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Furniture|Today -- 01/02/2006
Bedding Today
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Simmons' PR blunder: Ignoring rep cutbacks
A respected bedding veteran was reviewing the press release issued by Simmons a few weeks ago in which the company announced a new Sales Effectiveness Strategy. The release began by noting that Simmons had taken steps "to realign its sales organization in a move to deliver significantly higher service levels to its dealers.
Editor's Desk
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Furniture brings dreams to life
Based on a very informal survey of friends, family and acquaintances, Christmas came late this year for retailers. I also base that conclusion on what I saw every time I was in a mall this holiday season. While the malls were busy, my sense was that shoppers were far more intent on looking than on purchasing.
Industry Numbers
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Chromcraft Revington adds three to its board
Delphi, Ind.— Furniture manufacturer Chromcraft Revington has expanded its board of directors, adding Craig Stokely, John Swift and John Hesse. Stokely, a former executive with business machines producer Fellowes, currently heads Stokely Partnerships, a management consulting firm. Swift is the retired chief financial officer of floor coverings producer Mohawk Inds.
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Keller plans acquisition
Louisville, Ky.— Keller Mfg., which exited the furniture business in early 2005, has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire a majority stake in an unidentified manufacturing business in the Louisville area. The company said the transaction should close during the first quarter, assuming a definitive purchase agreement is signed.
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Foamex files plan to exit Chapter 11
Lebanon, Pa.— Polyurethane foam supplier Foamex International has filed a plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, aiming to convert much of its outstanding debt into equity. Existing stock in the company would be canceled, and holders of unsecured debt would receive a cash distribution of 5% or less of the amount of their allowed claims, according to the plan filed in U.
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Best Buy agrees to buy Pacific Sales
Minneapolis— Consumer electronics giant Best Buy has agreed to acquire Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, a Southern California retailer that specializes in appliances and electronics but also sells some furniture. Privately held Pacific Sales will have sales this year of about $320 million at its 14 stores, according to Best Buy.
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Consumer confidence jumps
New York— Consumer confidence jumped again in December to its highest level since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in September, The Conference Board reported last week. The index rose to 103.6 in December from 98.3 in November, according to the monthly survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for the board by TNS.
Insider's View
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After 20 years, I actually used our living room!
If you think the collapse of the Berlin Wall was momentous, it was only a blip compared to the changes that have occurred recently in the Epperson household. For 20 years, I've kidded about the formal living room in my home. I haven't been allowed in there, but standing in the foyer I can see the marble fireplace, the grand piano, the high-end fabric sofa and matching leather wing chairs that c...
News
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Nowell's tries temporary store
Raleigh, N.C.— When Jerry Nowell was looking for a way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his furniture store last year, someone suggested dressing up like it was 1905 and selling furniture from the back of a horse-drawn buggy, just like his grandfather did in the old days. But Nowell, who has led family-owned Nowell's Contemporary & Scandinavian Furniture since 2001, had another i...
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'Stress less, sell more' is goal of Ekornes program
Somerset, N.J.— Working the retail sales floor can be stressful, even when business is booming, but Janet Odum is convinced she has found the best form of stress relief. Odum, a sales trainer for high-end recliner producer Ekornes, says the relief is centered on the company's signature product, the Stressless reclining chair.
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Retailer displays Ekornes seating in local airport
Knoxville, Tenn.— Retailer Jim Arnwine, who has generated hundreds of sales leads in recent years from reclining chair displays at local shopping malls, has expanded his off-premises sales effort to the local airport. Arnwine, whose store, Arnwine Home Furnishings, is one of the largest Ekornes dealers in the eastern United States, recently created a rest area at Knoxville's McGhee Tyson ...
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GNYHFA honors Gans and Healy
New York— The Greater New York Home Furnishings Assn. drew about 400 industry members to honor Andrew M. Gans and Richard Healy at its annual awards dinner. Gans, a principal of Gans Bros., and Healy of The Place Furniture Galleries, Farmingdale, N.Y., were awarded the prestigious Jerry Gans Memorial Award.
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GMHFRA salutes Harlem, Colder's
Rosemont, Ill.— Harlem Furniture and Colder's Furniture were honored as retailers of the year at the Greater Midwest Home Furnishings Representatives Assn.'s holiday and awards party here. Accepting the award as Chicagoland retailer of the year for Lombard, Ill.-based Harlem was President Bruce Berman.
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Valtekz debuts with high-end faux skins
High Point— Premium composite fabrics designed to look and feel like luxury hides, with the durability and easy cleaning properties of performance fabrics, and with an environmental- and animal-friendly story, are the specialty of Valtekz, a new company that debuted at Showtime here in December.
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Eitel: Simmons better
Atlanta— The newly streamlined sales organization at Simmons replaces an ineffective model developed in the 1960s and will enable the bedding major to better meet its dealers' needs. It is a sophisticated model that probably will be copied by other companies. That is the assessment of Charlie Eitel, chairman and CEO of the bedding major.
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Mathis buys Bedtime
Oklahoma City— A group of investors led by retailer Mathis Bros. has bought juvenile furniture importer Bedtime Inc. Retailer and wholesaler Mathis Bros., owned by Bill and Larry Mathis, long has been a high-volume Bedtime dealer with stores in Oklahoma and California. "It's like the old story we've all heard: We liked the product so much, we bought the company," said Bill Mathis.
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Lacquer Craft duties in review
Dongguan, China— Case goods manufacturer Lacquer Craft received one of the lowest duties of any manufacturer involved in last year's antidumping investigation. Its 2.66% rate was only higher than Markor International Furniture, which received a rate of 0.83%, and Dongguan Dong He Furniture, at 2.
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Correction
A story on page 4 of the Dec. 19 paper, about a High Point furniture show Jan. 16–18, incorrectly described Universal Furniture's participation. Universal will make its showroom available to retailers by appointment only.
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Vegas fully leases all available space
Las Vegas— Nearly 600 exhibitors will show in the World Market Center's temporary space in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the Jan. 30–Feb. 3 market here. The WMC is taking just under 600,000 square feet at Mandalay Bay, which replaces a larger space of 730,000 square feet in the Las Vegas Convention Center that was used for the inaugural summer market.
- Obituaries
Obituaries
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Sealy leads N.C. food drive
Archdale, N.C.— In the spirit of the season, Sealy played a leading, giving role as a local food drive, the Triad Holiday Challenge, recorded its best year ever. The event supports Salvation Army food pantries that serve eight counties in central North Carolina. Sealy, a major sponsor of the Challenge, collected 82,747 items.
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Simmons' parent: Company 'has made substantial progress'
Atlanta— The co-president of Thomas H. Lee Partners says that Simmons "has made substantial progress" in the second half of the year under CEO Charlie Eitel's leadership. Responding to written questions from Furniture/Today, Scott Schoen made this statement: "With Charlie Eitel's leadership, Simmons has made substantial progress over the second half of 2005 in streamlining its cost struct...
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OFMA honors Terry Clark for lifetime achievement
Mississauga, Ontario— Terry Clark has been named the recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his behind-the-scenes work on behalf of Canada's household furniture industry over the past quarter century. Bestowed by the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn., the award recognizes an individual who has made exemplary contributions to the industry and his or her comm...
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Top bedding sources set plans for '06
High Point— Sealy will rolling out a new flagship Posturepedic line. Simmons is launching a new BackCare line — and a new national advertising campaign that it promises will "drop the ball" on anything it's done before. And Serta will be touting its 75th anniversary with a variety of promotions.
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Sleep Country to buy Montreal specialty chain
Montreal— Sleep Country Canada has agreed to acquire Dormez-Vous Sleep Centers, a five-store chain that is one of the Montreal region's largest specialty mattress retailers. The deal, expected to close early next year, will mark Sleep Country's entry into Quebec, an eastward expansion for the 110-store chain.
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Ireland, Shaw to exhibit Gee's Bend line at Heimtextil
Frankfurt, Germany— Kathy Ireland Worldwide will exhibit the Quilts of Gee's Bend collection, including rugs from Kathy Ireland Home by Shaw Living, at the Heimtextil market here Jan. 11–14. The Quilts of Gee's Bend collection is based on quilts produced from the 1920s to the present by a women's collective in rural Gee's Bend, Ala.
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Kendrick joins Progressive
Claremont, N.C.— Dan Kendrick has joined Progressive Furniture as vice president for domestic products. Kendrick, who previously was sales director for Bernards and for Hart Furniture, has years of experience in promotional furniture product development and sales. His new job will involve product development and merchandising for both the Progressive line and the more upscale Woodlands De...
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Marshfield promotes Levy
Marshfield, Wis.— Marc Levy has been promoted to executive vice president of upholstery maker Marshfield Furniture. He reports to William J. Mork, president and owner. An industry veteran in retail, sales and manufacturing, Levy joined Marshfield in 2000 as sales manager. He will continue that role in addition to his new duties.
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United taps Quimby, Utley
Okolona, Miss.— Jay Quimby and Bill Utley have been promoted and given new responsibilities at promotional and midpriced upholstery maker United Furniture Inds. Quimby has been promoted to the new position of vice president of strategic sales operations. He will continue to report to Hugh Hargett, vice president of sales.
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Shermag to close sawmill
Sherbrooke, Quebec— Case goods and upholstery manufacturer Shermag has announced it will close and sell its Lac-Megantic sawmill, eliminating 48 jobs. Part of a business transformation plan, the closing was one of several previously announced alternatives for Shermag's sawmill operations. The company will consolidate those operations at its sawmill in Notre-Dame-de Montauban, Quebec.
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Kasen's Hong Kong IPO raises $64.5M for growth
Hong Kong— Kasen International Holdings, an upholstery maker with over 13.9 million square feet of production space in and near Zhejiang Province, raised about HK$500 million, or US$64.5 million, in an October initial public stock offering here. The company, which said it sells upholstery to Bernhardt, Furniture Brands International, Berkline/BenchCraft, La-Z-Boy, Rooms To Go and others, ...
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Valdese launches offshore fabrics program
Valdese, N.C.— Valdese Weavers is launching a business called Valdese International Products — V.I.P. for short — featuring goods produced offshore. One part of the business will focus on designing and developing fabrics to be outsourced, and another on importing piece goods featuring all-silk fabrics.
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Valdese promotes Parrish to direct international sales and marketing
Valdese, N.C.— Cynthia Parrish has been named international sales and marketing director at Valdese Weavers. Parrish has been at Valdese for nine years, most recently as product development manager. She also has served as a liaison for international agents. In her new position, Parrish will report to Zack Taylor, vice president of sales and marketing.
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Antidumping, round 2
High Point— The next chapter in the antidumping saga is about to begin. This month, the U.S. Department of Commerce will begin an administrative review of import duties imposed on Chinese-made wood bedroom furniture a year ago. As part of that process, it will accept requests to review the duties assigned to specific manufacturers.
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Brentwood launches Seldon line
Toronto— Brentwood Classics has launched an upholstery line created in collaboration with well-known Canadian designer, writer and TV personality Kimberley Seldon. She is decorating editor of Style at Home, a Canadian shelter magazine, and a regular contributor to the Toronto Star newspaper and Home Envy, a consumer-focused Web site.
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Prentice completes Levitz purchase
Woodbury, N.Y.— An affiliate of Prentice Capital Management has completed its purchase of bankrupt Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. and has injected additional capital into the struggling retailer. Prentice, in partnership with Great American Group, submitted the winning bid of $92.3 million for the retailer's assets at a recently completed bankruptcy court auction.
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Canadian factories providing input on Chinese impact
Ottawa— The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has sent a questionnaire to Canadian furniture manufacturers seeking more information before deciding whether to investigate claims that the rapid rise of Chinese imports has done material harm to the industry. The survey has been sent to all members of Furniture West, the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn.
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Buying groups form alliance
Dallas— Brand Source, a 1,400-member buying group whose retailers sell more than $1.4 billion worth of furniture annually, has formed a strategic alliance with MARTA Cooperative of America, a buying group whose members focus on electronics, appliances and furniture. The alliance will allow the two groups to operate autonomously, but combines their buying power.
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Bigsbys buy Park Place line
Greenville, S.C.— Park Place Corp., based here, plans to sell its furniture division and concentrate on its mattress business. The company said it plans to sell the division, which makes sofas, loveseats, chairs and sofa-sleepers, to Vernon and Stephanie Bigsby of Hickory, N.C. "The Bigsbys have been close to the Park Place Furniture family for many years," said Jimmy Orders, president of...
Opinion Today
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Oh no-no-no! Can this be the New Year?
We didn't have to wait till the ball dropped in Times Square to get a hint of what the New Year might bring. All you had to do was listen to post-Christmas retail commercials and it was clear as a bell. Bright and early on Dec. 26, Taft Furniture, an independent in the Albany, N.Y., market, trumpeted its triple-no promotion .
Special Report
- Best Practices
3-way marketing debuts at Furnitureland South
Jamestown, N.C.— If American consumers haven't heard about Furnitureland South yet, they will. A new marketing focus combining print advertising, the Internet and in-store displays that match the illustrations in the retailer's catalog will see to that. Visitors can view a room scene in the catalog or on the Web site, and then travel to Furnitureland South and walk through the room they h...
Store Openings
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Mt. Timber installs Shadow Mountain
Salt Lake City— Retailer Mt. Timber Furnishings has opened a 3,500-square-foot Unique Living Gallery by Shadow Mountain in its 12,000-square-foot store here. Mt. Timber is set to install Shadow Mountain galleries in its two other stores — in Park City, Utah, this month and in Fraser, Colo.
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La-Z-Boy launches dedicated Ga. unit
Kennesaw, Ga.— A new La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store has opened here on Barrett Parkway. The 13,400-square-foot store features the design-focused format of the company's New Generation stores and offers a full selection of La-Z-Boy upholstered furniture and accent pieces. The store is co-owned by Bob Breunig, Tom DeGoey, Amy DeGoey and Ed Breunig III.
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