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Furniture|Today -- 03/31/2008
Bedding Today
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ISPA Expo: Music, laughter, springs, foam and a challenge
Before the month gets away from us, it's time to share some thoughts on what we saw (and heard) at the big International Sleep Products Assn. Expo in Baltimore a few weeks ago: Springs were singing. Leggett & Platt unveiled a number of new innerspring units and asserted that it is innersprings, not specialty sleep foams, that are the most advanced technology on the market today.
Editor's Desk
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Industry faces major changes
Like it or not, this industry is at a crossroads. Wholesale change is headed your way. The question that raises is whether you can embrace change and make it work for you, or will be immobilized and ultimately eliminated by it. What is changing? Everything. Start with pricing. I suspect it is going to be impossible to work next week's market without major discussions about increased prices.
Industry Numbers
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FBI sells contract unit to HNI for $75 million
St. Louis— Furniture Brands International said it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Hickory Business Furniture contract unit to HNI Corp. for $75 million. The all-cash transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter. Furniture Brands had announced last year that it was looking for a buyer for HBF.
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Williams-Sonoma 4Q profit rises 2.9%
San Francisco— Retailer Williams-Sonoma said its fourth-quarter profits edged up 2.9% despite a drop in same-store sales at its Pottery Barn chain. The company, which also operates the Williams-Sonoma, West Elm and Williams Sonoma Home chains, said total revenues for the 14-week quarter ended Feb.
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Confidence falls
New York— U.S. consumer confidence took another dive in March, falling nearly 12 points to 64.5 on a key index, the Conference Board reported last week. The research firm's Consumer Confidence Index was down from 76.4 in February and remained at its lowest in five years, since it hit 61.4 in March 2003 as the Iraq war was starting.
News
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FR compliance lacking?
Baltimore— A majority of U.S. mattress producers aren't in compliance with the federal mattress flammability standard that took effect last summer, a bedding consultant said here. Scott Frisch, president of Frisch Enterprises, which does fire resistance consulting work, said that the "silent majority" of bedding producers don't comply with the standard, which requires mattresses to pass a...
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RoomPlace opens stores in Indy
Indianapolis— Business is off to a brisk start here for The RoomPlace at Harlem Furniture with the opening of its first two stores in the suburbs of Castleton and Greenwood. Lombard, Ill.-based RoomPlace (which has dropped the "at Harlem Furniture" tag in this market) had a grand opening this month for both new 30,000-square-foot stores.
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Berkline consolidates in Tennessee
Morristown, Tenn.— In a major cost-cutting move, Berkline/BenchCraft will disband upholstery operations at its Blue Mountain, Miss., plant and consolidate all production into its main facility here. Some 400 jobs will be eliminated at the Blue Mountain plant effective May 24, and the Morristown plan will gain 200 workers over the next few months.
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Correction
In the March 24 edition of Furniture/Today, the last name of Jack Hawn, CEO of Zenith Global Logistics, was misspelled in a story on page 30.
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IHFRA presidential, awards gala set for April 5
High Point— Jim Craven will be installed as the 70th president of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. at the group's Presidential Gala and Awards Ceremony here Saturday, April 5. Also taking office will be Ed Myers, Tri-State Home Furnishings Assn., first vice president; Sandy Dant, Home Furnishings Representatives Guild of Southern California, second vice president; ...
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IHFRA offers pager rentals
High Point— Alphanumeric pagers are available for rent through the International Home Furnishings Reps Assn. for the upcoming High Point Market. The rental cost is $44.95 for the length of the market. Pagers can be picked up between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., from April 5 to 12, at the IHFRA office on the lower level of the Main Wing of the International Home Furnishings Center here.
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Web site now makes reps easier to find
High Point— The International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. has enhanced its Web site to make it easier to find sales reps across the country. Visitors to www.ihfra.org can search for sales reps in the Online Directory by territory, by residence, by manufacturer represented, by name, by IHFRA chapter and soon by product line carried.
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RoomPlace, WMC unfazed by Bear Stearns troubles
High Point— Two industry businesses that have had ties to Bear Stearns, the Wall Street investment bank that collapsed earlier this month, say the firm's troubles have no impact on their operations. The World Market Center in Las Vegas announced in July 2005 that it had secured $225 million in permanent financing through Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage to replace a first-phase constructi...
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Wilkinson VP at Austin Gray
High Point— Veteran sales representative Bob Wilkinson has been named vice president of sales and marketing for case goods importer Austin Gray, a new position at the company. Wilkinson had been a rep for Austin Gray for 18 months and earlier was a multi-line rep for other companies during his 33 years in the industry.
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Belfort taps Kennedy
Dulles, Va.— Dan Kennedy, former president of St. Louis retailer Kloss Furniture, has been named senior director of Belfort Furniture, a new position at the Washington-area retailer. Kennedy led day-to-day operations at 13 stores and a distribution center for Kloss, which in early 2007 sold its Lane, Broyhill and Thomasville stores to manufacturer Furniture Brands International.
- Obituaries
Obituaries
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HOM's new Sioux City home will triple its space
Sioux City, Iowa— HOM Furniture will triple its space here when it relocates to the former Younkers Department store this summer. It's one of four stores the Top 100 company is opening this year after about a three-year break in expansion. HOM is leasing 60,000 square feet on two levels at the busy corner of Fourth and Pierce streets.
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Fager joins The RoomPlace
Lombard, Ill.— Howard Fager has joined The RoomPlace at Harlem Furniture here as case goods and bedding buyer, taking on some of the responsibilities handled by Vesna Telalovic, vice president of merchandising. Fager, a 30-year industry veteran, was case goods buyer for Wheeling, Ill.-based Wickes Furniture for the past 10 years of his 23-year stint with the chain.
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Savovic launches uph. co.
High Point— SLR International, a new global sourcing company, will make its debut at next week's High Point Market with an initial lineup of contemporary leather upholstery. President and CEO Joe Savovic is a 35-year
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Harden Furniture first to earn SFC Silver status
Mcconnelsville, N.Y.— Case goods and upholstery source Harden Furniture has become the first furniture manufacturer to achieve Silver Exemplary Status from the Sustainable Furniture Council. Harden can now display SFC Silver Exemplary Status hangtags at retail to help educate and inform consumers about its sustainable practices.
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Market Authority adds planning tool to Web site
High Point— Planning to attend the High Point Market? To plot an itinerary to make the best use of your time, the High Point Market Authority is offering an updated Market Planner tool on its Web site at www.highpointmarket.org. The Market Planner allows buyers to research exhibitors and events before market, save events and showrooms to a personal Market Plan, and print out or e-mail cop...
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Aspenhome set to dedicate new, larger High Point space
High Point— Aspenhome will dedicate its new 40,000-square-foot High Point Market showroom in the International Home Furnishings Center here on Monday, April 7, consolidating a presentation that had been in two spaces on separate floors. Government and market officials are expected to join executives of the case goods, occasional and leather upholstery source for a ribbon-cutting ceremony ...
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Correction
The showroom location that appeared in Aspenhome's product chart listings on pages 40 and 42 of the March 24 issue was incorrect. Aspenhome will be in a new showroom in the International Home Furnishings Center's Commerce wing, space 1258.
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Cory moves HQ to Secaucus
Secaucus, N.J.— Cory Home Delivery, a major home delivery carrier for furniture, appliance and electronics retailers, has moved into a new corporate headquarters here. Founded in 1934, the company had been based in nearby Jersey City, N.J., since 1975. "We're good to go for the future, which holds tremendous promise as we grow," said Joseph Cory Sr.
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Philly retailers Oskar Huber, D&D merge
Southampton, Pa.— Retailers Oskar Huber Furniture and D&D Home Furnishings have merged to form a new chain that the owners say combines the best of both Philadelphia-area companies. DD Huber Furniture & Design, the new name for the midpriced to upscale stores, will be rolled out to consumers in May.
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Consumers tell it all
High Point— What do you get when you ask more than 12,000 Americans about their furniture shopping habits? Quite a lot of useful information, according to officials at Furniture/Today and cable television's HGTV, which partnered to conduct an online survey in January through HGTV's weekly Ideas Newsletter.
Opinion Today
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Deals on Chinese goods getting harder to find
For years, Chinese furniture manufacturers did just about anything they could to gain business from the United States. To this day, some of the same companies still talk about the U.S. as if it were the key to their success. But something has changed in the realm of Chinese manufacturing. For the past couple of years, furniture producers have battled higher costs.
Special Report
- New at Market
Case goods
All prices retail. In-depth stories on case goods introductions will appear in Furniture/Today's opening day issue. Aspenhome IHFC C-1258 Featuring the European Memoirs collection launched at the January Las Vegas Market, inspired by the hamlets, villages and shires of Europe. In birch and pecan with a warm Cognac finish and hand-cast, aged steel hardware and iron accents.
- New at Market
Occasional
All prices retail. In-depth stories on occasional introductions will appear in Furniture/Today's opening day issue. Bassett Mirror IHFC G-170 Bernhardt IHFC D-601 Brownstone IHFC D-1001 Hampton is a four-piece, contemporary-style collection that includes a console, two cocktails and an end table. The two cocktails are priced at $690 for the round and $715 for the rectangular version.
- New at Market
Entertainment
All prices retail. In-depth stories on entertainment introductions will appear in Furniture/Today's opening day issue. Aspenhome IHFC C-1258 New media consoles are being added to all collections. The 42-inch and 52-inch consoles feature an iPod docking station, pull-out component shelves, media storage, gamer drawer and utility storage drawer.
- New at Market
Casual dining
A-America CP 101 Amisco Inds. IHFC D-541 Camelia is a five-piece transitional dining room set available in several color combinations: two wood, 10 metal and 50 fabric colors. Matching buffets and cabinets made of wood and metal are offered. $1,599 to $1,699. Armen Art 258 S. Main St. Bassett Mirror IHFC G-001 Baseline 335 S.
- New at Market
Wicker
Acacia Home & Garden HS 102 The Hamptons seating group combines woven wood and seagrass. Sofa ($1,200), with matching chair, swivel, ottoman, occasional stables. Also, introducing Cabana Joe line. Ficks Reed HM 119 Introducing the contemporary Claremont collection, which highlights flowing curves and semi-circular design elements.
- Behing the Design
Creative contemporary gets spotlight in Porto
Porto, Portugal— How can you not enjoy a business meeting that starts with a double cheek kiss instead of a handshake? In February, the Export Home exhibition here was a wonderful opportunity to meet the warm, welcoming people of Portugal as well as view the newest design trends from Portuguese manufacturers.
- Market Showrooms
Market Showrooms
IHFC International Home Furnishings Center: 210 E. Commerce Ave. 220 Elm 220 S. Elm St. Market on Green 212 E. Green St. Plaza Suites 222 S. Main St. C&D Hamilton/Wrenn 200, 320, 330 N. Hamilton St. Suites at Market Square 200 W. Commerce Ave. Showplace Market Square Center Point 401 S. Hamilton St.
- New at Market
Upholstery
Affordable Furniture 329 S. Main St. Affordable is introducing the No. 6750 sectional modeled off its No. 1 best-selling sofa group, targeted at $699. In addition, the company continues to feature its stock warehousing and quick-ship program. Barcalounger Home IHFC C-754 Barcalounger Home is introducing 12 fabric frames with retail prices ranging from $699 to $1,099, with special-order capabili...
Store Openings
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England installs gallery in Canada
Grande Prairie, Alberta—Custom upholstery manufacturer England has installed a Custom Comfort Center in Midwest Countrywide here. The 35,000-square-foot store features a 4,000-square-foot England gallery. Midwest Countrywide has been in business for two years and has a second location in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
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Rudd opens 2nd Alabama store
Montgomery, Ala.— Rudd Furniture Co. has opened its second Alabama location here on Atlanta Highway. The new 25,000-square-foot retail location is two-and-a-half times larger than the company's Dothan, Ala., location. Founded in 1945 by O. W. Rudd, the company is now owned and operated by Jim Rudd, his son, and Jason Rudd, his grandson.
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La-Z-Boy store opens in Ill.; remodeled unit reopens in Fla.
Monroe, Mich.— La-Z-Boy Furniture Inds. has announced the opening of a new store in Illinois and the renovation and reopening of a store in Florida. The new La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store opened in South Elgin, Ill., on Randall Road. The 17,479-square-foot store is owned by Loyal Lindsey and offers a full selection of La-Z-Boy chairs and sofas, correlating cocktail tables and decorati...
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