the lower section of its space into a gallery named Rue du Bac, after a well-known street in Paris. The exercise was intended to find ways to improve the looks of a store without costing much money, said Hekman President Dan Masters.
  • Occasional vendors enjoy strong market
    High Point— Occasional furniture sold strongly this market, many manufacturers and importers reported, despite business that has gone up and down like a yo-yo for many stores. The hit-and-miss nature of retail may be one reason the category was important here, according to some vendors. They said occasional furniture is the jewelry of the room and can generate consumer interest.
  • Youth manufacturers round out offerings
    High Point— After several markets filled with new players in youth, there was a lull in newcomers at the April market, while existing kids lines focused on rounding out offerings and setting themselves apart, often with hip, contemporary styling. Meanwhile, the rise in players offering all-import youth programs spurred some changes and raised questions about the number of SKUs needed in j...
  • Retailers hungry for wood
    High Point— A fresher round of new product — including lots of contemporary — the settlement, for now, of the antidumping issue, and a decent month at retail in March resulted in fairly strong buyer appetites in case goods showrooms at market. Magnussen Home, which had a splashy new Cristina Ferrare collection called Sunset Boulevard, tracked the traffic increase at 25% or more.
  • New name, new case goods line
    High Point— Upholstery maker Mitchell Gold Co., celebrating its 16th birthday at market, unveiled its first case goods collection and said it had changed its name to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, the names of its co-founders and principals. The company is warehousing the 90-SKU, globally sourced wood line in a 185,000-square-foot building it recently purchased near its headquarters in Tay...
  • Lifestyle's Forbidden City lures dealers in
    High Point— Officials at Lifestyle Enterprise were pleased with dealer response to three collections launched this market under the company's Forbidden City division. "We are off the ground with the new division and sold it well enough that Forbidden City has been launched and will introduce some new product," said James Riddle, who runs Lifestyle Enterprise's Shanghai leather division.
  • JTMichael seeks focused base for new import line
    Greensboro, N.C.— Former Pennsylvania House president Michael Foster has teamed up with Todd Robinson and Jonathan Starr to launch JTMichael Designs, which sources case goods, occasional and leather upholstery from Asia. The new company showed at last week's High Point market. But Foster said that, in the future, the container-direct enterprise will rely on private shows it will conduct i...
  • Istikbal line integrates sleep, storage, seating
    High Point— If things were not as they appeared at the Istikbal showroom during last week's market here, then the company met its objective. According to Mehmel Bilici, president of Turkey-based furniture manufacturer, the focus during market was on the company's line of motion lifestyle furniture, which provides the integrated functions of sleep, storage and seating.
  • Upholstery action sparked by fresh colors, styles, names
    High Point— With marketgoers now gone, downtown High Point is back to normal, with little traffic and even less excitement — much as some upholstery marketers expected it to be during the April market. Fortunately, they were wrong. Business gave most upholstery resources something to go home happy about, especially after the effort that went into new product presented here.
  • Abuzz over brand-name lines
    High Point— The buzz over branded collections boosted traffic in a number of upholstery showrooms during the spring market here. "It far exceeded our expectations," said Lew English, vice president of marketing for Hickory Hill, which premiered Jaclyn Smith upholstery, the first branded collection for the Norwalk division.
  • Smith, Hickory Hill score with elegant value
    High Point— After a soft launch in October, actress Jaclyn Smith came to the April market to help introduce her line of upholstery made by Hickory Hill Furniture, which included 10 groups and eight accent pieces, with seating pieces priced from $799 to $999 retail. The upholstery in the Jaclyn Smith Home collection complements her case goods at Largo International and bedding by King Koil.
  • Motion arena boasts several winners
    High Point— Home theater, leather sofas retailing for less than $1,000, and sectionals retailing for almost any price were the clear winners in motion furniture showrooms at market. Producers said dealers most frequently targeted promotional to middle price points with their buying, but upper-end merchandise wasn't ignored.
  • Home entertainment sparks 'wide' interest
    High Point— Home entertainment furniture sparked "wide" interest this market as retailers shopped for goods to accommodate the changing shapes and sizes of televisions. As rectangular flat-panel TVs of various technologies replace squarish tube TVs, opportunity and excitement continued to ripple through the category.
  • Home Plus America forms Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug
    High Point— Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug has been formed as a division of Home Plus America, led by President Darryl Gold. The bamboo rugs, made in the Anji mountains of southeastern China, are available in indoor and indoor/outdoor styles. Anji showed here in Suites at Market Square, space 1–200.
  • Waites develops handmade rugs for Orient Express
    High Point— After nearly a decade in machine-made rugs, designer Raymond Waites has entered the handmade rug business with a new licensing partnership with Los Angeles-based Orient Express Rug Importers. The first collection of hand-tufted rugs was unveiled during market at the Orient Express space in the International Home Furnishings Center's Design wing.
  • Rug buyers hunt for values
    High Point— Rug showrooms weren't teaming with buyers at the just-concluded market here, but that doesn't mean it was a bust, since appointments, typically made well ahead of time, were kept by retailers. "We know what kind of market we'll have before it even starts," said Arash Yaraghi, a principal of Safavieh.
  • New recliners keep showrooms rockin'
    High Point— A heavy round of introductions kept recliner and glider rocker spaces busy and order pads active during market. Producers said traffic was especially brisk early in the market cycle, with dealers coming in as early as April 11, three days before the official opening. But traffic dropped significantly after Friday, and the weekend was relatively quiet.

Special Report
  • High Point market winners
    Durham The licensed Mount Vernon collection could become one of Durham's biggest sellers ever. The first two cuttings had sold out by market's opening day. Henredon The Grace Lounge chair, featuring softly rolled arms and a curvilinear back, was one of the hits in Henredon's Barbara Barry collection.

Store Openings
  • Fla., N.C. stores add Rowe galleries
    McLean, Va.— Rowe Furniture has opened custom-order studiorowe upholstery galleries in stores in Florida and North Carolina. Turner's Fine Furniture in Tallahassee, Fla., is home to a 3,500-square-foot gallery. The 60,000-square-foot, fourth-generation, family-owned and managed retailer was established in 1915.
  • Bilt-Rite to relocate
    Milwaukee— Bilt-Rite Furniture plans to relocate the fourth-generation, family-owned, full-line store from historic Mitchell Street on Milwaukee's South Side to West Layton Avenue in the suburb of Greenfield. Maureen Komisar, whose family founded Bilt-Rite in 1928, said, "Layton Avenue is the new destination for furniture shopping, where people can travel a moderate distance and do their ...

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