BREAKING NEWS: FBI to Recruit GM Franchises

Detroit

General Motors and Chrysler will collectively trim nearly 3,000 U.S. dealerships this year with notifications hitting dealer's doors as early as Thursday. While General Motors and Chrysler dealers have vowed to fight any involuntary terminations, an unlikely suitor has approached the ailing auto dealers: Furniture Brands.

Ralph Scozzafava, CEO of Furniture Brands, told Furniture Tomorrow that he sees the combination as a perfect fit, "clearly these dealerships understand products that no longer effectively compete in the marketplace and a lack of service by the manufacturer and that's where we can step in."

Dealers waiting word from Chrysler and General Motors say the furniture industry may provide a welcome opportunity, "if we can sell PT Cruisers and Sebrings, we'll be fine in the furniture industry" said a general manager at a Chrysler dealership who spoke on a condition of anonymity because his fate was still in the air.

In lieu of manufacturer's representatives, Furniture Brands will send the effected auto dealers a complimentary View Finder loaded with current product and an order form.