Furniture - Analysis & Research

Inventories, Consolidation Make Impact

2237 Wed, 02/20/2008 - 4:53pm

By Nancy Meyer
NEW YORK–The housing market crash combined with skyrocketing energy costs to slam the category last year, particularly in the furniture segment.
“The furniture business is a good barometer of the economy because it’s a deferrable purchase,” said Jeff Cook, president of Broyhill. Cook likened today’s economy to that of the first quarter of 2001, when politicians and economists were saying all was well, but “furniture guys were slitting their wrists and threatening to jump off buildings. That’s where we’re at now,” Cook said.

Taking a Casual Approach

2237 Wed, 02/20/2008 - 4:52pm

By Nathan Weber
Daily headlines warn of a coming recession. Government agencies report that economic growth has slowed to a standstill, with joblessness rising.
So what accounts for the optimism in the casual furniture market? Aren’t furnishings sales driven by a good housing market and a robust economy?
Ironically, the very woes now besetting the country may be a contributing factor to the vitality of patio products, long a stepchild in the world of residential furniture.

IMMCologne Adds New Features, Offers Forecast of Trends

2237 Thu, 12/20/2007 - 4:56pm

By Nancy Meyer

COLOGNE, Germany--Koelnmesse, organizer of the IMMCologne furniture fair, has added several new features and stepped up marketing in preparation for January's edition of the annual event.

The next edition will be held Jan. 14 to 20 at the Cologne fairgrounds.

In 2007, the international furnishings show featured 1,300 exhibitors, 63 percent of which were from abroad, and drew 115,000 visitors, of which 40 percent were from abroad, according to Koelnmesse figures.