Furniture Today - April 09, 2007

Today's topic: How to get consumers to lie down on the mattresses in your store. Overview: This is a key to success on the retail sales floor, and it calls for just the right approach. The sales associate can't just order the consumer to lie down; he or she needs to coax the consumer to lie down. Better yet, the sales associate needs to lie down or sit down with the consumer to break the ice an...

• Product Highlights
• Bright spots in bedroom
• Case goods sources develop tools to help retailers
• Fresh styling, function spur sales in dining
• Creativity extends beyond styling with casual dining
• Names, places star in seating
• Broad range scores in youth
• Motion sources enhance 'creature comforts'
• Leather scores with imports, better quality
• It's bonded, leather-like ... and confusing?
• New metal beds win applause from buyers
• TVs drive entertainment action
• Occasional products sport new colors, functions
• Wesley Allen does well with first case goods
• 3 new categories lift Linon
• High Point hits
• Bedding strikes sparks
• Furniture stores still key growth channel for rug resources

• Industry Numbers
• Bassett reports $4.2M 1Q loss
• Natuzzi sales grow 1.3% in 4Q, but loss widens
• Sealy 1Q earnings up 7.2%
• Strong sales, financial services lift Brick to '06 gains
• Financial Results

• Best Of Market
• Market winners

• Editor's Desk
• You tell me about market

• Bedding Today
• Mattress Retailing 101
• Trainers share tips on getting consumers to lie down
• Bedding session sells out but we'll share highlights

• Insider's View
• A value-laden High Point with buyers in driver's seat

• News
• Joan CEO steps down
• FAMSA buys La Canasta
• Market mostly positive
• China's Decca Holdings to acquire Classic Gallery
• Berkline/BenchCraft to recapitalize
• Kessler Inds. shutting doors
• Rug importer Kas planning to double volume in 5 years
• Broyhill hires Bates in retail/product role
• Broyhill Furniture will share new distribution center with Thomasville
• Fogarty launches marketing consultancy
• Furniture Hall of Fame appoints McNeill-Harris executive director
• McCollum leaves Broyhill post
• Easy Life, Delivery Solutions link up
• Registration open for F/T Webcast
• Furniture/Today will trim page size with May 7 issue
• Jasper, Superior form alliance for custom finishing
• DeCoro sets larger China plant
• Magnussen readies Vietnam warehouse
• Ikea plans to open 3rd Fla. store in '09
• Sleep Innovations appoints Lynch CEO
• Multimaster offers label program
• Vanguard's merchandising VP Dixon named president
• HP may re-evaluate market dates
• WHFA honors Linder group
• Henredon to relocate showroom
• Dormia appoints Marconi
• Powell taps Giordano
• Natuzzi's Tranchini resigns
• Richardson Bros. leaving furniture business
• Smith to get TJX payment
• Correction
• Obituaries
• Obituaries

• Opinion Today
• Industry faces new market paradigm

• People Today
• People on the Move
• People on the Move
• Wright, Hahn join Traditions by Pamela Kline