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Furniture|Today > Archives > 06/27/2005 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 06/27/2005

Bedding Today
  • Bedding veteran Goodman aiming to soar with brand
    Who is Bruce Goodman and why is he saying these things? The first part of that question is easy. Bruce, a veteran bedding man, is president of White Dove of Cleveland, a mattress company established by Harry Goodman back in 1922. Bruce is Harry's great-grandson. White Dove is another bedding company with a multi-generational story to tell.

Editor's Desk
  • Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
    This week's column is not about furniture; it's about frogs. That's right, frogs. Frogs always make me think of my high school biology class, and tall glass jars that reeked of formaldehyde and were filled with dead frogs. We took those unlucky specimens and sliced and diced them, all in the name of science.

Industry Numbers
  • Culp 4Q sales down 12.9%
    High Point— Declining demand for domestically produced fabrics and costs related to its restructuring contributed to fourth-quarter and year-end net losses at major fabric and ticking supplier Culp Inc. Culp reported a net loss of $7.7 million on sales of $74.2 million in its fourth quarter ended May 1, and a net loss of $17.
  • Rowe's 2Q sales rise 5.8%; net loss is $2.5M
    McLean, Va.— Upholstery manufacturer and home furnishings retailer The Rowe Companies said it increased sales 5.8% but recorded a net loss of $2.5 million in its second quarter ended May 29, compared to net income of $729,000 in the comparable period a year ago. The company attributed the loss to manufacturing difficulties, including increased returns, allowances and service costs due to ...

News
  • BermanFalk buys fellow Canadian producer HOM
    Langley, British Columbia— Contemporary case goods and occasional manufacturer BermanFalk has acquired Vancouver-based furniture maker HOM Furniture & Design. BermanFalk will begin immediate production of HOM's full collections of contemporary furniture, Sonoma and D-Line, for sale under the brand name HOM by BermanFalk.
  • SEHFA honors Louisiana store owner
    Sandestin, Fla.— Louisiana store owner Mike Beach was named Retailer of the Year by the Southeastern Home Furnishings Assn. at its conference here this month. Beach, of Mike Beach Furniture Showrooms in La Place, La., also is the retail group's president for 2005–2006. Other officers are Jason Rudd, Rudd Furniture, Dothan, Ala.
  • Wearbest sets Bella-Dura performance line
    New York— Fabric source Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills is launching Bella-Dura, a line of performance fabric, at the upcoming Showtime in High Point. Tom Notaro, vice president of sales and marketing for Wearbest and vice president of Bella-Dura, said, "We started out about three years ago to develop a performance fabric that would at least meet, if not beat, our competition on every level of per...
  • GERS adds three retailers to client list
    San Diego— Three furniture retailers, in Texas, California and the Midwest, have implemented GERS Retail Systems Store Operations & POS software to speed customer transactions. Furniture Warehouse, which operates six stores in Dallas-Fort Worth with same- or next-day delivery, replaced its manual point-of-sale system with GERS software, which GERS says is easy to learn and use, provid...
  • Braxton Culler opens 3rd gallery in Bacon's unit
    High Point— Braxton Culler has opened its third in-store gallery, showcasing its casual lifestyle line. Bacon's Furniture Galleries in Port Charlotte, Fla., unveiled the 3,000-square-foot installation in late May, offering upholstery, occasional, dining room and bedroom furniture. Braxton Culler opened its first gallery at Furnitureland South in Jamestown, N.
  • AHFA sets marketing event
    High Point— Speakers at the American Home Furnishings Alliance's Annual Marketing Meeting will tackle a big topic: how to set product development strategies and marketing messages to more effectively target today's diverse and highly informed consumers. The Aug. 3–5 event in Charleston, S.
  • Correction
    The manufacturer of this sectional, pictured on page 22 of the June issue of Leather Today, was misidentified. It is by Chateau d'Ax.
  • AHFA operations session set July 28–30
    High Point— The American Home Furnishings Alliance plans an Operations Conference for manufacturers and importers July 28–30 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Human resources, information technology, manufacturing and transportation and logistics will be the focus of breakout sessions tackling key issues and concerns, and will offer best practices for overcoming challenges.
  • Templeton to direct Robert Allen's Beacon Hill division
    New York— Erin Templeton has joined The Robert Allen Group as director, Beacon Hill. She will be responsible for designing, purchasing and merchandising Beacon Hill upholstery, window and multi-purpose fabrics. The resignation earlier this year of Erin Murphy, operating vice president of Beacon Hill, opened the search for a senior designer.
  • Spring Air licensee adding managers
    Tampa, Fla.— Consolidated Bedding Inc., aiming for more growth with Spring Air, is expanding its management team. Andrew Cuppia has joined the company as vice president of operations. He held the same post at bedding majors Serta and Simmons, where he worked for 26 years. Cuppia reports to Steve Russo, CBI president and chief operating officer.
  • Obituaries
    William 'Bill' Dugan
    Forestville, Calif.— William "Bill" Dugan, a 35-year veteran of the furniture industry, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 57. Dugan started his career in 1970 with retailer Breuners in Pleasant Hill, Calif., then managed the chain's store in Santa Rosa, Calif., for many years. He later served as a district manager for Thomasville Home Furnishings in California.
  • Nine students win Virginia Jackson awards
    High Point— Nine textile design students have won the 2005 Virginia Jackson Design Awards, presented by the Educational Foundation of the International Textile Market Assn. The awards, which recognize and encourage students enrolled in textile design curricula, are given in three categories — jacquard, print and dobby.
  • Flocktex travels from Israel to High Point
    Kiryat Malachi, Israel— Flocktex Inds., a 30-year-old family-owned fabric maker here, is bringing its performance fabric to the United States and will exhibit in the lobby of the Radisson Hotel at Summer Showtime, July 10–13, in High Point. The company says its Impala product, a stain-resistant leather alternative that is cleanable with plain water, has been widely accepted in Europ...
  • Showtime set to open, close a day earlier
    High Point— The International Textile Market Assn. is making two significant scheduling changes for the semiannual Showtime fabric show here. The show now opens earlier (at noon on Sunday, rather than Monday morning) and closes earlier (at 6 p.m. Wednesday, rather than Thursday afternoon). This is designed to make the setting up and tearing down of booths more convenient for ITMA members,...
  • DuPont has organic fiber FR barrier for mattresses
    Richmond, Va.— Chemicals giant DuPont is offering a new high-loft, fire-resistant barrier with organic fibers, which bedding producers can use in panels and borders to make mattresses meeting California's tough new flammability rules. Called DuPont Natural Fire Resistant High Loft, the barrier is from DuPont's Advanced Fibers Systems unit, based here.
  • Our Community
    Badcock sails for charity
    Mulberry, Fla.— Employees and vendors of retailer W.S. Badcock Corp. took a cruise and raised $55,000 for charity at the same time. The Top 100 store hosted a cruise to benefit City of Hope, the comprehensive cancer center in Duarte, Calif. Don Marks, Badcock president, hosted the event. Cruisers each donated $500 to the City of Hope.
  • Our Community
    Red Cross salutes Bob's Discount
    Plantsville, Conn.— In recognition of its generous support, Bob's Discount Furniture has received the Circle of Humanitarians award from the national office of the American Red Cross. Bob Kaufman, president of the Manchester, Conn.-based retailer, accepted on behalf of the company at a Red Cross sponsor and donor recognition event at the Aqua Turf Club here.
  • Our Community
    Taylor King raises funds to fight cancer
    High Point— During the April market here, North Carolina-based upholstery maker Taylor King opened its showroom to the public and raised more than $4,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition to the showroom tour, the afternoon fundraiser featured a catered lunch and a presentation on interior design by Carol Danayre Bugg of Interiors by Decorating Den.
  • STI taps Read, Payne to design upscale fabrics
    Kings Mountain, N.C.— Home furnishings designers Glen Read and Larry Payne will design, color and merchandise upscale fabrics for STI, a mill here that has specialized in body cloths and popularly priced pillow patterns. Read's and Payne's respective companies, Glen Read Designs of Beverly Hills, Calif.
  • Scoperta attendance said up 8%
    Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom— Trade Link, organizer of the annual Scoperta fabric trade show in Chiasso, Switzerland, said 8% more visitors came to the show this year than last. Managing Director Andy Green said visitor numbers have increased 19% over the past three years. The 2005 show had visitors from 57 countries, including Japan, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia, he said.
  • Registration open for IHFRA's Aug. 1–5 CHR course
    High Point— The International Home Furnishing Representatives Assn. is accepting registrations for its next Certified Homefurnishings Representatives course here Aug. 1–5. The CHR course is an intensive, weeklong program that emphasizes business principles, professionalism and skill development for the home furnishings sales representative.
  • Furniture First sets credit card
    Harrisburg, Pa.— Buying group Furniture First says it will offer a private-label credit card program through Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services. Furniture First President Bill Hartman said the Wells Fargo unit has "an excellent reputation in customer service, technology, approval processing and Internet capabilities.
  • Leather Bella closing facility
    High Point— Leather Bella, the warehouse division of Italian leather upholstery producer Soft Line, is closing a warehouse facility here. Four other warehouses nationwide totaling 190,000 square feet, including three sites in Randleman, N.C., will continue to support the in-stock line, said Guy Ray, senior vice president of Soft Line.
  • Flexsteel taps Klosterman
    Dubuque, Iowa— Flexsteel Inds. has named Ronald J. Klosterman, its chief financial officer, as president and chief operating officer of the upholstery maker and case goods importer. As president, he succeeds Bruce Lauritsen, who will continue as CEO and also was appointed vice chairman of the board of directors.
  • Chromcraft chooses CEO
    Delphi, Ind.— Chromcraft Revington, looking outside the furniture industry for new leadership, has named Benjamin Anderson-Ray CEO and a member of the board of directors. Anderson-Ray, 50, is a managing partner of Spring Garden Corporate Advisors, an investment advisory firm with a focus on the horticultural industry.
  • Rhodes files Ch. 11 plan
    Atlanta— Top 100 store Rhodes Furniture has filed a reorganization plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court here that would have the 64-store chain emerge from Chapter 11 protection with its major unsecured creditors as its owners. The plan, filed last week, would give the largest unsecured creditors, with claims estimated at about $59.
  • Bacon's opens branded stores
    Port Charlotte, Fla.— Bacon's Furniture Galleries has expanded its presence in this west Florida market with two new branded stores. In May, the family-owned retailer, run by Bill and Lynn Bacon and their children, opened a 32,000-square-foot Lane store in Port Charlotte and a 19,500-square-foot Drexel Heritage store in Sarasota.
  • Showtime set for July 10–13
    High Point— More than 2,500 participants are expected to attend Summer Showtime here July 10-13, according to the International Textile Market Assn., which organizes the semiannual fabric trade event. Exhibiting companies will hail from at least 17 countries and include 231 of the ITMA's 259 members.
  • Aaron expands Texas presence with Rent2Own acquisition
    Atlanta— Aaron Rents has acquired Austin, Texas-based Rent2Own for an undisclosed sum, expanding the rent-to-own giant's presence in several Texas markets. The 21 stores are in the south Texas markets of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Laredo and Corpus Christi. Aaron plans to convert eight to its Aaron Sales and Lease Ownership format and consolidate the remaining stores into existing Aaro...
  • With sweet tea and grits, Ikea readies Atlanta store
    Atlanta— When Ikea opens its store here this week, the familiar blue and yellow big box will be home to a few firsts for the Top 100 company. It's the first with two levels of underground parking, the first with three ways to check out and the only Ikea to include sweet tea and grits on its café's menu of Swedish and American fare.
  • Adams to head Macy's Home Store
    New York— Tim Adams has been named chairman of Macy's Home Store, effective July 25. Adams has been chairman of Burdine's, now called Macy's Florida, the Miami-based division of Macy's parent Federated Department Stores. At the Home Store, he succeeds Eric Salus, who had been president since the inception of the division in April 2004.
  • Allen joins Parker House
    Azusa, Calif.— West Allen has joined case goods manufacturer and importer Parker House in the new position of director of marketing. Previously, he was sales and marketing manager for Sunny Designs. Allen has more than 35 years of experience in furniture manufacturing and retailing, and will work with Parker House in product development as well as marketing.
  • Woodward EVP at Bombay
    Fort Worth, Texas— Specialty retailer The Bombay Company has promoted Steve Woodward to executive vice president and general merchandise manager. Woodward had been vice president and GMM since he rejoined the company in August 2004. He also had led the company's merchandising efforts during his earlier stint with Bombay, from 1998 to 2002.
  • Ball resigns from Brown Jordan
    Pompano Beach, Fla.— Ron Ball has resigned as vice president of specialty retail sales at outdoor and contract furniture major Brown Jordan International. The company said BJI's regional sales managers will report to Bill Echols, president, Specialty Retail and Outdoor Contract Division, until a replacement is named.

Opinion Today
  • How buying hot deals can hurt bottom lines
    Tell me if you see anything wrong with this picture. Not long ago, an experienced furniture buyer purchased a matching bedroom and dining room from the same vendor, although the bedroom was coming out of one factory in Asia, the dining room from another. He got a great deal and saw nothing wrong with the situation, such as potential finish matching problems, the inefficiency of shipping full co...

People Today
  • Fogarty awarded doctorate
    Grand Rapids, Mich.— Kendall College of Art and Design has awarded an honorary doctorate to Robert S. Fogarty Jr., chairman and CEO of high-end manufacturer Kindel Furniture, citing his profound influence on the American furniture industry. Fogarty has worked in the industry since the 1970s, when he led a turnaround at General Interiors, whose roster of companies included Pennsylvania Hou...
  • People on the Move
    People on the Move
    Marketing/Sales Hafner USA High Point — Upholstery fabric supplier Hafner USA has named Peter Price and Ann Elizabeth Lowder sales agents for North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and east Tennessee. Price and Lowder previously worked at velvet specialist DeBall. Executives Macy's Merchandising Group New York — Janice Kaplan has been named executive vice president/merchandise str...

Special Report
  • Performance fabrics add zip to upholstery sales
    High Point— What is performance fabric? That's a tough question to answer quickly. There's no carved-in-stone definition because there is such a variety of performance properties in today's fabrics and different properties are more crucial in some applications than in others. For example, durability is more important in motion furniture for the family room, light-fastness is key for outdo...
  • Beyond the Top 100
    Beyond the Top 100
    American Home Showplace Home base: Dalton, Ga. President: Lamar Hennon www.americanhomeshowplace.com Total stores 2004: 3 Est. 2004 total sales: $30 million to $34.9 million Family-owned retailer, founded in 1995, carrying midpriced to high-end lines. Operates an American Home Showplace store, a World of Outdoor Living patio store and a By The Room store on its 50-acre complex.
  • Beyond the Top 100
    How the list was compiled
    Furniture/Today's exclusive Beyond the Top 100 report lists in alphabetical order 100 independent furniture stores that are significant players in their respective markets. The list is by no means comprehensive. Many more than the 100 furniture stores listed are strong retailers in their communities.
  • Beyond the Top 100
    Many independents rise to challenges
    High Point— It's no picnic for furniture retailers these days, including many smaller independents. In last year's Beyond the Top 100 report, everything from price deflation to stale promotion techniques was weighing on the minds and bottom lines of retailers. While those same issues continue to make life difficult in the retail trenches today, many dealers in this year's report are risin...
  • Beyond the Top 100
    Competitors band together to form North Dallas Design District
    Farmers Branch, Texas— Faced with a migrating consumer base and new competition on the outskirts of Dallas, a concentrated and competing group of home furnishings stores here decided to do something novel. They began working together. The group of 19 home furnishings retailers with 22 stores formed the North Dallas Design District late last year, a move supported by city and local chamber...

Store Openings
  • England launches three stores
    New Tazewell, Tenn.— Upholstery maker England has opened three dedicated Custom Furniture Direct stores, in Maryland, Ohio and Texas, bringing the total owned by Larry Hendricks and his associates at Custom Direct LLC to seven. Wheaton, Md., is home to a 12,500-square-foot England store on Georgia Avenue.
  • Bassett adds store in Florida
    Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.— A Bassett Furniture Direct store has opened here on U.S. Highway 1 in the Oakbrook Square shopping center. The 14,000-square-foot BFD is owned and operated by Barry and Lisa Reiss. As part of the grand opening, over $2,200 was raised for The Children's Place at Home Safe charity, which helps abused and abandoned children.
  • Broyhill does Texas two-step
    Lenoir, N.C.— Full-line manufacturer Broyhill has opened two freestanding Home Collections stores, in Lewisville and Plano, Texas, bringing the total number of Broyhill dedicated stores to 17. The stores, each about 20,000 square feet, are owned and operated by Charlie and Tina Prenzi, second-generation furniture retailers who now have three Home Collections units in metro Dallas-Fort Worth.
  • Iowa's Smulekoff's debuts Klaussner
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa— Smulekoff's Home Store here has opened a 4,000-square-foot Klaussnerhome Gallery, carrying a variety of Klaussner's fabric, leather and motion upholstery. Smulekoff's has been owned and operated by the same family since 1888. Ann Lipsky is current owner of the 135,000-square-foot store, billed as eastern Iowa's largest home furnishings store.

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