Subscribe to Furniture Today
Subscribe to Enewsletters
Other Home Furnishing Sites
Home Accents Today
Kids Today
Casual Living
Bedding Today
Garden Decor
Home Textiles Today
Gifts & Dec
Playthings
Search:        
Sponsored by
Furniture|Today > Archives > 05/16/2005 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 05/16/2005

Bedding Today
  • Lorelli's children's book travels a touching road
    Mike Lorelli has had many business successes. He's dreamed up creative ways to get more Americans to drink Pepsi, and he's helped spread Pizza Hut restaurants around the globe. Along the way he's racked up hundreds of thousands of frequent-flier miles. But one of his greatest accomplishments is writing a children's book on the challenges families face when a spouse travels.

Editor's Desk
  • Vineyard debuts its 'purple cow'
    A while back, I dedicated a column to Seth Godin's book, "Purple Cow," essentially a how-to guide to transforming your business by being remarkable. Simply put, he maintains the only cow sure to be noticed in a pasture of brown cows is a purple cow. I invited readers to share their purple cow with me.

Industry Numbers
  • Canadian furniture stocks strong in '04
    Toronto— Canada's publicly held furniture companies had pretty good years in 2004 and, with some notable exceptions, the stock market signaled its approval with strong price gains over 2003. There are 10 publicly held Canadian furniture companies, evenly split between manufacturers and retailers.
  • Rental company revenues up
    Atlanta— First-quarter revenues were up across the board for the four publicly held North American rental companies. Aaron Rents, based here, narrowly edged out Edmonton, Alberta-based Easyhome for top honors, increasing revenues 15.2% to $279.3 million, compared with $242.5 million in the same period a year ago.
  • Simmons sales slide 7.9%
    Atlanta— Citing a lukewarm reception to its 2005 product line, Simmons Bedding Co. reported sharp declines in first-quarter sales and earnings. The bedding major said total sales were off 7.9% in the quarter ended March 26, while conventional bedding sales dropped 8.5%. Bedding unit shipments fell 15.
  • Dorel posts double-digit gains in 1Q
    Montreal— Although outpaced by both juvenile and recreational/leisure products, Dorel's home furnishings unit saw double-digit growth in the first quarter, with revenues up 10.5% and earnings from operations jumping 21.1%. Revenues in the home furnishings segment, primarily ready-to-assemble furniture by Ameriwood, came to $145 million, compared to $131.
  • Financial results
    Earnings per share are fully diluted, and all figures in parentheses are losses or declines.

News
  • Sligh closing clock plant
    Holland, Mich.— Sligh Furniture is closing its domestic plant here and moving to a fully sourced line, the company announced last week. Sligh also said it is dropping its grandfather clock line at the end of the year. The family-owned company, founded in 1880, said it will keep its headquarters here but close the plant in September, eliminating 75 jobs.
  • Earl Spencer attending Althorp launch
    Riverdale, N.J.— Charles, 9th Earl Spencer will be on hand May 26 at Bograd's Fine Furniture for the U.S. retail launch of Theodore Alexander's Althorp collection, a full line of furnishings based on the ancestral English home of the Earls of Spencer. The event marks Earl Spencer's first appearance at a U.
  • GERS appoints Bloom CEO
    San Diego— Stewart M. Bloom, a software, technology and retail veteran, has been named president and CEO of GERS, a provider of enterprise software for the retail industry. He replaces James Henderson, who had led GERS for six years. The company said Henderson left to pursue other interests. The company said Bloom will focus on increasing GERS' customer value, expanding its footprint, and...
  • Smith leaves Culp presidency
    High Point— Rodney Smith, president of the decorative fabrics division of Culp Inc., has left the company in the wake of a restructuring of its upholstery fabric business announced earlier this month. No replacement has been named, and it wasn't immediately clear if Smith would be replaced. Smith had been with Culp since 1997 and had been president of the decorative fabrics division since...
  • IHFC's Miller: Head count not exact science
    High Point— In a perfect world, someone somewhere would have the exact head count of attendees at the International Home Furnishings Market here. However, even the man probably closest to that number, Bruce Miller, vice chairman and CEO of the International Home Furnishings Center, says there is no perfect world.
  • Stress-O-Pedic chooses Freudenberg's FR fabric
    Ontario, Calif.— Bedding producer Stress-O-Pedic said it is using Freudenberg's Celestia flame-retardant material in its bedding lines. Freudenberg said the producer began using its FR fabric at the beginning of this year, when California's new open flame resistance law took effect. This marks the first publicly identified bedding customer for Freudenberg's FR products.
  • F/T needs your Las Vegas market introductions by Friday, June 17
    High Point— Furniture/Today is soliciting information on product introductions for the July Las Vegas market. Producers are invited to submit a list of products and marketing programs to be unveiled in Las Vegas. The information will be presented in the July 25 issue of Furniture/Today, which will be distributed at the two shows taking place in Las Vegas that week — the Las Vegas Fu...
  • Home Fashions adds execs to explore other categories
    Pasadena, Calif.— Home Fashions International, a supplier of fashion bedding textiles, has added two executives to its management in order to aggressively pursue other categories, particularly decorative pillows and table linens. Neil Zuber has joined the company as executive vice president, and Amy Bell is a vice president with oversight of the decorative accessories segment.
  • Celestia said effective, unobtrusive
    Lowell, Mass.— The Stress-O-Pedic placement is a key one for Freudenberg North America's fire-resistant Celestia barrier product. California's Stress-O-Pedic ships its mattresses in the western United States, including Hawaii. Celestia, added to the mattress as a fire-suppressant barrier, is an FR fabric that "hugs" the mattress, according to Freudenberg.
  • Nominations sought for young leaders issue
    High Point— Furniture/Today will publish a special issue in late November recognizing the achievements and promise of outstanding young furniture industry leaders. To help identify this next generation of leaders, Furniture/Today is seeking nominations from the industry. The special issue, called Fresh Furniture Faces, will appear Nov.
  • Transportation Insight promotes 2 execs, hires 1
    Hickory, N.C.— Transportation Insight, a freight cost management firm serving the furniture industry, has named William Pazdera chief operating officer, a new position. Pazdera most recently was vice president of information systems at the company. Transportation Insight also hired Laura Easley as vice president of sales, another new post.
  • IFDA annual benefit sale set May 27–28
    High Point— The 11th Annual Benefit Furniture & Accessory Sale will be held Friday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel here. A preview party and silent auction will be held Thursday evening, May 26 from 5:30 to 7:30. It is sponsored by the Carolinas Chapter of the International Furnishings & Design Assn.
  • Consultant: Be a 'hero' to consumers
    Quebec City— As far as Donald Cooper is concerned, retail is a business based on knowledge. In fact, he told Mega Group members at their annual general meeting here, there are seven things that every retailer must know about his business, his customers and his life if he is to be truly successful.
  • Mega celebrates 40th anniversary of V.I.P. founding
    Quebec City— With more than 250 people from about 106 member stores attending, this year's annual general meeting and conference was one of the largest in Mega Group's history. Using the theme of Unlimited Opportunities, the conference kicked off the 40th anniversary of the founding of V.I.P. Stores in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which joined with Les magazins ameublements B.
  • King Textiles promotes Underwood to president
    High Point— King Textiles, an importer of fabric and finished products, has promoted Matthew Underwood to president, a new post. He previously was sales manager for the company, which is jointly owned by his father, Harvey Underwood, and S.K. Chang of Taiwan. Harvey Underwood is retiring from day-to-day involvement.
  • Printing symposium set
    New York— The American Assn. of Textile Chemists and Colorists is co-sponsoring "Printing 2005: A Digital Reality," a digital printing symposium set for May 24–26 at the New School University here. The program was developed for brand owners, designers, digital printers, manufacturers, product developers and retailers.
  • Obituaries
    'Sy' Wolf, bedding exec
    Lancaster, Md.— Bedding manufacturing executive Seymour D. "Sy" Wolf has died. He was 83. Wolf was chairman and CEO of AW Inds. and Serta Washington, D.C., for nearly 40 years. He joined AW in 1946 after wartime service as a naval officer. He was a president of the National Assn. of Bedding Manufacturers, which became the International Sleep Products Assn.
  • Mega: Our culture is key
    Quebec City— Mega Group's distinctive corporate culture will drive its growth in the coming years despite the upheavals that are expected on the retail scene, President and CEO Michael Graydon told members of the buying group at their annual general meeting here last week. "The culture of this organization is more critical than ever before," he said.
  • Mattress report draws mixed reviews
    Yonkers, N.Y.— Consumer Reports magazine takes an in-depth look at "How to buy a mattress without losing sleep" in its June issue. The report is drawing mixed reviews in the bedding industry. Industry experts say it makes a number of good points about the mattress shopping process, but they also note some faults.
  • Cargo rates rise a bit
    High Point— Thanks to increased cargo handling capacity on the West Coast, many furniture importers and their logistics providers have negotiated better shipping rates than first sought by the major carriers. Logistic experts say, on average, it will cost up to $100 more to ship a 40-foot high cube container from Hong Kong or Shenzhen, China, to the U.
  • American holds course
    Pontotoc, Miss.— Almost a year after a rocky start, the new owners of promotional upholstery producer American Furniture Mfg. are expanding the company's manufacturing facilities, improving its product line and upgrading its sales and delivery systems. But the company, purchased from Clearview Capital and Gerald Washington last July by a group led by Hampshire Equity Partners of New York ...
  • AHFA to offer shipping rates
    High Point— The American Home Furnishings Alliance said last week it plans to offer its members competitive container shipping rates under a new program. The AHFA said it is still negotiating with two carriers and could not reveal the rates yet. The announcement comes on the heels of shipping cost increases on containers from Asia.
  • Simmons revamps lines
    Atlanta— Bedding major Simmons, responding to a sharp decline in its unit shipments in the first quarter, has revamped a number of product lines with new and re-engineered models. A key focus has been to add value at price points under $800, Simmons Chairman Charlie Eitel said last week in a conference call with analysts.
  • Dobbs joins Sealy as marketing VP
    Archdale, N.C.— Bedding sales leader Sealy has named marketing veteran Philip Dobbs senior vice president of marketing. He succeeds Mark Hobson, named to a top sales post at Sealy last year, and reports to Dave McIlquham, chairman and CEO. Dobbs most recently was senior vice president of marketing at the Cadbury Adams division of Cadbury Schweppes in New Jersey.
  • Nordstrom selling Westin bedding
    Seattle— Nordstrom department stores have begun selling Heavenly Bed at Home, the Westin Hotels & Resorts' signature bed and bedding collection. Nordstrom is the exclusive retailer for Heavenly Bed, which represents an expansion of the store's the home furnishings business. The Seattle-based company, with 95 stores coast to coast, has 61 stores with At Home departments, whose products...
  • Great Indoors store closing
    Hoffman Estates, Ill.— Sears Holdings said it will close its The Great Indoors store in Deerfield, Ill., by July 31 because of poor sales. Sears operates 17 of The Great Indoors specialty stores, which focus on redecorating and renovating. A company spokesperson said there are no plans to close any other units.
  • Covington's Peter D'Ascoli passes baton
    New York— Peter D'Ascoli has resigned from fabric supplier Covington Inds., where he was vice president, co-director of creative services. Christine D'Ascoli, who also has been co-director of creative services, now assumes full responsibility. She also is director of the studio and design.

Opinion Today
  • Letters to the Editor
    Letters to the Editor
    Retailer: Let us close with grace After 80 years in a third-generation, single-store, family retail furniture business, we have made the decision to not renew our lease as of July 31. Our decision was made easier by our landlord. After much negotiation, we could not agree to accept a lease of $3 per square foot, or $30,000 per month for our 10,000-square-foot store.
  • 'Idol' tips could lead to winning retail strategy
    Okay, I admit it. I'm an "American Idol" fan. It's not just the singing, or what a so-called reality TV show can tell us about human nature. It's that contestants don't have to be braver, meaner or more attractive than each other. Their success is in their individuality. In fact, "Idol" suggests we'll do better when we get in touch with our unique ability and push the limits of our potential.

People Today
  • Inside Out hires five for management posts
    Perdido Key, Fla.— Inside Out Furniture & Design has named Gabriel Taylor and four others to its management team. Taylor has joined the retailer as vice president, sales. The son of co-founder Gail Taylor, he previously was in sales management, then store management at Seffner, Fla.-based Rooms To Go.
  • People on the Move
    People on the Move
    Sales Flexsteel Dubuque, Iowa — Brad Bahl has been assigned sales duties for the greater Chicago territory of Flexsteel's residential division, succeeding Jack DeNert, who served for 22 years. Bahl joined Flexsteel 12 years ago as a trainee in customer service and sales, and was promoted to associate salesman in California.

Special Report
  • Metal beds find success with coordinated looks
    High Point— Metal bed manufacturers and importers launched a host of new looks and finishes this past market aimed at marrying their products more closely with case goods lines. The effort proved a success as retailers seek to fuel interest in a category among younger and older consumers alike.
  • Daybeds rise again
    High Point— With daybed business on the mend, vendors have seen an opportunity to add new styles and colors. These additions are breathing new life into a category that has been hit hard by competition from futons and other sleep products over the last few years. At Benicia Foundry & Iron Works, daybed business was strong in 2004, reaching approximately 30% of business.
  • Cristina a hit at El Dorado
    Miami— An appearance by Hispanic TV star Cristina Saralegui drew hundreds of consumers to El Dorado Furniture earlier this month for the official retail launch of her licensed home furnishings collection. Cristina, host of "The Cristina Show" and co-publisher of Cristina La Revista magazine, made stops at two El Dorado stores in greater Miami, drawing an estimated 800 to 900 people.

Store Openings
  • Distinctive Designs installs 1st U.S. gallery
    Greenville, N.C.— Upholstery maker Distinctive Designs of Toronto and Granite Falls, N.C., has opened its first U.S. gallery in the Fabric & Home Furnishings store here. The 4,000-square-foot gallery features fabric and leather upholstery from Distinctive Designs. Dale Pendry and Lisa Pendry are owners of the 30,000-square-foot store.
  • Klavohn's has Serta gallery
    Geneseo, Ill.— Klavohn's Home Furnishings has opened a new 18,000-square-foot store here, devoting about 2,000 square feet to a Serta mattress gallery. The gallery features Serta's Perfect Night collection. Store owners David and Patty Robinson have been in business since 1999.
  • Roers debuts Broyhill Showplace
    Alexandria, Minn.— Roers Furniture has installed a 10,000-square-foot Broyhill Furniture Showplace gallery in its store here. Owners Roy and Kathy Roer launched the furniture retailer five years ago in a 6,000-square-foot building. The Broyhill gallery includes 58 settings of bedroom, dining room and living room products, and is part of the Broyhill Retail Concepts program.
  • BFD adds store in South Carolina
    Charleston, S.C.— A Bassett Furniture Direct store has opened in the Charleston suburb of Mount Pleasant. Ray Waldrup and Fred Waters are owners of the 20,000-square-foot store. The BFD store features a broad selection of midpriced Bassett furniture, with a choice of over 1,000 upholstery fabrics, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorative accessories.
  • DOTI opens in S.C.
    Greenville, S.C.— Designs of The Interior has opened a 4,500-square-foot franchised store on Woodruff Road here. The upscale home furnishings store includes a working design studio area. The DOTI unit is owned by Brent Miller and Beth Miller.

Please visit these other Reed Business sites