Furniture Today - May 08, 2006

Talk of reduced traffic didn't seem to affect some case goods resources, with several reporting stronger sales than at last April's market. Some showrooms reported fewer visitors, but others said their buyer count was up. Most agreed that slow retail sales last month didn't dampen buyers' spirits.

• Product Highlights
• Musical showrooms for Collezione, two other exhibitors
• Ashley adds wood to Signature Design line
• Varney to base Ficks Reed collection on Draper's work
• Drexel's grown-up Disney reflects Art Moderne styling
• Market 'fairly good' for upholstery makers
• Seating materials prices haven't fallen
• Buyers commit to leather
• Natuzzi, Nicoletti pursue 3-tier strategies
• DeCoro adds workers, U.S. customer service
• Entertainment draws crowd
• Motion buyers respond to fresh styles, new features
• Bedding gets good reviews
• Thurmo-Sleep offering bed for soon-to-be moms
• Magniflex goes gold for $30K
• Appointments drive market's rug traffic
• Hand-knotted rugs making a comeback
• Casual dining goes upscale
• Home office activity brisk
• Occasional rides wave
• New technology gives La-Z-Boy a lift
• IHFC set to renovate
• Fresh colors, new twists spark youth activity

• Industry Numbers
• FBI 1Q sales increase 3.1%

• Best Of Market
• High Point market winners
• Best of market: Highlights from April market introductions

• Editor's Desk
• This improvement is totally by design

• Store Openings
• Flexa opens third U.S. store in Va.
• La-Z-Boy adds unit in Metairie

• People Today
• Baker makes appointments
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• News
• Lacquer Craft expands
• Troubled Bay seeks buyer
• HP registers 98,954
• Birnbach joins American Leather
• Interlude buys Weiman/Preview
• Reps' death saddens Klaussner community
• Sklar appoints Malish COO, president
• Lifestyle plans H.P. expansion, sets dates for January show
• Orlick replaces Kier as CEO of Fortunoff
• Durham names Canada VP of sales
• IHFMA considers charter flights for market
• NHFA absorbs IFSA as new supplier unit
• Kingsdown taps Jelinek for VP sales post
• Home Depot buys Home Decorators
• Siemer joins Sunrise Home
• Wearbest names Asian licensee
• Tepperman's transitioning to next generation of leaders
• Thomasville to close N.C. wood plant
• Robb & Stucky acquires design firm
• Wahle, Baumlin named to top Levitz posts
• New Levitz chief: Revival is under way
• Havertys 1Q profits up 60%
• Ethan Allen 3Q sales jump 15.5%
• Financial results
• Pier 1, Bombay report sales declines
• American Home expanding in Ariz.
• Combs joins Furniture/Today staff
• Bermex to start production on Dinec backlog
• Mattress Firm agrees to acquire Metropolitan Mattress
• L&P promotes Downing to division president
• Obituaries
• Obituaries

• Special Report
• Fashion Report
• Behind the Design

• Bedding Today
• A 'reasonable' review of notable HP happenings

• Opinion Today
• Brazilian importers must know territory here, there