Furniture Today - May 13, 2002

For most of the Top 25 manufacturers of furniture for the U.S. residential market, last year was one to forget. Sales declined for 18 of the companies, in most cases breaking a string of several consecutive years of gains. As a group, the top guns saw their 2001 shipments fall 6.6% from the previous year.

• News
• Conan gives Basics a few good laughs
• IBC Group taps Neil Ellman as president
• Dinette specialty shop uses Web effectively
• N.C., China firms partner in sourcing
• AFMA launches Web site for consumer education
• FIDX meeting set for May 17
• Furnitureland expands
• Washington operates in fast lane
• Two e-commerce site redesigns use Microsoft .NET technology
• IHFRA offers scholarships for upcoming CHR courses
• American Leather has new slogan
• Two British mfrs. to merge
• Century promotes 4 club chairs for Father's Day
• Genesis, Knowles partner for small-group workshops
• Horizon USA offers interactive rug kiosk
• Retailers like Martha Stewart line
• La-Z-Boy honors top retailers
• Cohen's loses goods in warehouse fire
• Restonic has summer promotion
• Myriad honors 3 retailers
• Sales, attendance rise at Malaysian show
• Cologne renaming fair
• Fair has new U.S. office
• Ligna veterans launch manufacturer Tera
• Karel's Mass. show will move to Fitchburg
• Calligaris doubles HP operation
• Bowles new VP at Costa Blanca
• Sutton wants out of Lexington license deal
• Latex mfr. gets new name, plant
• Levin's superstore concept coming to Cleveland in 4Q
• Myriad finds its clients beat odds

• Opinion Today
• Breaking news from the High Point market
• Need factor feeds growth of juvenile sales
• Hospitality show reeled 'em in

• Business Today
• Pier 1, Havertys lead pack
• Masco's 1Q profits rise 30.6%
• Revenues climb 5.6% for RTO Enterprises
• Keller posts loss on 16% sales dip
• Sales rise at Cost Plus, fall at Restoration

• Special Report
• Exclusive Survey
• Despite sales drop, Top 25 outpace industry
• Top 25 manufacturers for the U.S. market
• Slow year extends to Top 25 contenders
• Sales declines, imports undercut profits
• List includes global companies
• Retailer Profile
• Can. retailer shines in specialty bedding
• Bedroom: Place of RTA opportunity

• Up Front
• Levin growth continues
• Jeff Baron leaves DeCoro
• Havertys promotes Smith to president
• Owen to head OFMA
• Cole resigns from LifeStyle
• JCP vet fills Bombay marketing post
• Albanese joins Interline
• Broyhill to convert N.C. plant
• Broyhill taps supply chain VP
• Rent Rite buys 18 Ga. stores
• WinsLoew now Brown Jordan

• People Today
• A-America promotes Cantrell to VP
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Bedding Today
• Buffett's bedding pitch offers masterful lessons

• Store Openings
• American unveils Broyhill
• Village installs La-Z-Boy
• Kincaid opens 13th location
• Gobeil's breaks ground for Drexel Heritage store
• Scan Furniture opens 6th unit