June 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 11, 2010
Furniture sales were a bright spot in the latest retail sales figures released by
the U.S. Commerce Department.Sales of furniture rose 1 percent in May, while overall retail sales fell 1.2 percent as consumers pulled back on spending. The overall decline was the first and the largest since September 2009 when sales fell 2.2 percent.
Consumer electronics and appliance stores also advanced with a 0.6 percent increase.
The report said car sales and parts dropped 1.7 percent in May. Excluding automobiles, all other retail sales fell 1.1 percent, after rising 0.6 percent during April. Gas station sales in May plummeted 3.3 percent.
Other highlights included a 0.3 percent increase in health and personal care sales, and mail order and Internet retail sales jumped 2 percent. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores posted a 0.4 percent sales increase.
June 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 11, 2010
Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings, Phoenix, has closed its four stores as the consigned furniture retailer files Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Arizona Republic reported Friday.
The bankruptcy leaves $5 million-plus in furniture sold for around 600 consigners is up in the air; and 1,700 customers with furniture inside stores locked under court order.
The report said that the Arizona Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau of Central, Northern and Western Arizona have been receiving customer complaints of non-payment for furniture consigned and sold at the stores for months.
Terri's stores in Scottsdale, Peoria, Chandler and Mesa have been closed since June 3.
June 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on June 11, 2010
Former Glendale, Ariz., furniture store owner Augoustinos James Boukalis was arrested Wednesday on charges of fraudulent schemes and theft, ABC 15-TV reported Thursday.
More than a dozen customers said they couldn't get refunds on custom sofas at Boukalis' store, The Sofa Shoppe, which closed abruptly in May 2009.
Customers complaints filed with the Attorney General's Office led to a fraud investigation.
June 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on June 11, 2010
The National Home Furnishings Industry group raised $500,000 in support of
City of Hope research hospital at the 19th Annual West Coast Golf and Tennis Tournament.
The event, held at the
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club in Coto de Caza, Calif., honored the Navarra family and Lee Goodman of
Jerome's Furniture of San Diego. In addition to the tournaments, the day concluded with a cocktail and dinner reception, silent auction and live auction hosted by
American Furniture Warehouse's Jake Jabs serving as auctioneer.
June 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on June 11, 2010
Bedroom, home office and home entertainment furniture manufacturer Thornwood has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the Arizona Republic reported Friday.
Thornwood plans to continue operations at its 500,000-square-foot Phoenix plant and maintain its 250-strong work force as it restructures its finances. The filing resulted from Thornwood's inability to reach an agreement with M&I Marshall and Ilsley Bank on an outstanding loan balance of more than $12 million.
An attorney for the company told the paper Thornwood hopes to emerge from bankruptcy later this year.