Furniture Today - March 20, 2006

The secret has long been out about the skills of Asian furniture manufacturers. Today, hundreds of domestic furniture producers and all-import companies have developed sourcing relationships throughout China and other parts of the Far East. But today's world of sourcing is, in some ways, different than in decades past.

• Special Report
• Single-source relationships provide stability
• AICO, Ferguson Copeland value quality, control of dedicated plants
• Some U.S. importers own, run offshore plants
• Not all importers like being tied to one source
• Fabric Protection
• Stainsafe works hard to improve service
• Training can cut down on complaints

• Industry Numbers
• Simmons sales, earnings slide
• Higher foam costs hurt Simmons Canada
• Amisco sales down 6.3%, profit off 8.9% in 4Q
• Tempur-Pedic sales up 22.2%
• DWR delays filing report

• Tech Talk
• Dawn of digital TV could prove bonanza for furniture

• Store Openings
• La-Z-Boy launches 2, renovates 2
• Diamond opens Delaware store

• Editor's Desk
• The world through an artist's eyes

• People Today
• Wade named Parker House 2005 Salesman of the Year
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Bedding Today
• Grimy mattresses big turnoff on retail floor

• Opinion Today
• New relationships mark changing imports arena

• News
• Foamex debuts 3 foams
• La-Z-Boy promotes two execs
• Style Mark closes doors
• No Canada safeguards?
• Conference draws 500
• Aaron shoots for 2,000
• Strong currency a pain for Brazil
• U.S. investor Zucker to take HBC private
• Wood-Armfield closing Utility Craft store in H.P.
• Dedola sets faster delivery on small import quantities
• Serta sheep again fight cancer
• Indonesia source to debut Chapin wood line in April
• Global keys on direct container program
• Retailers skeptical about Brazil design, value
• New Barclay Butera line goes preppy
• 'Leasing' becomes favored term
• Carpet One adds more range to logo
• WMC building 2 opening on track
• 3 Aaron's units post revenues over $3M
• Elmore joins Master Design
• Stanley hires Lovorn
• Copeland readying initial Wright collection for April
• 30 MMPI tenants set for premarket
• Feuerhaken leaves Alan White
• Armfield joins Clayton Marcus
• Bryant is Tempur-Pedic CEO
• Broyhill closing N.C. frame plant
• ISPA says supplier show drew buying power
• Furniture mortgage idea will be focus of market meeting
• Ratcliffe joins Mirador
• Correction
• Obituaries
• Obituaries