Off the Couch

Why would anyone want to get into the furniture business today?

The new-home market is barely showing a pulse, venerable furniture retailers have gone bankrupt and consumers have pulled back their spending on big-ticket items. Meanwhile, competitors ranging from home decorators with access to the Internet and aggressive Chinese conglomerates are grabbing market share.

You don't have to tell Larry Norris times are tough. But his response is classic entrepreneur: “If everything was just rosy, there wouldn't be opportunity.”