January 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on January 5, 2010
Bobby Wesley Bush Sr., 78, who was retired after a long executive career with component supplier Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co., died Saturday in Hickory, N.C., at age 78.
Bush was a chief architect in the foundation and success of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, where he spent his entire professional career.
After graduating from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., as the ranking cadet, Bush then graduated from Duke University, Class of 1953, Phi Beta Kappa. Mr.
Bush spent more than 50 years at Hickory Springs.
That never lessened in those 50-plus years with the company. Longtime family friend Don Coleman, president of Hickory Springs, had this to say about Bush in an inter-company memo: "His compassion for all of those he met was evident," said Hickory Springs President Donald Coleman. "He was more than just a sincere guy, he was always your greatest supporter. Work with him or for him and you knew immediately. He took great pride in the employees who worked for the betterment of the company. Hickory Springs has lost a true pioneer in our business and in the industries we serve. We have so much to celebrate in having him with us for the past seventy-eight years. His legacy is with us, as is evident in what Hickory Springs is today."
Bush also served the home furnishings industry through his board memberships that included the Suppliers Division of the American Home Furnishings Alliance, International Sleep Products Association, Polyurethane Foam Association, the Bienenstock Furniture Library and the American Furniture Hall of Fame.
ISPA's suppliers council awarded Bush the Exceptional Service Award and the McMorran Memorial Award given by the suppliers council within ISPA. He also served as second president of the AFMA Suppliers Council. In 2006, He was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jane Blackwood Bush; two sons, Bobby Bush Jr., and Jimmy Bush and wife, Donna, all of Hickory; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty Bush Wright of Winchester, Va.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at the Park Inn, 909 U.S. 70.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Dr., Gainesville, Ga. 30501-1227; Hickory Choral Society, 243 Third Ave. NE, Hickory, N.C.; or Catawba Science Center, 243 Third Ave. NE, Hickory, N.C.
January 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 5, 2010
Classic Sleep Products, Jessup, Md., has filed a Chapter 11 petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, seeking approval of the sale of assets of the company.
With the court's approval, a new company, Classic Brands LLC, would own the assets and is backed with an infusion of $10 million in new financing. Classic's long-time Chinese manufacturing partner will have an equity stake in the new company.
The company said there will be no disruption of service to its customers, vendors or suppliers.
Under the business plan, the current management team led by CEO Mike Zippelli will increase its majority ownership stake in the business with funding provided by JMX Capital Partners and Classic's senior lender, CIT Financial.
"We see this move as a very exciting opportunity to solidify Classic's position as the leading value brand in the United States," Zippelli said. "This strong infusion of capital will strengthen our current business and position the company for dynamic future growth."
Zippelli said the Chapter 11 process was a necessary step for Classic to separate itself from its parent company, Dormia Inc., which had operated more than 30 stores until shortly after its Chapter 11 filing 18 months ago.
"We have worked closely with our Chinese supplier for many years," Zippelli said. "We are designing mattresses and they are building beds to the same specifications we use in our Jessup facility, but at pricing that delivers greater value to the consumer. The cost differential gives us a unique strategic advantage by enabling us to include features at the under $1,500 price point at quality levels that are impossible to produce domestically."
Classic Sleep Products sells its bedding products and accessories under the Dormia, Space Age and Natural Expressions brands and uses all-natural and high-performance covers, lamb's wool, Talalay and Dunlop latex, and visco-elastic memory foam.
January 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 5, 2010
The U.S. Department of Commerce has rescinded a new shipper review covering the period Jan. 1-July 31, 2009, of shipments of wood bedroom furniture from Chinese furniture manufacturer Rise.
According to a Federal Register announcement, Rise withdrew its request for a review on Nov. 10, following that with a clarification of its request two weeks later.
DOC will notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection that a cash deposit of 216.01 percent ad valorem should be collected for any imports of subject merchandise exported by Rise.
January 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 5, 2010
Columbus, Ohio-based Value City Furniture has signed a 15-year lease for a store it will open just north of Philadelphia in Cheltenham Square Mall.
The news is part of an announcement of new retail tenants at the shopping center from owner Thor Equities, which is managing a multi-million dollar remodeling effort for the mall. Value City and shoe retailer DSW will join new Cheltenham Square signings that include Target, TD Banks, Metro PCS, Chili's Bar & Grill, Anna's Linen, PCX, and TMobile as the Mall has also undergone a extensive, multimillion dollar remodeling.
Value City Furniture will open a 52,000-square-foot store in the mall this spring. Value City, which has its own American Signature Brand, operates more than 125 stores in 19 states.
Cheltenham Square Mall is anchored by Burlington Coat Factory, Home Depot, Shoprite and Target and boasts more than 85 specialty stores.
January 3,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on January 4, 2010
American Furniture Warehouse will return to Grand Junction, Col., 25 years after the Thornton, Col.-based retailer first tried the market in state's southwest corner, the Grand Junction Sentinel reported Thursday.
AFW finished purchasing a 20 acre site for around $9.9 million. Plans call for a 150,000-square-foot store and warehouse that will employ about 150 people. It could open as soon as early next year.
Jake Jabs, AFW CEO, told the paper he opened an American Furniture Warehouse store in Grand Junction in 1984, but closed it the following year due to a poor regional economy. The new store will deliver to towns within a 100-mile radius.