−Removed: As used in this document, the terms “Culp,” the “company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Culp, Inc.
+Added: As used in this document, the terms “Culp,”
+Added: the “company,”
+Added: “we,”
+Added: “our,”
+Added: and “us”
+Added: refer to Culp, Inc.
and its consolidated subsidiaries (unless the context indicates another meaning).
−Removed: The term “common stock” means the common stock of Culp, Inc., par value $.05 per share.
−Removed: The terms “Read Window Products” and “Read” refer to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Read Window Products, LLC.
−Removed: During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the company sold its majority ownership interest in eLuxury, LLC (“eLuxury”), resulting in the elimination of the company’s home accessory segment at the time of such sale.
−Removed: Accordingly, the results of operations for this segment are excluded from the company’s continuing operations for the fiscal 2020 year and all prior periods of comparison, and the financial results are presented as a discontinued operation in the company’s consolidated financial statements.
−Removed: See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
+Added: The term “common stock”
+Added: means the common stock of Culp, Inc., par value $.05 per share.
+Added: The terms “Read Window Products”
+Added: and “Read”
+Added: refer to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Read Window Products, LLC.
Culp manufactures, sources, and markets mattress fabrics and sewn covers used for covering mattresses and foundations and other bedding products;
and upholstery fabrics, including cut and sewn kits, primarily used in the production of upholstered furniture.
−Removed: The company competes in a business driven by fashion and product performance, and we strive to differentiate ourselves by placing a sustained focus on product innovation and creativity.
+Added: The company competes in a business driven by fashion and product performance, and we strive to differentiate ourselves by placing a sustained focus on creativity and product innovation.
In addition, we place great emphasis on providing excellent and dependable service to our customers.
Our focused efforts to protect our financial strength have allowed us to maintain our position as a financially stable and trusted supplier of innovative fabrics to bedding and furniture manufacturers.
−Removed: We believe Culp is the largest producer of mattress fabrics in North America and one of the largest marketers of upholstery fabrics for furniture in North America, measured by total sales.
−Removed: Our operations are classified into two operating segments — mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics.
+Added: We believe Culp is one of the largest producers of mattress fabrics in North America and one of the largest marketers of upholstery fabrics for furniture in North America, measured by total sales.
+Added: Our operations are classified into two operating segments —
+Added: mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics.
The mattress fabrics business markets primarily knitted and woven fabrics, as well as sewn covers made from those fabrics, which are used in the production of bedding products, including mattresses, foundations, and mattress sets.
6 unchanged sentences
We also source fabrics and cut and sewn kits from other manufacturers, located primarily in China, Vietnam, and Turkey, with substantially all of these products made specifically for Culp and created by Culp designers.
−Removed: In addition, we operate distribution centers in North Carolina, Canada, China, and Haiti to facilitate distribution of our fabric products, with additional distribution capabilities through strategic relationships in China and Vietnam.
+Added: In addition, we operate distribution centers in North Carolina, Canada, China, and Haiti to facilitate distribution of our fabric products, with additional distribution capabilities through strategic relationships in China, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Over the past decade, the portion of total company sales represented by fabrics produced outside of the U.S.
5 unchanged sentences
The mattress fabrics segment had net sales of $111.0 million (47% of total net sales), and the upholstery fabrics segment had net sales of $123.9 million (53% of total net sales).
−Removed: Our overall sales declined 1.6% during fiscal 2022, as compared to the prior year, with mattress fabric sales decreasing 3.5% and upholstery fabric sales increasing 0.4%.
−Removed: This decline was driven primarily by the significant drop in sales for both businesses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, which was mostly due to COVID-related shutdowns that affected our China operations, weakness in domestic mattress industry sales, and, to a lesser extent, a slowdown in new business for the residential home furnishings industry.
−Removed: The decline in overall sales for the year was partially offset by certain pricing and freight surcharge actions that were implemented at differing times during the year.
−Removed: Overall, Culp faced a difficult business environment during fiscal 2022.
−Removed: Despite these challenges, our associates around the world continued to persevere and deliver exceptional services to our customers.
−Removed: Both the mattress fabrics segment and upholstery fabrics segment have continued to execute our product-driven strategy, and our company’s global manufacturing and sourcing capabilities, flexible supply chain, and focus on innovation have helped us meet the evolving needs of our customers.
−Removed: We have also continued to diversify our platform and expand our capacity with our new upholstery cut and sew operation in Haiti, which commenced operations during the third quarter of fiscal 2022.
−Removed: In addition, we enhanced our focus on design creativity and innovation with the launch of our new innovation campus in High Point, North Carolina, during the first quarter of fiscal 2022.
−Removed: Additional information about trends and developments in each of our business segments is provided in the “Segments” discussion below, as well as in our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in Part II, Section 7 of this report.
−Removed: COVID-19 Impact and Business Response
−Removed: In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic.
−Removed: This declaration, along with the continued spread of the disease to other countries, including the United States and other countries in which we operate, prompted federal, state, and local governments throughout the world to take a variety of actions to mitigate the spread of the virus, including travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, temporary quarantines, restrictions on public gatherings, social distancing measures, mandated closures of non-essential businesses, occupancy limits, and other safety measures.
−Removed: Due to government-mandated closure requirements near the end of March 2020, we shut down our facilities in Canada and Haiti for several weeks, and most of our customers, as well as retail stores in the United States and around the globe, were similarly shut down or operating at significantly reduced capacity.
−Removed: In response to the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we took steps to help safeguard the health of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, including implementing detailed cleaning and disinfecting processes at our facilities, instituting temperature checks, adhering to social distancing and mask protocols, suspending non-essential travel, restricting visitors, providing remote work opportunities where possible, and offering on-site vaccination clinics to our employees, their families, and the general public.
−Removed: We have continued to monitor and update these procedures, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) recommendations and other local laws and regulatory authorities, throughout the pandemic.
−Removed: During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we also implemented several measures to preserve liquidity and reduce costs in response to the significant disruption and economic uncertainty, including making workforce adjustments to align with demand, implementing temporary salary reductions, eliminating the cash compensation paid to our board of directors, and proactively drawing down funds under our credit facilities to increase financial flexibility, among other measures.
−Removed: During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, following a better-than-expected increase in demand as customers and retail stores began to reopen, we returned substantially all of our previously furloughed workers to meet this surge in demand.
−Removed: We also repaid all outstanding borrowings previously drawn under our credit facilities, ended temporary salary reductions, and restored the cash compensation paid to our board of directors.
−Removed: For the remainder of fiscal 2021, our sales recovered from the COVID-19 disruption with strong growth, driven by increased demand in the bedding industry and the residential home furnishings industry, combined with our ability to service this surge in demand through our global platform.
−Removed: We made several investments during the year that provided expanded capacity in our mattress fabrics business, including purchasing additional knit machines, completing construction of a second building for our Haiti sewn mattress cover operation, and acquiring the remaining fifty percent ownership interest in our Haiti sewn mattress cover platform from our joint venture partner.
−Removed: We also announced an additional expansion of our Haiti facilities to include a third building that would produce cut and sewn upholstery kits, primarily to support demand for an existing customer of the upholstery fabrics segment.
−Removed: Together, the actions taken during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and beyond helped us mitigate the initial financial impact of lower industry demand and shutdowns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that we were well-positioned to meet the needs of our customers as retail stores reopened and consumer demand for residential home furnishings surged during fiscal 2021.
−Removed: While the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the world during fiscal 2021, we did not experience additional shutdowns of our operations, or any material shutdowns of the operations of our suppliers, during the remainder of the year, following the initial shutdowns from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
−Removed: However, during fiscal 2022, our upholstery fabrics business was materially affected by COVID-19 related shutdowns of our sourcing partners and customers in Vietnam throughout most of the second quarter, and our operations in China were shut down during the last month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, which prevented us from shipping goods in both our residential upholstery fabrics business and our sewn mattress cover business.
−Removed: In addition to these shutdowns, COVID-19 disruption affected our business during fiscal 2022, as well as the business of our customers and suppliers, due to employee absenteeism and labor shortages, pandemic-related effects on the availability and pricing of freight and raw material costs, and pandemic-related constraints on our customers’ capacity due to supply chain disruption for non-fabric components.
−Removed: We continue to monitor and actively manage the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on our operations.
−Removed: The ongoing duration of the disruption and the effect it will have on our financial operations in the near and long term remain unknown and depend on factors beyond our knowledge or control.
−Removed: The need for any future actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic largely depends on the spread of the virus, including new variants, in the jurisdictions in which our business, our suppliers, and our customers operate, along with the effectiveness and availability of vaccines;
−Removed: the status of government restrictions, directives and guidelines;
−Removed: the availability of workers and conditions for maintaining employee safety;
−Removed: global supply chain conditions;
−Removed: overall economic conditions and consumer confidence;
−Removed: the financial health of our customers, suppliers, and distribution channels;
−Removed: and consumer demand for our products, all of which are highly uncertain.
−Removed: As a result, we cannot reasonably estimate the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.
−Removed: General Information
+Added: Our overall sales declined 20.3% during fiscal 2023, as compared to the prior year, with mattress fabric sales decreasing 27.1% and upholstery fabric sales decreasing 13.1%.
+Added: This decline was driven primarily by a slowdown in consumer demand in the domestic mattress industry throughout year, as well as a slowdown in new retail business in the residential home furnishings industry.
+Added: The impact of this industry softness was exacerbated by high inventory levels at manufacturers and retailers during most of the year, which delayed the timing of shipments and new product roll outs.
+Added: Fiscal 2023 was a difficult year, but Culp navigated the challenges and maintained a solid financial position.
+Added: Our associates around the world worked diligently to execute our product-driven strategy, with a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and exceptional service across our global platform.
+Added: Throughout our 50 years in business, we have faced economic downturns and the various cyclical market challenges of competing in a dynamic global marketplace.
+Added: One of our enduring strengths has been our ability to navigate these challenges and pursue a strategic direction that supports our business and meets the evolving needs of our valued customers.
+Added: Additional information about trends and developments in each of our business segments is provided in the “Segments”
+Added: discussion below, as well as in our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”
+Added: in Part II, Section 7 of this report.
+Added: General In formation
was organized as a North Carolina corporation in 1972 and made its initial public offering in 1983.
−Removed: Since 1997, our stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol “CFI” until July 13, 2017, at which time the
−Removed: Company’s ticker symbol changed to “CULP.” Our fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Sunday closest to April 30.
+Added: Since 1997, our stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol “CFI”
+Added: until July 13, 2017, at which time the Company’s ticker symbol changed to “CULP.”
+Added: Our fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Sunday closest to April 30.
Our executive offices are located in High Point, North Carolina.
−Removed: Culp maintains an internet website at www.culp.com.
−Removed: We will make this annual report and our other annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports available free of charge on our internet site as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
−Removed: Copies of any materials we file or furnish with the SEC can also be obtained free of charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
+Added: Culp maintains a corporate website at www.culp.com.
+Added: We will make this annual report and our other annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
+Added: Copies of any materials we file or furnish with the SEC can also be obtained free of charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The information included on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report or any other reports we file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
−Removed: Following the sale of our ownership interest in eLuxury on March 31, 2020, which resulted in the elimination of our home accessories segment, our two continuing operating segments are mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics.
+Added: Our operations are classified into two business segments:
+Added: mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics.
The following table sets forth certain information for each of our segments.
11 unchanged sentences
These products include woven jacquard fabrics, knitted fabrics, and some converted fabrics.
−Removed: Culp Home Fashions has manufacturing facilities located in Stokesdale and High Point, North Carolina, and St.
+Added: Culp Home Fashions has fabric manufacturing facilities located in Stokesdale, North Carolina, and St.
Jerome, Quebec, Canada.
−Removed: The division also sources products internally from Culp China, which is operated by our upholstery fabrics division, as well as from a supplier in Turkey, based on our own designs and production schedule.
−Removed: Additionally, Culp Home Fashions has a mattress cover facility in Haiti (which is now a wholly-owned operation following the fiscal 2021 fourth-quarter acquisition of the remaining fifty percent ownership interest from its former joint venture partner), and also utilizes our Culp China platform for the production of sewn mattress covers.
Knitted fabrics are produced at both the Stokesdale and St.
4 unchanged sentences
Both of these facilities offer finished goods distribution capabilities, and the Stokesdale plant houses the division offices.
−Removed: Culp Home Fashions had capital expenditures totaling $69 million during the past ten years, with especially high spending levels from fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2018.
−Removed: These expenditures provided for increased knit machine capacity, faster and more efficient weaving machines, and the capital required for commencement of our Haiti sewn mattress cover operation, while also allowing us to maintain our leading-edge technology through modernization and expansion projects.
−Removed: These capital expenditures also provided high technology finishing equipment for woven and knitted fabric and an enhanced U.S.
−Removed: platform for warehousing and distribution, along with a Canadian platform that now provides completely finished woven and knitted fabric.
−Removed: Our sewn mattress cover operation, established during fiscal 2013, has a manufacturing plant in High Point, North Carolina.
−Removed: This facility is leased by the company, and its operation involves a limited capital investment in equipment.
−Removed: In fiscal 2017, in response to continued growth in mattress cover demand, we entered into a joint venture with a third-party mattress cover provider to construct a second leased location for our mattress cover operations in Haiti, and that joint-venture facility began production of mattress covers for our business during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
−Removed: We completed a 40,000-square foot expansion of this Haiti facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 to increase capacity, and during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, we acquired the remaining fifty percent ownership interest in this Haiti mattress cover business from our previous joint venture partner, giving us full control over the operation.
−Removed: We expect this strategic acquisition will enhance our ability to effectively manage our global cut and sew platform by further expanding our capacity and improving our flexibility to meet customer demand from this near-shore operation.
−Removed: As noted above, we also utilize our Culp China platform, operated by our upholstery fabrics division, to manufacture sewn mattress covers and to source additional sewn covers from third-party suppliers in Asia.
−Removed: These three manufacturing locations in North Carolina, Haiti, and
−Removed: China give us an on-shore, near-shore, and off-shore supply chain strategy that allow s us greater flexibility in meeting demand for mattress covers from bedding producers.
−Removed: During the past five years, we completed several multi-year capital projects for the mattress fabrics business, including consolidating certain operations, expanding capacity, improving efficiency and customer service, and maintaining our flexible approach to fabric sourcing.
−Removed: In fiscal 2019, we continued these initiatives by consolidating our weaving operations to one facility, our plant in Quebec, Canada, and expanding production of our sewn mattress covers in Haiti and China to meet customer demand in the growing boxed bedding market.
−Removed: Additionally, we continued to expand our design capabilities in fiscal 2019, launching new software and a library system for cataloguing our products to drive marketing and enhance innovation.
+Added: The segment also sources mattress fabric products internally from Culp China, which is operated by our upholstery fabrics division, as well as from a supplier in Turkey, based on our own designs and production schedule.
+Added: Our mattress cover operation currently has a wholly-owned manufacturing platform in Haiti for production of cut and sewn mattress covers.
+Added: This platform includes two leased facilities.
+Added: We also utilize our Culp China platform, operated by our upholstery fabrics division, to source sewn mattress covers from third-party suppliers in Asia.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, we completed a restructuring and rationalization of our U.S.-based cut and sewn cover platform, moving our research and development ("R&D") and prototyping capabilities from our location in High Point, North Carolina, to our owned facility in Stokesdale, North Carolina.
+Added: The result of this move was the discontinuation of our higher-cost on shore production capabilities, with the closure of two leased facilities in High Point during the third quarter.
+Added: We believe this platform restructuring will allow us to generate cost savings by utilizing our lower-cost mattress cover production and sourcing capabilities in Haiti and Asia, where we can scale operations to align with demand and continue to support the needs of our customers.
+Added: During the past few years, we completed several multi-year capital projects for the mattress fabrics business, including consolidating certain operations, expanding capacity, improving efficiency and customer service, and maintaining our flexible approach to fabric sourcing.
+Added: In fiscal 2019, we consolidated our weaving operations to one facility in Quebec, Canada, and expanded production of our sewn mattress covers in Haiti and China to meet customer demand in the growing boxed bedding market.
+Added: Additionally, we continued to expand our design capabilities in fiscal 2019, launching new software and a library system for cataloging our products to drive marketing and enhance innovation.
In fiscal 2020, we further enhanced our design and innovation platform by establishing a dedicated innovation team to develop and offer the latest technologies and forward-looking products, expanding our creative team to complement our innovation strategy, and releasing a new digital library, design simulations, and 3D image rendering capabilities to showcase our designs and marketing tools.
−Removed: We were able to leverage these new technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the face of travel restrictions and cancelled tradeshows, to continue showcasing our products and support our customers through virtual design collaboration.
+Added: We were able to leverage these new technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the face of travel restrictions and canceled tradeshows, to continue showcasing our products and support our customers through virtual design collaboration.
In fiscal 2021, we invested in additional knit machines and other equipment to expand fabric capacity in North America.
−Removed: We also enhanced our digital project management platform, which allows us to work with customers from concept ideation and 3D mapping to product life cycle management and final merchandising.
+Added: We also enhanced our digital project management platform, which allows us to work with customers from concept ideation and 3D
+Added: mapping to product life cycle management and final merchandising.
In fiscal 2022, we expanded our leading-edge technology at our Canadian manufacturing facility with the addition of a sectional warper and lamination line.
−Removed: After eight consecutive years of growth, sales declined in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020.
+Added: After eight consecutive years of growth, sales for the mattress fabrics segment declined in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020.
The decline in fiscal 2019 was mainly attributable to the acceleration of low-priced mattress imports from China towards the end of fiscal 2018 and through the first three quarters of fiscal 2019, together with the increased acceptance by consumers of roll-packed/boxed bedding delivered through major online e-commerce channels.
−Removed: This disrupted the U.S.
−Removed: bedding industry and resulted in a decline in sales for domestic bedding manufacturers, which affected our business as a supplier to those manufacturers.
−Removed: Fiscal 2019 was also affected by major customer and retail disruption for certain of our core customers.
−Removed: The decline in fiscal 2020 was primarily due to the significant disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic during the fourth quarter, which has traditionally experienced higher sales for the mattress fabrics segment due to early spring seasonality trends.
−Removed: Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, our results for fiscal 2020 were also affected by continued disruption in the domestic mattress industry relating to low-priced mattress imports that moved from China to other countries.
−Removed: Sales increased significantly in fiscal 2021, as compared to fiscal 2020, which was materially affected by the COVID-19 disruption.
−Removed: This increase in sales was driven by the consumer focus on the home environment and overall comfort, combined with our ability to service this demand through our global platform.
−Removed: For fiscal 2022, sales declined compared to the prior year primarily due to industry weakness in domestic mattress industry sales, especially during the fourth quarter, along with some disruption from COVID-related shutdowns.
−Removed: This industry softness was driven by slowing retail demand, which we believe was mostly caused by inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending.
−Removed: Despite the challenging macro-economic conditions during fiscal 2022, we maintained a continued focus on our product-driven strategy, with an emphasis on innovation, design creativity, quality, and personalized customer service.
−Removed: The strength and flexibility of our global manufacturing and sourcing operations in the U.S., Canada, Haiti, Asia, and Turkey enabled us to support the evolving needs of our mattress fabric and cover customers throughout the year.
−Removed: While we experienced lower demand in our mattress cover business, particularly during the second half of the year, we believe our on-shore, near-shore, and off-shore supply chain strategy, as well as our fabric-to-cover model, remains a preferred platform for sewn mattress cover customers.
+Added: The decline in fiscal 2020 was primarily due to the significant disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic during the fourth quarter, as well as continued disruption in the domestic mattress industry relating to low-priced mattress imports that moved from China to other countries.
+Added: Sales increased significantly in fiscal 2021, as compared to fiscal 2020, driven by the consumer focus on the home environment and overall comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with our ability to service this demand through our global platform.
+Added: For fiscal 2022, sales declined slightly compared to the prior year primarily due to industry weakness in domestic mattress industry sales, especially during the fourth quarter, along with some disruption from COVID-related shutdowns.
+Added: We believe this industry softness was mostly caused by inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending and a shift in demand from home goods to travel, leisure, and entertainment following a pulling forward of demand for home goods during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
+Added: The decline in sales continued during fiscal 2023, driven by an ongoing slowdown in consumer demand, with mattress industry reports reflecting significant unit contraction during this period.
+Added: The impact of this industry softness was exacerbated, especially during the first nine months of the year, by mattress manufacturers and retailers working through an excess of inventory, delaying the timing of shipments and new product roll outs.
+Added: As a result, sales declined significantly in fiscal 2023 compared to the prior year.
+Added: However, we were encouraged to see strong sequential and year-over-year improvement beginning in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by the roll out of new customer programs.
+Added: Despite the challenging macro-economic conditions during fiscal 2023, we diligently worked to manage the aspects of our business that we can control, taking necessary steps to withstand current market challenges and position our business for renewed growth.
+Added: During the second half of fiscal 2023, we began executing on a comprehensive business transformation plan, laying the foundation for operational improvement with new leadership and a restructured management team.
+Added: Throughout the year, we focused on our product-driven strategy, with an emphasis on innovation, design creativity, and strengthening customer relationships.
+Added: The strength and flexibility of our global manufacturing and sourcing operations in the U.S., Canada, Haiti, Asia, and Turkey allowed us to support the evolving needs of our mattress fabric and cover customers throughout the year.
We believe the success of our mattress fabrics segment over the long term is due to our focus on these foundational values and strategic initiatives that allow us to meet changing customer demands.
Upholstery Fabrics.
−Removed: The upholstery fabrics segment markets fabrics for residential and commercial furniture, including jacquard woven fabrics, velvets, micro denier suedes, woven dobbies, knitted fabrics, piece-dyed woven products, and polyurethane “leather look” fabrics.
+Added: The upholstery fabrics segment markets fabrics for residential and commercial furniture, including jacquard woven fabrics, velvets, micro denier suedes, woven dobbies, knitted fabrics, piece-dyed woven products, and polyurethane “leather look”
With the acquisition of Read Window Products at the end of fiscal 2018, this segment also markets window treatment products and installation services, including roller shades, drapery, hardware, and top-of-mattress soft goods, for customers in the hospitality and commercial industries.
The upholstery fabrics segment currently operates two manufacturing facilities in Shanghai, China.
−Removed: We market cut and sewn fabric kits produced in these locations, as well as a variety of upholstery fabrics and cut and sewn kits sourced from third party producers, mostly in China and Vietnam.
−Removed: Our China facilities in Shanghai include production of cut and sewn kits made to specifications of furniture manufacturing customers using sourced fabrics, as well as design, finishing, warehousing, quality control, and inspection operations.
−Removed: During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we also commenced operation of a new facility in Haiti dedicated to the production of cut and sewn fabric kits, and we continued to ramp up production at this facility during the fourth quarter.
−Removed: This facility primarily supports demand for an existing upholstery fabrics customer.
+Added: From these locations, we market a variety of upholstery fabrics and cut and sewn kits sourced from third-party producers, mostly in China and Vietnam.
+Added: We utilize these facilities for design, finishing, warehousing, quality control, and inspection operations related to these products.
+Added: We previously produced cut and sewn fabric kits in Shanghai, China.
+Added: However, during fiscal 2023, based on market dynamics for cut and sewn products and the strength of our Asian supply chain, we rationalized and adjusted our model for this platform with the closure of our cut and sew facility.
+Added: Additionally, during the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we commenced operation of a new leased facility in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, dedicated to the production of cut and sewn fabric kits.
+Added: However, due to a decline in demand for these cut and sewn kits, we terminated the agreement to lease this new facility during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and relocated a scaled-down upholstery cut and sew operation into our existing mattress cover facility also located in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
+Added: We believe these adjustments to our cut and sew platform will generate cost savings without sacrificing our ability to support our customers, grow our cut and sew business, and maintain our competitive advantages through our lower-cost manufacturing and sourcing operations in Asia and Haiti.
We continue to expand our marketing efforts to sell our upholstery fabrics products in countries other than the U.S., including the Chinese local market.
1 unchanged sentence
Our upholstery fabrics business has moved from one that relied on a large fixed capital base that is difficult to adjust to a more flexible and scalable marketer of upholstery fabrics that meets changing levels of customer demand and tastes.
−Removed: At the same time, we have
−Removed: maintained control of the most important “value added” aspects of our business, such as design, finishing, quality control, and logistics.
+Added: At the same time, we have maintained control of the most important “value added”
+Added: aspects of our business, such as design, finishing, quality control, and logistics.
This strategic approach has allowed us to limit our investment of capital in fixed assets and control the costs of our products, while continuing to leverage our design and finishing expertise, industry knowledge, and important relationships.
2 unchanged sentences
This growth was partially offset by lower sales for our hospitality business, which remained under pressure due to pandemic-related disruptions affecting the travel and leisure industries.
−Removed: During fiscal 2022, sales increased slightly by 0.4%, reflecting generally solid demand for residential upholstery products for the first nine months of the year, offset by a significant drop in residential sales during the fourth quarter due to COVID-related shutdowns of our facilities in China throughout the month of April and, to a lesser extent, a slowdown in new business for the residential home furnishings industry during the fourth quarter.
−Removed: The increase in net sales during fiscal 2022 also reflects the impact of certain pricing and freight surcharge actions that were implemented at varying time during the year.
−Removed: Throughout fiscal 2022, we maintained our sustained focus on product innovation, and our highly durable, stain resistant LiveSmart® performance fabrics, as well as our LiveSmart Evolve® performance plus sustainability fabrics, remained popular with both existing and new residential furniture customers.
−Removed: Our hospitality business continued to recover from pandemic-related impacts, with higher sales in our hospitality/contract fabric business and our Read business during the second half of the year.
+Added: During fiscal 2022, sales increased slightly, reflecting generally solid demand for residential upholstery products for the first nine months of the year, as well as the impact of certain pricing and surcharge actions in effect during the year.
+Added: This increase was offset by a significant drop in residential sales during the fourth quarter due to COVID-related shutdowns of our facilities in China throughout the month of April and, to a lesser extent, a slowdown in new business for the residential home furnishings industry during the fourth quarter.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, our sales declined moderately as a result of reduced demand for residential upholstery products, driven by an ongoing slowdown in the residential home furnishings industry, as well as high inventory levels at manufacturers and retailers during the first nine months of the year.
+Added: This decline was partially offset by higher sales in our hospitality/contract business.
+Added: Despite the industry softness in fiscal 2023, we maintained our sustained focus on product innovation, and our highly durable, stain resistant LiveSmart® performance fabrics, as well as our LiveSmart Evolve® performance plus sustainability fabrics, remained popular with both existing and new residential furniture customers.
+Added: Demand for our hospitality/contract fabric business also remained solid for the year.
We believe the success of our upholstery fabrics segment over the longer term is due largely to a business strategy that has included:
2 unchanged sentences
In this way, we have maintained our ability to provide furniture manufacturers with products from nearly every category of fabric for upholstered furniture and meet continually changing demand levels and consumer preferences.
−Removed: In recent years, we have implemented additional steps to grow net sales, including an emphasis on markets beyond residential furniture, such as the hospitality market.
+Added: We have also implemented additional steps to grow net sales, including an emphasis on markets beyond residential furniture, such as the hospitality market.
One result of these efforts was the acquisition of Read Window Products at the end of fiscal 2018, representing a significant expansion of our production capabilities in the hospitality market, along with the addition of window treatment installation services.
−Removed: Overview of Industry and Markets
+Added: Overview of Indu stry and Markets
Culp markets products primarily to manufacturers and hospitality customers in three principal markets.
5 unchanged sentences
and window treatments for commercial application.
−Removed: The principal industries into which the company sells products – the bedding industry and residential and commercial furniture industry – are described in more detail below.
+Added: The principal industries into which the company sells products –
+Added: the bedding industry and residential and commercial furniture industry –
+Added: are described in more detail below.
Currently, a great majority of our products are sold to manufacturers for end use in the U.S., and thus the discussions below are focused on that market.
−Removed: Overview of Bedding Industry
−Removed: The bedding industry has contracted and expanded in recent years in accordance with the general economy, although traditionally the industry has been relatively mature and stable.
+Added: Overview of Be dding Industry
+Added: The bedding industry has contracted and expanded in recent years in accordance with the general economy, and, most recently in connection with impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, although traditionally the industry has been relatively mature and stable.
This is due in part to the fact that a majority of bedding industry sales are replacement purchases, which are less volatile than sales based on economic growth and new household formations.
−Removed: During fiscal 2022, the bedding industry experienced weakness in domestic mattress industry sales, particularly during the second half of the year, due primarily to inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending, especially for mattress products in the low to mid-range price points.
−Removed: These pressures are expected to continue affecting the bedding industry during fiscal 2023.
+Added: During the second half of fiscal 2022 and throughout fiscal 2023, the bedding industry experienced weakness in domestic mattress sales, with industry reports reflecting significant unit contraction.
+Added: We believe this industry softness was mostly driven by inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending, especially for mattress products in the low to mid-range price points, and a shift in demand from home goods to travel, leisure, and entertainment following a pulling forward of demand for home goods during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
+Added: These factors are expected to continue affecting the bedding industry during fiscal 2024.
Until recently, the U.S.
7 unchanged sentences
However, the level of mattress imports from other countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Turkey, among others, significantly increased during fiscal 2020 as imports from China declined.
−Removed: The result of the increase in imports during this period, and continuing into fiscal 2021, was a decline in sales for the major U.S.
+Added: of the increase in imports during this period, and continuing into fiscal 2021, was a decline in sales for the major U.S.
bedding manufacturers, which affected major suppliers to those manufacturers, including Culp.
As a result of the continued significant influx of low-priced imports that moved from China to other countries, the U.S.
−Removed: Department of Commerce imposed anti-dumping dut ies against seven countries , including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, during fiscal 2021 .
−Removed: We believe the domestic mattress industry and, in turn, our business, began to realize some benefits from these duties during the second half of fiscal 2021 and continuing into fiscal 2022.
−Removed: A key trend driving the bedding industry is the increased demand for roll-packed/compressed mattresses in both online and traditional sales channels, as consumer acceptance of boxed beds as a delivery mechanism continues to drive growth and increase market share for this product, increasing potential demand for sewn mattress covers.
+Added: Department of Commerce imposed anti-dumping duties against seven countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, during fiscal 2021.
+Added: We believe the domestic mattress industry and, in turn, our business, began to realize some benefits from these duties during the second half of fiscal 2021 and continuing into fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023.
+Added: A key trend driving the bedding industry is the increased demand for roll-packed/compressed mattresses through both online and traditional sales channels.
+Added: Consumer acceptance of boxed beds as a delivery mechanism continues to drive growth and increase market share for this product, increasing potential demand for sewn mattress covers.
Another important trend is the increased awareness among consumers about the health benefits of better sleep, with an increased focus on the quality of bedding products and an apparent willingness on the part of consumers to upgrade their bedding.
−Removed: A further trend is the strong and growing emphasis on the design knitted or woven into mattress fabrics to appeal to the customer’s visual attraction and perceived value of the mattress on the retail floor, as well as in online sales channels and advertisements.
+Added: A further trend is the strong and growing emphasis on the design knitted or woven into mattress fabrics to appeal to the customer’s visual attraction and perceived value of the mattress on the retail floor, as well as in online sales channels and advertisements.
Mattress fabric design efforts are based on current trends in home decor and fashion.
2 unchanged sentences
Knitted fabric was initially used primarily on premium mattresses, but these products are now being placed increasingly on mattresses at mid-range to lower retail price points.
−Removed: Overview of Residential and Commercial Furniture Industry
−Removed: Overall demand for our products depends upon consumer demand for furniture and bedding products, which is subject to variations in the general economy, including current inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending, the continued economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other geopolitical events.
−Removed: Because purchases of furniture and bedding products are discretionary purchases for most individuals and businesses, demand for these products may be more easily influenced by economic trends than demand for other products.
−Removed: Economic downturns, increases in unemployment rates, and uncertainty about future health and economic prospects can affect consumer spending habits and demand for home furnishings, which reduces the demand for our products and therefore can cause a decline in our sales and earnings.
−Removed: Sales of residential and commercial furniture are affected by variations in the global economy, including economic downturns, increases in unemployment rates, and uncertainty about future health and economic prospects.
+Added: Overview of Residential and C ommercial Furniture Industry
+Added: Overall demand for our products depends upon consumer demand for furniture and bedding products, which is subject to variations in the general economy, including current inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending;
+Added: declines in consumer confidence;
+Added: the negative economic impact of potential additional surges of the coronavirus;
+Added: and other geopolitical events, such as the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war.
+Added: Because purchases of furniture products are discretionary purchases for most individuals and businesses, demand for these products may be more easily influenced by economic trends than demand for other products.
+Added: Economic downturns, higher unemployment rates, and uncertainty about future health and economic prospects can affect consumer spending habits and demand for home furnishings, which reduces the demand for our products and therefore can cause a decline in our sales and earnings.
+Added: Sales of commercial furniture to businesses are also affected by these same factors.
These market conditions, as well as the pace of recovery from these conditions, have been uneven in recent years.
−Removed: In general, sales of residential furniture are influenced significantly by the housing industry and by trends in home sales and household formations, while demand for commercial furniture generally reflects economic trends affecting businesses.
+Added: In general, sales of residential furniture are influenced significantly by the housing industry and by trends in home sales and household formations, while demand for commercial furniture generally reflects economic trends affecting businesses and office occupancy.
During fiscal 2021, disruption relating to the COVID-19 pandemic positively affected sales trends, with the increased consumer focus on the home and travel restrictions shifting discretionary spending away from travel and leisure activities towards home furnishings and enhancing comfort within the home environment.
−Removed: This sales trend began to reverse during fiscal 2022, particularly during the second half of the year, as COVID-related travel and mask restrictions were lifted and consumers began to resume travel and leisure activities.
−Removed: Inflationary pressures also began to affect consumer spending during the second half of fiscal 2022.
+Added: This sales trend began to reverse during fiscal 2022, particularly during the second half of the year, as COVID-related travel and mask restrictions were lifted and consumers began to resume travel and leisure activities, and this reversal continued throughout fiscal 2023.
+Added: Inflationary pressures also began to affect consumer spending during the second half of fiscal 2022 and continuing throughout fiscal 2023.
Together, these trends have caused a slowdown in new business for the residential home furnishings industry that is expected to continue during fiscal 2024.
1 unchanged sentence
By far, the largest source for these imports continues to be China.
−Removed: Imports of upholstery fabric, both in roll and in “kit” form, have also had a significant impact on the market for upholstery fabrics in recent years.
+Added: Imports of upholstery fabric, both in roll and in “kit”
+Added: form, have also had a significant impact on the market for upholstery fabrics in recent years.
Fabrics entering the U.S.
3 unchanged sentences
Intense price competition continues to be an important consideration for both residential and commercial furniture.
−Removed: Additionally, with the ongoing global trade dispute between the U.S.
+Added: Additionally, with the ongoing global trade dispute and other tensions between the U.S.
and China, including the imposition of tariffs during fiscal 2019 and the possibility for additional tariffs on China imports, some of our customers began altering their supply chains away from China in late fiscal 2019.
−Removed: While this trend continued in fiscal 2020, fiscal 2021, and fiscal 2022, we believe Asia remains a preferred location for sourcing of components, including fabric.
+Added: This trend has continued in recent years, including in fiscal 2023, as relations between the U.S.
+Added: and China have further deteriorated.
+Added: While we believe Asia remains a preferred location for sourcing of components, including fabric, we continue to diversify our sourcing strategies to develop additional geographic options to service our customers.
As described above, our products include mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics, which are our two identified operating segments.
6 unchanged sentences
Upholstery fabrics segment sales totaled 53% of our sales for fiscal 2023, compared with 48% of for fiscal 2022.
−Removed: The company has emphasized fabrics that have broad appeal at “good” and “better” prices, generally ranging from $3.00 to $14.00 per yard.
+Added: The company has emphasized fabrics that have broad appeal at “good”
+Added: and “better”
+Added: prices, generally ranging from $3.00 to $16.00 per yard.
Culp Product Categories by Segment
28 unchanged sentences
Covers made from various types of upholstery fabrics and cut and sewn to specifications of furniture manufacturing customers for use on specific furniture frames.
−Removed: With the acquisition of Read Window Products at the end of fiscal 2018, the upholstery fabrics business also markets a variety of window treatment products and installation services for customers in the hospitality and commercial industries.
+Added: Through our Read Window Products business, the upholstery fabrics segment also markets a variety of window treatment products and installation services for customers in the hospitality and commercial industries.
These products include roller & solar shades, drapery, roman shades and top treatments, hardware products, and soft goods such as duvet covers, bed skirts, bolsters and pillows.
1 unchanged sentence
Mattress Fabrics Segment
−Removed: Our mattress fabrics segment operates four manufacturing plants, with two located in North Carolina (Stokesdale and High Point), one in St.
+Added: Our mattress fabrics segment operates three manufacturing plants, with one located in North Carolina (Stokesdale), one in St.
Jerome, Quebec, Canada, and one in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
−Removed: Over the past ten fiscal years, we made capital expenditures of approximately $69 million to consolidate our production facilities and to modernize both knit and weaving equipment, enhance and
−Removed: provide knit and woven finishing capabilities, and expand capacity.
+Added: Over the past ten fiscal years, we made capital expenditures of approximately $67 million to consolidate our production facilities and to modernize both knit and weaving equipment, enhance and provide knit and woven finishing capabilities, and expand capacity.
The result has been an increase in manufacturing efficiency and reductions in operating costs, as well as expanded product offerings and capacity.
4 unchanged sentences
Jerome plant providing additional capacity and a second location for these processes, along with distribution capabilities.
−Removed: We produce sewn mattress covers at our manufacturing facility in High Point, North Carolina, at our facility in Haiti, and at the manufacturing facilities of our Culp China platform in China.
−Removed: Our High Point facility is a leased space with limited capital investment in equipment.
−Removed: In fiscal 2017, we entered into a 50/50 joint venture with a third party mattress cover provider to construct a second leased location for our mattress cover operations in Haiti, and this joint venture facility began production of mattress covers for our business during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
−Removed: We completed a 40,000-square foot expansion of this Haiti facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 to increase capacity, and during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, we acquired the remaining fifty percent ownership interest in this Haiti mattress cover business from our previous joint venture partner, giving us full control of the operation.
−Removed: We expect this strategic acquisition will enhance our ability to effectively manage our global cut and sew platform by expanding our capacity and improving our flexibility to meet customer demand from this near-shore operation.
−Removed: Additionally, we utilize the company’s Culp China platform, operated by our upholstery fabrics division, to manufacture sewn mattress covers.
−Removed: These three manufacturing locations give us an on-shore, near-shore, and off-shore supply chain strategy that allows us greater agility in meeting demand for mattress covers from bedding producers.
−Removed: In addition to the mattress fabrics and sewn covers manufactured by Culp, we have important supply arrangements in place that allow us to source mattress fabric and sewn covers from strategic suppliers.
+Added: We produce sewn mattress covers at our manufacturing facility in Haiti.
+Added: In fiscal 2017, we entered into a 50/50 joint venture with a third party mattress cover provider to construct a leased location for our mattress cover operations in Haiti, and this joint venture facility began production of mattress covers for our business during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
+Added: We completed a 40,000-square foot expansion of this Haiti facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 to increase capacity, and during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, we acquired the remaining fifty percent ownership interest in this Haiti mattress cover business from our previous joint venture partner, giving us full control of the operation and expanded capacity to meet customer demand from this lower-cost, near-shore operation.
+Added: We also have R&D and prototyping capabilities for sewn mattress covers at our Stokesdale facility.
+Added: In addition to the mattress fabrics and sewn covers manufactured by Culp, we have important supply arrangements in place that allow us to source mattress fabrics and sewn covers from strategic suppliers.
We source some Culp-designed knitted fabrics, certain converted fabric products, and sewn mattress covers using our Culp China platform.
We also source Culp-designed sewn mattress covers from a strategic supply relationship in Vietnam.
−Removed: Additionally, we source a portion of our woven jacquard fabric and knitted fabric, which is obtained from a supplier located in Turkey, based on designs and a production schedule created by Culp.
+Added: Additionally, we source a portion of our woven jacquard fabric and knitted fabric from a supplier located in Turkey, based on designs and a production schedule created by Culp.
Upholstery Fabrics Segment
The upholstery fabrics segment currently operates two manufacturing facilities in China.
−Removed: During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we also commenced operation of a new facility in Haiti that is dedicated to the production of cut and sewn upholstery fabric kits.
+Added: We also operated a facility in Haiti dedicated to the production of cut and sewn upholstery kits during the first half of fiscal 2023, but following the rationalization and restructuring of this operation during the second half of the fiscal year, we now operate a scaled down cut and sew operation within the company's existing mattress cover facility in Haiti.
Additionally, we fabricate a variety of window treatments, using mostly customer-supplied fabrics and materials, at our Read Window Products facility in Knoxville, Tennessee.
1 unchanged sentence
At these facilities, we apply value-added finishing processes to fabrics sourced from a limited number of strategic suppliers in China, and we inspect sourced fabric there as well.
−Removed: In addition, the Shanghai operations include facilities where sourced fabric is cut and sewn to provide kits that are designed to be placed on specific furniture frames designated by our customers.
−Removed: Our new upholstery fabrics operation in Haiti primarily supports demand for an existing upholstery fabrics customer.
−Removed: This facility uses sourced fabrics to produce cut and sewn kits designed to be placed on specific furniture frames designated by the customer.
+Added: Our upholstery fabrics cut and sew operation in Haiti uses sourced fabrics to produce cut and sewn kits designed to be placed on specific furniture frames designated by customers.
A large portion of our upholstery fabric products, as well as certain elements of our production processes, are being sourced from outside suppliers.
1 unchanged sentence
We have found opportunities to develop significant relationships with key overseas suppliers in China that allow us to source products on a cost-effective basis, while limiting our investment of capital in manufacturing assets.
−Removed: We source unfinished and finished fabrics, as well as a portion of our cut and sewn kits, from a limited number of strategic suppliers in China who are willing to commit significant capacity to meet our needs while working with our product development team located in China to meet the demands of our customers.
+Added: We source unfinished and finished fabrics, as well as cut and sewn kits, from a limited number of strategic suppliers in China who are willing to commit significant capacity to meet our needs while working with our product development team located in China to meet the demands of our customers.
Beginning in late fiscal 2019, we also developed strategic supplier relationships in Vietnam for additional sourcing of our cut and sewn kits, which has allowed us to begin adjusting our supply chains to meet customer demands in conjunction with ongoing trade disputes between the U.S.
+Added: Additionally, beginning in fiscal 2022, we developed strategic supplier relationships in Turkey for additional sourcing of fabric products, providing further diversification in our supply chain.
The majority of upholstery fabrics and materials used by our Read Window Products business to fabricate window treatments are customer-supplied.
2 unchanged sentences
Consumer tastes and preferences related to bedding, upholstered furniture, and window treatment products change over time.
−Removed: The use of new fabrics, creative designs, and special production finishes and technologies remains an important consideration for manufacturers and marketers to distinguish their products at retail and to capitalize on changes in preferred colors, patterns, textures, and performance properties.
−Removed: Culp’s success is largely dependent on our ability to market fabrics and products with appealing designs and patterns, as well as performance properties such as cleanability, stain-resistance, cooling, and sustainability.
+Added: The use of new fabrics, creative designs, and special production finishes and technologies remains an important consideration for manufacturers
+Added: and marketers to distinguish their products at retail and to capitalize on changes in preferred colors, patterns, textures, and performance properties.
+Added: Culp’s success is largely dependent on our ability to market fabrics and products with appealing designs and patterns, as well as performance properties such as cleanability, stain-resistance, cooling, sustainability, and health-related benefits.
The process of developing new designs and innovative finishes involves maintaining an awareness of broad fashion and color trends, as well as wellness and other consumer trends, both in the United States and internationally.
−Removed: In order to enhance our design and innovation creativity and advance the synergies between our mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics segments , we launch ed a new innovation campus in downtown High Point, North Carolina, during fiscal 2022 .
−Removed: This space combin e s our design, innovation, and sales teams for both businesses into a shared location to support collaboration across divisions and pull our top creative talent together to develop new products and technologies based on the latest consumer trends.
+Added: In order to enhance our design and innovation creativity and advance the synergies between our mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics segments, we launched a new innovation campus in downtown High Point, North Carolina, during fiscal 2022.
+Added: This space combines our design, innovation, and sales teams for both businesses into a shared location to support collaboration across divisions and pull our top creative talent together to develop new products and technologies based on the latest consumer trends.
Mattress Fabrics Segment
Design innovation is a very important element of producing mattress fabrics.
−Removed: We invest significant resources to stay ahead of current design trends, including maintaining a trained and active design and innovation staff, investing in research and development activities such as participation in international design shows, and implementing systems for creating, cataloguing, and simulating new designs.
−Removed: Price point delineation for our fabrics and our customers’ finished mattress products is accomplished through fabric quality as well as variation in design.
+Added: We invest significant resources to stay ahead of current design trends, including maintaining a trained and active design and innovation staff, investing in research and development activities such as participation in international design shows, and implementing systems for creating, cataloging, and simulating new designs.
+Added: Price point delineation for our fabrics and our customers’
+Added: finished mattress products is accomplished through fabric quality as well as variation in design.
Consumers are drawn to the mattress that is the most visually appealing when walking into a retail showroom or viewing mattress products online, so this design variation, together with price point delineation, helps our customers merchandise different looks at various price points.
13 unchanged sentences
In recent years we have become more aggressive in registering copyrights for popular fabric patterns and taking steps to discourage the illegal copying of our proprietary designs.
+Added: Distri bution
Mattress Fabrics Segment
Most of our mattress fabrics shipments originate from our facilities in Stokesdale, North Carolina, and we have additional distribution capabilities in Canada, China, and Haiti.
−Removed: Through arrangements with major customers and in accordance with industry practice, we maintain a significant inventory of mattress fabrics at our distribution facility in Stokesdale (“make to stock”), so that products may be shipped to customers with short lead times and on a “just in time” basis.
+Added: Through arrangements with major customers and in accordance with industry practice, we maintain a significant inventory of mattress fabrics at our distribution facility in Stokesdale (“make to stock”), so that products may be shipped to customers with short lead times and on a “just in time”
Upholstery Fabrics Segment
−Removed: A majority of our upholstery fabrics are marketed on a “make to order” basis and are shipped directly from our distribution facilities in Burlington, North Carolina, and Shanghai, China.
−Removed: We also have distribution capabilities in Vietnam.
−Removed: In addition to “make to order” distribution, an inventory of select fabric patterns is held at our distribution facilities in Burlington and Shanghai from which our customers can obtain quick delivery of sourced fabrics through a program known as “Culp Express.” We also have distribution capabilities for our “Culp Express” program to local customers in Canada through our mattress fabrics distribution facility in Quebec, Canada.
−Removed: Window treatment products sold through our Read Window Products business are done on a “job order” basis, with manufactured products shipped directly from our manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee to the job installation site.
−Removed: Sources and Availability of Raw Materials
+Added: A majority of our upholstery fabrics are marketed on a “make to order”
+Added: basis and are shipped directly from our distribution facilities in Burlington, North Carolina, and Shanghai, China.
+Added: We also have distribution capabilities in Vietnam and Turkey.
+Added: In addition to “make to order”
+Added: distribution, an inventory of select fabric patterns is held at our distribution facilities in Burlington and Shanghai from which our customers can obtain quick delivery of sourced fabrics through a program known as “Culp Express.”
+Added: We also have distribution capabilities for our “Culp Express”
+Added: program to local customers in Canada through our mattress fabrics distribution facility in Quebec, Canada.
+Added: Window treatment products sold through our Read Window Products business are done on a “job order”
+Added: basis, with manufactured products shipped directly from Read's manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee to the job installation site.
+Added: Sources and Availabil ity of Raw Materials
Mattress Fabrics Segment
4 unchanged sentences
During fiscal 2022, some of our outside suppliers faced extended delays and increased costs for raw materials, as well as COVID-19-related disruption that affected production.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, we experienced better stability with suppliers relative to service and cost for most commodities.
Our use of outside suppliers to source materials to produce mattress fabric and sewn covers makes the mattress fabrics segment vulnerable to price increases, delays, or production interruptions caused by problems within businesses that we do not control.
7 unchanged sentences
For this reason, our raw material costs can be sensitive to changes in prices for petrochemicals and the underlying price of oil.
−Removed: During fiscal 2021, our raw material costs were mostly flat or slightly down during the first three quarters, as compared to the prior year, but they began to escalate during the fourth quarter primarily due to rising oil prices, a higher demand environment, and labor shortages.
+Added: Near the end of fiscal 2021, our raw material costs began to escalate primarily due to rising oil prices, a higher demand environment, and labor shortages.
These pressures continued during fiscal 2022, with further increases in raw material costs, particularly during the second half of the year, due to the continued rise in oil prices and a higher demand environment.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, the cost of raw materials began to decline during the first half of the year due to lower oil prices and slowing global demand, but the higher costs and lower availability of labor remained challenging throughout the year.
+Added: Raw material costs were relatively stable during the second half of the year.
Overall, demand for our products generally depends upon consumer demand for furniture and bedding products, which reflects sensitivity to overall economic conditions, including consumer confidence, unemployment rates, and housing market conditions.
1 unchanged sentence
For the remainder of fiscal 2021, disruption relating to the COVID-19 pandemic positively affected sales trends, with the increased consumer focus on the home and travel restrictions shifting discretionary spending away from travel and leisure activities towards home furnishings and enhancing overall comfort within the home environment.
−Removed: However, this sales trend began to reverse during fiscal 2022, particularly during the second half of the year, as COVID-related travel and mask restrictions were lifted and consumers began to resume travel and leisure activities.
−Removed: Inflationary pressures also affected consumer spending during the second half of fiscal 2022.
+Added: However, this sales trend began to reverse during fiscal 2022, particularly during the second half of fiscal 2022 and continuing throughout fiscal 2023, as COVID-related travel and mask restrictions were lifted and consumers began to resume travel and leisure activities.
+Added: Inflationary pressures also affected consumer spending on home goods during the second half of fiscal 2022 and continuing throughout fiscal 2023.
+Added: Additionally, we believe consumer spending was further pressured in fiscal 2023 by other economic conditions, such as rising interest rates, the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict, and other economic indicators that affected consumer confidence.
These impacts are not reflective of any seasonal trends in the bedding or furniture industries and are not an indicator that seasonal trends are changing for our business segments.
1 unchanged sentence
The mattress fabrics business and the bedding industry in general are slightly seasonal, with sales being the highest in early spring and late summer, with another peak in mid-winter.
−Removed: However, these seasonality trends relate more to in-store retail sales, whereas the growth in online sales, which began prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased during the pandemic, appear to be somewhat less seasonal.
+Added: However, these seasonality trends relate more to in-store retail sales and promotional events, whereas the growth in online sales, which began prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased during the pandemic, are less affected by in-store seasonality trends.
+Added: It appears that during fiscal 2023, U.S.
+Added: consumers began to return to pre-pandemic mattress buying habits, where mattresses are often purchased during major U.S.
Upholstery Fabrics Segment
4 unchanged sentences
The timing of the Chinese National Holiday in October and, to a larger extent, the Chinese New Year (which occurs in January or February each year), now have a more significant impact on upholstery sales than the U.S.
−Removed: holiday periods, often causing sales to be higher in advance of these Chinese holiday periods and sometimes lower during or immediately following the same periods.
+Added: holiday periods, often causing sales to be higher in advance of these Chinese holiday periods and sometimes lower during or immediately following the same periods (although notably this trend for the Chinese New Year holiday did not occur during fiscal 2023, with sales lower in advance of the holiday due to high customer inventory and reduced consumer demand, followed by an uptick in sales after the holiday as customer inventory levels began to normalize).
Competition for our products is high and is based primarily on price, design, quality, product performance, timing of delivery, and service.
10 unchanged sentences
Environmental and Other Regulations
−Removed: We are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and federal and state environmental laws, as well as similar laws governing our manufacturing facilities in China, Canada, and Haiti.
+Added: We are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and federal and state environmental laws, as well as similar laws governing our manufacturing facilities in China, Canada, and Haiti.
We periodically review our compliance with these laws and regulations in an attempt to minimize the risk of violations.
2 unchanged sentences
Environmental liabilities can also be asserted by adjacent landowners or other third parties in toxic tort litigation.
−Removed: In addition, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), and analogous state statutes, liability can be imposed for the disposal of waste at sites targeted for cleanup by federal and state regulatory authorities.
+Added: In addition, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), and analogous state statutes, liability can be imposed for the disposal of waste at sites targeted for cleanup by federal and state regulatory authorities.
Liability under CERCLA is strict as well as joint and several.
8 unchanged sentences
Each of these matters is carefully evaluated, and the company provides for environmental matters based on information presently available.
−Removed: Based on this information, we do not currently believe that environmental matters will have a material adverse effect on either the company’s financial condition or results of operations.
+Added: Based on this information, we do not currently believe that environmental matters will have a material adverse effect on either the company’s financial condition or results of operations.
However, there can be no assurance that the costs associated with environmental matters will not increase in the future.
−Removed: Human Capital
+Added: Human C apital
Our Employees
−Removed: As of the end of fiscal 2022, we employed 1,582 people, an increase of 152 employees as compared to the end of the prior fiscal year.
−Removed: The mattress fabrics segments employed 945 people at fiscal year-end, a decrease of 48 employees, while the upholstery segment employed 603 people, an increase of 202 employees from the prior year.
−Removed: The increase in the number of employees in the upholstery fabrics segment in fiscal 2022, as compared to the prior year, was associated with opening of our new upholstery cut and sew facility in Haiti.
−Removed: The remaining employees comprise the company’s shared services functions.
+Added: As of the end of fiscal 2023, we employed 1,333 people, a decrease of 249 employees as compared to the end of the prior fiscal year.
+Added: The mattress fabrics segments employed 759 people at fiscal year-end, a decrease of 186 employees, while the upholstery segment employed 543 people, a decrease of 60 employees from the prior year.
+Added: The remaining employees comprise the company’s shared services functions.
+Added: The decrease in the number of employees in the mattress fabrics segment in fiscal 2023, as compared to the prior year, was associated with the rationalization of our U.S.-based mattress fabrics cut and sew platform, which included the closure of two U.S.
+Added: facilities associated with this business.
+Added: The decrease in the number of employees in the upholstery fabrics segment in fiscal 2023, as compared to the prior year, was associated with the rationalization and restructuring of our upholstery cut and sew platform during the year, which included the closure of our Shanghai cut and sew facility, as well as the rationalization and relocation of our Haiti cut and sew operation into an existing mattress cover facility also located in Haiti.
Approximately 478 employees work in the United States, and 855 are employed in international locations.
3 unchanged sentences
We are not aware of any efforts to organize any more of our employees, and we believe our employee relations are very good with both our unionized and non-unionized workforce.
−Removed: Our companywide annual employee turnover rate was approximately 25 % during the past fiscal year.
+Added: Our company-wide annual employee turnover rate was approximately 42% during the past fiscal year, compared to approximately 25% in the prior year.
+Added: The increase in our annual employee turnover compared to the prior fiscal year was driven mostly by the rationalization and restructuring our upholstery fabrics cut and sew operations in China and Haiti and our mattress fabrics cut and sew operation in the U.S.
Mission Statement and Values
−Removed: Our human resources department has adopted a mission statement that embodies our values and goals in the company’s relationships with our employees.
+Added: Our human resources department has adopted a mission statement that embodies our values and goals in the company’s relationships with our employees.
The mission statement is as follows:
2 unchanged sentences
Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by law, as well as sexual harassment or harassment of any kind, are not tolerated in our workplaces.
−Removed: Employees have multiple avenues available to report inappropriate behavior, including a dedicated “HR Connection” phone line.
+Added: Employees have multiple avenues available to report inappropriate behavior, including a dedicated “HR Connection”
All reports of inappropriate behavior are promptly investigated and appropriate action is taken to prevent their recurrence.
We also prohibit retaliation against individuals who, in good faith, report any violation of company policies, including unlawful discrimination or harassment.
−Removed: Along with our mission statement and values, we act in accordance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Conduct”), which sets forth expectations and guidance for employees to make appropriate decisions.
+Added: Along with our mission statement and values, we act in accordance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Conduct”), which sets forth expectations and guidance for employees to make appropriate decisions.
Our Code of Conduct covers topics such as conflicts of interest, fair dealing, protecting confidential information, appropriate use of company assets, compliance with laws (including, without limitation, anti-corruption and antitrust laws), workplace safety and environmental stewardship, and reporting Code of Conduct violations.
The Code of Conduct reflects our commitment to operating in a fair, honest, ethical, and responsible manner, and also provides direction for reporting complaints in the event of alleged violations of our policies.
−Removed: Our executive officers and supervisors maintain “open door” policies and any form of retaliation is strictly prohibited.
+Added: Our executive officers and supervisors maintain “open door”
+Added: policies, and any form of retaliation is strictly prohibited.
We also conduct regular training programs with our management and employee leaders to inform and refresh their knowledge about company policies and procedures pertaining to employment and human capital.
2 unchanged sentences
We also provide development opportunities that support career growth and maintain a wide variety of programs to engage with our employees and promote overall wellness.
−Removed: We believe these efforts support all of our personnel in the workplace and elsewhere in their lives, which in turn aids in our employee satisfaction and retention.
−Removed: For example, the “CULPgrow” program was launched in 2021 to provide employees with skills assessment and education assistance, such as GED, ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages), and computer literacy programs.
+Added: We believe these efforts support all of our personnel in the workplace and elsewhere in their lives, which in turn promotes employee satisfaction and retention.
+Added: For example, the “CULPgrow”
+Added: program was launched in 2021 to provide employees with skills assessment and education assistance, such as GED, ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages), and computer literacy programs.
The purpose of CULPgrow is to provide a workplace where every employee has the key resources they need to grow, develop, and reach their career goals.
1 unchanged sentence
It also provides resources such as financial educational assistance, as well as mentorship opportunities where employees can be matched with a company mentor and guided through pathways for success within the company.
−Removed: Additionally, in fiscal 2022, the company held its first company-wide global giving initiative, with a program called “Share the Love.” The program involved employees in each of our geographic locations choosing a charitable endeavor to support, based on their knowledge of local cultural considerations and areas of need.
+Added: Additionally, in fiscal 2022, the company held its first company-wide global giving initiative, with a program called “Share the Love.”
+Added: The program involved employees in each of our geographic locations choosing a charitable endeavor to support, based on their knowledge of local cultural considerations and areas of need.
For example, our U.S.
−Removed: and Canadian locations held food drives for donations to local food banks, while Culp China’s facilities contributed to help cancer patients.
+Added: and Canadian locations held food drives for donations to local food banks, while Culp China’s facilities contributed to help cancer patients.
Employees in Haiti made blankets in-house using Culp fabric and then donated them to a local orphanage and the local fire department.
+Added: This program was continued in fiscal 2023, with additional support to local charitable endeavors from each of our geographic locations.
Other examples of employee engagement initiatives include:
−Removed: Monthly wellness sessions on various health-related topics , including a week of programs devoted to mental health during fiscal 2022
+Added: Wellness sessions on various health-related topics
Meetings and video chats with senior management
11 unchanged sentences
Mattress Fabrics Segment
−Removed: Major customers for our mattress fabrics include leading bedding manufacturers such as Serta-Simmons Bedding (SSB), Tempur + Sealy International (TSI), Casper, Corsicana, Nectar, and Ashley Furniture.
−Removed: Our largest customer in the mattress fabrics segment is Serta Simmons Holdings, LLC, accounting for approximately 11% of the company’s overall sales in fiscal 2022.
−Removed: These sales include sales to customers who are also subcontractors for Serta Simmons Holdings, LLC.
+Added: Major customers for our mattress fabrics include leading bedding manufacturers such as Serta-Simmons Bedding (SSB), Tempur + Sealy International (TSI), Casper, Corsicana, Sleep Number, and Ashley Furniture.
Our mattress fabrics customers also include many small and medium-size bedding manufacturers.
+Added: No customers within the mattress fabrics segment accounted for more than 10% of the company's consolidated sales in fiscal 2023.
Upholstery Fabrics Segment
Our major customers for upholstery fabrics are leading manufacturers of upholstered furniture, including Ashley, Flexsteel, Kuka, La-Z-Boy (La-Z-Boy Residential and England), Southern Furniture Industries (Fusion and Southern Motion), Sudair, and Violino.
−Removed: Major customers for the company’s fabrics for commercial furniture include HNI Corporation and Travel + Lesiure Co.
−Removed: (f/k/a Wyndham Destinations).
−Removed: Our largest customer in the upholstery fabrics segment is La-Z-Boy Incorporated, which accounted for approximately 13% of the company’s consolidated sales in fiscal 2022.
+Added: Major customers for the company’s fabrics for commercial furniture include Exemplis, HNI Corporation, and Travel + Leisure Co.
+Added: Wyndham Destinations).
+Added: Our largest customer in the upholstery fabrics segment is La-Z-Boy Incorporated, which accounted for approximately 15% of the company’s consolidated sales in fiscal 2023.
The following table sets forth our net sales by geographic area by amount and percentage of total net sales for the three most recent fiscal years.
−Removed: Net Sales by Geographic Area
+Added: Net Sales by Ge ographic Area
(dollars in thousands)
6 unchanged sentences
(2) Of this amount $20.0 million, $26.9 million, and $28.1 million are attributable to shipments to China in fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
−Removed: Sales are attributed to individual countries based upon the location that the company ships its products to for delivery to customers.
+Added: Sales attributed to individual countries are based upon the location that the company ships its products to for delivery to customers.
For additional segment information, including the geographic location of long-lived assets, see Note 18 in the consolidated financial statements.
2 unchanged sentences
Upholstery Fabrics Segment
−Removed: Although it is difficult to predict the amount of backlog that is “firm,” we have reported the portion of the upholstery fabric backlog from customers with confirmed shipping dates within five weeks of the end of the fiscal year.
−Removed: On May 1, 2022, the portion of the upholstery fabric backlog with confirmed shipping dates prior to June 6, 2022, was $15.7 million, compared with $17.2 million as of the end of fiscal 2021 (for confirmed shipping dates prior to June 7, 2021).
+Added: Although it is difficult to predict the amount of backlog that is “firm,”
+Added: we have reported the portion of the upholstery fabric backlog from customers with confirmed shipping dates within five weeks of the end of the fiscal year.
+Added: On April 30, 2023, the portion of the upholstery fabric backlog with confirmed shipping dates prior to June 5, 2023, was $10.6 million, compared with $15.7 million as of the end of fiscal 2022 (for confirmed shipping dates prior to June 6, 2022).
Intellectual Property
1 unchanged sentence
We view such intellectual property, along with any unregistered copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, trade dress, trade secrets, and proprietary technologies, as an important part of our business, and we seek to diligently protect, monitor, and defend, through appropriate action, against their unauthorized use.
+Added: RI SK FACTORS
+Added: Our business is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties.
+Added: In addition to the matters described above under “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information,”
+Added: set forth below are some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause a material adverse change in our results of operations, financial condition, or future prospects.
+Added: The risks described below should be carefully considered, together with other information provided in this report, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our financial statements, including the related notes.
+Added: The risks discussed below are not the only risks we face.
+Added: Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not presently deemed material by us also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations in future periods.
+Added: Macroeconomic, Market, and Strategic Risks
+Added: Continued economic and industry uncertainty could negatively affect our sales and earnings.
+Added: Overall demand for our products depends upon consumer demand for furniture and bedding products, which is subject to cyclical variations in the general economy, including current inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending, declines in overall consumer confidence, recession and fears of recession, the negative economic impact of potential additional surges of the coronavirus, and other geopolitical events, such as the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war.
+Added: Because purchases of furniture and bedding products may be considered discretionary purchases for most individuals and businesses, demand for these products may be more easily influenced by economic trends than demand for other products.
+Added: Economic downturns, increases in unemployment rates, and uncertainty about future health and economic prospects can affect consumer spending habits and demand for discretionary items, including home furnishings, which reduces the demand for our products and therefore can cause a decline in our sales and earnings.
+Added: In addition, the level of housing starts, sales of existing homes, trends in disposable income, changes in interest rates (particularly home mortgage rates), and availability of consumer credit, can also affect our business.
+Added: While we saw an adverse impact from some of these measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of fiscal 2020 and the beginning of fiscal 2021, we experienced increased demand in our mattress fabrics segment and in the residential side of our upholstery fabrics segment for most of fiscal 2021, driven by greater consumer focus on the home environment and more discretionary spending being allocated to home furnishings in the face of travel restrictions and other pandemic-related factors.
+Added: However, this trend began to reverse during fiscal 2022, particularly during the second half of the year, as COVID-related travel and mask restrictions were lifted and consumers began to resume travel and leisure activities.
+Added: We believe the trend of increased consumer discretionary spending on travel, leisure, and entertainment, and away from home goods, continued throughout fiscal 2023.
+Added: Inflationary pressures also began to affect consumer spending during the second half of fiscal 2022 and continuing throughout fiscal 2023.
+Added: We are unable to predict how long these trends will last, or to what extent additional surges of the coronavirus or other geopolitical events may affect the economic and purchasing cycle for home furnishing products (and therefore affect demand for our products) over the short and long term.
+Added: Loss of market share due to competition would result in declines in sales and could result in losses or decreases in earnings.
+Added: Our business is highly competitive and fragmented, and we face significant competition from many competitors, both foreign and domestic.
+Added: We compete with many other manufacturers of fabric, as well as converters who source fabrics from various producers and market them to manufacturers of furniture and bedding.
+Added: In many cases, these fabrics are sourced from foreign suppliers who have a lower cost structure than the company.
+Added: The highly competitive nature of our business in each of our segments means we are constantly subject to the risk of losing market share, which would likely result in a loss or decrease our future sales and earnings.
+Added: As a result of increased competition, there have been deflationary pressures on the prices for many of our products, which make it more difficult to pass along increased operating costs such as raw materials, shipping, energy, foreign currency fluctuations, or labor in the form of price increases, which puts downward pressure on our profit margins.
+Added: Also, the wide range of product offerings in our business can make it more difficult to differentiate our products through design, styling, finish, and other techniques.
+Added: The global COVID-19 pandemic significantly and adversely affected, and may again adversely affect, our business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
+Added: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the global and U.S.
+Added: economy, severely disrupted global supply chains, and created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets, all of which negatively affected the bedding and home furnishings industries, our customers and suppliers, and our business.
+Added: Many countries, including the countries in which we operate, as well as state and local governmental authorities, took various actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including mandated closures of businesses, stay-at-home orders, quarantine and isolation requirements, travel restrictions, border closings, restrictions on public gatherings, social distancing measures, occupancy limits, and other safety measures.
+Added: While these restrictions have now been lifted as conditions have improved, the restrictions adversely affected our business, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.
+Added: Due to government-mandated closure requirements near the end of March 2020, we shut down our facilities in Canada and Haiti for several weeks.
+Added: At the same time, we experienced a rapid decline in demand as customers and retail stores began closing or substantially
+Added: limiting their operations.
+Added: We took a number of measures in response to the increasingly challenging market conditions, including, among other things, repurposing a portion of our available operations to produce face masks, bedding covers, and fabrics for healthcare operations and consumer health;
+Added: reducing operating costs by implementing temporary salary reductions, making workforce adjustments to align with demand, suspending merit pay increases, and eliminating the cash compensation paid to our board of directors;
+Added: aggressively reducing expenses, capital expenditures, and discretionary spending, and working with our vendors and landlords to negotiate temporary terms.
+Added: We also took steps to safeguard the health of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, including implementing detailed cleaning and disinfecting processes at our facilities, instituting temperature checks, adhering to social distancing and mask protocols, suspending non-essential travel, restricting visitors, providing remote work opportunities where possible, and offering on-site vaccination clinics to our employees, their families, and the general public.
+Added: We have continued to monitor and update these procedures, in accordance with CDC recommendations and other local laws and regulatory authorities, throughout the pandemic.
+Added: While the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the world during fiscal 2021, we did not experience additional closures of any of our operations, or any material closures of the operations of our suppliers, during the remainder of the fiscal year, following the initial shutdowns from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
+Added: However, during fiscal 2022, our upholstery fabrics business was materially affected by COVID-19 related shutdowns of our sourcing partners and customers in Vietnam throughout most of the second quarter, and our operations in China were shut down during the last month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and continuing to some extent during the first month of fiscal 2023, which prevented us from shipping goods in both our residential upholstery fabrics business and our sewn mattress cover business.
+Added: In addition to these shutdowns, COVID-19 disruption affected our business during fiscal 2022, as well as the business of our customers and suppliers, due to employee absenteeism and labor shortages, pandemic-related effects on the availability and pricing of freight and raw material costs, and pandemic-related constraints on our customers’
+Added: capacity due to supply chain disruption for non-fabric components.
+Added: We did not experience additional closures of any of our operations, or any material closures of the operations of our suppliers, during the remainder of fiscal 2023.
+Added: While the World Health Organization has now declared an official end to the COVID-19 global health emergency, future surges in the number of COVID-19 cases and preventative or protective actions that governmental authorities or we may take in response to such surges may have an adverse effect on our business or the business of our customers, suppliers, or distribution channels, including additional business shutdowns, reduced operations, restrictions on shipping or installing products, reduced consumer demand, reduced availability and/or higher pricing of materials, or the ability of our customers to make payments.
+Added: In addition, responding to future case surges or restrictions could divert management’s attention from our key strategic priorities, increase costs as we prioritize the health and safety of our employees and customers, cause us to reduce, delay, alter, or abandon strategic initiatives that may otherwise increase our long-term value, and otherwise disrupt our business operations.
+Added: The potential for future surges in the number of COVID-19 cases and the impact of such surges on our business depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control, including the duration and severity of such surges;
+Added: actions taken to contain spread of the virus and mitigate the public health and economic effects;
+Added: vaccine availability and effectiveness within the markets in which we operate;
+Added: the impact on global supply chain conditions;
+Added: employee absenteeism and labor shortages;
+Added: and the short- and long-term disruption to the global economy, consumer confidence, demand for home furnishings products, unemployment, and the financial health of our customers, suppliers, and distribution channels.
+Added: At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact of such potential future COVID-19 surges on our business or on our future financial or operational results;
+Added: however, the disruption could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows over time.
+Added: Furthermore, the impact of additional surges in COVID-19 may also exacerbate other risks discussed in this Item 1A –
+Added: Risk Factors, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
+Added: In addition, if in the future there is an outbreak of another highly infectious disease or other health concern or epidemic, we may be subject to similar risks as those faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
+Added: Our operations are subject to risks of unsettled political conditions, civil unrest or instability, public health concerns or pandemics, natural or man-made disasters, acts of war, terrorism, and the effects of climate change, any one of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
+Added: Our domestic and foreign operations are subject to risks of unsettled political conditions, civil unrest or instability, public health concerns or pandemics, natural or man-made disasters, acts of war, and terrorism.
+Added: In addition, the effects of climate change and actions taken to combat climate change could exacerbate these risks, including by increasing the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events.
+Added: Any of these risks, including without limitation civil unrest or instability in Haiti, China, or other countries where we operate, could cause disruption at our manufacturing or distribution facilities, or at the facilities of our suppliers and distribution channels, which could make servicing our customers more difficult and could reduce our sales, earnings, or both in the future.
+Added: Operational Risks
+Added: Our business may be adversely affected by increased tariffs or other changes in U.S.
+Added: trade policy related to imported products, as well as violations of existing trade policies.
+Added: Many of our products are manufactured or sourced outside of the United States.
+Added: government has imposed certain tariffs on imports from various countries, including China, where a significant amount of our products is produced.
+Added: In the future, the U.S.
+Added: Government may consider imposing additional tariffs or extending the timeline for continuation of existing tariffs.
+Added: Any tariffs that result in increased costs of imported products and materials could require us to increase prices to our domestic customers or, if we are unable to do so, result in lowering our gross margins on products sold.
+Added: As a result, the tariffs could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
+Added: In addition to tariffs, the U.S.
+Added: government considers other proposals for substantial changes to its trade and tax policies, which could include import restrictions, increased import tariffs, changes to or withdrawal from existing trade agreements, and border-adjustment taxes, among other possible measures.
+Added: Material changes in these policies could increase our tax obligations, require us to source materials from different regions, or increase prices to customers, which could adversely affect sales.
+Added: Any significant change in U.S.
+Added: trade or tax policy related to imported products could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
+Added: There are also a number of trade regulations and duties currently in place to protect the U.S.
+Added: textile industry against competition from low-priced foreign producers, such as those in China and Vietnam, but violations of these trade regulations and duties has had, and may in the future have, a material adverse effect on our operations.
+Added: In May of 2019, the U.S.
+Added: Department of Commerce imposed punitive anti-dumping measures against China mattress imports to address violations of trade regulations.
+Added: Despite the imposition of these duties, if China producers move their production out of China, which we believe has already occurred, they may continue to engage in unfair competition in violation of trade regulations between the U.S.
+Added: and other countries, or there may be a potential risk of illegal transshipments of mattress products into the United States, which involves circumventing the imposed duties by falsely claiming that mattresses are products of a particular country of origin to avoid paying higher duties.
+Added: Also, if supply chains are moved out of China to countries without anti-dumping duties and producers continue to supply low-priced imports in violation of U.S.
+Added: trade laws, and if illegal transshipments are not monitored and enforcement is not effective to limit them, these shipments could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
+Added: During fiscal 2020, the U.S.
+Added: mattress industry was affected by continued disruption relating to low-priced mattress imports that moved from China to other countries, which affected demand for our products.
+Added: As a result, the U.S.
+Added: Department of Commerce imposed anti-dumping duties on mattress imports from seven of these countries during fiscal 2021.
+Added: We believe the domestic mattress industry and, in turn, our business, began to realize some benefits from these duties during the second half of fiscal 2021 and continuing into fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023.
+Added: However, despite the imposition of these duties, supply chains could move out of the affected countries to other countries without anti-dumping duties and continue supplying low-priced imports in violation of U.S.
+Added: trade laws, or there may be a potential risk of illegal transshipments of mattress products from these countries to avoid paying the higher duties, which could negatively affect our business.
+Added: Greater reliance on offshore operations and foreign sources of products or raw materials increases the likelihood of disruptions to our supply chain or our ability to deliver products to our customers on a timely basis.
+Added: We rely significantly on operations in distant locations, especially China.
+Added: In addition, we have been purchasing a significant share of our products and raw materials from offshore sources, particularly Asia and Turkey.
+Added: At the same time, our domestic manufacturing capacity for the upholstery fabrics segment continues to decline.
+Added: These changes have caused us to rely on an extended supply chain and on a larger number of suppliers that we do not control, both of which are inherently subject to greater risks of delay or disruption.
+Added: In addition, operations and sourcing in foreign areas are subject to the risk of changing local governmental rules, taxes, changes in import rules or customs, import restrictions, tariffs, shipping rates, potential political unrest and instability, coronavirus or other pandemic-related closure rules, or other threats that could disrupt or increase the costs of operating in foreign areas or sourcing products overseas.
+Added: Additionally, changes in the value of the U.S.
+Added: dollar versus other currencies can affect our financial results because a significant portion of our operations are located outside the United States.
+Added: Strengthening of the U.S.
+Added: dollar against other currencies could make our products less competitive on the basis of price in markets outside the United States, and strengthening of currencies in Canada and China could have a negative impact on our sales of products produced in those places.
+Added: Any of the risks associated with foreign operations and sources could cause unanticipated increases in operating costs or disruptions in business, which could have a negative impact on our ultimate financial results.
+Added: Specifically with respect to sourcing products and raw materials from third-party suppliers in China, our ability to timely or successfully import such products or products made with such raw materials may be adversely affected by changes in U.S.
+Added: For example, the U.S.
+Added: Government has taken several steps to address forced labor concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China ("XUAR"), including sanctions on specific entities and individuals;
+Added: withhold release orders ("WROs") issued by U.S.
+Added: Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") that prohibit the entry of imports of certain items from XUAR;
+Added: and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act ("UFLPA"), which went into effect in June 2022 and imposes a presumptive ban on the import of goods to the U.S.
+Added: that are made, wholly or in part, in the XUAR or by persons that participate in certain programs in the XUAR that entail the use of forced labor.
+Added: has published both a list of entities that are known to utilize forced labor and a list of commodities that are most at risk, such as cotton, tomatoes and silica-based products.
+Added: The UFLPA specifically targets cotton and the apparel and textile industries as high-priority sectors for enforcement.
+Added: None of our Chinese suppliers are located in the XUAR, and we prohibit our suppliers from doing business with or sourcing inputs from any company or entity that is restricted under U.S.
+Added: or other applicable law.
+Added: However, as a result of the UFLPA and WROs, products we import into the U.S.
+Added: could be held for inspection by CBP based on a suspicion that such products or inputs used in such products originated from the XUAR or that they may have been produced by Chinese suppliers accused of participating in forced labor, pending our providing satisfactory evidence to the contrary.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, we were subjected to a limited number of such CBP detentions and were successful in submitting satisfactory supply chain evidence to result in the release of all such detained good by CBP.
+Added: These detentions have not resulted in any material impact on our business, supply chain, customer relationships, or reputation.
+Added: However, future detentions could result in unexpected (i) delays or rejections of products scheduled for delivery to us, which could in turn affect the timing or our ability to delivery products to our customers;
+Added: (ii) supply chain disruptions and increased operating costs;
+Added: (iii) damage to our customer relationships;
+Added: and/or (iv) negative publicity that harms our reputation, any of which could have a material impact on our business and negatively affect our ultimate financial results.
+Added: Our business faces several risks associated with doing business in China
+Added: We source a variety of fabrics, as well as cut and sewn upholstery kits and sewn mattress covers, from a limited number of strategic suppliers in China.
+Added: We also operate two upholstery manufacturing facilities and two warehouse facilities in Shanghai, China.
+Added: The Chinese economy is characterized by extensive state ownership, control, and regulation, and the political, legal, and economic climate in China is fluid and unpredictable.
+Added: Therefore, our business is continually subject to the risk of changes in Chinese laws and regulations that could have an adverse effect on our suppliers and manufacturing operations.
+Added: Any changes in policies governing tariffs, imports and exports, taxation, inflation, economic sanctions and export controls, environmental regulations, foreign currency exchange rates, the labor market, property, network security, intellectual property, and financial regulations could have an adverse effect on our business.
+Added: Further, the Chinese legal system is continuing to develop and evolve, and the enforcement of rules and regulations is not always consistent or uniform.
+Added: Moreover, any potential civil unrest, natural disasters, or other threats could disrupt or increase the costs of operating in China.
+Added: The Chinese economy poses additional risks to our business, including fluctuating rates of inflation and currency exchange rates, a declining labor force participation rate, and rising employee wages.
+Added: In addition, changes in the political climate or trade policy of the United States, such as increased duties, tariffs, or U.S.
+Added: restrictions on Chinese imports, such as the UFLPA, may adversely affect our business.
+Added: Our ability to operate in China has also been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and may in the future be negatively affected by additional surges in the coronavirus or other diseases.
+Added: For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, China from time to time enforced broad lockdowns, which affected our ability to timely produce and ship products and affected the ability of our third-party suppliers and their supply chain to timely deliver products and materials.
+Added: Any of the risks associated with our Chinese operations and sources could cause unanticipated increases in operating costs or disruptions in business, which could negatively affect our ultimate financial results.
+Added: We may have difficulty managing the outsourcing arrangements being used for products and services.
+Added: We rely on outside sources for various products and services, including yarn and other raw materials, greige (unfinished) fabrics, finished fabrics, cut and sewn upholstery kits, sewn mattress covers, and services such as weaving and finishing.
+Added: Increased reliance on outsourcing lowers our capital investment and fixed costs, but it decreases the amount of control that we have over certain elements of our production capacity.
+Added: Interruptions in our ability to obtain raw materials or other required products or services from our outside suppliers on a timely and cost-effective basis, especially if alternative suppliers cannot be immediately obtained, could disrupt our production and damage our financial results.
+Added: Write-offs or write-downs of assets would result in a decrease in our earnings and shareholders’
+Added: The company has assets, primarily consisting of property, plant and equipment, right of use assets, inventory, and intangible assets, that may be subject to write-offs or write-downs.
+Added: ASC Topic 360 establishes an impairment accounting model for long-lived assets, including property, plant, and equipment, right of use assets, and finite-lived intangible assets such as customer relationships and our non-compete agreement.
+Added: It requires the company to assess these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recovered.
+Added: In accordance with ASC Topic 330, management continuously examines inventory to determine if there are indicators that the carrying value exceeds its net realizable value.
+Added: Experience has shown that the most significant of such indicators are the age of the inventory and planned discontinuances of certain patterns.
+Added: ASC Topic 350 establishes an impairment model for indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as our tradename, which must be tested at least annually for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recovered.
+Added: Identifying and assessing whether impairment indicators exist, or if events or changes in circumstances have occurred, including market conditions, operating results, competition, and general economic conditions, requires significant judgment.
+Added: Any of such future actions could result in charges that could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, and there is no assurance that future write-downs of fixed assets or other intangible assets will not occur if business conditions were to deteriorate.
+Added: As a result of inventory impairment assessments conducted during fiscal 2023, we incurred non-cash inventory charges totaling $5.8 million, which represents a $2.9 million impairment charge associated with our mattress fabrics segment;
+Added: a total of $2.8 million related to markdowns of inventory in both segments that were estimated based on our policy for aged inventory;
+Added: and $98,000 for the loss on disposal and markdowns of inventory related to the exit of our cut and sewn upholstery fabrics operation located in Shanghai, China.
+Added: We incurred non-cash inventory charges of $1.9 million and $882,000 during fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, which represent markdowns of inventory in both segments that were based on our policy of aged inventory.
+Added: See Notes 5, 7, and 9 of the consolidated financial statements for further details of our assessments of impairment, conclusions reached, and the performance of our quantitative tests.
+Added: Write-offs and write-downs of our assets, including inventory, result in an immediate charge to our earnings, and can have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
+Added: Changes in the price, availability, and quality of raw materials could increase our costs or cause production delays and sales interruptions, which would result in decreased earnings.
+Added: We depend upon outside suppliers for most of our raw material needs, and we rely upon outside suppliers for component materials such as yarn, unfinished fabrics, and cut and sewn upholstery kits and mattress covers, as well as for certain services such as finishing and weaving.
+Added: Fluctuations in the price, availability, and quality of these goods and services have had, and could continue to have, a negative effect on our production costs and ability to meet the demands of our customers, which can affect our ability to generate sales and earnings.
+Added: In many cases, we are not able to pass through increased costs of raw materials or increased production costs to our customers through price increases.
+Added: In particular, many of our basic raw materials are petrochemical products or are produced from such products.
+Added: For this reason, our material costs are especially sensitive to changes in prices for petrochemicals and the underlying price of oil.
+Added: Increases in prices for oil, petrochemical products or other raw materials and services provided by outside suppliers can significantly increase our costs and negatively affect our profit margins and earnings.
+Added: During fiscal 2021, our raw material costs were mostly flat or slightly lower during the first three quarters of the year, but prices began to escalate during the fourth quarter primarily due to rising oil prices, a higher demand environment, and labor shortages.
+Added: These pressures continued during fiscal 2022, with further increases in raw material costs, particularly during the second half of the year, due to the continued rise in oil prices and a higher demand environment.
+Added: During fiscal 2023, the cost of raw materials began to decline during the first half of the year due to lower oil prices and slowing global demand, but the higher costs and lower availability of labor remained challenging throughout the year.
+Added: Raw material costs were relatively stable during the second half of fiscal 2023.
+Added: However, the pressures that affect raw material costs may drive additional increases in raw material prices in the future.
+Added: Increases in energy costs increase our operating costs and could adversely affect earnings.
+Added: Higher prices for electricity, natural gas, and fuel increase our production and shipping costs.
+Added: A significant shortage, increased prices, or interruptions in the availability of these energy sources would increase the costs of producing and delivering products to our customers and would be likely to adversely affect our earnings.
+Added: In many cases, we are not able to pass along the full extent of increases in our production costs to customers through price increases.
+Added: Energy costs have varied significantly during recent fiscal years and remain a volatile element of our costs.
+Added: Increases in energy costs could have a negative effect on our earnings.
+Added: Business difficulties or failures of large customers could result in a decrease in our sales and earnings.
+Added: We currently have several customers that account for a substantial portion of our sales.
+Added: In the mattress fabrics segment, several large bedding manufacturers have large market shares and comprise a significant portion of our mattress fabric sales.
+Added: Although no mattress fabrics customers accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2023, in many recent years we have had one or more customers who did.
+Added: In the upholstery fabrics segment, La-Z-Boy Incorporated accounted for approximately 15% of consolidated net sales during fiscal 2023, and several other large furniture manufacturers comprised a significant portion of sales.
+Added: A business failure or other significant financial difficulty by one or more of our major customers, or the loss of one or more of these customers, could cause a significant loss in sales, an adverse effect on our earnings, and difficulty in collection of our trade accounts receivable.
+Added: For example, on June 25, 2022, a major customer and its affiliates associated with our mattress fabrics segment announced that they filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
+Added: Bankruptcy Code, and on January 23, 2023, another major customer and its affiliates associated with our mattress fabrics segment filed pre-planned voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
+Added: Bankruptcy Code.
+Added: Although we did not record any credit losses and have received payment in full regarding all outstanding accounts receivable with respect to each of these customers, a business failure or loss of either such customer and its affiliates, or a business failure or loss of one or more other major customers, could cause a decrease in our sales and an adverse effect on our earnings.
+Added: Additionally, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, some customers experienced cash flow challenges and requested extended payment terms.
+Added: During fiscal 2021, our customers returned to making payments based on normal credit terms, as opposed to the extended terms granted during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
+Added: However, if the negative economic impact of COVID-19 reemerges, or if another pandemic, recession or other major unexpected economic event occurs, we may not be able to collect amounts owed to us or such payment may only occur after significant delay.
+Added: While we perform credit evaluations of our customers, those evaluations may not prevent uncollectible trade accounts receivable.
+Added: Credit evaluations involve significant management diligence and judgment, especially in the current environment.
+Added: If more customers than we anticipate experience liquidity issues, if payments are not received on a timely basis, or if a customer declares bankruptcy, we may have difficulty collecting amounts owed to us by these customers, which could adversely affect our sales, earnings, financial condition, and liquidity.
+Added: If we fail to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer tastes and fashion trends, our sales and earnings may decline.
+Added: Demand for various types of upholstery fabrics and mattress coverings changes over time due to fashion trends and changing consumer tastes for furniture and bedding.
+Added: Our success in marketing our fabrics depends upon our ability to anticipate and respond in a timely manner to fashion trends in home furnishings.
+Added: If we fail to identify and respond to these changes, our sales of these products may decline.
+Added: In addition, incorrect projections about the demand for certain products could cause the accumulation of excess raw material or finished goods inventory, which could lead to inventory mark-downs and decreases in earnings.
+Added: Increasing dependence on information technology systems comes with specific risks, including cybersecurity breaches and data leaks, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
+Added: We increasingly rely on technology systems and infrastructure.
+Added: Additionally, we rely on third-party service providers in connection with the maintenance thereof and the execution of certain business processes.
+Added: Greater dependence on technology systems heightens the risk of potential vulnerabilities from system failure and malfunction, breakdowns due to natural disasters, human error, unauthorized access, power loss, and other unforeseen events.
+Added: Data privacy breaches by employees and others with or without authorized access to our systems poses risks that sensitive data may be permanently lost or leaked to the public or other unauthorized persons.
+Added: With the growing use and rapid evolution of technology, including internet selling, cloud-based computing and mobile devices, there are additional risks of unintentional data leaks.
+Added: There is also the risk of our exposure to theft of confidential information, intentional vandalism, industrial espionage, and a variety of cyber-attacks, including phishing attempts, covertly introducing malware to our computers and networks (or the computers and networks of our third-party providers), and impersonating authorized users, among other types of cyber-attacks, that could compromise our internal technology system, infrastructure, or result in data leakage in-house or at our third-party providers and business partners.
+Added: Attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems have become increasingly more sophisticated over time, and while we seek to detect and investigate all security incidents and to prevent their recurrence, in some cases we might be unaware of an incident or its magnitude and effect.
+Added: Failures of technology or related systems, cybersecurity incidents, or improper release of confidential information, could damage our business or subject us to unexpected liabilities, expenditures, and recovery time.
+Added: Additionally, the devotion of additional resources to the security of our information technology systems in the future could significantly increase our operating costs or otherwise adversely affect our financial results.
+Added: We continue to balance the risk of an electronic security breach resulting in the unauthorized release of confidential information with the cost to protect us against such a breach, and we have taken steps to ensure that losses arising from a breach would be covered in part by insurance that we carry, although the costs, potential monetary damages, and operational consequences of responding to cyber incidents and implementing remediation measures may be in excess of our insurance coverage or not covered at all by our insurance, and could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results to the extent losses are uninsured or exceed insurance recoveries and to the extent that such disruptions adversely impact our relationships with our customers or our business reputation.
+Added: We have been a target of cybersecurity
+Added: attacks in the past, and while such attacks have not resulted in a material impact on our operations, business, customer relationships, or reputation, such attacks could in the future.
+Added: In addition, we permit certain employees to work from home from time to time.
+Added: Although we continue to implement strong physical and cybersecurity measures to ensure that our business operations remain functional and to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers, our systems and our operations remain vulnerable to cyberattacks and other disruptions due to the fact that employees may be working remotely, and we cannot be certain that our mitigation efforts will be effective.
+Added: We may not be able to recruit and retain key employees and skilled workers in a competitive labor market.
+Added: If we cannot successfully recruit and retain key employees and skilled workers or if we experience the unexpected loss of those employees, our operations may be negatively affected.
+Added: A shortage of qualified personnel, along with cost inflation, may require us to enhance our compensation in order to compete effectively in the hiring and retention of qualified employees.
+Added: In addition, we are and will continue to be dependent upon our senior management team and other key personnel.
+Added: Losing the services of one or more key members of our management team or other key personnel could adversely affect our operations.
+Added: COVID-19 may also increase the risk that certain senior management executives or a member of the board of directors could become ill, causing them to be incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform their duties for an extended absence.
+Added: Furthermore, because of the nature of the disease, multiple people working in proximity could also become ill simultaneously, which could result in the same department having extended absences.
+Added: This could negatively affect the efficiency and effectiveness of processes and internal controls throughout the company.
+Added: Our intellectual property rights may not prevent others from using our copyrights or trademarks in connection with the sale of competitive products.
+Added: We may be subject to claims that our products or trademarks infringe intellectual property rights of others.
+Added: We currently hold, or have registration applications pending for, numerous trademarks and copyrights for various product and trade names, logos, and fabric designs in the United States and certain foreign countries.
+Added: We view such intellectual property, along with any unregistered copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, trade dress, trade secrets, and proprietary technologies, as an important part of our business.
+Added: These intellectual property rights may not provide adequate protection against infringement or piracy, may not prevent competitors from developing and marketing products that are similar or competitive with our fabric designs or other products, and may be costly and time-consuming to protect and enforce.
+Added: In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property rights and confidential information to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
+Added: If we are unable to protect and enforce our intellectual property, we may be unable to prevent other companies from using our fabric designs or trademarks in connection with competitive products, which could adversely affect our sales, profitability, cash flows and financial condition.
+Added: We may be subject to claims that our products, advertising, or trademarks infringe the intellectual property rights of others.
+Added: The defense of these claims, even if we are ultimately successful, may result in costly litigation, and if we are not successful in our defense, we could be subject to injunctions and liability for damages or royalty obligations, and our sales, profitability, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected.
+Added: We have made and expect to continue to make acquisitions, which could involve certain risks and uncertainties.
+Added: Acquisitions have been and may continue to be an important element of our business strategy.
+Added: Acquisitions involve numerous inherent challenges, such as properly evaluating acquisition opportunities, properly evaluating risks and other diligence matters, ensuring adequate capital availability, and balancing other resource constraints.
+Added: There are risks and uncertainties related to acquisitions, including difficulties integrating acquired operations, technology, personnel, and financial and other systems;
+Added: unrealized sales expectations from the acquired business;
+Added: unrealized synergies and cost-savings;
+Added: unknown or underestimated liabilities;
+Added: diversion of management attention from running our existing businesses;
+Added: and potential loss of key management employees of the acquired business.
+Added: In addition, internal control over financial reporting of acquired companies may not be up to required standards.
+Added: Our integration activities may place substantial demand on our management, operational resources, and financial and internal control systems.
+Added: Customer dissatisfaction or performance problems with an acquired business, technology, service, or product could also have a material adverse effect on our reputation and business.
+Added: Risks Related to Financing Our Operations
+Added: We may require funding from external sources, which may not be available at the levels we require or may cost more than we expect.
+Added: As a result, our expenses and operating results could be negatively affected.
+Added: We regularly review and evaluate our liquidity and capital needs.
+Added: Our available cash, cash equivalents, and cash flow from operations have been adequate to finance our operations and capital requirements in recent years.
+Added: However, if we experience a sustained decline in
+Added: revenue, there may be periods in which we may require additional external funding to support our operations.
+Added: Also, market interest rates have increased significantly since the beginning of fiscal 2023.
+Added: If we have a need to incur debt under our credit facilities, the cost of borrowing could increase substantially over debt costs that we have previously incurred.
+Added: As of April 30, 2023, we had approximately $32.6 million in combined total borrowing availability under our domestic credit facility and our China credit facility.
+Added: In January of 2023, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with respect to our domestic credit facility, which provides for a revolving credit facility up to a maximum principal amount of $35.0 million, secured by a lien on the company's assets.
+Added: The amount available under this facility is limited by a borrowing base consisting of certain eligible accounts receivable and inventory of the company.
+Added: In the event we require additional liquidity from our lenders that exceeds the availability under our credit facilities at such time, such funds may not be available to us.
+Added: In addition, in the event we draw on any of our credit facilities, outstanding amounts may become immediately due and payable upon certain events of default, including a failure to comply with the financial covenants or certain other affirmative and negative covenants in the credit agreements.
+Added: If we are unable to access additional credit at the levels we require, or the cost of credit is greater than expected, it could adversely affect our operating results or financial condition.
+Added: Legal and Regulatory Risks
+Added: We are subject to litigation and environmental regulations that could adversely affect our sales and earnings.
+Added: We have been, and in the future may be, a party to legal proceedings and claims, including environmental matters, product liability, and employment disputes, some of which claim significant damages.
+Added: We face the continual business risk of exposure to claims that our operations have caused personal injury or property damage, including the related risk of damage to our brand and reputation in conjunction with such claims.
+Added: We maintain insurance against product liability claims and, in some cases, have indemnification agreements with regard to environmental claims, but there can be no assurance that these arrangements will continue to be available on acceptable terms or that such arrangements will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred.
+Added: Given the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that claims against the company will not have a material adverse impact on our earnings or financial condition.
+Added: We are also subject to various laws and regulations in our business, including those relating to environmental protection and the discharge of materials into the environment.
+Added: We could incur substantial costs as a result of noncompliance with or liability for cleanup or other costs or damages under environmental laws or other regulations.
+Added: We must comply with many governmental regulations applicable to our business, and changes in those regulations could adversely affect our business.
+Added: Our products and raw materials are and will continue to be subject to regulation in the United States by various federal, state, and local regulatory authorities.
+Added: In addition, other governments and agencies in other jurisdictions regulate the manufacture, sale, and distribution of our products and raw materials.
+Added: Also, rules and restrictions regarding the importation of fabrics and other materials, including custom duties, tariffs, import restrictions (including, without limitation, the recent enactment of the UFLPA), quotas, banned substances, and other regulations, are continually changing.
+Added: Environmental laws, labor laws, tax laws and regulations (including, without limitation, the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax provisions), data privacy laws, and other regulations continually affect our business.
+Added: These rules and regulations can and do change from time to time, which can increase our costs and our taxes, or can require us to make changes in our manufacturing processes, product mix, sources of products and raw materials, or distribution.
+Added: Changes in the rules and regulations applicable to our business may negatively affect our sales and earnings.
+Added: UNRESOLVE D STAFF COMMENTS
+Added: As of the end of fiscal 2023 (April 30, 2023), we leased our corporate headquarters and a design and innovation campus located in High Point, North Carolina.
+Added: In addition, we owned or leased thirteen facilities associated with our mattress and upholstery fabrics operations.
+Added: The following is a list of our administrative and production facilities.
+Added: Our facilities listed below are organized by business segment.
+Added: Principal Use
+Added: Administrative:
+Added: High Point, North Carolina
+Added: Upholstery fabric division offices and corporate headquarters
+Added: High Point, North Carolina
+Added: Design and innovation campus, showrooms, and office space
+Added: Mattress Fabrics:
+Added: Stokesdale, North Carolina
+Added: Manufacturing and headquarters office
+Added: Stokesdale, North Carolina
+Added: Distribution center
+Added: Jerome, Quebec, Canada
+Added: Manufacturing
+Added: Jerome, Quebec, Canada
+Added: Ouanaminthe, Haiti
+Added: Manufacturing
+Added: Ouanaminthe, Haiti
+Added: Manufacturing
+Added: Upholstery Fabrics:
+Added: Burlington, North Carolina
+Added: Finished goods distribution
+Added: Burlington, North Carolina
+Added: Design center
+Added: Knoxville, Tennessee
+Added: Manufacturing and offices
+Added: Shanghai, China
+Added: Manufacturing, warehouse, offices
+Added: Shanghai, China
+Added: Manufacturing, warehouse, offices
+Added: Shanghai, China
+Added: Warehouse and offices
+Added: Shanghai, China
+Added: (1) Includes all options to renew, except as noted in footnote 2 below.
+Added: (2) These lease agreements have an unspecified number of renewal options available, and the year listed above is the expiration of the current lease term.
+Added: (3) Of this 80,000 square feet, approximately 40,000 square feet of this facility is currently being utilized by our upholstery fabrics segment to produce cut and sewn kits as part of our Haiti rationalization strategy that included the relocation our upholstery fabrics operation to our mattress fabrics facilities and the termination of a separately leased upholstery fabrics facility in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
+Added: (4) Of this 40,000 square feet, approximately 15,000 square feet of this facility is currently being utilized by our upholstery fabrics segment to produce cut and sewn kits as part of our Haiti rationalization strategy that included the relocation of our upholstery fabrics operation to our mattress fabrics facilities and the termination of a separately leased upholstery fabrics facility in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
+Added: We believe that our facilities are in good condition, well-maintained, suitable, and adequate for present utilization.
+Added: In the upholstery fabrics segment, we have the ability to source upholstery fabric from outside suppliers to meet current and expected demand trends and further increase our output of finished goods.
+Added: This ability to source upholstery fabric is part of our long-term strategy to have a low-cost platform that is scalable, but not capital intensive.
+Added: In the mattress fabrics segment, we believe we have sufficient capacity to meet current and expected demand trends.
+Added: We also have the ability to source additional mattress fabrics from outside suppliers to further increase our ultimate output of finished goods.
+Added: LEGA L PROCEEDINGS
+Added: There are no legal proceedings to which the company, or its subsidiaries, is a party to or of which any of their property is the subject that are required to be disclosed under this item.
+Added: MINE SA FETY DISCLOSURE
+Added: Not applicable.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.