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Furniture|Today > Archives > 07/11/2005 Issue
Table of Contents
Furniture|Today -- 07/11/2005

Bedding Today
  • Readers praise, condemn column on rep mistakes
    Thou shalt not bash furniture and bedding reps. According to one reader, that's what I did with a column on things good reps should not do. This sales rep said he was so upset that he lay awake most of the night composing responses. (Note to rep: Might a new sleep set be helpful?) What said rep decided to say to me included these points: He was "fabulously offended" by the column, which he foun...

Editor's Desk
  • Making a difference ...
    Forget the Pepsi Challenge. Instead, of arguing about colas, I want to see who is ready to help children who, due to a lack of furniture, are sleeping on the floor. Recently, I got a call from Don Lawrence, vice president of communications for the National Furniture Bank Assn. The NFBA is a nonprofit group whose mission is to create comfortable home environments by providing furnishings to peop...

Industry Numbers
  • June retail sales soften
    Fort Worth, Texas— June sales offered little comfort to Pier 1 Imports and The Bombay Company, both based here, and Atlanta-based Havertys. All three retailers posted same-store sales declines, although Pier 1 and Havertys managed to eke out slim increases in total sales. At specialty retailer Pier 1, same-store sales for the five weeks ended July 2 slid by 3.
  • Bestway 2Q revenues up 10.7%; profit doubles
    Dallas— Rent-to-own retailer Bestway posted double-digit increases in revenues, net income and same-store revenues for its fiscal third quarter. Revenues increased 10.7% to $10.5 million in the quarter ended April 30, while same-store revenues rose 10.2%. Including a small pretax gain on the sale of property and equipment, Bestway recorded net profits in the latest quarter of $189,260, mo...
  • Amisco 2Q sales, earnings decline
    L'Islet, Quebec— Metal furniture producer Amisco reported declines in sales and net income for its second fiscal quarter, as sales to U.S. customers dipped. Sales of C$10.8 million in the quarter ended May 28 were off 9.3% from the comparable 2004 period. Net profits fell 16% to C$424,000. Amisco said its sales fluctuated very little in Canada, but U.

News
  • Quaker debuting sueded velvets
    High Point— Quaker Fabric is launching a collection of domestically produced sueded products at Showtime here this week to compete with imported microdenier suede fabrics. The fabrics feature stain-resistant Micromattique microdenier polyester enhanced with Quaker's proprietary Ultra finish, said Tom Muzekari, vice president of sales and marketing.
  • Showtime events
    Monday, July 11 7:30 a.m. — ITMA membership meeting, Steve's Steakhouse, Market Square 8 a.m.–6 p.m. — Fabric showrooms open 6:30 p.m. — Runway Fashion Show, Showplace Tuesday, July 12 7–8 a.m. — Breakfast at Showtime, String & Splinter Club 8–9 a.m. — WithIt breakfast hosted by Home Couture Collective, Suites at Market Square, Space 1-640 8 a.
  • Profitconsulting releases online tool for retailers
    Colorado Springs, Colo.— Profitconsulting, a Profitsystems company, has released a new online tool for furniture retailers called the Opportunity Analyzer. Aimed to help retailers identify basic performance levels for their sales staff and customer traffic, the Opportunity Analyzer allows retailers to provide a few relevant pieces of information about their salespeople's performance in or...
  • Leather Italia USA to expand N.C. facility
    Leland, N.C.— Leather Italia USA this fall will expand its warehouse here by 68,000 square feet to service its burgeoning quick-ship imported leather upholstery business. "This will add a nice dimension for our growing program, and (the total) will exceed 204,000 square feet of warehouse, along with 25,000 square feet of corporate offices," said President Michael Campbell.
  • Textile export advisory meeting set for July 20
    Washington— Domestic producers of upholstery fabric are invited to attend a meeting of the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee here July 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Notice of the public meeting was made by Jim Leonard, chairman of the Committee for Implementation of Textile Agreements, in the DOC's International Trade Administration.
  • Echols leaves Brown Jordan
    Pompano Beach, Fla.— Casual and contract furniture major Brown Jordan International said Bill Echols has resigned as head of the company's Specialty Retail Division. Gene Moriarty, Brown Jordan president and CEO, will head the division for now. "We appreciate the contributions Bill made to the company and wish him well in his new endeavors," Moriarty said.
  • JLA shows China jacquards
    Greensboro, N.C.— Although it won't have a space at Showtime until December, JLA Fabric is showing its first jacquard upholstery fabric line in its office here near Interstate 40 and Highway 68. Designed by textile veteran Tayo Onadein, JLA's vice president of design, the initial collection includes a choppable, reversible woven toile of rayon and polyester for $5.
  • QF Inds.' digital printing on fabric may be a U.S. first
    High Point— Fabric converter QF Inds. is offering digital printing capability to upholstery manufacturers shopping at Showtime here this week, possibly making it the first to do so in the United States. Suzie Murphy-Phipps, sales representative, said QF worked with DuPont to launch its digital printing operation.
  • ITMA, YHFP join forces to provide internships
    High Point— The International Textile Market Assn. has for the first time joined forces with the Young Home Furnishings Professionals to provide internships for high-achieving college juniors and seniors. The joint program, which pairs students with industry leaders for an eight-week summer educational experience, was designed to attract and retain more young people to the textile and hom...
  • WMC gets permanent financing
    Las Vegas— The World Market Center here has secured $225 million in permanent financing from Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage to replace a phase-one construction loan ahead of schedule. Marty Burger, president of Related Las Vegas and a partner in the long-term development of more than 12 million square feet of WMC market buildings here, said the new loan "is a continued sign of the stren...
  • ITMA, F/T seek nominations for industry's first Rising Star Award
    High Point— Furniture/Today and the International Textile Market Assn. are accepting nominations for the first Rising Star Award, which will be presented on the opening night of the Winter Showtime fabric fair in High Point. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 12. The Rising Star Award will be presented annually.
  • Bill Hall joins Universal in new marketing post
    High Point— Industry veteran Bill Hall has joined full-line importer Universal in the new position of vice president of marketing. He reports to Randy Chrisley, president. Hall is responsible for sales to select retail accounts, and development and management of initiatives to support sales to Universal dealers.
  • Furniture Hall of Fame requests nominations
    High Point— The American Furniture Hall of Fame has mailed nomination forms to its sponsors, starting the process that will lead to inductions in the Hall at the October market here. Nominations will be accepted until July 15, said Steve Kincaid, president of manufacturer Kincaid Furniture and president of the Hall of Fame.
  • Curtright to head new Chordus residential division
    Birmingham, Ala.— Former Drakeford Furniture President Billy Curtright has been hired as project manager by Chordus, owner of Office Furniture USA, to oversee creation of the company's new residential furniture brand, RoomChoices. Curtright, also a former national sales manager for Standard Furniture, said Drakeford has gone out of business.
  • Retail Ideas seminar in Tupelo to focus on transportation
    Tupelo, Miss.— The Tupelo Furniture Market and Furniture/Today will co-sponsor a Retail Ideas educational seminar at next month's Tupelo market. The half-day workshop, titled Customer Delivery as a Competitive Advantage, will be held Thursday, Aug. 18, in the Mississippi Building. Underscoring the growing demand for enhanced transportation and delivery solutions at all levels of the distr...
  • Macy's promotes Greiner to Fla. CEO
    Cincinnati— Julie Greiner has been promoted to chairman and CEO of Federated Department Stores' Macy's Florida (formerly Burdines), effective July 31. Greiner, 51, who has been senior executive vice president of Federated's Bloomingdale's division, succeeds Tim Adams, who last month was named chairman of Macy's Home Store division based in New York.
  • American Silk Mills maintains rich silk heritage
    High Point— American Silk Mills manufactures upscale fabrics in the Italian tradition of silk production, to which both American Silk and its parent Gerli & Co. can trace their roots. Gerli got its start in northern Italy, where farmers cultivated silk cocoons between growing seasons. Early in the 1800s, Gerli & Co.
  • Obituaries
    Harold J. 'Hank' Naiman, Sealy veteran
    Paterson, N.J.— Harold J. "Hank" Naiman, one of the owners of Sealy licensee Sealy Mattress of New Jersey and a 53-year company veteran, has died. He was 78. Naiman, who was still active in the company, died from complications from injuries he suffered in a traffic accident involving a drunk driver.
  • GNYHFA hosts Golf Classic, helps homeless in NY
    New York— More than 150 members and guests attended the annual Golf Classic and dinner last month sponsored by the Greater New York Home Furnishings Assn. At the event in Muttontown, N.Y., the GNYHFA also presented its annual Meadoff Award to Keith Seigerman, the association's president and also retired president of Seigerman's Furniture, Farmingdale, N.
  • Tietex Interiors redefines its brand identity
    High Point— When Tietex Interiors opens its Showtime showroom here this week it will unveil a new brand identity that signals a fundamental shift in its long-term business strategy. President Mike Durham said the new identity is aimed at creating a marketing presence that more closely reflects the company's strategic positioning.
  • Joanne Fabrics opens new HQ
    Oakville, Ontario— Joanne Fabrics Canada and subsidiary J.F. Fabrics U.S. have opened a new headquarters, distribution center and showroom in this Toronto suburb to accommodate the continuing growth of business. The 45,000-square-foot building incorporates the advanced automation the company has implemented.
  • Showtime gets rolling
    High Point— Hightex is a first-time exhibitor at Showtime here this week, and may be the first Chinese mill to sell directly at the semiannual fabric fair. Wenlong Lu, president and founder of the company, planned to be at the Hightex booth in Suites at Market Square, Space 1-1112, to introduce his company to the U.
  • American Silk has design center
    High Point— When design-driven domestic producer and Showtime exhibitor American Silk Mills decided to show its commitment to the furniture industry, it took a bold plunge and created a fully staffed design studio here. The lofty, light-filled space is adjacent to its showroom in the Resource Center at 329 S.
  • Rowe chips away at backlog
    McLean, Va.— Rowe Furniture is continuing to cut into a huge backlog that accrued while the midpriced upholstery maker was switching its factories to new computerized technology. In a conference call discussing Rowe's second-quarter loss, officials said the backlog had peaked at $23.5 million and was "a little below" $18 million and heading south.
  • HOM pushes envelope in Fargo
    Fargo, N.D.— HOM Furniture has opened a 120,000-square-foot warehouse and showroom here, relocating from a smaller store and adding or expanding several departments. The facility, with a 100,000-square-foot showroom at 23rd Avenue near Interstate 94, is more than five times the size of the company's previous Fargo store and is HOM's largest store outside the Twin Cities area.
  • SRA expands leather cut-and-sew options
    High Point— SRA Fabrics has expanded its leather program with cut-and-sew services to offer more options for American furniture producers manufacturing offshore. SRA Fabrics is working with industry veteran Alan Mandle, who will administer the cut-and-sew program. The current program includes hides from South America, Australia, the United States and Asia.
  • OFDA appoints Bates
    Alexandria, Va.— The Office Furniture Dealers Alliance has appointed Christopher Bates president and chief operating officer. He replaces Jim McGarry, who left the association in March to join KnowledgeBank, a human resources consultant. Bates has more than 18 years experience in association management, most recently as the president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Assn.
  • Simmons' Eitel: Company has 'regained momentum'
    Atlanta— Simmons CEO Charlie Eitel said he is saddened by the departure of Bob Hellyer as president but is determined to lead the company to new levels of success. Eitel, who has assumed Hellyer's responsibilities, said Simmons is bouncing back from the steep sales and unit declines the company posted in the first quarter.
  • Quaker cuts back workforce
    Fall River, Mass.— Quaker Fabric, the largest employer in this small town, laid off an unspecified number of employees here before its annual summer shutdown last week. Tom Muzekari, vice president of sales and marketing, acknowledged to Furniture/Today that "there have been cutbacks," but declined to say what percentage of the workforce was affected.
  • Mike Cims Furniture acquires Kaplan's Urban Living 21 line
    Los Angeles— Industry veteran Stephen J. Kaplan has taken the product line of his former company, Urban Living 21, to upholstery producer Mike Cims Furniture, where he has been named vice president of sales and marketing. Kaplan closed the Urban Living 21 factory here to help Mike Cims develop midpriced and upper-end product lines to complement its promotional offerings.
  • April factory orders rise 9%, shipments up 5% from '04
    High Point— Orders at U.S. furniture factories in April were up 9% from a year earlier, the biggest gain of the year and the second monthly increase after two months of declining order rates in January and February, according to BDO Seidman. Factory shipments, meanwhile, rose 5% in April, the best comparison since a 6% increase in January.
  • Furniture Group of San Diego adding Bassett, Lane stores
    San Marcos, Calif.— A group that operates Bassett Furniture Direct and Lane Home Furnishings stores in this area will open one of each in the new Eastlake Design District under construction in Chula Vista, Calif. Furniture Group of San Diego, led by President Rick Huffman and Executive Director Ed Fishauf, will open a 40,000-square-foot Bassett showroom and an 18,000-square-foot Lane stor...

Opinion Today
  • Deflation, discounting: A tough combination
    It's hard not to be concerned about deflation these days. By creating lower and lower retail prices, we have to sell either a lot more customers or a lot more items just to match last year's sales. And even as we buy at lower prices overseas, the profits we thought we'd make are quickly disappearing through our natural tendency to offer sales and discounts to generate traffic.

People Today
  • Brown Jordan names Moriarty CEO
    Pompano Beach, Fla.— Outdoor and contract furniture provider Brown Jordan International has promoted Gene Moriarty to president and CEO. Moriarty, who joined the company in May as president and chief operating officer, assumes the CEO title from James Malone, who will continue as vice chairman of Brown Jordan.
  • People on the Move
    People on the Move
    Associations The Canadian Plywood Assn. North Vancouver, British Columbia — The Canadian Plywood Assn. has named Kent Rombough as its USA plywood specialist. He has been with the association since December 2003 and continues his role as Ontario plywood specialist, in addition to taking on the United States.

Special Report
  • Market Preview
    14 days and counting
    Las Vegas— After more than four years of speculation, anticipation and in some cases hyperventilation, the inaugural Las Vegas Furniture Market will open its doors in two weeks. Organizers are expecting 40,000 to 50,000 furniture buyers and exhibitors to flock to the show, which will occupy some 2.
  • Market Preview
    WMC execs look to future
    Las Vegas— Their first furniture market hasn't even started yet, but some World Market Center executives are focusing on 2007 and beyond. Leasing Manager Babs Blair said a second building to house permanent showrooms already is about 65% leased, and she believes the remaining space will be gone soon after the inaugural market ends.
  • Atlanta Rug Market
    Today's rugs serve wide range of tastes
    Atlanta— The rug category continues to evolve as a home accent that's accessible to every taste and pocketbook. Once content to lag safely behind the furniture world, rug styling is becoming much more adventurous. As machine-made and hand-tufted constructions become more affordable, rugs no longer represent a life-long commitment.
  • Atlanta Rug Market
    Atlanta rug introductions
    AMICI IMPORTS 6F11 Sardinia is a collection of transitional designs. Textural effects are achieved by combining hand-spun yarn and high-twist Ghazni wool. Hand-knotted in India, $1, 699 in 6 by 9. ATIYEH INTERNATIONAL 6E9 Three new Khotan designs from Iran. Hand-knotted of hand-spun, vegetal-dyed yarn, these East Turkestan patterns are offered as a limited edition.
  • Atlanta Rug Market
    Events on tap for Atlanta
    Atlanta— Several educational events are on tap for the upcoming Atlanta International Area Rug Market. The summer market, set for July 18–20 at AmericasMart here, is co-sponsored by the Oriental Rug Retailers Assn., which is sponsoring several of the events. The 12th annual Retailer of the Year awards will be presented Sunday, July 17, at 5 p.
  • Specialty sleep riding rising wave of interest
    High Point— Specialty sleep producers say they are riding a wave that shows no signs of losing momentum. In fact, they say, their category is steadily gaining clout as consumer awareness grows. Specialty sleep powerhouses Tempur-Pedic and Select Comfort, which together saw their wholesale bedding shipments grow last year by 51.
  • Magazine compares innerspring, specialty sleep
    Yonkers, N.Y.— Wondering how an independent consumer watchdog group would assess the relative merits of traditional innerspring beds versus specialty sleep beds? Consumer Reports took on that challenging assignment and found some pluses and minuses for each type of sleep system. It was part of the magazine's much-publicized June report on "How to buy a mattress without losing sleep.
  • Savvy marketing helps specialty sleep sales soar
    High Point— New school versus old school. Space age technology versus horse-and-buggy-era technology. A healthier way to sleep versus an old-fashioned way to sleep. That's the powerful positioning that savvy specialty sleep marketers are capitalizing on as they score impressive sales gains for their category.
  • Tables make a statement through larger scale, styling
    High Point— Occasional tables are growing, and it's not just the sales totals. Today's bigger homes and upholstery demand bigger living room tables to match. Manufacturers across all price points are rising to the challenge. The size of sofas and chairs went way up a few years ago, said John Conrad, vice president of merchandising for Powell.

Store Openings
  • La-Z-Boy reopens two in Canada
    Waterloo, Ontario— Two metro Ottawa La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores, on West Hunt Club Road in Nepean and on Cyrville Road in Gloucester, have reopened after they were renovated into the La-Z-Boy network's New Generation format. The store in Nepean is 14,140 square feet and the Gloucester unit is 13,470 square feet.
  • French Heritage opens 23rd
    Chicago— French Heritage has opened its 23rd shop here at Marshall Field's flagship department store on State Street. The French Heritage shop-within-a-shop occupies 2,000 square feet. Jacques Wayser, president, and his wife and company vice president, Henessy Wayser, founded French Heritage in 1992.
  • Maine Cottage opens in Boston
    Boston— Maine Cottage, a producer of wood, rattan and upholstered furniture, has installed galleries in all five Boston-area Circle Furniture stores. Each Maine Cottage gallery space will occupy about 10% of Circle Furniture's floor space in each of its five locations: Cambridge, Framingham, Danvers, Acton and Hanover.
  • Wells installs Hickory Hill
    Charleston, W.V.— Wells Home Furnishings has installed a 1,500-square-foot Hickory Hills Gallery in its 21,000-square-foot store here. John Wells III is the store owner and Joyce Gladwell is the sales manager.

Supplement
  • Global Textiles Today
    Pinwheels
    Raxon Fabrics Soiree is a clean contemporary floral with pinwheel blossoms. Polyester, cotton and rayon, $12.50. Weave The happy summer colors of RetroFit, a WeatherWize performance fabric, will stay bright thanks to its soil-, stain- and fade-resistant properties. Polyester. Bartson Fabrics Butch, from the Wild West group of eight transitional/contemporary chenilles, is right on target for fur...
  • Global Textiles Today
    Stripes
    TFA Italian-made Bedazzled showcases a lush, overscaled damask in an array of gorgeous colors. Cotton and polyester, $10.95. Hamilton Adams A pair of flaxen-hued stripes of Belgian linen is shown in complementary scales. Linen, $22.40. Spandauer Velours Faux Mohair Style 7839, a solid velvet, and Tracy Stripe, a velvet print, pair up for a lush vintage look.
  • Global Textiles Today
    Timeless tradition
    Home Couture Collective A heap of lovely trimmings, the Empress Jewel collection includes brilliant, removable velvet flowers to accessorize sofas, chairs and pillows, delicate fringes and silken cords. Rayon, $3 to $8. American Folk & Fabric Caselton is a vintage-look reproduction of a 1930s floral print featuring a two-inch horizontal stripe of pale pink on a classic linen color ground.
  • Global Textiles Today
    Suits & suites
    Showcase Fabrics The menswear-inspired houndstooth gets a feminine take when placed within a delicate floral pattern as shown in Penelope and its small-scale houndstooth coordinate Piper. Polyester, $13.95 and $11.45, respectively. Dicey Fabrics Like this year's apparel, Element makes a statement with its cleverly overscaled chenille houndstooth pattern.
  • Global Textiles Today
    Showtime fabric introductions
    The following information, provided by the fabric producers listed, includes marketing objectives and/or descriptions of innovative product introductions and booth locations for Summer Showtime 2005. MSTT = Market Square Textile Tower; IHFC = International Home Furnishings Center; SAMS = Suites at Market Square Algemene — High Five Textiles MSTT 2nd floor American Decorative Fabrics SAMS ...
  • Global Textiles Today
    Price pressures, imports among fabric's hot topics
    What's the industry buzz at this week's Showtime? Topics include concern about price increases as major manufacturers consolidate their buying power; the murky sea of regulations sloshing around the tsunami of textiles from China; the Las Vegas factor; and the presence of Chinese mills here that are selling directly to manufacturers.
  • Global Textiles Today
    Silks, textures in trend spotlight
    High Point— Fabric merchandisers are looking for textured body cloths, ethnic patterns, opulent silks for upscale looks, and colors like teal, melon, chartreuse and copper to support their vision for the fall season. They also are preparing to explore offshore sources to remain competitive. Interest is high for strong graphic patterns, especially in black-and-white colorways, and contempo...
  • Global Textiles Today
    Best ideas
    High Point— Furniture industry suppliers have a huge stake in the success of the industry, and fabric vendors are no exception, especially when business conditions are as challenging as they are these days. Global Textiles Today asked fabric vendors to share their best merchandising ideas to help manufacturers and retailers build sales of upholstered furniture.
  • Global Textiles Today
    In my tribe
    Bomar Trimming Al Fresco is made of 100% solution-dyed Sunbrella yarns for use both indoors and outside. Acrylic, about $3.50. Chambers Fabrics The furniture-friendly gingko color of tropical chenille West Palm will make it a natural in any veranda-inspired décor. Polyester, acrylic, cotton and olefin, $4.
  • Global Textiles Today
    Modern sensibilities
    Qf Inds. Part of the licensed Better Homes and Gardens print collection, the Carnival group includes patterns Pinwheel, Pindot and Ottoman in a sherbet colorway. Polyester and cotton, $3.95. Valdese Weavers Kayln's craftsman-inspired design is executed in a warm rhubarb colorway. Rayon, cotton and polyester, $9.

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