Furniture makers voice strong spring market amid labor shortages
North Carolina manufacturers report good demand and a healthy spring market for furniture along the Furniture Highway. They cite skilled labor shortages and rising costs as challenges, while riots after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassination threaten business outlook with uncertain summer activity. Century Furniture Co. notes six to eight weeks backlog and mixed regional disruption but also a $50,000 West Coast order.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Carolina
Martin Luther King Jr
E. L. Woodard
Century Furniture Co
Hickory
Woodard
Century
Chicago
Timore
Spring furniture markets showcase Conran and Velero lines
The industry leans on Mediterranean Provincial and Early American styles with strong demand. Kroehler introduces Terence Conran designed pieces favoring ease and uncluttered frames. Drexel’s Velero by Henry and David Warren adds dimensional carvings and moldings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kroehler Manufacturing Co
Terence Conran
Velero
Drexel Furniture Co
Henry and
David Warren
Father and Son
Hickory Wins All-America City Honor at College Field
Hickory officials will host a 2 p.m. ceremony at College Field North Carolina when the city receives the All-America City award for school integration unemployment counseling housing for low income families hospital support and a new rescue squad building. Sen. Sam J. Ervin Jr. will address attendees and Look Magazine in co sponsoring the award. Hickory is the fourth North Carolina city on the Furniture Highway to earn the honor joining High Point Greensboro and Winston-Salem which has won twice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hickory
College Field
Lenoir Rhyne College
North Carolina
Sam J. Ervin Jr
Morganton
Catawba County
National League of Municipalities
Look Magazine
High Point
Greensboro
Winston-Salem
Cooperation and Competition On North Carolina Furniture Highway
The furniture industry blends market competition with cooperation across North Carolina. Exhibitors from High Point to Drexel operate under the Furniture Factories Marketing Assn. of the South, while the Hickory Chamber of Commerce runs a room service clearing house with 30 manufacturers to prevent hotel reservation duplication. The service, hailed by James Ellis, has earned wide motel cooperation and logged over 300 duplicate bookings detected.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Carolina
Furniture Factories Marketing Assn
South
High Point
Thomasville
Lexington
Hickory
Lenoir
Drexel
Hickory Chamber of Commerce
James Ellis
Hickory Chamber
Hickory Furniture Mart Expands For Spring Market
The Hickory Furniture Mart adds 30,000 square feet in a three level back expansion around a central courtyard with a fountain and garden. Total space reaches 90,000 square feet with five new exhibitors. Located on Highway 70 A just east of Hickory.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hickory Furniture Mart
Graham Lail
Lail
The
Highway 70-A
Hickory
Also Mentioned on This Page
Dick Swaim
Conran
Korehler
Spindley
Bassett Furniture Industries
Bassett
el Reno
Kemp Furniture Co
Mediterranean
Academy Hill
Heywood - Wakefield
W. Joseph Carr
Ness
Casa LA Mar
Williams Furniture CO
Robert
Marki
Pearl Buchanan
Chamber of Commerce
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