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Furniture|Today > Archives > 05/09/2005 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 05/09/2005

Bedding Today
  • Bedding community joins Magowitz's cancer crusade
    It's funny how bad weather doesn't dampen your spirits when your soul is soaring. Bedding veteran Roger Magowitz recalled being stuck under a leaky tent in Phoenix a while back: "It was the coldest, nastiest, ugliest day I have seen in the 10 years I've lived in Arizona. But to me the sun was shining and I could not have been happier.

Editor's Desk
  • Winning now pattern for F/T
    If something happens once, you might call it a fluke. If it happens twice, you could label it a coincidence. When the same event occurs a third time, you would be well within your rights to suggest you've spotted a trend. However, when the event occurs yet a fourth time, I'd call it a pattern. Having said that, I am delighted to announce that, for the fourth consecutive year, BtoB Magazine has ...

Industry Numbers
  • April results mixed for 3 stores
    Atlanta— Revenues and same-store sales were up in April for Haverty Furniture here and for Forth Worth, Texas-based The Bombay Company, but Pier I Imports, also based in Fort Worth, continued to post declines for the month. Full-line furniture retailer Havertys reported April sales of $65.1 million, up 13.
  • O'Sullivan sales off 6.4%, loss rises
    Roswell, Ga.— O'Sullivan Inds., a major ready-to-assemble furniture maker, said sales dropped 6.4% and the net loss nearly doubled in its third quarter ended March 31. The company also reported a negative cash flow of $4 million in the latest quarter, but said cash flow was a positive $1.8 million for the first nine months, noting it had no outstanding balance on its revolving credit line...
  • Masco profits surge 37.5% in 1st qtr.
    Taylor, Mich.— Despite higher energy costs and recent data indicating lower consumer confidence and slowing retail sales, home products giant Masco Corp. reported a 5.8% first-quarter sales increase, paired with a 37.5% jump in profits. The parent of ready-to-assemble furniture makers d-Scan, Mill's Pride and Tvilum-Scanbirk reported sales in the quarter of nearly $3 billion, up from $2.
  • Bombay restates 4Q, year-end earnings
    Fort Worth, Texas— Specialty retailer The Bombay Company, as previously announced, has restated earnings for its fourth quarter and year and their comparable year-earlier periods, due to an accounting change for store lease expenses. The restatement resulted in earnings for the quarter ended Jan.
  • CFC to merge with Audax Group affiliate
    Chicago Heights, Ill.— Holographic and specialty film manufacturer CFC International has signed a letter of intent to merge with an affiliate of Audax Group, a private equity firm. The transaction is expected to have a value of $109.4 million, equal to an expected share price range of between $19.
  • Havertys 1Q sales up 9.1%
    Atlanta— Top 100 retailer Haverty Furniture said first-quarter sales rose 9.1%, but net income plunged more than 47% because of costs stemming from the opening of a Florida distribution center. The retailer, which has 118 stores in 16 Southern and Midwestern states, said the new distribution center will make the company more efficient.

Insider's View
  • Want to sell ethnic groups? Fine, but you can't fake it
    The word of the day is "disingenuous." Are you insincere? Do you really care about your customer? Someone once said the important thing is to be sincere, and if you can fake that, you can succeed at anything. We all read the same headlines about where the growth is in our population, and one clear opportunity is with our Hispanic community.

News
  • Correction
  • LHFI closing Seaman's stores
    Woodbury, N.Y.— Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. said last week it will close its Seaman's store franchise, converting many units to the more nationally known Levitz name. The Top 100 company also is getting $40 million in much-needed financing, helping it deal with a liquidity crunch and nervous suppliers.
  • New use for 100-year-old wood
    High Point— At manufacturer Salem Square, not only are the designs of historical interest, so are the raw materials. The company is offering a collection of domestically made antique reproduction furniture called Circa 100, using 100-year-old heart pine from two former Jim Beam Old Crow distilleries in Kentucky.
  • River Forks readies Indonesia plant
    Geneva, Ala.— Case goods importer River Forks is nearing completion of a plant in Indonesia. The 200,000-square-foot facility, set to begin production within 30 days, will concentrate on a new line of bedroom in mindi wood. The 14-year-old company, which just participated in its first High Point show, now sources mostly mahogany goods from 12 plants in Indonesia and four in China.
  • Consultancy forms new claims unit
    Hillsborough, N.J.— Consulting firm Clear Thinking Group has formed a Claims Administration Unit that will execute all bankruptcy claims processing and administration on behalf of debtors. The unit is an extension of the group's Creditors' Rights Practice. The unit will assist debtors throughout the claims administration process, and handle any disbursements.
  • Rug retailer loses customs fight for merchandise
    Wayne, Pa.— When the U.S. Customs Bureau seizes merchandise at the border, it's not only drug dealers, terrorists and other lawbreakers who sometimes suffer. For nearly two years, Jerry Sorkin, the owner of Distinctive Rugs & More, a suburban Philadelphia retailer, fought a costly losing battle to take delivery on a shipment of rugs and antique cabinets he purchased in China in 2003.
  • Sports outing fundraiser set for June 7
    Somerville, N.J.— Sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to raise money for a good cause when the Metropolitan Furnishings Assn. hosts its 63rd annual sports outing on June 7 at Knoll Country Club in Parsippany, N.J. The day will feature golf, indoor tennis, volleyball and softball, as well as goodie bags, a silent auction, player gifts, contests, hole-in-one competitions, lunch, co...
  • Universal names Robinson, Wolski salesmen of the year
    High Point— Neill Robinson and Patrick Wolski were named Universal's salesmen of the year for excellence in sales achievements and exemplary professionalism. Robinson, who has been with Universal for three years, is the company's New England territory representative. Wolski represents Universal in south Florida and has been with the company for two years.
  • Trade Link sets 3 new textile shows
    Hertfordshire, England— Trade show organizer Trade Link Co. here has announced three new textile shows for 2006, including one in India and one in China, although dates and venues are not finalized. The first will take place in Bangalore, India, in spring 2006 and will feature worldwide design companies specializing in textile and other designs presenting their work to Indian manufacturers.
  • Sears/Cantrex deal done
    Toronto— Sears Canada has completed the acquisition of Cantrex Group and its subsidiary Corbeil Electrique, and named Claude Senechal president and general manager of Canada's largest fee-for-service buying and marketing group. The combined Sears Canada/Cantrex will be the country's No. 1 furniture and bedding retailer, with estimated annual sales in those categories of C$950 million.
  • Bedding majors flock to Vegas
    Las Vegas— Bedding companies Englander and Stylution USA will exhibit at the inaugural market here in July. Top 10 producer Englander said it will have a space at the Sands Exposition Center. Stylution USA, marketer of a line of Chinese-made mattresses, said it will show in temporary space at the World Market Center.
  • Baker plans licensed line with designer Laura Kirar
    Chicago— High-end full-line manufacturer Baker will introduce a licensed line of furniture with designer Laura Kirar at the April 2006 High Point market. The collection will include case goods, occasional and upholstery, as well as lighting, tabletop and home textiles. Kirar, founder and creative director of New York-based design agency Tru Design and LKDL studio in Miami, has a strong ba...
  • La-Z-Boy buys 8 more stores
    Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy said it has acquired eight Furniture Galleries stores from franchisees in the Pittsburgh area and in Connecticut. The stores, which the company considers poor performers, bring to 61 the number of corporately owned Furniture Galleries locations. There are 332 such stores throughout North America, mostly dealer-owned.
  • Michels opens Va. facility
    Lynwood, Calif.— Promotional case goods manufacturer Michels & Co. opened a 25,000-square-foot distribution center in Atkins, Va., in mid-April. The company now warehouses a selection of best-selling bedroom groups, entertainment centers and walls at the Virginia facility for immediate shipment to East Coast customers.
  • Pittock joins Perdues as VP
    Rapid City, S.D.— Bedroom furniture manufacturer Perdues Inc. has hired Terry Pittock, former vice president of lamp supplier American Lamp, as vice president of sales for the western region. He will take over the territory now covered by Joseph Engler, vice president of sales and marketing, who will retire Aug.
  • New investors back IBC's expansion plans
    Fort Lauderdale, Fla.— IBC Group, a Top 12 bedding producer based here, said that Brockway Moran & Partners, a Florida-based private equity firm, has made an investment in the company. Leon Ellman, chairman and CEO of IBC, said that because of IBC's rapid growth, his family sought an equity partner that would continue to support the company's expansion.
  • China Direct gains stake in Beijing-based supplier
    Davie, Fla.— China Direct Trading, which launched a furniture division in late 2004, has acquired a controlling interest in its Beijing-based furniture supplier. In addition to a 40% equity stake in Beijing Huawei Furniture Manufacture Co., importer China Direct has a controlling presence on the board, said China Direct CEO Howard Ullman.
  • Nourison set to open showroom in Las Vegas
    Saddle Brook, N.J.— Nourison, one of the largest U.S. rug importers, said it will open a permanent showroom at the World Market Center in Las Vegas in 2007. "With the growth we are projecting in our merchandise assortment and national distribution, this will be a timely enhancement of Nourison's broader market presence," said Alex Peykar, a company principal.
  • LaMarche expands; to show in Vegas
    Lake Forest, Calif.— Occasional and accent furniture resource LaMarche has expanded its headquarters here, and plans to show at the inaugural Las Vegas market in July. The company will show in suite 450 of the World Market Center in Vegas. LaMarche has showrooms in High Point and Dallas and attends shows in Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco and Chicago.
  • A-America offering quick-ship program
    Seattle— Case goods importer A-America is offering retailers a quick-ship program from its Vietnam manufacturing facilities. The program applies to orders received on any of four groups introduced at the April High Point market. The goods are produced in a factory about 25 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City in which A-America has an ownership stake.
  • Quality control course is first for Vietnam mfrs.
    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam— T.L.C. Sourcing here recently sponsored its first two-week quality control training course for wood furniture manufacturers. More quality courses are planned, although none have been scheduled yet. "With Vietnam entering the World Trade Organization, the demands for our products will increase and it's important that we in the wood furniture industry move forward...
  • Progressive has China office
    Swanton, Ohio— Case goods and occasional manufacturer-importer Progressive Furniture has opened an office in China to oversee sourcing activities there. The six-person office in Dong Guan reports to Rob Slagle, recently named vice president of international operations for Progressive, which makes case goods in its Claremont, N.
  • Morty Seaman reflects on closing
    Woodbury, N.Y.— You might expect Morty Seaman to be saddened by the news that Seaman's no longer will exist as a store. The chain was founded in Brooklyn in 1933 by his father, Julius, who borrowed $500 from Morty's grandmother to open his first store with Morty's mother, Ada, selling iceboxes.
  • Vendors mainly positive on LHFI's strategy
    Woodbury, N.Y.— Suppliers and industry observers mainly applauded Levitz Home Furnishings Inc.'s latest restructuring plan, saying the move to a single brand — Levitz — appears to be an aggressive but necessary move to rejuvenate the Top 100 chain. "As a long-term supplier of Levitz and Seaman's, I think the consolidation of the brand into one is going to allow them to focus m...
  • Penney looks to spur furniture sales
    Plano, Texas— Based on strong results, JCPenney is expanding a test program of sales specialists working with furniture sales associates to all 163 of its furniture departments. The program follows similar ones developed for fine jewelry, family footwear and window coverings — businesses that, like furniture, are under the aegis of Charlie Chinni, executive vice president, general m...
  • JCP honors Chinni, other top managers
    Plano, Texas— Charlie Chinni, executive vice president and general merchandise manager, home was the highest ranking recipient of the JCPenney Chairman's Award for 2004. Chinni also holds the titles for fine jewelry, family footwear and women's accessories. Myron (Mike) Ullman III, chairman and chief executive, presented the awards for managerial excellence last month to 275 JCPenney empl...
  • University Loft buys big Masco plant
    Morristown, Tenn.— Youth furniture maker University Loft has acquired a former Masco plant here, which will allow the company to expand its upholstery business and consolidate operations from other facilities around Morristown. A purchase price was not disclosed. University Loft sells youth furniture to 700 retail accounts, including 40 of the Top 100, and contract furniture for college d...
  • Durham shutters its newest plant
    Durham, Ontario— Soft business conditions in the United States and Canada have prompted high-end case goods producer Durham Furniture to shut down its new state-of-the-art plant in nearby Chesley. "Plant No. 3 has gone into an extended shutdown because we don't have the volume to fill it up right now," said President Steve Wilson.
  • Help1Up gets NHFA, HFIA backing
    High Point— Retail trade groups the National Home Furnishings Assn. and the Home Furnishings International Assn. have endorsed Help1Up, a national charitable effort by stores to support furniture banks. Such "banks" are nonprofit organizations that collect unwanted home furnishings from the public and provide the goods to people in need.
  • Trimmings supplier Bomar names Boyle president, CEO
    Lake Worth, Fla.— Trimmings supplier Bomar Inds. has named Kyle Boyle as president and CEO. He succeeds Alan Block, who joined the company last year on an interim basis when former president and CEO Nimi Natan stepped down to spend more time with his family. Boyle was previously president of Serta Mattress Co.
  • Dellinger to manage Foss's fiber business unit
    Hampton, N.H— Jeff Dellinger has joined Foss Mfg., a producer of synthetic fibers and nonwoven fabrics, as managing director of its fiber business unit. Dellinger previously was director of sales for Solutia's acrylic fiber division, which is closing this month. At Foss, he is responsible for global sales and marketing, technical service, customer solutions and business support activities.
  • Fabric maker De Ball taps Southey as CEO
    Granby, Quebec— Chris Southey has been named CEO of fabric producer De Ball Inc. He is replacing Paul Flay, who is scheduled to retire in June. Southey reports to Christopher Wood, chairman and co-principal of De Ball, who purchased the company, then called J.L. deBall, in November 2004 from its German-based parent company, Girmes.
  • Closing Georgia store cites imports
    Rome, Ga.— After nearly 60 years, McBrayer Brothers Furniture here is closing, citing imports as a reason why. It opened in this northwest Georgia city in 1947, and its red-brick store has been a mainstay of downtown. Furniture has been sold in the McBrayer building since the '30s. Co-owner Hal Ruland told the Rome News-Tribune the exodus of U.
  • Turkish textiles show expands
    Istanbul, Turkey— The 11th annual Evteks textile show, the largest trade event in Turkey, has expanded to 10 exhibition halls covering about 1.3 million square feet at the CNR Expo Center here for its May 18–22 run. More than 850 exhibitors, including 630 Turkish textile companies, are set to show at Evteks 2005.
  • Florida's Carls Patio acquires San Diego store
    Coconut Creek, Fla.— Carls Patio, part of the Top 100 store Carls, is jumping to the West Coast with the acquisition of the 18,000-square-foot Saddleback of San Diego patio store. The Florida retailer formed a new corporation, Carl's Patio West, to acquire the retailer from owners Tony and Donna Stevens for an undisclosed amount.
  • Textile group sets seminar on free-trade agreements
    New York— How will the Central America Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, and the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement affect American textile companies? To help sort things out, the National Textile Assn. is presenting a breakfast seminar here on Wednesday, May 11, from 8 to 9:30 a.
  • Culp eliminating 225 jobs
    High Point— Fabric source Culp said it plans to close a plant and eliminate 225 jobs, or 17% of its U.S. upholstery fabric segment employees, as part of a restructuring expected to save the company about $11 million annually. Rob Culp, chairman and CEO, said in a press release the company is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to make its domestic business profitable.
  • Martin KI line becomes Mount View
    San Diego— Kathy Ireland Home by Martin has changed the name of its Mount Vernon collection to Mount View in response to a request by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Assn. "We respect the work the association does maintaining the prestigious and historic presidential estate," said Gil Martin, president and CEO of Martin Furniture.
  • Phillips store converting to Ashley
    Kirkwood, Mo.— Phillips Furniture has liquidated its original midpriced store here and will soon convert it to the company's second 40,000-square-foot Ashley Furniture HomeStore. The longtime St. Louis-area retailer hired Wahlquist Management to run the eight-week liquidation sale in the old store, which in addition to Ashley carried such lines as Hooker, A-America and Legacy Classic.

Opinion Today
  • Furniture retailing action is everywhere
    The retail arena for selling furniture keeps getting bigger. Quietly, Home Depot has launched a catalog and Internet-only offering that dramatically expands on its in-store mix. Its catalog has a full page of leather furniture, with a recliner or chair/ottoman, each for $999. Then there are four pages of dining and game tables with cabinets under the banner Hills of Provence.

People Today
  • Mecke re-elected IFSA head
    High PointThe International Furniture Suppliers Assn. has elected its leaders for 2005–2006. Don Mecke, executive vice president of Kathy Ireland Home by Standard Furniture, has been re-elected president for a second term. He has been president since 2004. Other newly elected officers are David Kuluva, Mittelman Furniture, Kansas City, Kan.
  • People on the Move
    People on the Move
    Buyers Robb & Stucky Fort Myers, Fla. — Brion Forman has joined retailer Robb & Stucky as senior buyer for leather upholstery, a new post. Forman, who had been with Federated Merchandising Group in New York, reports to Claire Goldhagen, merchandise manager for upholstery and leather at Robb & Stucky.

Special Report
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Top 25 sales climb 6.9%
    High Point— Sales gains by the Top 25 companies were about in line with two measures of the industry's growth last year, but lagged a third. The big manufacturers and importers grew 6.9% as a group, according to company reports and Furniture/Today estimates. That's close to the 7.9% growth of the U.
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers & Importers
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Three fall off Top 25 onto contenders list
    High Point— Three companies that slipped off last year's Top 25 head the ranks of contenders for the list. Sherrill, The Rowe Companies and Chromcraft Revington all fell shy in 2004 of No. 25 LeatherTrend, which rode a big sales increase to $180.5 million in U.S. volume. Sherrill was just behind at $179.
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Who owns whom
    Ashley Furniture Inds. Ashley Case Goods, Ashley Upholstery and Millennium Brown Jordan International Brown Jordan, Pompeii, Winston, Vineyard, Stuart Clark, Atlantis, Casual Living Worldwide, Tradewinds, Charter, Lodging by Charter, Loewenstein, Texacraft, Tropic Craft, Wabash Valley, Woodsmiths and Molla Bush Furniture Bush-Rohr GmBh, Bush Viotedinik, ColorWorks, Fournier and Rohr Gruppe Cent...
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Earnings mixed among Top 25
    High Point— Last year's earnings results were decidedly mixed for the public companies among the Top 25, with net income improving for six and declining for seven. Two companies, La-Z-Boy and O'Sullivan Inds., reported net losses, while Bassett Furniture rebounded from a small loss in fiscal 2003 to an $8.
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    About the ranking
    Furniture/Today's exclusive report on the Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers and Importers ranks companies according to 2004 furniture shipments to the United States. Sources on the list must sell into the U.S. market, regardless of whether they have manufacturing, assembling operations or corporate offices in the United States.
  • Aching consumers find relief in massage, zero-gravity chairs
    High Point— Consumers with aching muscles are the focus of a growing, but little-noticed niche of the reclining chair market. These consumers, whose problems range from tired feet to sore backs, can now choose from a variety of stylish chairs that provide warmth, massages and several other forms of relief for stressed-out joints.
  • Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
    Ashley tops La-Z-Boy as No. 2 source
    High Point— Growing at a 26.3% clip last year, Ashley has rocketed into the No. 2 spot among U.S. furniture sources. With U.S. furniture sales of $2.04 billion in 2004, the giant Wisconsin-based manufacturer and importer surpassed La-Z-Boy at $1.9 billion and is knocking on the door of Furniture Brands International, still the largest at $2.

Store Openings
  • MSO installs Lane gallery
    Fairfield, N.J.— MSO Furniture has unveiled a 7,500-square-foot Lane Comfort Showcase gallery in its 40,000-square-foot store here. Christopher DeLisa and the DeLisa family own the 30-year-old business. Lane, a manufacturer of motion furniture and recliners, is a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International, based in St.
  • Drexel Heritage debuts Fla. unit
    Fort Myers, Fla.— The first of two Drexel Heritage stores planned for southwest Florida has opened on Tamiami Trail in South Fort Myers. The new 20,000-square-foot, freestanding store is owned by Hendricks Furniture Group, a Top 100, North Carolina-based company. Matt Evans is general manager of the unit.
  • La-Z-Boy adds two galleries
    Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy has added galleries in two stores, in California and Mississippi. In Gilroy, Calif., a La-Z-Boy gallery has been installed at Rosso Furniture on Monterey Road. The 5,000-square-foot gallery features a broad selection of La-Z-Boy products. The 30,000-square-foot store is owned by brothers Jamie and Anthony Rosso.
  • C.L. Barnes opens Decor-Rest gallery
    Alexandria, Va.— C.L. Barnes Furniture Co., on Richmond Highway here, has opened a 3,000-square-foot Decor-Rest Showcase Gallery in its 40,000-square-foot store. The installation is the Canadian-based upholstery producer's third gallery in the United States.

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