INDUSTRY UPDATES

Futon Expo & Specialty Sleep Show® Agrees to Lease at WMC

The Futon Association recently agreed to lease a 20,000 square foot temporary space at the World Market Center’s inaugural show in July of 2005. FAI is currently one of the show’s largest exhibitors.

“We have been working on this deal for two years and our persistence has finally paid off,” said Association President Brian Donohoo. Many FAI member manufacturers have already locked into permanent and temporary space at the show. But with a couple of hundred thousand feet being scooped up fast, many smaller exhibitors, and those who want to tie into the marketing and large footprint of the Association, will now have a great place to show their goods.

Working out the details for the temporary space and getting the city of Las Vegas to sign off on the plan happened recently and opened the door for the allotment of space to FAI. “We feel very fortunate to have this much space for our show,” said Board Member Tom Conard. “The management of the World Market Center has been very helpful and has given us the green light with plenty of time to get the word out to our members. Our show has been the cornerstone of our efforts for the membership, and this partnership with the WMC should keep that going for a long time to come,” he said.

The Board met recently on a conference call and voted unanimously to co-locate the Futon Expo & Specialty Sleep Show® within the temporary space at WMC. “We will be located in the main tent just beyond the show registration area,” Donohoo said. “This deal will allow us to maintain our visibility in the home furnishings industry and help keep our manufacturing membership in a position to see the significant number of buyers who will attend this new show. It will also give our retail members a single destination where they can see new products [in the futon sofa sleeper category] and enjoy the community of friends and colleagues just like we always have. The timing couldn’t be better.”

The Association will be sending out contracts to exhibitors soon. The payment plan requires a deposit and then two additional installments due January 31, 2005, and April 30, 2005, mirroring the WMC payment plan. For up-to-date information about the Futon Expo & Specialty Sleep Show® at the World Market Center in Las Vegas, July 18-22, 2005, contact the Association at 407-447-1706 or visit their web site: www.futon.org.

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King Koil Northeast Premium Line Takes Off

The Premium end of the futon mattress business continues to explode throughout the 2004 summer season. King Koil Northeast’s top end models – Visco Memory Foam Pillow Top, Comfort Plush Innerspring “Turn-Free”, Pocketed Koil Supreme, Super Foam, Luxury Box Pillow Top, Latex “Sit Firm, Sleep Soft” and Scandia Visco Turn-Free – are in hot demand.

Premium materials like five-pound density visco memory foam, high density surface modified anatomically zoned polyurethane foam, latex foam rubber and encased coils offer the consumer a comfort choice that is great for sitting and rivals conventional bedding for sleep. King Koil is currently in the planning stage for a 15,000 square foot addition to its futon production facility. Overall, this addition would bring King Koil Northeast’s facilities in Windsor, Conn., to well over 100,000 square feet for futon and conventional bedding manufacturing facilities.

King Koil Northeast continues to be the company to provide its customers with a full futon program: both one-sided and two-sided futon mattresses, a great selection of imported hardwood and domestic frames and a line of futon slip covers.

For outstanding quality, variety, value, service and product innovation, call King Koil Northeast at 1-800-243-8834.

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Lodge Pole from Night & Day Furniture

Night & Day Furniture’s latest addition is their Lodge Pole futon group.

Yes, yes, yes, you now have options. Your mountain home no longer needs to endure that quasi-sophisticated, euro-urban, metrosexual look! “Rustic, strong and handsome," explains Mike Gallawa. “The Lodge Pole is that great cabin home look made from solid pine-log cores. It is really a great addition to our futon line.”

The Lodge Pole features a full five-inch diameter leg post and hand-hewn detailing. The line comes in all sizes. Lodge Pole is in stock and ready to roll.

“And of course the Lodge Pole comes complete with the Shoe Fittings™ system, our ever-popular and totally reliable Futon Operating System,” said Gallawa.

Pick one up and take it with you to the lake.

For more information, contact Night & Day Furniture at 360-573-3309.

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Adonis, Gold Bond & SIS Move To Prime Showrooms In High Point And Las Vegas

Futon manufacturers Adonis Furniture, Gold Bond and SIS Covers will open two new showrooms in prime High Point space this fall and in the new Las Vegas World Market Center next summer.

Both showrooms share ease of accessibility and spaciousness. Each was selected for its location – with some of the nation’s best-known brand name suppliers. “It is time to show futons right alongside other leading home furnishings products,” said Bob Naboicheck, Gold Bond President.

The three companies will show in space 615, IHFC building, in High Point, October 12 through 20, 2004, and in Las Vegas’s World Market Center, space 1038, at the Grand Opening in July, 2005. “We are creating new and modern environments in both spaces. Our futon showrooms will be exciting places to visit,” said SIS Covers President Shari Hammer.

Futon frame manufacturing leader Adonis Furniture is based in Oakland, Calif. Gold Bond is the country’s leading futon mattress manufacturer and is based in Hartford, Conn. SIS, based in Columbia Heights, Minn., is a futon cover pioneer and the nation’s leading futon cover and pillow designer and manufacturer.

For additional information, call toll free Adonis Furniture (877-323-6647),
Gold Bond (800-873-8498) and SIS Covers (800-989-5435).

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Wolf Corporation Attracting Buyers With Premium Futon Line

Wolf Corporation is presenting two Ultra Premium futon models at the upcoming Market. These models were also displayed at the recent Futon Show and the reception was terrific.

The “Legacy” has the ultimate in natural cushioning for comfort that includes silk/cashmere blend, memory foam and latex finger foam as well as the company’s heralded Aerolife cotton blend. This combination results in a unique product that can neither be found nor equaled on the market today. The comfort must be felt to be understood and the crisp tailored look is beautiful and befitting of the quality within. This is truly an ultra premium product with the comfort characteristics of beds and sofas costing thousands more.

The “Platinum” utilizes a high density memory foam core laminated to a high density polyurethane foam core that is specifically engineered for a bi-fold futon frame and provides luxurious, visco-elastic comfort. A true premium product for both seating and sleeping, the Platinum lives up to its name, providing nothing short of the finest comfort on the market. For those in search of the molded body-conforming fit of the latest technology, Wolf has brought this product to market to meet that need.

Wolf continues to expand comfort options through our research and development center. These are but the latest products that fulfill consumer comfort desires and at the same time enhance quality and durability. Our vertical integration and focus on proven quality gives Wolf the value edge that our brand is known for in the marketplace.

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Fu-Chest™ Features New Styling and Finish

Annapolis, MD — The latest addition to the Fu-Chest™ line, the Chantilly, will be displayed at the October High Point Market in Plaza Suites, Spaces 2-300. The Chantilly Fu-Chest is a space-saving futon bed hidden in an attractive cabinet. It features a sophisticated, natural white distressed finish, diagonal wainscoting and generous beaded molding on faux doors and drawers.

"The Chantilly Fu-Chest has a great finish and look for resort properties,” said Jane Arason, CEO of Arason Enterprises, Inc. “I think it will do very well at the beach where people always need to sleep an extra person."

The Chantilly is available in twin and full sizes. Suggested retail is $379 for a twin and $439 for a full, and wholesale pricing is $189 and $219 respectively.

Other styles in the Fu-Chest line include:

The Mission style, with traditional lines, is available in either a medium oak or a dark oak finish;

The Cosmopolitan Style, with a contemporary look, is available in either a natural birch or a dark mahogany on birch finish;

The Williamsburg, featuring classic styling and fluted columns, is available in a red mahogany.

Suggested retail price for the Fu-Chest ranges from $299 to $439, depending on style and size. Container and 100-piece prices are also available for the Fu-Chest. Futon mattress is sold separately.

The Fu-Chest is imported from China. All styles are available in twin or full. For more information, contact Jane Arason at 410-703-4412.

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August Lotz Awarded Consumers Digest Premium Best Buy

August Lotz, Inc., has been awarded the Consumers Digest Best Buy Rating as presented in the September/October 2004 edition of the publication. August Lotz received this award in Best Buy’s Premium category, indicating that the product is of superior quality. Consumers Digest touted August Lotz’ products as “superbly constructed premium futon frames.” This designation was awarded after thorough review and analysis of competing products. On average, a Consumers Digest Best Buy is awarded to fewer than 3 percent of the competing models in any given product category.

“This is an exclamation point to our commitment to innovation and consumer value,” said National Sales Manager Kevin Whatley. “Most importantly, this will benefit our retailers as they address their customers’ expectations and questions. The Consumers Digest Best Buy Rating differentiates Lotz in the marketplace while providing the consumer an understandable and recognized comfort level as they make their purchase.”

The August Lotz name has been associated with fine wood furniture and wood products since 1897. Lotz is a leading manufacturer and importer of futon mattresses, futon frames and accessory furniture. Lotz operates nationally from Boyd, Wisconsin.

For more information on what’s new at August Lotz, Inc., call 800-826-7326 or visit the website at www.augustlotz.com.

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Burlington Futon Company Observes 20th Anniversary

Burlington, VT – At first it was a few futons to friends at the University of Vermont. Immediately, it became regular trips to Boston for truckloads of futons, and then the trial and error of making futons by hand. Over 20 years, Burlington Futon Company has evolved from futon manufacturing to include a retail showroom for futons and furniture, a fabric store called Burlington Fabric Company, a cover production and order fulfillment department and a wholesale sales and service operation selling futons and futon covers to retailers nationwide and beyond.

Today, Burlington Futon Company thrives as a fully integrated company. New fashion-forward fabric introductions, a steady development of covers and accessories and continuing values in promotional covers characterize the wholesale offerings every year. Consider their attentive customer service and a commitment to quick lead time and it explains the company’s prominence in the futon industry.

Specifically, it is attention to the futon cover that drives the wholesale department. Mark Binkhorst, President of Burlington Futon Company, explains it this way: “While the frame and futon are equally integral to the total package, it is the cover that completes the perceived value. Merchandising is everything. We are relentless when it comes to dressing up our own store, and we stress constant change with our wholesale accounts...people make a habit of coming back if they know they are going to see a new show…and invariably people buy what they see.”

Accordingly, in observation of the 20th anniversary, Burlington Futon Company has launched a merchandising promotion this fall for its wholesale customers that provides both an incentive to display new covers and a boost to the sales of new fabric introductions. For more information, please contact Burlington Futon Company at 800-862-5986.

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Then Is Now: Burlington Introduces Mix And Match Retro Prints

Burlington, VT – The Fall Collection from Burlington Futon Company includes a large assortment of modern prints and embossed solids perfectly suited for the retro trend in furniture and today’s lifestyles. Mix and match the coordinating colors and patterns and create a fashion-forward look in your showroom guaranteed to catch your customers’ attention.

“We’ve watched the trends, waited for the manufacturers, and now, finally, can make available a mix and match group of colorful and modern retro patterns,” said Mark Binkhorst, company president. “The fabric itself features the strength and durability of microfiber with machine-wash care instructions. These fabrics combine in-style designs and colors with
an easy-care and high performing fabric. We’re thrilled to add these fabrics to our Special
Order Program.”

For information about cover programs and other products at Burlington Futon Company, please contact Customer Service Manager Bobbie Moser at 800-862-5986.

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Leggett & Platt Announces Personnel Changes

Leggett & Platt, Carthage, Missouri, has announced management changes in its Consumer Products Unit. Currently the CPU is comprised of The Fashion Bed Group and Steel Bedding Support Products, Coated Fabrics and L&P and Orthomatic Adjustable Sleep Systems.

Terry Bowen, most recently president of the Consumer Products Unit, has plans to leave the company to pursue other life challenges. He is participating in transitioning the CPU divisions to the following reporting groups to ensure consistency, take advantage of product synergies and continue to strengthen ties between each product group and its customers. L&P partners working in each of the consumer product groups will remain the same.

Ron Ainsworth, President of The Fashion Bed Group and Steel Bedding Support Products, will report to Dennis Park, who has been promoted to Vice President, L&P, President of the newly formed Home Furniture and Consumer Products Group.

Robert Weber, President of L&P’s Coated Fabrics Division, will report to Jerry Greene, President of Hanes Companies.

Michael Newman, President of the L&P Adjustable Bed Division, and Adam Weinman, President of Orthomatic, will report to Paul Hauser, Vice President L&P, President, Bedding Group.

Leggett & Platt is a diversified manufacturer that conceives, designs and produces a broad variety of engineered components and products. The company has been headquartered in Carthage since its founding 121 years ago in 1883. Leggett’s web site address is www.leggett.com.

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Cottonbelle Expands Sunbrella InDOOR Outdoor Line

Cottonbelle’s expanded line of indoor/outdoor fabrics now includes new Sunbrella brush fringe bullion and tassels. With the trend toward indoor and outdoor living spaces coming closer together, trims and fabrics that are fade-, water-, soil- and mildew-resistant have become very popular. New trim boards are being introduced to help customers and retailers personalize their pillows. A separate Sunbrella fabric swatch book will make sales and selections even easier.

For more information, call 573-859-6589.

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