Stanley Furniture sales fall as Vietnam factory start-up is delayed
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HIGH POINT, N.C.- -Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. (Nasdaq-NGS:STLY) reported net sales of $11.7 million, down 20.4 percent from the $14.7 million reported a year ago, a situation the company attributed to "production delays of new product." 
 
Sales for the quarter continued to be negatively impacted by delays in shipping 2015 product introductions, as the construction and initial production of the new factory in Vietnam dedicated solely to the company's new product took longer than originally anticipated.
 
“The completion of the plant's construction phase came so close to the Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year) that initial staffing of the plant was difficult,” said Glenn Prillaman, CEO. “With construction complete and the plant fully staffed, the focus is on training and managerial development."
 
As a result, Stanley Furniture swung to a net loss from continuing operations was $1.5 million, compared to a net income of $2.8 million the year prior. 
 
Prillaman said that completion of most of its delayed customer orders is expected to be achieved by the end of the second quarter.
 
"As the second half of this year begins, more marketable product introduced in 2015 begins hitting retail floors," he said. “Prices are 25-40 percent lower as certain overhead and sourcing costs have been eliminated, yet our product quality and styling remains representative of designs that provide our customers a gateway to the luxury segment of the wood residential market." commented Prillaman. 
 
The new nursery and youth brand, Stone & Leigh, that will be manufactured in its Viet Nam plant, are 25 percent below where the company’s former brand, Young America, was positioned in the market.  
 
"While the transformation of Stanley from a legacy domestic manufacturer to a progressive marketing and distribution company with a differentiated overseas sourcing strategy has not happened as quickly as we would have preferred or predicted, we continue to make progress executing our plan," concluded Prillaman. "Second quarter could be another tough quarter, but we expect the second half of this year to show improved results.”
 
Established in 1924, Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol STLY.
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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.