DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held March 9, 2022, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, “Bassett,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and its subsidiaries. References to 2021, 2020 and 2019 mean the fiscal years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019. Please note that fiscal 2019 contained 53 weeks.

SAFE-HARBOR, FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and subsidiaries. Such forward-looking statements are identified by use of forward-looking words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “estimates”, “expects”, “aimed” and “intends” or words or phrases of similar expression. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that any such matters will be realized. Important factors, which should be read in conjunction with Item 1A “Risk Factors”, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this report after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this report, might not occur.

PART I

ITEM 1.         BUSINESS

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

General

Bassett is a leading retailer, manufacturer and marketer of branded home furnishings. Our products are sold primarily through a network of Company-owned and licensee-owned branded stores under the Bassett Home Furnishings (“BHF”) name, with additional distribution through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We also sell our products through our website at www.bassettfurniture.com. We were founded in 1902 and incorporated under the laws of Virginia in 1930. Our rich 119-year history has instilled the principles of quality, value, and integrity in everything we do, while simultaneously providing us with the expertise to respond to ever-changing consumer tastes and meet the demands of a global economy.

With 97 BHF stores at November 27, 2021, we have leveraged our strong brand name in furniture into a network of Company-owned and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories.  Our store program is designed to provide a single source home furnishings retail store that provides a unique combination of stylish, quality furniture and accessories with a high level of customer service.  In order to reach markets that cannot be effectively served by our retail store network, we also distribute our products, including the Lane Venture outdoor furniture products, through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We use a network of over 30 independent sales representatives who have stated geographical territories. These sales representatives are compensated based on a standard commission rate. We believe this blended strategy provides us the greatest ability to effectively distribute our products throughout the United States and ultimately gain market share.  

The BHF stores feature custom order furniture, free in-home and virtual design visits (“home makeovers”) and coordinated decorating accessories.  Our philosophy is based on building strong long-term relationships with each customer.  Sales people are referred to as “Design Consultants” and are trained to evaluate customer needs and provide comprehensive solutions for their home decor.  Until a rigorous training and design certification program is completed, Design Consultants are not authorized to perform in-home or virtual design services for our customers.

We have factories in Newton, North Carolina that manufacture Bench Made custom upholstered and outdoor furniture. We also have factories in Martinsville and Bassett, Virginia that assemble and finish our custom dining offerings, including our Bench Made line of solid hardwood furniture. We currently lease a facility in Haleyville, Alabama where we manufacture aluminum frames for our outdoor furniture. Our manufacturing team takes great pride in the breadth of its options, the precision of its craftsmanship, and the speed of its manufacturing process. Our logistics team then ships the product to one of our home delivery hubs or to a location specified by our licensees.  In addition to the furniture that we manufacture domestically, we source most of our formal bedroom and dining room furniture (casegoods) and certain leather upholstery offerings from several foreign plants, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand and China. Over 75% of the products we currently sell are manufactured in the United States.

During fiscal 2018 we acquired Lane Venture, a manufacturer and distributor of premium outdoor furniture and is operated as a component of our wholesale segment. This acquisition marked our entry into the market for outdoor furniture and we believe that Lane Venture has provided a foundation for us to become a significant participant in this category. Our strategy is to distribute this brand outside of our BHF store network only.

With the knowledge we have gained through operating Lane Venture, we have developed the Bassett Outdoor brand that is only marketed through the BHF store network. This allows Bassett branded product to move from inside the home to outside the home to capitalize on the growing trend of outdoor living.

We also own Zenith Freight Lines, LLC (“Zenith”) which provides logistical services to Bassett along with other furniture manufacturers and retailers. Zenith delivers best-of-class shipping and logistical support services that are uniquely tailored to the needs of Bassett and the furniture industry. Over 60% of Zenith’s revenue is generated from services provided to non-Bassett customers.

Ongoing Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Supply Chain and Labor Issues Upon Our Business

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak to be a global pandemic. In response to this declaration and the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States, federal, state and local governments throughout the country imposed varying degrees of restrictions on social and commercial activity to promote social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the illness. These measures had a significant adverse impact upon many sectors of the economy, including non-essential retail commerce, beginning in our second fiscal quarter of 2020.

In response to the above and for the protection of our employees and customers, we temporarily closed our dedicated BHF stores, our manufacturing locations and many of our warehouses for several weeks primarily during the second fiscal quarter of 2020. The disruption to our operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant loss for the year ended November 28, 2020. By the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020 we had reopened all stores and resumed manufacturing activity, allowing us to return to profitability beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and continuing through fiscal 2021.

Since restarting our manufacturing operations and reopening stores, the pace of incoming wholesale orders from both the retail stores and our independent dealers outside the BHF store network have far exceeded our post reopening forecasts. Wholesale orders for fiscal 2021 increased 29% as compared to 2020. In addition, wholesale orders for fiscal 2021 represented a 28% increase as compared to pre-pandemic levels of fiscal 2019. However, various supply chain disruptions and logistical challenges have created significant delays in order fulfillment resulting in abnormally high backlogs. In addition, inflationary pressures throughout the supply chain have resulted in us implementing multiple wholesale price increases over the last several months. We expect that wholesale gross margins will be slightly impacted during the first half of fiscal 2022 as we cycle through the backlog.

To address our growing backlog, in fiscal 2021 we opened another upholstery manufacturing facility in Newton, NC, adjacent to our existing 500,000 square foot complex. Production from this additional 123,000 square foot facility began in early June and is dedicated to our opening price point “Everyday Value” product. The added space will also allow us to expand our Bench Made motion program, previously referred to as Magnificent Motion, that has exceeded our sales projections since its debut in early 2020.

We continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering impact on the economy, the consumer and our business. While the rate of incoming orders at both our wholesale and retail segments remains strong, there are continuing logistical challenges faced by us and the entire home furnishings industry resulting from COVID-related labor shortages and supply chain disruptions creating significant delays in order fulfillment and increasing backlogs. Although unable to predict with certainty, we expect gradual decreases in wholesale and retail backlogs over the course of fiscal 2022 driven by an anticipated lower rate of future incoming orders coupled with increased manufacturing and shipping activity. Whereas the progress in mass vaccination programs in the U.S. has prompted state and local governments to substantially lift most remaining restrictions on commercial retail activity, it is nevertheless possible that the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta and Omicron variants, as well as any future variants of the coronavirus entering the U.S., could prompt a return to tighter restrictions in certain areas of the country. Furthermore, pandemic-related labor shortages and supply chain disruptions remain unresolved and order cancellations could result if the present delays in order fulfillment continue for an extended period of time. Therefore, uncertainty remains regarding the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon our financial condition and future results of operations.

Operating Segments

We have strategically aligned our business into three reportable segments: Wholesale, Retail – Company-owned stores, and Logistical Services.

The wholesale home furnishings segment is involved principally in the design, manufacture, sourcing, sale and distribution of furniture products to a network of BHF stores (Company-owned retail stores and licensee-owned stores) and independent furniture retailers. Our retail segment consists of 63 Company-owned and operated BHF stores. The following table shows the number of Company-owned stores by state as of November 27, 2021:

Our six locations in the state of New York include a 16,000 square foot clearance center in Middletown, New York. Unlike our other 62 BHF locations, the clearance center offers only clearance merchandise at reduced price points and without design consulting services.

Wholesale Segment Overview

The wholesale furniture industry is very competitive and there are a large number of manufacturers both within and outside the United States who compete in the market on the basis of product quality, price, style, delivery and service. Additionally, many retailers source imported product directly, thus bypassing domestic furniture manufacturers and wholesale importers. We believe that we can be successful in the current competitive environment because our products represent excellent value combining attractive prices, quality and styling, prompt delivery, and superior service.

Wholesale shipments by category for the last three fiscal years, excluding intercompany sales to our retail segment, are summarized below:

Approximately 24% of our 2021 wholesale sales were of imported product compared to 24% and 23% in 2020 and 2019, respectively. We define imported product as fully finished product that is sourced. Our domestic product includes certain products that contain components which were also sourced. We continue to believe that a blended strategy including domestically produced products primarily of a custom-order nature combined with sourcing of major collections provides the best value and quality of products to our customers.

The dollar value of our wholesale backlog, representing orders received but not yet shipped to the BHF store network or independent dealers, was $90,057 at November 27, 2021 and $54,874 at November 28, 2020. We believe that the backlog will gradually decrease over the course of 2022 to a more manageable level as supply chain constraints begin to ease and because we do not believe the pace of business experienced in late fiscal 2020 through most of fiscal 2021 is sustainable.

We use lumber, fabric, leather, foam and other materials in the production of wood and upholstered furniture. These components are purchased from a variety of domestic and international suppliers and are widely available. The price and availability of foam, which is highly dependent on the cost of oil and available capacity of oil refineries, can be subject to significant volatility from time to time. We currently assemble and finish these components in our five manufacturing facilities in the United States.

Retail Segment Overview – Company-Owned Retail Stores

The retail furniture industry remains very competitive and includes local furniture stores, regional furniture retailers, national department and chain stores, single-vendor branded retailers and on-line retailers. As a whole, our store network with 63 Company-owned stores and 34 licensee-owned stores, ranks in the top 30 in retail furniture sales in the United States. Our Company-owned store network peaked at 70 stores in fiscal 2019. Since that time, we have closed seven underperforming locations.

Net sales for our Company-owned retail stores by major product category for the last three fiscal years are summarized below:

The COVID crisis has given us the opportunity to look inward and to make structural improvements to our business model. We instituted a “virtual appointment” program for our stores in late March of 2020, whereby consumers digitally engage with our designers and transact without physically visiting a store. Adding this new form of engagement is one of the many lasting changes that have come out of the pandemic.

We consider our website to be the front door to our brand experience where customers can research our furniture and accessory offerings and subsequently buy online or engage with an in-store design consultant. Customer acquisition resulting from our digital outreach strategies has significantly increased our traffic to the website and our online orders over the last two years. While the growth in website traffic and orders moderated somewhat in fiscal 2021 compared to 2020, both have nearly doubled since 2019. Digital advertising dominated our marketing expenditures for the majority of the year as we chose to spend less on traditional television and direct mail advertising. We plan to continue with increased levels of spending on digital advertising and outreach during 2022.

The migration to digital brand research has caused us to comprehensively evaluate all of our American made custom products. While our Custom Upholstery, Custom Dining, and Bench Made product lines continue to be our most successful offerings, most of these items must be purchased in a store as they are not conducive to web transactions due to the number of options available. Consequently, we will continue to methodically re-design each one of these important lines. Our intent is to continue to offer the consumer custom options that will help them personalize their home but to do so in an edited fashion that will provide a better web experience in the research phase and will also allow the final purchase to be made either on the web or in the store. While we work to make it easier to purchase either in store or on-line, we will not compromise on our in-store experience or the quality of our in-home makeover capabilities.

We also continue to re-examine the performance of every one of our stores. Store traffic has been declining for three years and the effect on our retail model has become increasingly challenging. We believe that on a market-by-market basis, there will be fewer stores in the future. We will continue to evaluate store-by-store performance as we seek the optimal store count in the markets in which we compete at retail.

We also plan to heavily emphasize our “Made in America” story and utilize locally harvested and organic materials when possible. As part of this, we recently rebranded our premier Custom Upholstery line to be part of the Bench Made program emphasizing that those products are artisan crafted with exceptional domestic materials and are made to order. In addition, we expanded our Bench Made solid wood dining offerings to provide a sleeker more contemporary styling product to complement our initial Bench Made dining offerings. 

Logistical Services Segment Overview

Zenith is a specialized supply chain solutions provider, offering the home furnishings industry the benefit of an asset-based network to move product with greater efficiency, enhanced speed to market, less damage and a single source of shipment visibility. We provide fully integrated solutions with the highest commitment to customer care and service as we seek to go beyond our customers’ transactional expectations to create collaborative partnerships that provide a single source network to:

Our customer solutions are provided through the following services:

At November 27, 2021, our shipping and delivery fleet consisted of the following:

We own a central warehousing and national distribution hub located in Conover, North Carolina, and we lease fourteen facilities in ten states across the continental United States from which we operate regional freight terminals and provide warehouse and distribution services.

Recent Development Regarding Zenith

On January 31, 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of Zenith Freight Lines, LLC to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. for approximately $87,000 in cash. We expect the transaction to close by February 28, 2022 subject to customary closing conditions.

Trademarks

Our trademarks, including “Bassett” and the names of some of our marketing divisions, products and collections, are significant to the conduct of our business. This is important due to consumer recognition of the names and identification with our broad range of products. Certain of our trademarks are licensed to independent retailers for use in full store and store gallery presentations of our products. We also own copyrights that are important in the conduct of our business.

Government Regulations

We believe that we have materially complied with all federal, state and local standards regarding safety, health and pollution and environmental controls.

Our logistical services segment is also subject to regulation by several federal governmental agencies, including the Department of Transportation (“DOT”). Specifically the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Surface Transportation Board, which are agencies within the DOT. We are also subject to rules and regulations of various state agencies. These regulatory authorities have broad powers, generally governing matters such as authority to engage in motor carrier operations, motor carrier registration, driver hours of service, safety and fitness of transportation equipment and drivers and other matters.

We may also be affected by laws and regulations of countries from which we source goods. Labor, environmental and other laws and regulations change over time, especially in the developing countries from which we source. Changes in these areas of regulation could negatively impact the cost and availability of sourced goods. The timing and extent to which these regulations could have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations is difficult to predict. In addition, the imposition of new or increased duties, tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and trade limitations with respect to foreign-sourced products could negatively impact the cost of such goods. Based on the present facts, we do not believe that they will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or future results of operations.

Human Capital

We employed 2,219 people as of November 27, 2021. Our associate count represents an increase of 202 from a year ago, which can be attributed to increased production capacity at our upholstery facilities and the restoration of COVID-19 related headcount reductions in our logistical services segment. Headcount by segment is as follows:

Invested… In Each Other

This theme permeates everything we do at Bassett. We believe that our associates are most productive when we invest in their personal wellbeing, work environment and professional development. We also strive to maintain an inclusive and diverse workplace free from discrimination and harassment.

Personal & Financial Wellbeing

Work Environment

We continue to make substantial investments in our facilities designed to improve associate comfort, increase manufacturing capacity and gain efficiencies. These include:

We are also conducting associate focus groups to solicit input for further improving our work-life experience.

Professional Development

We offer a tuition reimbursement program for associates who desire to further their education and we strive to provide opportunities for advancement within our organization. Online training designed to enhance the in-store and follow up experiences for customer and associate alike is required for our customer-facing associates.

Discrimination and Harassment Policy

We continue to maintain and enforce our policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment in our workplace. Our managers are trained in how to prevent, recognize and respond to possible inappropriate behavior. Associates have several available avenues for reporting concerns, including a confidential hotline. We promptly and carefully investigate each complaint of harassment or discrimination.

Major Customers

Our risk exposure related to our customers, consisting primarily of trade accounts receivable along with certain guarantees, net of recognized reserves, totaled approximately $30,048 and $24,476 at November 27, 2021 and November 28, 2020, respectively. At November 27, 2021 and November 28, 2020, approximately 22% and 24%, respectively, of the aggregate risk exposure, net of reserves, was attributable to five customers. In fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, no customer accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated net sales. However, two customers accounted for approximately 23%, 29% and 44% of our consolidated revenue from logistical services during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Available Information

We file our annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Through our website, www.bassettfurniture.com, we make available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing or furnishing with the SEC, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments thereto.

ITEM 1A.         RISK FACTORS

The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risk factors below represent what we believe are the known material risk factors with respect to us and our business. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, operations, industry, financial position or future financial results.

Risks Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus global pandemic which caused a significant disruption in non-essential retail commerce may continue to have a material adverse impact upon our financial condition and results of operations.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the current coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak to be a global pandemic. In response to this declaration and the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States, federal, state and local governments throughout the country imposed varying degrees of restriction on social and commercial activity to promote social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the illness. These measures had a significant adverse impact upon many sectors of the economy, including non-essential retail commerce. As a result of these circumstances, we temporarily closed our dedicated stores, our manufacturing locations and many of our warehouses. In addition, many of our office personnel were working remotely. By the end of June 2020, we had reopened all of our retail stores that had been temporarily closed. However, continuing logistical challenges faced by the entire home furnishings industry resulting from COVID-related labor shortages and supply chain disruptions have created significant delays in order fulfillment and increasing backlogs as we have not been able to produce and ship at the incoming rate of wholesale and retail orders. Although unable to predict with certainty, we expect gradual decreases in wholesale and retail backlogs over the course of 2022 driven by an anticipated lower rate of future incoming orders coupled with gradual easing of supply chain constraints. If we are unable to reduce the backlogs and increase the speed of order fulfillment it is possible that some of our customers may begin to cancel existing orders and require refunds of deposits, which could have an adverse impact upon our liquidity and results of operations. While the home furnishings industry has fared much better during the pandemic than other sectors of the economy, the recent surges in COVID-19 cases due to new variants of the virus and the resurgence of inflation brought on by labor and supply shortages may have an adverse impact upon our business. Should these conditions persist for a prolonged period, this may have a continuing material adverse impact on our ultimate financial condition and liquidity.

Risks Related to Our Retail Operations

We face a volatile retail environment and changing economic conditions that may further adversely affect consumer demand and spending.

Historically, the home furnishings industry has been subject to cyclical variations in the general economy and to uncertainty regarding future economic prospects. Should current economic conditions weaken, the current rate of housing starts decline, or rising inflation persist, consumer confidence and demand for home furnishings could deteriorate which could adversely affect our business through its impact on the performance of our Company-owned stores, as well as our licensees and the ability of a number of them to meet their obligations to us.

Our retail stores face significant competition from national, regional and local retailers of home furnishings, including increasing on-line competition via the internet.

The retail market for home furnishings is highly fragmented and intensely competitive. We currently compete against a diverse group of retailers, including national department stores, regional or independent specialty stores, and dedicated franchises of furniture manufacturers. National mass merchants such as Costco also have limited product offerings. We also compete with retailers that market products through store catalogs and the internet. In addition, there are few barriers to entry into our current and contemplated markets, and new competitors may enter our current or future markets at any time. We have also seen increasing competition from retailers offering consumers the ability to purchase home furnishings via the internet for home delivery, and this trend is expected to continue. Our existing competitors or new entrants into our industry may use a number of different strategies to compete against us, including aggressive advertising, pricing and marketing, extension of credit to customers on terms more favorable than we offer, and expansion into markets where we currently operate.

Competition from any of these sources could cause us to lose market share, revenues and customers, increase expenditures or reduce prices, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our licensee-owned stores may not be able to meet their obligations to us.

We have a significant amount of accounts receivable attributable to our network of licensee-owned stores. We also guarantee a limited number of leases of some of our licensees. If these stores do not generate the necessary level of sales and profits, the licensees may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us resulting in additional bad debt expenses and real estate related losses.

Risks Related to Our Brand and Product Offerings

Failure to successfully anticipate or respond to changes in consumer tastes and trends in a timely manner could adversely impact our business, operating results and financial condition.

Sales of our furniture are dependent upon consumer acceptance of our designs, styles, quality and price. As with all retailers, our business is susceptible to changes in consumer tastes and trends. We attempt to monitor changes in consumer tastes and home design trends through attendance at international industry events and fashion shows, internal marketing research, and communication with our retailers and design consultants who provide valuable input on consumer tendencies. However, such tastes and trends can change rapidly and any delay or failure to anticipate or respond to changing consumer tastes and trends in a timely manner could adversely impact our business, operating results and financial condition.

In addition, certain suppliers may require extensive advance notice of our requirements in order to produce products in the quantities we desire. This long lead time may require us to place orders far in advance of the time when certain products will be offered for sale, thereby exposing us to risks relating to shifts in consumer demand and trends, and any downturn in the U.S. economy.

Our success depends upon our brand, marketing and advertising efforts and pricing strategies, and if we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, or if we are not successful in these efforts and strategies, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

Maintaining and enhancing our brand is critical to our ability to expand our base of customers and drive increased traffic at both Company-owned and licensee-owned stores and to our website. Digital advertising and outreach dominated our marketing expenditures for fiscal 2021 and 2020, with no change in strategy expected for 2022. We also expect to invest more heavily in our website in 2022 to improve the navigation and the ordering capabilities to increase web sales. We cannot provide assurance that our marketing, advertising and other efforts to promote and maintain awareness of our brand will not require us to incur substantial costs. If these efforts are unsuccessful or we incur substantial costs in connection with these efforts, our business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Material Sourcing and Supply

Our use of foreign sources of production for a portion of our products exposes us to certain additional risks associated with international operations.

Our use of foreign sources for the supply of certain of our products exposes us to risks associated with overseas sourcing.  These risks are related to government regulation, volatile ocean freight costs, delays in shipments, extended lead time in ordering and, more recently, disruptions in supply due to plant shut-downs and shipping delays resulting from surges in COVID infections in other parts of the world. Governments in the foreign countries where we source our products may change their laws, regulations and policies, including those related to tariffs and trade barriers, investments, taxation and exchange controls which could make it more difficult to service our customers resulting in an adverse effect on our earnings. We have experienced recent increases in ocean freight costs coupled with a lack of availability of shipping containers resulting in reduced flow of products primarily from Asia. Continued product delays and extended order lead times may adversely affect our ability to service our customers and respond to changes in demand, resulting in the purchase of excess inventory in the face of declining demand, or lost sales due to insufficient inventory in the face of increasing demand, either of which would also have an adverse effect on our earnings or liquidity.

Fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials could result in increased costs or cause production delays which might result in a decline in sales, either of which could adversely impact our earnings.

We use various types of wood, foam, fibers, fabrics, leathers, and other raw materials in manufacturing our furniture. Certain of our raw materials, including fabrics, are purchased both abroad and domestically. Fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials could result in increased costs or a delay in manufacturing our products, which in turn could result in a delay in delivering products to our customers. For example, lumber prices fluctuate over time based on factors such as weather and demand, which in turn impact availability. More recently, general price inflation brought on by labor and supply shortages have forced us to implement four wholesale price increases during fiscal 2021. There is no guarantee that we will be able to successfully pass along additional cost increases as they arise, and rising inflation could have an adverse impact upon consumer demand for discretionary items such as home furnishings. Production delays or upward trends in raw material prices could result in lower sales or margins, thereby adversely impacting our earnings.

Risks Related to Our Logistical Services Operations

We may suffer adverse impacts from additional risks associated with the operations of Zenith, a freight transportation and logistics business.

Zenith exposes us to certain risks common to that business, including, but not limited to: difficulties attracting and retaining qualified drivers which could result in increases in driver compensation and could adversely affect our profitability and our ability to maintain or grow our fleet; adverse impacts from unfavorable fluctuations in the availability and price of diesel fuel; increased costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations in the highly regulated freight transportation industry; adverse impacts upon Zenith’s results of operations which may result from seasonal factors and harsh weather conditions; and the increased liability inherent with the operation of heavy over-the-road vehicles.

Risks Related to Electronic Data Processing and Digital Information

We rely extensively on computer systems to process transactions, summarize results and manage our business.  Disruptions in both our primary and back-up systems could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Our primary and back-up computer systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, natural disasters and errors by employees.  Though losses arising from some of these issues would be covered by insurance, interruptions of our critical business computer systems or failure of our back-up systems could reduce our sales or result in longer production times.  If our critical business computer systems or back-up systems are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to repair or replace them.

We may incur costs and reputational harm resulting from security risks we face in connection with our electronic processing, storage and transmission of confidential information.

We accept electronic payment cards in our stores and also gather certain personal identifiable information in the processing of our retail sales transactions. We also store and process confidential information pertaining to our employees and other third parties on our networks. We may in the future become subject to claims for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of credit or debit card information. In addition, if there were a disclosure of confidential information provided by, or concerning, our employees, customers or other third parties, including through inadvertent disclosure, unapproved dissemination, or unauthorized access, our reputation could be harmed and we could be subject to civil or criminal liability and regulatory actions. Proceedings related to theft of credit or debit card information may be brought by payment card providers, banks and credit unions that issue cards, cardholders (either individually or as part of a class action lawsuit) and federal and state regulators. Any such proceedings could distract our management from running our business and cause us to incur significant unplanned losses and expenses. Consumer perception of our brand could also be negatively affected by these events, which could further adversely affect our results and prospects.

ITEM 1B.         UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.         PROPERTIES

General

We own our corporate office building, which includes an annex, located in Bassett, Va.

We own the following facilities, by segment:

Wholesale Segment:

In general, these facilities are suitable and are considered to be adequate for the continuing operations involved. All facilities are in regular use and provide adequate capacity for our manufacturing and warehousing needs. In addition to the owned properties shown above, we lease property in Newton, North Carolina for the manufacturing and warehousing operations of Lane Venture and Bassett Outdoor as well as a new upholstery manufacturing facility opened during 2021, and we lease a facility in Haleyville, Alabama which houses a production line for aluminum outdoor furniture. A former upholstery division manufacturing facility which occupied part of a regional distribution center in Grand Prairie, Texas that is leased by our logistical services segment was closed during the second quarter of fiscal 2020 and is currently subleased to another party.

Retail Segment:

Real estate associated with our retail segment consists of eight owned locations with an aggregate square footage of 201,096 and a net book value of $16,941. These stores are located as follows:

Of these locations, two are subject to land leases. Our remaining 55 store locations are leased from third-parties. In addition to retail stores, we also lease twelve locations for use as regional warehouses and home delivery distribution centers.

Logistical Services Segment:

Owned real estate associated with our logistical services segment is located in Conover, North Carolina and includes the following facilities:

In addition to the owned facilities listed above, we also lease warehouse space in fourteen locations across the United States with an aggregate square footage of 942,176.

See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8 of this Annual Report for more information with respect to our operating lease obligations.

ITEM 3.         LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 4.         MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

David C. Baker, 61, joined the Company in 2005 as Director, Store Operations. From 2006 to 2015 he served as Vice President – Corporate Retail, and in 2015 was appointed to Senior Vice President, Corporate Retail. In 2019, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Retail Officer. Prior to joining Bassett, Mr. Baker managed Bassett stores for licensees from 1999 to 2005 after having previously managed stores for other furniture retail chains including Haverty’s and Rhodes Furniture.

John E. Bassett III, 63, has been with the Company since 1981 and served in various wood manufacturing and product sourcing capacities, including Vice President, Wood Manufacturing; Vice-President, Global Sourcing from 2001 to 2007 and Vice President, Wood in 2008. He was appointed Senior Vice President, Wood in 2009. In 2019, he was also promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer.

Bruce R. Cohenour, 63, has been with the Company since 2011, starting as Senior Vice President of Upholstery Merchandising. In 2013, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising. In 2019, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Sales Officer. Prior to joining Bassett, Mr. Cohenour was with Hooker Furniture Corp. from 2007 through 2010, last serving as President of the Case Goods Division.

J. Michael Daniel, 60, joined the Company in 2007 as Corporate Controller. From April 2009 through December 2009, he served as Corporate Controller and Interim Chief Financial Officer. In January 2010, he was appointed Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. In January 2013, he was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 2019, he was also promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.

Jack L. Hawn, 68, has been with the Company since 2015 as Senior Vice President, Bassett and President, Zenith. His company, Zenith Transportation, Inc., was majority owner of Zenith (Zenith Freight Lines, LLC) from 1999 until its interest in Zenith was acquired by the Company in 2015. He has served as President of Zenith since its formation in 1999.

Jay R. Hervey, Esq., 62, has served as the General Counsel, Vice President and Secretary for the Company since 1997.

Kara Kelchner-Strong, 47, joined the Company in 2007 as Director, Retail Communications. In 2015, she was promoted to Vice President, Strategy and Planning. In 2018, she was appointed Vice President, Strategic Transformation Officer and in 2019, she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Customer Experience Officer. Prior to joining Bassett, she held several positions with Restoration Hardware.

Robert H. Spilman, Jr., 65, has been with the Company since 1984. Since 2000, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and President, and in 2016 also became the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

PART II

ITEM 5.         MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information:

Bassett’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ global select market system under the symbol “BSET.” We had approximately 4,950 beneficial stockholders at January 14, 2022.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities: 

We are authorized to repurchase Company stock under a plan which was originally announced in 1998. On July 15, 2021, the Board of Directors increased the remaining limit of the repurchase plan to $20 million. The repurchase program does not include a specific time table or price targets and may be suspended or terminated at any time. Shares may be purchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management based on its evaluation of prevailing market conditions and other factors. There was no stock repurchase activity for the three months ended November 27, 2021. The approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased pursuant to our stock repurchase program was $19,348.

ITEM 6.         [RESERVED]

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands except share and per share data)

Our fiscal year, which ends on the last Saturday of November, periodically results in a 53-week year instead of the normal 52 weeks.  The fiscal year ending November 30, 2019 was a 53-week year, with the additional week being included in the first fiscal quarter.  Accordingly, the information presented below includes 53 weeks of operations for the year ended November 30, 2019 as compared to 52 weeks included in the years ended November 27, 2021 and November 28, 2020.

Impact of COVID-19

For a discussion of how COVID-19 has impacted and may continue to impact our business and financial condition, please refer to the discussion under the heading "Ongoing Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Supply Chain and Labor Issues Upon Our Business " in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Overview

Bassett is a leading retailer, manufacturer and marketer of branded home furnishings. Our products are sold primarily through a network of Company-owned and licensee-owned branded stores under the Bassett Home Furnishings (“BHF”) name, with additional distribution through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We also sell our products through our website at www.bassettfurniture.com. We were founded in 1902 and incorporated under the laws of Virginia in 1930. Our rich 119-year history has instilled the principles of quality, value, and integrity in everything we do, while simultaneously providing us with the expertise to respond to ever-changing consumer tastes and meet the demands of a global economy.

With 97 BHF stores at November 27, 2021, we have leveraged our strong brand name in furniture into a network of Company-owned and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories.  Our store program is designed to provide a single source home furnishings retail store that provides a unique combination of stylish, quality furniture and accessories with a high level of customer service.  In order to reach markets that cannot be effectively served by our retail store network, we also distribute our products through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We use a network of over 30 independent sales representatives who have stated geographical territories. These sales representatives are compensated based on a standard commission rate. We believe this blended strategy provides us the greatest ability to effectively distribute our products throughout the United States and ultimately gain market share.  

The BHF stores feature custom order furniture, free in-home or virtual design visits (“home makeovers”) and coordinated decorating accessories.  Our philosophy is based on building strong long-term relationships with each customer.  Sales people are referred to as “Design Consultants” and are trained to evaluate customer needs and provide comprehensive solutions for their home decor.  Until a rigorous training and design certification program is completed, Design Consultants are not authorized to perform in-home or virtual design services for our customers.

We have factories in Newton, North Carolina that manufacture Bench Made custom upholstered and outdoor furniture. We also have factories in Martinsville and Bassett, Virginia that assemble and finish our custom dining offerings, including our Bench Made line of solid hardwood furniture. We currently lease a facility in Haleyville, Alabama where we manufacture aluminum frames for our outdoor furniture. Our manufacturing team takes great pride in the breadth of its options, the precision of its craftsmanship, and the speed of its manufacturing process. Our logistics team then ships the product to one of our home delivery hubs or to a location specified by our licensees.  In addition to the furniture that we manufacture domestically, we source most of our formal bedroom and dining room furniture (casegoods) and certain leather upholstery offerings from several foreign plants, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand and China. Over 75% of the products we currently sell are manufactured in the United States.

During fiscal 2018, we acquired Lane Venture, a manufacturer and distributor of premium outdoor furniture which is operated as a component of our wholesale segment. This acquisition marked our entry into the market for outdoor furniture and we believe that Lane Venture has provided a foundation for us to become a significant participant in this category. Our strategy is to distribute this brand outside of our BHF store network only.

With the knowledge we have gained through operating Lane Venture, we have developed the Bassett Outdoor brand that is only marketed through the BHF store network. This allows Bassett branded product to move from inside the home to outside the home to capitalize on the growing trend of outdoor living.

We also own Zenith which provides logistical services to Bassett along with other furniture manufacturers and retailers. Zenith delivers best-of-class shipping and logistical support services that are uniquely tailored to the needs of Bassett and the furniture industry. Approximately 60% of Zenith’s revenue is generated from services provided to non-Bassett customers.

We consider our website to be the front door to our brand experience where customers can research our furniture and accessory offerings and subsequently buy online or engage with an in-store design consultant. Customer acquisition resulting from our digital outreach strategies has significantly increased our traffic to the website and our online orders over the last two years. While the growth in website traffic and orders moderated somewhat in late fiscal 2021 compared to 2020, both have nearly doubled since 2019. The migration to digital brand research has caused us to comprehensively evaluate all of our American made custom products. While our Custom Upholstery, Custom Dining, and Bench Made product lines continue to be our most successful offerings, most of these items must be purchased in a store as they are not conducive to web transactions due to the number of options available. Consequently, we will continue to methodically re-design each one of these important lines. Our intent is to continue to offer the consumer custom options that will help them personalize their home but to do so in an edited fashion that will provide a better web experience in the research phase and will also allow the final purchase to be made either on the web or in the store. While we work to make it easier to purchase either in store or on-line, we will not compromise on our in-store experience or the quality of our in-home makeover capabilities.

Analysis of Operations

The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and reasons for material changes therein for fiscal year 2021 as compared to fiscal year 2020 and 2019. Because of the significant adverse impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on our operations during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we believe that a better understanding of the revenue and profitability growth that has resulted from our product and marketing initiatives as well as the cost reductions implemented in fiscal 2020 is obtained by comparing our current year results to the pre-pandemic results of fiscal 2019. Therefore, 2019 results are presented below for the purpose of showing a comparison with 2021. For an analysis of the fiscal year 2020 results as compared to fiscal year 2019, see “Analysis of Operations” in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021

Net sales revenue, cost of furniture and accessories sold, selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense, new store pre-opening costs, other charges, and income from operations were as follows for the years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019:

*53 weeks for fiscal 2019 as compared with 52 weeks for fiscal 2021 and 2020.

Our consolidated net sales by segment were as follows:

*53 weeks for fiscal 2019 as compared with 52 weeks for fiscal 2021 and 2020.

Total sales revenue for fiscal 2021 increased $100,671, or 26.1%, from prior year due primarily to the major impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations during fiscal 2020, which forced a near total shut-down of our manufacturing and retail operations from late March through early May of 2020, followed by an exceptionally strong recovery in demand for home furnishings that has continued into fiscal 2021. Sales of furniture and accessories for fiscal 2021 increased $34,447 or 7.6%, over fiscal 2019. This growth as compared to fiscal 2019 is attributable not only to the exceptionally strong demand for home furnishings that has benefited our industry over the past eighteen months, but also due to increases in our wholesale business through growth in our Lane Venture line of outdoor furniture, the introduction of our Bassett Outdoor line of outdoor furniture sold through our BHF store network, and the expansion of our wholesale customer base of independent dealers partially offset by lower retail sales from the closure of seven Company-owned stores since the end of 2019.

Cost of furniture and accessories sold as a percentage of total revenue for the fiscal 2021 increased over fiscal 2020 and 2019 primarily due to rising raw material and inbound freight costs, partially offset by improved leverage on fixed costs during fiscal 2021 versus 2020 when our operations were temporarily shut down due to the pandemic. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales for fiscal 2021 decreased significantly from fiscal 2020 and 2019 due to increased leverage of fixed costs due to higher sales volume coupled with the fact that we have been able to maintain various expense reductions implemented in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was partially offset by increased operating costs in the logistical services segment.

Other charges of $15,205 incurred during fiscal 2020 included $11,114 of non-cash asset impairment charges on five underperforming retail stores, including $6,239 for the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets, and $1,070 of non-cash impairment charges in our wholesale segment, primarily due to the closure of our custom upholstery manufacturing facility in Grand Prairie, Texas in May of 2020, a non-cash charge of $1,971 for the impairment of goodwill associated with our wood reporting unit within our wholesale segment, and $1,050 of litigation costs relating to certain wage and hour violation claims that had been asserted against the Company. These claims have since been settled at no additional cost.

Certain other items affecting comparability between fiscal 2021 and 2020 are discussed below in “Other Items Affecting Net Income”.

Segment Information

We have strategically aligned our business into three reportable segments as described below:

Wholesale. The wholesale home furnishings segment is involved principally in the design, manufacture, sourcing, sale and distribution of furniture products to a network of Bassett stores (licensee-owned stores and Company-owned stores) and independent furniture retailers. Our wholesale segment includes our wood and upholstery operations as well as all corporate selling, general and administrative expenses, including those corporate expenses related to both Company- and licensee-owned stores. We eliminate the sales between our wholesale and retail segments as well as the imbedded profit in the retail inventory for the consolidated presentation in our financial statements. Our wholesale segment also includes our holdings of short-term investments and retail real estate previously leased as licensee stores. The earnings and costs associated with these assets are included in other loss, net, in our consolidated statements of operations.

Retail – Company-owned stores. Our retail segment consists of Company-owned stores and includes the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities (including real estate) and capital expenditures directly related to these stores and the Company-owned distribution network utilized to deliver products to our retail customers.

Logistical services. With our acquisition of Zenith on February 2, 2015, we created the logistical services operating segment which reflects the operations of Zenith. In addition to providing shipping and warehousing services for the Company, the revenue from which is eliminated upon consolidation, Zenith also provides similar services to other customers, primarily in the furniture industry. Revenue from the performance of these services to other customers is included in logistics revenue in our consolidated statement of operations. Zenith’s operating costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. See “Recent Development Regarding Zenith” under Part I, Item 1 of the Annual Report regarding our entry into an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of Zenith.

The following tables illustrate the effects of various intercompany eliminations on income (loss) from operations in the consolidation of our segment results for the full fiscal years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019:

Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including income (loss) from operations before other charges and gross profit on wholesale sales of furniture and accessories by segment inclusive of intercompany sales. The reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are shown in tables below.

Income (Loss) from Operations before Other Charges

The following table reconciles income (loss) from operations as shown above for our consolidated segment results with income (loss) from operations as reported in accordance with GAAP for fiscal years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019:

Asset Impairment Charges

During fiscal 2020 the loss from operations included $11,114 of non-cash asset impairment charges on five underperforming retail stores, including $6,239 for the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets, and $1,070 of non-cash impairment charges in our wholesale segment, primarily due to the closure of our custom upholstery manufacturing facility in Grand Prairie, Texas.

During fiscal 2019 the loss from operations included $4,431 of non-cash impairment charges recognized on the assets of six underperforming retail stores.

Goodwill Impairment Charges

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we performed an interim impairment assessment of our goodwill as of May 30, 2020. As a result, we recognized a non-cash charge of $1,971 during fiscal 2020 for the impairment of goodwill associated with our wood reporting unit within our wholesale segment (see Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements).

During fiscal 2019 our annual evaluation of the carrying value of our recorded goodwill resulted in the recognition of a $1,926 non-cash charge for the impairment of goodwill associated with our retail reporting unit (see Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements).

Early Retirement Program

During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we offered a voluntary early retirement package to certain eligible employees of the Company. These employees received pay equal to one-half their current salary plus benefits over a period of one year from the final day of each individual’s active employment. Accordingly, we recognized a charge of $835 during the year ended November 30, 2019.

Litigation Expense

During fiscal 2020 and 2019 we accrued $1,050 and $700, respectively for the estimated costs to resolve certain wage and hour violation claims that had been asserted against the Company.

Lease Exit Costs

During fiscal 2019 we recognized a $149 charge for lease exit costs incurred in connection with the repositioning of a Company-owned retail store in Palm Beach, Florida to a new location within the same market.

Gross Profit by Segment

In the following analysis of results for our wholesale and retail segments, we present a measure of gross profit on sales which is inclusive of intercompany sales from our wholesale segment to our retail segment. We believe that this is a key metric by which to evaluate the performance of each segment and is consistent with management’s view of our operating results. The following table reconciles the sales, cost of sales and gross profit presented for each of the wholesale and retail segments to the consolidated amounts for sales, cost of sales and the implied gross profit in accordance with GAAP.

Wholesale Segment

Net sales, gross profit, SG&A expense and operating income for our Wholesale Segment were as follows for the fiscal years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019:

*53 weeks for fiscal 2019 as compared with 52 weeks for fiscal 2021 and 2020.

Wholesale shipments by category for the fiscal years ended November 27, 2021, November 28, 2020 and November 30, 2019 are summarized below: