The cover story of this issue explores furniture industry leaders’ assessment of the current state of the business and the outlook for the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, there are almost as many views about both the current and future state as there are people quoted.
That’s not surprising, nor should it be.
First, this is not a one-size-fits-all industry. Those at the high end and those selling interior designers have had a very different experience the past 12 months than those whose business relies on mainstream retailers. It’s noteworthy that a number of high-end suppliers have only recently begun commenting on the sales slowdown and its impact on their business, while more velocity-driven companies have been feeling the pain for much longer.
Secondly, while everyone has an opinion about when the ever-pending recession will hit or when business will return to “normal,” nobody knows for sure. And that includes…
