Top 100It took a while to get here, but 2011 was the year big retail survivors of the credit crunch and a drawn-out industry recession saw sales momentum building, thanks in part to a vital bedding segment and a group of lifestyle retailers on the march.
Furniture, bedding and accessories sales for Furniture/ Today's Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores increased for the second year in a row - this time by 6.4% to $28.4 billion. What's more, the store count for the Top 100 registered its first increase since a small gain in the 2009 report. The combined store count for this year's companies grew by 1.3%, or 115 units, to 8,684 stores.
Sales growth in 2011 topped the 5.7% increase for the Top 100 companies on last year's list, which was the first gain since the anemic 0.5% growth in 2008 (based on 2007 sales).
Furniture/Today's exclusive Top 100 ranks furniture stores by 2011 sales of furniture, bedding and decorative accessories, including fabric and furniture protection, warranties and delivery charges.
For the complete report, see the 21 May 2012 print issue of Furniture Today, or click here for the exclusive electronic version.
