Furniture Today - July 21, 2008

Until it hit a rough patch earlier this year, the specialty sleep category had been heading ever upward, generating a growth story that captivated the industry. Specialty sleep beds generally sell at $1,000 and up, helping retailers capture more sales dollars for each sale, a development that retailers always welcome.

• Store Openings
• Diamond unveils 8th showroom
• Belfort adds Sealy Gallery
• Bedmart opens 24th unit
• Just Cabinets debuts 20th store

• Industry Numbers
• Bassett posts smaller loss
• Sun affiliate takes over British retailer
• Stanley 2Q sales fall
• Furniture Brands extends shareholder rights pact

• Editor's Desk
• U.S. plants show some signs of life

• Bedding Today
• Specialty sleep segment sparks new questions

• People Today
• Greenbaum Interiors expands team
• People on the Move
• People On The Move

• Special Report
• Bedding
• Retailers: Specialty sleep outlook remains positive
• Innerspring makers defend their turf
• SSA president: March toward innovation 'will not stop now'
• Market Events
• Educational seminars set for market
• Free shuttle service available between host hotels, WMC
• Lively social scene lights up Las Vegas Market
• Las Vegas Product
• Fresh product being shown at Vegas market

• Insider's View
• Troubles of travel make furniture a better value

• Opinion Today
• U.S. fabric makers gaining ground

• Industry News
• Universal ready to relaunch Pennsylvania House brand
• Barcalounger bringing brands together in LV
• Slow rug market no surprise
• Lane salutes 3 gallery retailers
• AP Digital offers new photo option
• Passaglia to lead Restonic
• La-Z-Boy shifts sales execs
• F/T Web exclusives
• Chinese manufacturer Halo plans to buy 50% ownership in G&J Styles
• Buying groups gain from credit crunch
• Whalen acquires APA Marketing
• Simmons unit bids for Western assets
• 53rd Edison show set for August
• Hudson's Bay Co. sold
• Tilley out at Henredon
• Craftmaster taps Mann for new post
• FBI moving HQ, adding 150 jobs in St. Louis
• O'Neills rejoin Leggett
• FBI consolidating U.S. plants, expanding overseas
• Matthews named VP at Wahlquist
• Kuitu new name for Finnish FR fiber maker
• City of Hope Chicago cruise set for Aug. 18
• Gotzens joins HP firm
• Hickory White to produce Lillian August line
• Ergomotion taps Griggs for VP post
• WMC, IHFRA to salute reps in Las Vegas
• Obituaries
• Mitchell Cross, VP at Klaussner Home

• Behind the Design
• Integrating life with work