The shift of most U.S. furniture manufacturing to offshore locations has extended lead times by 90 days for furniture retailer Haverty's. John Gross, eastern regional manager, says a policy of "trust but verify" is essential to ensure that suppliers deliver on time.

The Green Design Center provides a wide range of building materials and products for interior finishes that are free of toxins and safe for people with chemical sensitivities and allergies. Founder and president Andrew Pace discusses the growing demand for the company's products and how the supply chain has evolved to meet those needs.

Same-day and next-day delivery are not services normally associated with furniture stores, but City Furniture is changing that in South Florida. City's fast delivery program, which began 12 years ago, has become a key competitive advantage and is changing customer expectations for the industry.

What began as a slow-simmering disagreement over the use of government subsidies - one that has lasted for years - has recently mushroomed into a thunderhead of angry rhetoric, threats of lawsuits and proposed legislative action to roll back open skies agreements. The major U.S.-based carriers continue to accuse Middle Eastern airlines of exploiting the American market with an unfair advantage.