Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 23,
2007 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on August 2007
There’s a lot of pillow talk in Pillow, Pa., as Carpenter Co. prepares to distribute new pillows to each one of the small town’s residents as part of a promotional event called the Great American Sleep Better Project.
All 350 residents of the central Pennsylvania bedroom community can get a new pillow as part of the 10-day promotion that will be capped off with a town festival and picnic. Carpenter, which claims it’s the first time a whole town got new pillows at once, is donating $12,000 to the memorably named town during the festival. Carpenter said the project will show the importance of using the right pillow for getting a good night’s sleep.
The company, which brands its pillows with a Sleep Better seal, will recommend a pillow for each participant.
Pillow residents will start on Sept. 4 by taking a ZzzzScore test at
www.sleepbetter.org to learn their personal sleep profile. They’ll be asked to maintain a daily journal to record their impressions of the quality of their sleep over 10 nights. In addition, some Pillow residents are volunteering to let scientists study test old pillows for allergens such as mold, mildew and dust mites.
The town is named for Civil War General Gideon Pillow.
August 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2007
The introduction of marketblackbook.com to the retail community is set for Wednesday, Aug. 29.
A new, online platform from
Home Furnishings Business, marketblackbook.com will allow retailers to discover products, services and business partners via the Internet.
The technology is currently open for manufacturers, importers and service providers to log in and sign up to upload information. It cost nothing to post a business profile, company advertisement and one product picture, all of which will be searchable by retailers using marketblackbook.com. The program offers a cafeteria of options for interested industry suppliers to increase the amount of information and number of pictures included under their profiles. Interested parties can simply sign on at
www.marketblackbook.com or contact Tracy Johnson at tjohnson@napco.com or by phone at 336.906.8925.
A few of the companies who have already created profiles include Riverside Furniture, Fairmont Designs, The Lam Lee Group, Star International, Master Design, Curry & Co., Collezione Europa, Harounian Rugs, Moe’s Home Collection and Bailey Street.
“We’re pleased to offer another product that is so sorely needed in the industy,” said Amy Kyle, publisher of
Home Furnishings Business. “The reception has been incredible from both the retail community and suppliers from all aspects of the industry.”
Retailers who register from now until the end of the month will be entered into a drawing to win free limo service at a market of their choice.
August 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on August 2007
Houston-based Mattress Firm plans to acquire the 35-store Mattress Pro chain. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Mattress Pro has stores in major cities in Texas and Nevada, and its partners include several individuals with past ties to Mattress Firm, including Mattress Firm co-founder Harry Roberts and former franchise owner Philip Busker.
The acquisition of the chain increases Mattress Firm’s market dominance in several cities, bringing store counts to 19 in Las Vegas, 26 in San Antonio, 23 in Austin, 47 in Dallas and 52 in Houston. The acquisition expands Mattress Firm’s total store count nationwide to more than 440 stores in 36 markets across 21 states.
“This merger is a great fit for Mattress Firm and allows us to further establish our leadership position in several key and growing markets,” said Gary Fazio, chief executive officer of Mattress Firm. “However, we understand that being a leader means more than having the most locations. Mattress Pro has done a tremendous job of establishing a solid reputation in each of these markets by providing a high level of customer service through its professional and talented team. Our commitment is to build on the strong foundation they’ve built by bringing our unique retail experience, sleep expertise and the broadest selection of products and brands in the industry to these locations.”
Upon completion of the acquisition, Mattress Firm will begin the process of transitioning Mattress Pro locations with new signage, its signature store format and expanded product selection.
August 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Leather Upholstery on August 2007
Flexsteel Industries, Dubuque, Iowa, reported Wednesday that sales in its fourth quarter rose 2 percent to $114.3 million, and the upholstery maker’s net income was $5.8 million. Despite the sales increase, company officials said it expects to continue to contend with softness in its residential and vehicle markets through the first half of its 2008 fiscal year.
The company also said net income in its fourth quarter was aided by a property sale and other one-time gains. Without those items, net income for the quarter that ended June 30 was $2.8 million, compared to $1.5 million in the same period a year ago.
For the fiscal year, sales totaled $425.4 million, which was within $1 million of its total for the previous year. Residential and vehicle sales both declined, but commercial net sales increased 15 percent. However, in discussing its outlook, company officials said commercial orders slowed in the fourth quarter, and the company expects that trend to continue.
As a result, officials stated, “The company continues to explore cost control opportunities in all facets of its business. The company believes it has the necessary inventories and product offerings in place to take advantage of opportunities for expansion of market share in certain markets, such as commercial office and hospitality.”
August 22,
2007 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 2007
Minneapolis-based Gabberts is taking a prominent role in the hit television series Extreme Makeover Home Edition, which is watched by nearly 20 million viewers, by providing the furnishings and accessories for a home currently undergoing a makeover in Minnetonka.
The project Gabberts participated in is scheduled to be the show’s 100th anniversary episode, and it is slated to be broadcast during the Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday, Nov. 25. The Gabberts team have been working with the show’s designers to furnish the home’s great room, dining area, master bedroom and other areas of the home.
“The Gabberts organization is proud and excited to be a part of this incredible project,” said Gabberts President Rebecca Miller. “For 60 years, Gabberts has given back to the community in meaningful ways, and Extreme Makeover Home Edition is a perfect opportunity to help a deserving family in our neighborhood.”