Pipefine Patio Furniture

SEATTLE — The owners of five local La-Z-Boy furniture stores in the Puget Sound region recently stopped operating, according to a news report from KOMO 4 News, an ABC affiliate in Seattle.

La-Z-Boy officials said the five stores are independent franchises that had recently lost their license. The stores were registered under the umbrella of the Tolle Furniture Group, owned by Jerry, Andy and Barbara Spotts.

The story said La-Z-Boy is working to get orders delivered.

But Mississippi congressman vows to help protect jobs

TUPELO, Miss. — Mississippi furniture industry leaders learned Tuesday that there’s no federal stimulus money available for the industry, but got a promise of support from a congressman, according to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

About 50 industry leaders met with Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., who told them no stimulus funds were targeted to help furniture manufacturing. But he listened to the leaders, toured a plant and promised to do what he could to help preserve industry jobs.

[Ed: The entitlement mentality is alive and well! Once you provide a handout to one, the others provide their hands out! When will this end? Answer: there's no end in sight, because as long as the feds want to spend our money, the lobbyists will be banging on the doors.]

Walter E. Smith piggybacks on cars program

ITASCA, IL — Walter E. Smithe Furniture is promoting its take on the government’s Cash for Clunkers program in auto sales, offering credits of up to $500 to consumers who trade in old furniture for new items at the retailer’s 13 Chicago area showrooms.

Modeled after the Car Allowance Rebate Program System, Smithe’s Cash for Clunkers program offers a $100 trade-in credit for a used recliner, $250 for a used sofa or armoire, and $500 for a used bedroom or dining room set. Participants also can choose a 6% cash discount or no-interest payments for six months. And the retailer will haul away the clunkers for free.

Smithe Furniture owners and brothers Walter, Tim and Mark Smithe began promoting the campaign Saturday through commercials on Chicago-area television.

“While not everyone has a clunker car, almost everyone has at least one piece of clunker furniture they’d like to replace with something nicer,” said Walter E. Smithe III, president of the Top 100 company. “This is a great opportunity for consumers to trade their old furniture for new furniture.”

For consumers who don’t have a clunker to trade in, the retailer is offering a 12% cash discount or no-interest payments for 12 months.