Furniture Today - April 03, 2006

Whether it's pronounced "chase" or "shayz," the chaise is clearly a winner on retail floors. Long an outdoor staple, the chaise moved indoors big-time during the past several years to become a major seating piece. Comfort-conscious shoppers apparently like the laid-back look and feel of the chaise, boosting sales and making it one of the most popular accent pieces in the indus...

• News
• More Vegas hotels offer market discounts
• O'Neills to leave Southern
• Nominations for WithIt's WOW Awards due May 15
• FurnitureFan, Impact offer retailers Internet strategic services
• Valdese adds Mancini
• KC-area store expands
• Premarket traffic ebbs
• Case goods turn traditional
• Pierre Deux's new looks return to retailer's roots
• Wood resource Cresent ending U.S. production
• Quaker avoids loan default, sheds 2 VPs
• Rod Kush closing 4-store business in Nebraska
• Swift Galey selling spinning operation
• Upholstery leans clean and neutral at premarket
• Innovative approaches abound in leather
• WHFA honors Bensimon
• Elliott's reopens in smaller plant
• Stephens joins Hickory Springs
• Feinblum sets warehouse/distribution center division
• Importer Kemp is consolidating into High Point facility
• Compass tries fresh format in New Orleans
• Natuzzi Americas promotes Mussallem
• Allred joins Bauhaus

• Bedding Today
• Forget trendy sleep cures, let's tout a new mattress

• People Today
• People on the Move
• People on the Move
• Carrara, Ewing join DWR

• Store Openings
• Wiedy installs Broyhill gallery
• Berkline has 1st Canada galleries
• Bigger Baby's Room reopens in Michigan
• Ashley adds Alabama unit

• Industry Numbers
• Sealy IPO could fetch $350M
• Natuzzi reports $3.3M 4Q loss; sales off 1.5%
• Brick 4Q sales up 0.1%; net income drops 16.7%
• Bassett 1Q sales up 7.1%, profits off 2.3%

• Special Report
• Show Report
• Product variety grows at Malaysia fair
• Malaysian official urges better design, pledges govt. support efforts
• MIFF branching out into new products, price points

• Supplement
• Global Textiles Today
• Fresh fabrics in spotlight
• Classic or contemporary, creating a hit takes right match of fabric, frame
• Carefully Crafted
• Contemporary Shaping
• Warm Front

• Editor's Desk
• Market group picks a winner

• Opinion Today
• A few suggestions for your High Point to-do list