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Furniture|Today -- 01/01/2007
Bedding Today
- Mattress Retailing 101
Do customers want to know about coil counts and constructions?
Today's topic: What should you say about coil counts? Overview: Innerspring bedding is still the most common type of bedding on the market today, despite the impressive gains made by specialty sleep products. And innerspring beds can be discussed in terms of the types of coil constructions they offer, and the number of coils in the mattress.
- Mattress Retailing 101
Highlights from past installments
With each installment of Mattress Retailing 101, we are expanding our library of resources for retail bedding sales associates. Here's an overview of the sales training features available to readers online at www.beddingtoday.com:
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Rule of Threes holds true, but will cycle be broken?
The presidents of two Top 15 bedding producers were talking the other day, wondering which one of them might be getting the ax. Someone had to go. Who would it be? Well, it turned out to be someone else. Those two presidents are still in their current jobs. They can breathe a sigh of relief. The Rule of Threes, as we will call it, spared them.
Editor's Desk
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The raw power of want vs. need
Want to be convinced of the raw power of want versus need? Try to buy a Playstation 3. Go ahead, I dare you. The latest game system from Sony is supposed to be selling anywhere from $400 to $500, but good luck trying to find one. Sony, which said it hoped to have a million of these bad boys on their way to retailers by Christmas, only released 400,000 during the system's debut.
Industry Numbers
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Consumer confidence rises
New York— Consumer confidence improved a bit in December, ticking up to 109 from 105.3 in November, according to The Conference Board. The Present Situation Index increased to 129.9 from 125.4, while the Expectations Index improved to 95.1 from 91.9 last month. "Despite the latest improvement, there is little to suggest that the pace of economic activity in the final quarter of 2006 is an...
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Bassett to restate earnings
Bassett, Va.— Bassett Furniture Inds. said Monday it will restate its earnings for the fiscal year ended in November 2005 and also for periods it has already reported for 2006. The company said the restatement, triggered by a review of the financial statements by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, will alter the accounting treatment of items in the company's acquisition of thre...
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Rowe auction set for Jan. 11
McLean, Va.— A new bankruptcy court filing requests a Jan. 11 auction date for upholstery manufacturer Rowe, a week earlier than previously scheduled. In a filing last week with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria, Va., which is handling Rowe's Chapter 11 reorganization case, the company requests Jan.
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Creditors approve Sklar restructuring plan
Ajax, Ontario— Upholstery and case goods source Sklar Peppler Furniture Corp. is back on its feet and ready for business after more than 90% of its creditors voted in favor of its proposal under the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act last month. "The company is very appreciative of the support it received from its creditors and looks forward to continuing business with them in the years ahea...
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Martin retiring from ISPA
Alexandria, Va.— As she looks back on a career of almost three decades in the bedding industry, Pat Martin says she's proud to have worked with an industry that took a proactive position on public safety issues. Her work, said her colleagues at the International Sleep Products Assn., helped lead to the development of a U.
News
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Lifestyle California purchases N.J. facility
Edison, N.J.— Case goods resource Lifestyle California has purchased a larger East Coast warehouse in South Brunswick, N.J. "The new facility is over 30% larger than our current space in Edison, and is located on 15-plus acres," said President Thomas Wu. "As such, there is enough space to more than double the size of the warehouse, which should be adequate to support our growth plans over...
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Oakwood Furniture ceases operations
New Tazewell, Tenn.— After a quarter century run, case goods manufacturer Oakwood Furniture Mfg. is winding up its business operations this week. The company closed its 82,000-square foot, 56-employee factory here in March. The business remained open for the balance of the year, filling orders and selling off inventory.
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Schnadig appoints Katz EVP of sales
Des Plaines, Ill.— Jeff Katz has been named to the new position of executive vice president of sales and merchandising for upholstery maker and case goods importer Schnadig. He will oversee all of Schnadig's merchandising and marketing efforts as well as the sales organization. He reports to Don Belgrad, chairman and CEO.
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Home Line Furniture holding 2 Jan. shows
Philadelphia— Home Line Furniture, an importer and distributor, plans to stage its annual Mid-Atlantic furniture show Jan. 7 and 8 at its corporate office here to introduce more than 100 new products. The show, which has been going on for more than 30 years, will be under the banner of "Catch the Next Home Run.
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Rathi Family Holdings promotes 3 executives
Dalton, Ga.— Radhe Rathi, president and CEO of rug manufacturer and importer Kaleen, has been promoted to president and CEO of Rathi Family Holdings, the Indian-based parent company. In related moves, Monty Rathi has been promoted to chief operating officer of Kaleen's Indian and American groups.
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Calgary market will stress industry networking
Calgary, Alberta— Furniture West will once again hold a market here this year, albeit in a very unusual format. Called Connections West 2007, the event won't focus on selling product but instead will emphasize strengthening ties between retailers, manufacturers and other suppliers. It will be held at the Round-Up Center here June 18 and 19.
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Fabric converter Diversitex acquires Kingsway
Fairfield, N.J.— Fabric converter Diversitex here said it has acquired Toronto-based Kingsway Fabrics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The merger creates a full-service converter providing prints and solids, according to Bill Summers, president of Diversitex. He said home furnishings will account for about a third of the company's sales, and that he hopes to grow the category to mor...
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Art & Frame Direct building new High Point showroom
High Point— Art & Frame Direct, a marketer of antique reproductions and decorative accessories, has begun construction of a new showroom here on the former Casa Bique property at North Hamilton Street and Kivett Drive. The new facility, which should be completed in time for the spring market, will encompass 22,894 square feet.
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AmericasMart seeks rug entries
Atlanta— AmericasMart Atlanta is seeking entries for America's Magnificent Carpets Awards, the industry's highest honor for rug introductions. The awards will be presented Saturday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, Jan.
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JCPenney fires COO West after five months
Plano, Texas— Department store retailer JCPenney said last week it had fired Catherine West as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. The company did not give a reason for the move. West had assumed the COO role in July. Areas previously reporting to her, consisting of store operations, property development and logistics, will report to Chairman and C...
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Shaak joins Linwood in dual role
Linwood, N.C.— Industry veteran Bob Shaak has come out of retirement to join fledgling manufacturer Linwood Furniture here in the new post of chief operating officer and vice president of sales and marketing. Shaak, who held posts at Hickory White, Thomasville and Lexington, took early retirement in 2004.
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Rogers is Sears Canada's permanent CEO
Ottawa— Sears Canada has named Dene Rogers, its acting president since May, as president and CEO. Before joining Sears Canada, Rogers was executive vice president, restructuring and business improvement, for the retailer's U.S.-based majority owner, Sears Holding Corp. Previously, he was executive vice president and general manager of Kmart stores, also owned by Sears Holding.
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Lazar appoints Sowinski president, CEO
Los Angeles— David Sowinski has been named president and CEO of contemporary upholstery maker Lazar Inds., succeeding Barry Lazar, founder of the company. Lazar is retiring but remains an investor and a member of the board of directors, and also will be available to consult with the company's product development team.
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Cooper joins Feinblum in West Coast post
Plainview, N.Y.— Industry veteran Mark Cooper has joined Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate as director of vertical store programs, working on the West Coast and overseeing the company's marketing efforts in Arizona. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Cooper has been West Coast regional manager for Bassett Furniture for the past two years.
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Gingrich replaces Giles at Powell
Culver City, Calif.— Powell Co. has named David Gingrich, a veteran of over 25 years in the home décor and accent furniture industry, vice president of sales for its mass merchants channel. Before joining the importer, he was president of Sycamore Art Works and president and CEO of Masterworks Décor.
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Meadows leaves Shaw Living
Dalton, Ga.— Jeff Meadows, vice president of Shaw Living, has left the rug resource. The company said Jeff Brown, director of operations, has assumed his duties on an interim basis. Meadows had been head of the rug division of Shaw Inds. since 2000. Under his leadership, the division broadened its product range to include bath and kitchen rugs as well as room-size and accent rugs.
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Bush to use WMC space for CES
Las Vegas— Bush Inds., a longtime exhibitor at the annual Consumer Electronics Show here, will open its permanent World Market Center showroom during next week's CES show. The ready-to-assemble furniture maker will use its WMC showroom, space A-610, in lieu of leasing temporary space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which houses most CES exhibits.
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Fully upholstered beds may escape duties
High Point— The U.S. Department of Commerce may exclude fully upholstered beds from import duties collected on wood bedroom furniture made in China. The change would affect beds that are upholstered with genuine or synthetic leather or natural or synthetic fabric on the headboard, footboard and side rails.
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Bush to cut workers at Pa. plant
Jamestown, N.Y.— Bush Inds., a major ready-to-assemble furniture resource, will eliminate about one-third of the workforce at its Erie, Pa., factory as the company consolidates some operations into its Jamestown factory. The consolidation, which will begin in mid-February, will result in the loss of about 90 jobs in Erie.
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Box Furniture is first tenant in renovated High Point mill
High Point— Box Furniture, an importer of case goods and wall décor, has signed a lease for the first permanent showroom in the Mill on Centennial, a historic downtown structure here that recently was renovated The 2,000-square-foot space also is Box Furniture's first permanent showroom in High Point.
- Obituaries
Ron Valach, sales rep for CT Nassau
Colleyville, Texas— Ron Valach, a longtime sales representative for CT Nassau Tape and Ticking, has died. He was 62. Born in Chicago, Valach had worked in Texas for the past 28 years for bedding supply companies, including CT Nassau Tape and Ticking and AFT Thread. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, one son and six grandchildren.
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Living Richly going indoors with imported line
New York— Outdoor furniture importer Living Richly International plans to develop a medium-priced indoor line of furniture expected to debut sometime in 2007. The company said it will source bedroom, dining room, occasional and youth furniture from Vietnam. It currently has five factories lined up, two Vietnamese owned and three Taiwanese owned.
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Universal/Legacy parent appoints Mihalik, Word
High Point— Samson Marketing has named Richard Mihalik vice president of operations and Jerry Word vice president of information technology. Both are new posts at Samson, the holding company that oversees importers Universal and Legacy Classic. Mihalik most recently was vice president of operations for Legacy Classic.
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Friitala/Branaa's tannery operations renamed Zenda
Connelly Springs, N.C.— Branaa, the South American leather tannery that has traded in the United States under the Friitala/Branaa brand, has changed its name worldwide to Zenda. The Branaa family's 63-year-old tannery based in Montevideo, Uruguay, changed its corporate name and consolidated all of its businesses globally under a single brand, said Juan Diego Casaretto, managing director o...
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Hello, Hollywood
Avon, Mass.— Barry Tatelman, who has become a cultural icon in New England for the quirky advertising he and his brother, Eliot, do for Jordan's Furniture, is leaving to pursue a show business career in Hollywood. According to Eliot, Barry Tatelman plans to produce a Broadway play and a television series.
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Four buy BDO office
High Point— Four senior managers of accounting firm BDO Seidman's office here, which has a number of furniture and textile industry clients, have acquired the practice. The new firm, called Smith Leonard PLLC, is owned by Ken Smith, Darlene Leonard, Jon Glazman and Mark Bulmer. It is a member of the BDO Seidman Alliance, a nationwide association of more than 200 independent accounting and...
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Boosting bedding in '07
Naples, Fla.— Bedding executives attending Furniture/ Today's Leadership Conference here last month offered a variety of strategies for jump-starting business this year. The bedding industry has a great story to tell, they agreed, but needs to do a better job of getting the message out. The conference attracted more than 220 home furnishings retailers, producers and suppliers, including a...
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Bed maker offers choices galore
Richmond, Va.— Like other U.S. metal bed manufacturers, Brass Beds of Virginia stays competitive by emphasizing variety and customization. The 32-year-old company has some 60 models ranging from antique reproduction brass beds to transitional styles. The beds, most of which retail from $1,200 to $2,200 in queen, come in 30 hand-painted finishes and a dozen one-step powdercoat finishes.
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Contemporary retailers hash out issues
San Diego— Members of a group of contemporary home furnishings retailers shop at High Point, Las Vegas and foreign furniture markets, but some wish there were fewer shows to choose from. Ideally, a retailer would make one trip to High Point and one to Las Vegas in a year, members of the Contemporary Design Group, an association of 23 retailers, said during a session at their annual confer...
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CDG retailers want price protection, fewer intros
San Diego— Retailers in the Contemporary Design Group want price protection on products, better sales tools and a little more time to see if introductions are going to sell. Those were some of the concerns group members raised in speaking to manufacturers at the CDG conference here. Andy Thornton of retailer LaDifférence in Richmond, Va.
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Martin: Attitude plus behavior brings results
San Diego— Ron Martin has penned four books with the word "easy" in the title, so it wasn't difficult for him to come up with some advice on running a retail operation. Martin, a business consultant from Hawaii, told 23 retailers and 50 invited manufacturers and guests at the Contemporary Design Group conference here last month that the key to success is to understand that attitude plus b...
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Five promoted at Signature; importer aims to double sales
Cerritos, Calif.— Case goods importer Signature Home Furnishings here has promoted five key executives as part of a strategy to double the company's business in the next three years. Company owner Marco Lin, who has 30 years of import experience, has shifted from president to CEO, a new position.
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Online site offers easy access to trade show contacts, news
High Point— FurnitureToday.com has launched an updated version of its online trade show calendar, offering a comprehensive and easy way to find information about upcoming industry events. The site contains listings for markets and trade shows in a variety of industries, plus hot links to show and event sites to get detailed information and access online registration.
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Four U.S. sources showing at Cologne fair
Cologne, Germany— Four American furniture suppliers — Ashley Furniture, Blue City Furniture, Sitcom and Stanley Furniture — are scheduled to show at the IMM Cologne furniture fair here, Jan. 15 to 21. Cologne has shifted the locations of product categories this year to make it easier to shop the show, according to Udo Traeger, vice president of furniture, interior design and t...
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Heimtextil trend display highlights color, cubism
Frankfurt, Germany— Four themes in decorative fabrics and home furnishings will be featured in the Trend Presentation, an annual highlight of the Heimtextil fabric show here, Jan. 10-13. Showcasing the work of Gunnar Frank of The Netherlands, the presentation will focus on color. One theme, Constructive Power, will treat primary colors in a pure manner with intense combinations, and stepp...
Opinion Today
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Time's Person of Year also is your customer
Time magazine's "Person of the Year" issue last month celebrated the World Wide Web as a tool for "bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter." The cover had a mirror where, in years past, the person of the year was pictured. Time was celebrating people power, user-generated Web content and the "de-massifying" of media.
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