Furniture Today - May 09, 2005

Consumers with aching muscles are the focus of a growing, but little-noticed niche of the reclining chair market. These consumers, whose problems range from tired feet to sore backs, can now choose from a variety of stylish chairs that provide warmth, massages and several other forms of relief for stressed-out joints.

• News
• Phillips store converting to Ashley
• Correction
• River Forks readies Indonesia plant
• Consultancy forms new claims unit
• Rug retailer loses customs fight for merchandise
• Sports outing fundraiser set for June 7
• Universal names Robinson, Wolski salesmen of the year
• Trade Link sets 3 new textile shows
• Sears/Cantrex deal done
• Bedding majors flock to Vegas
• LHFI closing Seaman's stores
• New use for 100-year-old wood
• Culp eliminating 225 jobs
• Martin KI line becomes Mount View
• Florida's Carls Patio acquires San Diego store
• Textile group sets seminar on free-trade agreements
• New investors back IBC's expansion plans
• China Direct gains stake in Beijing-based supplier
• Nourison set to open showroom in Las Vegas
• LaMarche expands; to show in Vegas
• A-America offering quick-ship program
• Quality control course is first for Vietnam mfrs.
• Progressive has China office
• Help1Up gets NHFA, HFIA backing
• Trimmings supplier Bomar names Boyle president, CEO
• Dellinger to manage Foss's fiber business unit
• Fabric maker De Ball taps Southey as CEO
• Closing Georgia store cites imports
• Turkish textiles show expands
• Baker plans licensed line with designer Laura Kirar
• La-Z-Boy buys 8 more stores
• Michels opens Va. facility
• Pittock joins Perdues as VP
• Penney looks to spur furniture sales
• JCP honors Chinni, other top managers
• University Loft buys big Masco plant
• Durham shutters its newest plant
• Vendors mainly positive on LHFI's strategy
• Morty Seaman reflects on closing

• Industry Numbers
• Havertys 1Q sales up 9.1%
• CFC to merge with Audax Group affiliate
• April results mixed for 3 stores
• O'Sullivan sales off 6.4%, loss rises
• Masco profits surge 37.5% in 1st qtr.
• Bombay restates 4Q, year-end earnings

• Special Report
• Furniture Today's Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers a
• Ashley tops La-Z-Boy as No. 2 source
• Top 25 sales climb 6.9%
• Top 25 Furniture Manufacturers & Importers
• Three fall off Top 25 onto contenders list
• Who owns whom
• Earnings mixed among Top 25
• About the ranking

• People Today
• Mecke re-elected IFSA head
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Editor's Desk
• Winning now pattern for F/T

• Bedding Today
• Bedding community joins Magowitz's cancer crusade

• Store Openings
• MSO installs Lane gallery
• Drexel Heritage debuts Fla. unit
• La-Z-Boy adds two galleries
• C.L. Barnes opens Decor-Rest gallery

• Insider's View
• Want to sell ethnic groups? Fine, but you can't fake it

• Opinion Today
• Furniture retailing action is everywhere