Furniture Today - February 12, 2007

Case goods and leather source Hooker Furniture has dropped its employee stock ownership plan to save millions of dollars over the next 19 years. While ending the ESOP will cost Hooker $18.4 million for a one-time charge, the plan has cost more than $10 million over the past three years and could have cost $80 million or more going forward, the company said.

• Special Report
• Leather: Finding the right blend
• Fashion Report
• Behind the Design

• People Today
• Singer joins Strategic Decisions as executive VP
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Supplement
• Global Textiles Today
• Still needed: Fresh ideas
• Proposte retains upscale focus
• Scoperta at least 25% bigger
• Upcoming global shows
• Flocked fabrics enjoying wider appeal
• How flocking works
• A long history
• Where do they make it?
• Evteks will showcase Turkey's $3 billion textile industry
• Sources of flocked goods
• Accessories Today
• Accessory action strong at Vegas, New York markets

• Opinion Today
• 'Distractions' claims sound a little desperate

• Bedding Today
• FR issue attracts little retailer interest in Vegas

• Industry Numbers
• Select Comfort 2006 sales increase 16.9%
• Flexsteel's 2Q net income nearly triples to $1.41 million
• Equity holders OK Foamex plan
• Havertys January sales down 3%

• News
• Lifestyle buys land, sets 2nd H.P. market building
• Rose hopes to stay open with creditors deal
• Danker, Sheffield owners buy Gallahan's store in Va.
• Miller is Gabberts president
• Mattress Firm to acquire Las Vegas bedding chain
• Philly's Mealey's bought by Dallas equity firm
• La-Z-Boy plant workers want vote on union
• Bob's sets 1st metro NY unit
• Roth launches consulting firm
• Gerety joins Hunter
• Sauder to make Ikea kitchen cabinet components
• After 30 years, Ontario store closing doors
• Magnussen taps Romberg
• Flexsteel nearing 600 in-store galleries mark
• Leath planning promotions at 5 Fla. Modernage stores
• Importer Scott Thomas moves headquarters to Cleveland suburb
• New Brussels fabric show set for Sept. 7–10
• Feizy hits home run with Porter, Lee rug lines
• 100 Angels urges support for children's hospital
• Price replaces Moretti on HP market board
• Louisville debuts FR pad
• Hall & Oates headline market entertainment
• Canadians honor Owen
• Kreiss, Agassis score in Vegas
• Metal bed sources hammer out strong Vegas show
• Plaza show to concentrate on upholstery for future markets
• New Beautyrest takes off
• Obituaries
• Hans J. Wegner, acclaimed Danish designer

• Editor's Desk
• A tale of two ongoing stories