Flexsteel Industries Inc. has been recognized as the best furniture suppliers in the nation by an industry publication - a price that fits in the wake of corporate layoffs and declining sales amid a market made furniture, according to the Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald.
The furniture manufacturer based Dubuque has been named Supplier of the Year by Furniture Today Magazine. Flexsteel received word about the recognition last week, and the award will be presented in December at a conference in Naples, Fla.
"This is a kind of benchmark for Flexsteel, it really puts us on the map," said Mills, who said the publication Flexsteel also ranked ninth among manufacturers around the world in recent years, home sales have increased.

Flexsteel has been largely recognized for the longevity of companies, as it has been in existence for over a century. Flexsteel has been based in Minnesota before moving to Dubuque in the 1900s.
"We've been almost 116 years and have one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry. So, retailers recognize that we are a credible supplier," said Mills.
The award was seen in the context of the current economic downturn, the publication sought to recognize companies to remain competitive. Mills said that served as a reaffirmation of the company's efforts.
In the article, Furniture Today Editor in Chief Ray Allegrezza Flexsteel called an "American success story."
"The company, which makes seating products for virtually every application has more than 100 years of history as a credible supplier, reliable and innovative," he said. But the year was undoubtedly a challenge for Flexsteel.

Last quarter, Flexsteel net sales of $ 73.6 million for the quarter - 25% less than last year. Ron Klosterman, Flexsteel's President and CEO, said the workforce was reduced by more than 30% over the year.
Many of these reductions came from closing Flexsteel's New Paris, Indiana recreational vehicle factory seats and end manufacturing operations at a facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last fall.
But there have been job cuts at the local level also, a series of reductions to the plant's flagship Dubuque trimmed staff to less than 150 and completely eliminated the second shift.
Mills said Flexsteel employs 1450 employees across the enterprise.
"We hope that everything is behind us. It has not been an easy journey to get where we are today," he said. "Until the economy turns is all that we can do is be ready, be prepared and well equipped.
Mills said he would not speculate on what role the company in difficulty recreational vehicles play in the future.
"It's hard to say, he said, adding that a turnaround on recreational vehicles will not happen until the rebound to original equipment manufacturers.
The furniture industry in general has been facing a perfect storm of material costs rising, credit tightening and the market generally poor housing conditions.
"Some of these manufacturers can not balance the output with respect to the source of domestic production and they get in big trouble. They take millions in loans just to stay in business, "said Mills, who said Flexsteel officials hope a retail rebound this fall.
"The key is that we are well positioned and well equipped to meet demand when it turns around."