Acimall reports positive industry numbers in Q2 2010 survey

The second quarter 2010 brought significant signs of recovery, though highly diversified, among the companies included in the statistic sample selected by Acimall, the Italian woodworking technology manufacturers’ association.
The periodical survey indicates the industry has grown by 69.8 percent from the same period during the previous year. Orders from abroad recorded a 63.6 percent increase, with an even stronger trend on the Italian market, which was up by 83.3 percent.
From April to June 2010, prices recorded a slight increase (up 0.4 percent), while the period of ensured production was 2.2 months at the end of June. Looking at turnover, there was a massive increase over the first quarter (up 70.5 percent).
According to the quality survey, 44 percent of interviewed companies indicate a positive production trend, 52 percent stable and 30 percent reported a decrease. Employment is considered stationary by 83 percent of the sample, falling by 8 percent and increasing by the remaining 9 percent.
Available stocks are stationary according to 65 percent, decreasing according to 22 percent and growing according to the remaining 13 percent.
The forecast survey outlines possible trends in the next few months: after the positive rebound of orders, a period of stability is expected to consolidate the results obtained in the first half of the year.
Foreign orders will grow according to 30 percent of the sample, while they are expected to stay at the same level according to 48 percent. The remaining 22 percent predict a drop. The Italian market is expected to remain stable according to 61 percent of the interviewees, shrink further for 22 percent and expand for the remaining 17 percent.

Xylexpo draws more than 50K visitors

Xylexpo, the biennial world exhibition dedicated to woodworking technologies and furniture supplies, held in the Fiera Milano-Rho exhibition center, May 4-8, saw 652 exhibitors, covering a net exhibition area of about 125,000 square feet. Visitors totaled 51,480, 48% of whom came from outside Italy.
“Many exhibitors have told me about their satisfaction and the quality of visitors coming to Milan, who were actually interested in the acquisition of solutions and technology within the next few months. These businessmen did not just walk around the stands, they had a real need to update their production equipment. There were orders signed during the exhibition, something we had not seen for a long time,” said Ambrogio Delachi, president of Acimall, the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association, which organizes the show through Cepra spa.
The next Xylexpo is scheduled for May 8-12, 2012, in the Fiera Milano-Rho exhibition center.

The sliding furniture scale

Somewhere there’s a “yo, mamma” joke in here, but I’m going to take the high road.
For years, furniture manufacturers have been slyly designing furniture (the chair-and-a -half and monster sized sofas) as the world’s population gets bigger. Some smart furniture companies are cashing in on this growing trend.
For example, Norwegian company Ekornes offers reclines in three different sizes— small, medium and large. The large chair can hold up to 300 pounds. The selling point of these chairs is that different sizes offer a personalized fit for various body types. As this niche market expands, (no pun intended) look for other manufacturers to join the fray and up the design ante.

Dec. '09 furniture orders increase over Dec. '08

The latest Smith Leonard Furniture Insights study reports new orders were 12 percent higher in December 2009 compared to December 2008.
For December, approximately 62 percent of the participants reported increased furniture orders over the same month a year ago. The 62 percent is up from 51 percent in November, 41 percent in October, 33 percent in September and 20 percent in August.
For the 2009 year, new orders declined 13 percent. At the end of June, year-to-date orders were down 20 percent from a high of 22 percent earlier in the year.
Some 91 percent of participants reported lower orders for the 2009 year.
In other trends, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in January, declined sharply in February, and now stands at 46, down from 56.5 in January.

Nov. '09 furniture orders increase over Nov. '08

The latest Furniture Insights study from Smith Leonard shows new orders for November 2009 increased 10 percent over new orders in November 2008. Also, 51 percent of participants reported increased orders in November, up from 41 percent in October, 33 percent in September and 20 percent in August.
Year-to-date, new orders were down 14 percent compared to the same period a year ago, down from 16 percent last month. Last year at this time, new orders were down 13 percent year-to-date. Some 89 percent of participants have reported lower orders compared to the same, eleven-month period last year.
The study said while many companies are still hurting, most have made adjustments to current volume levels.

Residential furniture orders don't retreat in October

I would like to interrupt this recession with a bit of "good" news.
For the first month since October 2007, new orders for residential furniture were not lower than the same month a year ago, according to Smith Leonard's most recent Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
October 2008 was the first month that year in which orders fell 20 plus percent, but for October 2009, 41 percent of survey participants reported increases in orders from the previous year, up from 33 percent in September and 20 percent in August.
Year-to-date, new orders were 16 percent lower than a year ago, compared to 18 percent in September and 19 percent in August. Currently, 93 percent of those surveyed are reporting lower orders compared to the same period a year ago.

August furniture orders down 12%

New furniture orders in August 2009 were 12 percent lower than August 2009, according to Smith Leonard’s Furniture Insights, a monthly survey covering the furniture industry.
However, new orders were 7 percent higher than July 2009 orders. Year-to-date, new orders are down 19 percent from the first eight months of 2008, down from 20 percent last month.
Year-to-date, 90 percent of survey participants reported lower orders compared to last year.
August shipments declined 18 percent from August 2008 but were 15 percent higher than July. The increase over July is normal considering, for most, July was a three-week month due to the vacation week. Approximately 90 percent of participants reported lower shipments in August.
Year-to-date, shipments remained 20 percent lower than the first 8 months of 2008. Approximately 93 percent of the participants reported lower shipments.
Backlogs increased 1 percent over July as orders exceeded shipments for the month. Backlogs were 7 percent lower than last August, down from a 13 percent decline reported in July.

Furniture Buying Index remains flat

As of October 1, the Furniture Buying Index remains flat. Unemployment and job concerns are keeping the Furniture trends Index at the current level.
“With more consumers out of work and even more fearing for their job security, Americans are delaying big ticket purchases such as furniture,” according to Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group.
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America’s Research Group from interviews with 5,000 to 8,000 consumers across the country.

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.

New furniture orders down 17% in June compared to 2008

If the economy is improving, the furniture industry isn’t feeling it yet.
In June 2009, new orders were 17 percent lower than orders in June 2008, according to Smith Leonard’s monthly furniture survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
Year-to-date, new orders are down 21 percent, down slightly from the 22 percent reported last month. Approximately 93 percent of the participants have reported lower orders year-to-date versus last year.
Shipments in May were down 19 percent compared to May 2008. This compares to a 21 percent decline comparing April 2009 to April 2008. Year-to-date, shipments remained 21 percent lower than the first 5 months of 2008. Last year, shipments for the first 5 months were 7 percent below the first 5 months of 2007.
Backlogs were down 24 percent compared to May 2008. Last month, backlogs were down 26 percent so there was a slight improvement in these levels.

Furniture Buying Index rises to 57

The Furniture Buying Index rose two points this month to 57, reaching the same level as July’s reading.
Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, said, “Although the Furniture Buying Index rose slightly this month, it is well below the 70 point level retailers need to see strong traffic in their stores.”

Blurring the boundaries

Paging Brad Pitt…

“Furniture Futures,” the first in a series at the V&A is tapping influential designers and industry heavyweights to discuss how contemporary furniture is blurring the boundaries among art, craftsmanship and design.
The event coincides with the growing awareness of furniture as an expression of contemporary culture, and is structured around three main themes: Creative Directions, Changing Practice, and Promotion and Communication. Additional topics include whether furniture is a new art form; what role new materials and sustainability play in making and design; and whether individual creativity or collaboration in the key to innovative practice.
The Symposium will be held September 18, 2009 and is part of the London Festival of Design.

Mies van der Rohe Furniture Designs causes legal catfight

In one corner you have Knoll Inc. In the other corner you have Alphaville Design. And in the middle you have Mies van der Rohe’s iconic Barcelona furniture designs from the 1920s.
The trouble started when Knoll sued Danrick LLC, dba ModernCollection.com last July in New York because the contract furniture maker claims exclusive trademark rights to the Barcelona chair design. Alphaville Designs joined in the court battle with its customer Danrick and the suit was dismissed in January.
Now, Alphaville Designs has filed a declaratory relief lawsuit against Knoll in San Francisco. Alphaville Design's lawsuit seeks to overturn Knoll's trade dress claims that it has exclusive rights to the 1920's Mies van der Rohe Barcelona furniture designs.
“Our case will clarify the law and show that Knoll cannot keep others from using these 1920's designs that have been made by a myriad of manufacturers for over 40 years,” says David Lee, President of Alphaville Designs. “We seek a full cancellation of Knoll's trademark registrations with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.”
I guess this proves that good design is worth fighting for. Stay tuned.

Pimp my outdoor space: Green edition

Vacations are so last year.
According to a recent survey, almost one-third of consumers are staying home during vacation time and 59 percent are cutting back on vacations. Enter the staycation, a fancy term for hanging out in your backyard. Many retailers are hoping staycations will translate into increased outdoor furniture sales.
To help cut through wooden outdoor furniture greenwashing claims, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has released its third annual Garden Furniture Scorecard. The Scorecard catalogs 16 retailers selling Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified garden furniture at various price points.
Retailers such as Cost Plus World Market, Crate & Barrel, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Pottery Barn all scored 4 stars or better, which means that more than 70 percent of their tropical wood garden furniture is from responsible sources. This is the largest group of retailers to attain a score of 4 stars or better.

According to the NWF, The U.S. is the world’s largest single importer of wooden furniture from tropical timber-producing countries, with garden furniture representing about one-fifth of the wooden furniture market. U.S. imports of all tropical wood products have increased four-fold over the past decade. As a result, the once biologically rich forests of countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil are being depleted at an unprecedented rate.
NWF plans to continue its annual surveys of major outdoor furniture retailers to track the progress of making FSC-certified products available to consumers.

Magical table expands at the push of a button

I remember my Mom wrestling with extra dining room leaves for every major holiday. Besides being a hassle to install, it was always a chore to dig them out of the storage closet. Those days are over for anyone who can afford The Fletcher Capstan Table, a round table that can double its seating capacity at the push of a button.
What makes this table so very amazing is that it stores its expansion leaves within itself. According to DB Fletcher Design, the table can go from seating six people to 12 in a matter of seconds. When small, the top is made up of six pie shaped leaves, and an outer skirt in the manner of a drum table. Under this first layer lie two more layers of leaves, the first strata made up of six arrow-shaped leaves and, under that, a large star shaped leaf. The table operates electrically from a small remote, and bases can even be made to vary in height.
The motors controlling the mechanism run on low voltage, which can be supplied from a re-chargeable battery housed within the table’s base. This battery is easily removed for re-charging and installation of the second supplied battery.

For yacht installations (I told you it was pricey), the table can run on its own batteries, or be connected to the ship’s electrical supply.
All tables are individually designed and built, and each is one numbered.

Furniture Buying Index rises to 58

The Furniture Buying Index inched up two points this month to a reading of 58 as of May 1.
“We will have to continue to watch the index in the coming months and hope that this trend continues,” Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, said.
“Hopefully the index will continue to rise and will get above the 70-point level by the end of the year.”
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America’s Research Group from interviews with 5,000 to 8,000 consumers across the country.

Flotation device or eco-chic chair?

Norwegian artist and furniture design student, Camilla Hounsell Halvorsen created an eco-friendly chair made out of recycled upholstery material and inner tubes.

Drop chairs have stainless steel legs with an inner tube covered with fabric. The seat is not permanently fixed to the under frame so it can be tilted by the user. The seat also can be removed from the frame and used as a cushion.
“The chair’s design has been inspired by the process behind making tassels. Drop introduces elements of childish delight and colorfulness into the user’s everyday life,” according to Halvorsen.
I just have one question: Can the chair’s cushion be used as a floatation device in the event of a water landing????

Casegoods companies build on sustainable practices

La-Z-Boy casegoods companies American Drew and Lea Industries have achieved Sustainable by Design registration.
The American Home Furnishings Alliance’s Sustainable by Design program aims to create a culture of conservation and environmental stewardship with sustainable business practices, according to the association.
“… American Drew and Lea Industries have realized a 12 percent reduction in electrical energy used over the past two years,” said Stephanie St. Pierre, environmental and safety manager for the two companies.
The companies also are reducing water use, resulting in a savings of 3 percent, or 300,000 gallons, in the first year. Also, 140 tons of solid waste was diverted from landfills to a recycling center during the past year.
As part of the program’s audit, the companies established several goals, including:
*Supply chain management
*Energy conservation, water conservation, recycling and solid/hazardous waste minimization
*Use of low-VOC/low-HAP coatings, certified lumber, low-emitting UF resins
Kincaid Furniture, also part of the La-Z-Boy casegoods division, previously passed the sustainability audit and Hammary is slated to complete the program later this month.

Furniture Buying Index remains at 56

The Furniture Buying Index remained unchanged this month at 56, according to America’s Research Group.
Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, said, “This is somewhat positive for the furniture industry since at least the index did not go down …”
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America’s Research Group from interviews with 5,000-8,000 consumers across the U.S.
This may be an indicator that the recession has bottomed out or at least stabilized. While consumer confidence remains low, I think furniture manufacturers will have to offer rock-bottom prices to get customers into showrooms.

Fine furniture maker relocating to N.C.

No, the headline is not a typo. Ava Design, a start up high-end custom furniture manufacturer is relocating from New Jersey to North Carolina not China or the Philippines--North Carolina.
Owner, Matt Carfaro plans to start production during the first week of June in a former Belmont textile mill and display furniture at a South End showroom, according to the Charlotte Observer.
North Carolina has lost tens of thousands of furniture-making jobs over the past decade, mostly to Asian countries where labor is cheaper. The N.C. Commerce Department estimates the state now has 1,450 furniture companies employing 63,300 workers.
However, Carfaro wants to tap into a trained labor force. More than 65 experienced cabinet makers have applied for 15 jobs he plans to fill. In the future, he hopes to employ 35 to 50 people.
Ava Design is focusing on capturing the boutique furniture trend niche. The heirloom-quality furniture is made from American walnut and American white oak, and consoles, dining room tables and small tables can run from $600 to $3,600.
Made in the U.S.A will cost a bit more, but you get what you pay for.