US furniture industry: One leg to stand on?

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Management firm Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos and Michael K. Dugan, author of “The Furniture Wars: How America Lost a $50 Billion Dollar Industry,” have released the study, “The American Furniture Industry: What Will It Take to Survive?”
This state of the industry report chronicles a perfect storm of consumer trends, market forces and industry intransigence.
Of the furniture manufacturing companies surveyed, sales dropped more than 10% on average last year, with some of the best known brands taking the biggest hits. Focused niche players are faring better because they are more agile than large publically held companies. Retailers were similarly afflicted as housing construction came to a standstill and consumers made do with the furniture they owned.
The furniture industry also has some unusual challenges, such as the fact that well-made wood furniture doesn't wear out, and only goes out of style at a glacial pace.
However, there is hope—branding and marketing!
While some well-known furniture companies won’t survive the recession, those that invest in sales and marketing will win the hearts and minds of consumers and gain market share long after the economy rebounds.