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Furniture|Today -- 06/11/2007
Bedding Today
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Ladies, let your man have say in bed purchase
This week, we engage in some serious man talk. Ladies, pay careful attention. There will be a quiz. We all know that women are the primary decision-makers when it comes to buying bedding. But now, thanks to our friends at 1800mattress.com, we also know this: You ladies are messing up our sleep. A recent survey of 5,000 male callers by 1800mattress.
Editor's Desk
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Some fresh air on antidumping
If you know Kevin Sauder, the head of Sauder Woodworking, you know he's a straight shooter that hails from a long line of straight-shooters. Erie Sauder, his paternal grandfather and founder of the furniture maker, was as honest as the day is long. Erie's son, Maynard, who subsequently ran the company, was cut from the same cloth.
Industry Numbers
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Kessler Inds. to reopen
High Point— Kessler Inds. officials say the company will reopen, a reversal of the plan announced earlier this year to cease operations at the occasional, metal bed and case goods resource. More information will be available soon on the company's business model going forward, said Jon Lamb, former sales and marketing coordinator for the company.
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Havertys' sales down 14.2% in May, 11.4% year to date
Atlanta— Up against a tough year-ago comparison, Havertys' May same-store sales dipped 15.5% and total sales fell 14.2 % to $64 million, from $74.6 million for the same month in 2006. The retailer's same-store sales were down 12.9% for the first five months of the year, and total sales were off 11.
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Furniture factory orders down 4% in March
High Point— For the ninth straight month, U.S. residential furniture factory orders and shipments in March were down from the same month a year earlier, according to Smith Leonard. Orders were down 4% from March 2006 and shipments were down 6%, the accounting and consulting firm said. For the first quarter of this year, orders were down 5% and shipments off 6% from the opening stanza of 2...
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Hooker sales, profit down
Martinsville, Va.— Hooker Furniture, which recently closed the last of its domestic wood factories, reported double-digit declines in sales and earnings in its first quarter. The company said the decreases were greater than expected, and the weakness was likely to continue throughout the summer.
News
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ABCs of mattress safety
Washington— The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has published a consumer brochure highlighting the new mattress flammability standards that go into effect July 1. Meanwhile, the International Sleep Products Assn.'s Sleep Products Safety Council also has introduced new hangtags and labels that include revised safety information.
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Brass bed prices rise
High Point— The rising cost of copper used in brass tubing has raised the cost of brass beds. For brass that comes in two-inch tubing, the price has risen to more than $5 a pound, up from just over $2 two years ago. Much of the increase results from hikes in the price of copper, the biggest ingredient in brass.
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Thornwood seeks duties
Phoenix— Case goods manufacturer Thornwood Furniture has filed a suit seeking antidumping monies from the federal government. Manufacturer and importer Progressive Furniture filed a similar suit, but the CEO of its parent company said the claim will be withdrawn. The suits are similar to ones Furniture Brands International and Standard Furniture filed earlier against U.
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Tip-over standards don't cover consoles
Philadelphia— The proposed furniture tip-over safety standard covers "clothing-storage furniture" but not console cabinets that could support a flat-panel TV. The American Society for Testing and Materials rule as it now stands doesn't cover entertainment centers, and states, "This safety specification does not cover any items 30 inches or less in height.
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Parents speak out
Philadelphia— The parents of two children killed when furniture fell on them spoke about the tragedies at a recent American Society for Testing and Materials meeting here. Judy and Bob Lambert told how their 3½-year-old daughter Katie Elise died in January 2005 when a wardrobe fell on her.
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Uph. maker Ashley Manor closing
High Point— After 35 years in business, high-end upholstery maker Ashley Manor here said last week it will close July 1. "It's lack of volume," said J. Richardson Miller, the company's owner. "Sales have just dropped off and I attribute it to imports. They're taking part of our business." Ashley Manor produces loveseats, chairs, sectionals, sofa-sleepers, benches and ottomans.
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Corrections
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Wingate replaces Perryman at F/T
High Point— Furniture/Today has named Don Wingate as Western regional advertising sales manager, replacing Brin Perryman, who left the business newspaper to join the World Market Center in Las Vegas. Wingate has worked for Furniture/Today since February 2005, first as inside sales manager and most recently as Southeastern regional account manager.
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Wadhams to succeed Manoogian as Masco CEO
Taylor, Mich.— The board of directors of home products giant Masco has named Timothy Wadhams, the company's senior vice president and chief financial officer, to succeed longtime CEO Richard Manoogian on July 1. The 59-year-old Wadhams, who joined Masco in 1976 and has been CFO since 2001, will assume day-to-day responsibilities as Manoogian becomes executive chairman.
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Gordon named VP of sales at Protect-A-Bed
Haverford, Pa.— Kelly Gordon has been promoted to vice president of sales at Protect-A-Bed. She will oversee new business partnerships while continuing to manage key existing accounts. Gordon has been with Protect-A-Bed for three years. She started in the company's training and development department and, after a year, was promoted to national key accounts manager.
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Eitel hails 'incredible momentum' at Simmons riding big sales boom
Atlanta— A focused marketing strategy, strong products and good values are sparking a sales boom at Simmons, says Charlie Eitel, CEO and chairman. "We have incredible momentum," Eitel said in an interview. "As you see the numbers unfold this year, you will see what is happening. I think we can return Simmons to No.
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Perryman named to WMC post
Las Vegas— Brin Perryman has joined the World Market Center here as a leasing manager, reporting to Director of Leasing Babs Blair. He most recently was a regional advertising sales manager for Furniture/Today. "I have seen World Market Center grow from a mere idea," said Perryman, who has worked with WMC executives on advertising projects for several years, since the showroom complex was...
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New Kemp company BK has Indonesia links
High Point— As part of a strategy to move some of its sourcing out of China, case goods importer Kemp Enterprises has formed a new company called BK Home Furniture. BK Home will market a new line of wood bedroom, dining room, home entertainment and occasional furniture. The venture is beginning to move production of those goods from China to Indonesia.
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Wright to consult at Leggett & Platt
Carthage, Mo.— Longtime Leggett & Platt executive Felix Wright has signed a two-year consulting agreement with the company, ending a stint as an executive officer that dates back to the late 1970s. Wright, 71, will remain chairman of Leggett's board but will report to president and CEO David Haffner in his new consulting post.
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AHFA meet to examine breakthrough marketing
High Point— Home furnishings companies looking for a way to break the boundaries of past marketing efforts will find insights at the American Home Furnishings Alliance's Annual Marketing Meeting in August. "Breakthrough Marketing" is the theme of the event, set for Aug. 15–17 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore.
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Greystone submits $13.5M bid for some assets of Joan Fabrics
Wilmington, Del.— Greystone Private Equity has been named the stalking horse bidder for certain assets and real property of Joan Fabrics with a bid of $13.45 million. Greystone's purchase agreement, recorded in U.S. Bankruptcy Court here, doesn't include Joan's Circa 1801/Doblin operations or its contract fabric business, according to Daniel Bleck, an attorney for Joan Fabrics.
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Park Place reopening United Pa. plant
Greenville, S.c.— Park Place is set to reopen the former United Sleep Products factory in Denver, Pa., this week as Park Place Pa. "Our focus is to restore normal business operations as quickly as possible to the associates and customers," said Jimmy Orders, president of Park Place, a regional bedding producer based here, in a letter to United Sleep customers.
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Hickory Springs taps four in bedding products div.
Hickory, N.C.— Components supplier Hickory Springs Mfg. has promoted four people in its bedding products division. Heading the list is R. Stuart Spiller Jr., who has been named vice president of the division, a new position for the company. Spiller, who will have profit-and-loss responsibility for both the domestic and international units, has held various management posts at the company ...
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H.P. Market promotion may contain ticket for free room
High Point— If you receive a direct-mail piece from the High Point Market in the next several days, don't toss it in the trash without looking inside. Tucked inside 10 of the thousands of envelopes being mailed to retailers are gold tickets good for five free nights at the Sheraton Greensboro Four Seasons during market week this fall, Oct.
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Magni family: Big ideas, small-package mattresses
Prato, Italy— The idea came to him several decades ago, one Christmas season in Milan, where he was admiring the shopping carts full of packages. Was there, he wondered, a way to fit a mattress into a small package? Giuliano Magni, a mattress maker from Prato, thought about the question for years.
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Exotic materials star in these mattresses
Prato, Italy— Gold, silver, soybeans, crab shells, seaweed, tree fibers, bamboo, corn and castor oil are some of the exotic materials that Italy's largest mattress producer uses in its mattress lines. Castor oil? "Some people don't want to sleep on petroleum-based products," explained Marco Magni, global sales director.
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Tuscany plant pops out wide array of bedding
Prato, Italy— One of the world's most productive mattress factories sits in this northwestern corner of Tuscany. Founded over 50 years ago, Magniflex takes its name from the Magni (pronounced MAN-ni) family, and the "flex" that's a hallmark of good bedding. Since 2001, the company's headquarters and factory have been in a 330,000-square-foot facility along the main highway that leads thro...
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Magniflex takes on U.S. market with Soho store
New York— Magniflex, Italy's largest mattress producer, has taken a big step here with the opening of its first U.S. store in Manhattan's trendy Soho district. If it does well, more could follow here and in key markets across the country. The company's unique assortment of mattresses, some of which are covered with exotic ticking fashioned from gold and silver fibers, brings a fresh offer...
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Macy's sees opportunities in furniture
Cincinnati— Furniture, despite its current problems, offers significant opportunities at Macy's Inc. both in its Macy's and Bloomingdale's divisions, says the retailer's top executive. "The reason I like it is that there is so much complexity in the business, and if we can make it work, we'll own it," said Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of the former Federated Department Stor...
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L&P restructures Consumer Products Group
Carthage, Mo.— Leggett & Platt has restructured its Consumer Products Group, naming company veteran Rob Woods president of the division. The Consumer Products Group includes ornamental beds division Fashion Bed Group, plus the company's steel bedding support division and its top-of-bed and accessories divisions.
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AICO Office taps Henson
Pico Rivera, Calif.— Office furnishings veteran Richard Henson has been promoted to vice president of AICO Office Systems, a division of furniture importer AICO. He reports to Martin Ploy, AICO executive vice president. Henson joined AICO a year ago as director of AICO Office Systems after working as an executive at companies such as EST-West, a division of Leggett & Platt, and office...
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Efforts aim to prevent tipping injuries
Philadelphia— Furniture executives and consumer safety advocates are working together on voluntary safety standards to prevent certain case pieces from tipping over and injuring children. An estimated 3,000 children a year are treated for injuries caused by tipped-over furniture or falling TVs.
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PeopLoungers gets loan, will continue to cut costs
Nettleton, Miss.— Motion furniture manufacturer PeopLoungers said last week it had secured $9.5 million in financing to support its restructuring. Officials said the debtor-in-possession loan from Capital Business Credit of New York will allow the company to continue operations. The 28-year-old company filed for Chapter 11 protection last month, saying it owed more than $5.
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Mattress Firm to buy St. Louis units
Houston— Bedding retailer Mattress Firm has signed a letter of intent to acquire its nine franchise stores in St. Louis from the owner, Yotes Inc. Terms of the deal, which is in the due diligence phase, weren't disclosed. The acquisition will bring Mattress Firm's corporate-owned store count to 339 in 26 markets, and will leave it with 45 franchise stores in nine markets.
Opinion Today
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Canadian factories: How they can survive
Will Canada still have a furniture-making industry a decade from now? I'm having a lot of conversations on that question these days, with manufacturers, retailers, sales reps, anyone interested in the future of our industry. The numbers aren't encouraging. With the exception of mattresses, Canadian furniture factory shipments have shrunk for the past five years, with no sign of change yet.
People Today
- People on the Move
People on the Move
Executives Eric Brand Furniture Burlingame, Calif. — Custom and luxury furniture design company Eric Brand Furniture has hired Peter Sayour as director of operations. Sayour previously worked for three years at Higgins Purchasing Group, a provider of furniture, fixtures, equipment and services to hotels and resorts.
Special Report
- Showtime
9 design students win Virginia Jackson awards
High Point— Nine textile design students were awarded the 2007 Virginia Jackson Design Awards in the annual competition sponsored by the International Textile Market Assn.'s Educational Foundation. Awards were given in jacquard, print and dobby categories. Winning designs, selected from 40 entries from five schools, were judged on aesthetic form, ability to be manufactured and applicabili...
- Showtime
Leather buyers want pearlized finishes, metallic tones
High Point— While the number of leather hide exhibitors participating at Showtime shrinks with each event, the stalwarts showing here last week saw manufacturers that preferred pearlized finishes and metallic overtones over eco-green selections. Many upholstery manufacturers walking the show were looking for specialty leathers — or, in the words of McKinley Leather's chief operating...
- Showtime
We love beach music!
High Point— A summer storm and lingering humidity provided plenty of moisture for the first-ever Showtime Summer Beach Party in the courtyard at Market Square. Despite a brief downpour, partygoers got into spirit with live music, Caribbean short ribs and Jamaican beer.
- Fastest-growing Top 100 stores
Sleep Train chugs to top of fast-growth list
High Point— Ashley Furniture HomeStores may have risen to the top of the Top 100 this year, but for the first time in four years, it won't be crowned the fastest-growing store among the group. That honor goes to The Sleep Train, the Citrus Heights, Calif.-based sleep shop that posted both the greatest percentage sales gain and net gain in store count of any Top 100 company in 2006.
- Casual Dining
Smaller silhouettes, bigger function
High Point— Whether they're called buffets, servers or sideboards, today's dining case pieces are being scaled down for casual dining. But that doesn't mean scaled out. Companies are looking for new ways to use space and provide function while offering formal-looking pieces that fit into everyday eating areas.
- Showtime
More fabrics eco-friendly
High Point— Interest in green and sustainable fabrics was growing among fabric suppliers and their customers at Summer Showtime. Several companies were ready with products touted as natural and/or environmentally friendly, including Adesal Jacquards, American Trim Mfg., American Silk, Bella-Dura at Wearbest, Chris Stone, Cone Jacquards, Craftex Mills, Lady Fabrics, Marlatex, Microfibres, ...
- Showtime
Showtime: All about design
High Point— The fall buying season began at Showtime here last week as upholstery fabric buyers trooped from showroom to showroom in search of the innovation, color and pattern stories they need for frames debuting in three months at the fall furniture market. Attendance may have been off slightly, but vendors said they had appointments throughout the show, and took a lot of orders for sa...
Store Openings
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Young America gallery added to S.C. kids boutique
Pawleys Island, S.c.— Lollipop Junction, a children's boutique here, has opened a Young America Signature Shop. With the addition of the nearly 3,000-square-foot furniture gallery, the store has doubled in size. "Adding furniture to our retail lineup makes us an even greater resource for mothers and grandmothers to shop for their little ones," said storeowner Heather Jones.
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Ekornes opens two galleries
Somerset, N. J.— Norway-based recliner and motion upholstery maker Ekornes has opened Stressless Zone galleries in two more stores in Vermont and Minnesota. Modern Design in Burlington, Vt., has installed a 1,250-square-foot Ekornes gallery in its 15,000-square-foot store. David Lash owns the store.
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