content: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                     ---------
  
                                     Form 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
  
                 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                               Exchange Act of 1934
  
                                   -------------
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 15, 2003
  
                                     CULP, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
           North Carolina                  0-12781                56-1001967
  (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)       (IRS Employer
           incorporation)                                    Identification No.)
  
  
  
                               101 South Main Street
                         High Point, North Carolina  27260
                     (Address of principal executive offices)
                                  (336) 889-5161
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  
  
  
  
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  
  
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 9 - Regulation FD Disclosure
  
  On  October  15,  2003,  the  Registrant  issued  a press  release  to  disclose
  management's  expectation  about its  earnings  for the  second  quarter  of the
  Registrant's  fiscal  year  ending May 2, 2004.  A copy of the press  release is
  attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
  
  Forward Looking Information
  
  This report contains statements that may be deemed "forward-looking  statements"
  within  the  meaning of the  federal  securities  laws,  including  the  Private
  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of
  1933  and  Section  27A of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements about  expectations for the company's  earnings,  future  operations,
  production levels, sales, expenses and other performance measures.  Factors that
  could influence the matters  discussed in such  statements  include the level of
  housing  starts and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer  confidence,  trends in
  disposable income, and general economic conditions.  Decreases in these economic
  indicators could have a negative effect on the company's business and prospects.
  Likewise,  increases in interest rates,  particularly  home mortgage rates,  and
  increases in consumer  debt or the general rate of  inflation,  could affect the
  company adversely.  Because of the significant percentage of the company's sales
  derived from international shipments,  strengthening of the U. S. dollar against
  other currencies could make the company's products less competitive on the basis
  of price in  markets  outside  the United  States.  Additionally,  economic  and
  political  instability  in  international  areas could affect the demand for the
  company's  products.  Other  factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
  
  
  
                                     SIGNATURE
  
  
  Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
  Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                      CULP, INC.
                                      (Registrant)
  
  
                                       By:  Franklin N. Saxon
                                       ----------------------
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer
  
  
  
  
  
  Dated:  October 17, 2003
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  Exhibit 99
  
  
                                   NEWS RELEASE
  
  
  Investor Contact: Kathy J. Hardy              Media Contact: Kenneth M. Ludwig
                    Corporate Secretary                        Senior Vice
                    336-888-6209                               President,
                                                               Human Resources
                                                               336-889-5161
  
  
                   CULP REVISES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS OUTLOOK
  
  
  HIGH POINT, NC (October 15, 2003) - Culp, Inc.  (NYSE:CFI) today announced that,
  based on  preliminary  information  and estimates,  it expects  earnings for the
  second  fiscal  quarter of 2004,  which ends on November  2, 2003,  to be in the
  range of $0.23 to $0.26 per diluted share. These projected earnings are ahead of
  the company's  previously  announced  expectation  of $0.12 to $0.19 per diluted
  share for the period.
  
  Commenting  on the  announcement,  Robert  G.  Culp,  III,  chairman  and  chief
  executive  officer of Culp,  Inc.,  said,  "Our  revised  outlook for the second
  fiscal quarter primarily  reflects  better-than-  expected demand for upholstery
  fabrics. Volume in our upholstery fabric segment has picked up through the first
  two months of the  quarter,  although we believe it is still too early to say if
  this trend points to a sustainable  recovery.  Additional  factors affecting our
  results include  continued solid performance in the mattress ticking segment and
  improved manufacturing efficiencies realized from past restructuring initiatives
  within the upholstery fabric segment."
  
  The company expects to announce  financial results for the second fiscal quarter
  ended November 2, 2003, on or about November 24, 2003.
  
  Culp,  Inc. is one of the world's  largest  marketers of upholstery  fabrics for
  furniture  and is a leading  marketer  of  mattress  ticking  for  bedding.  The
  company's  fabrics are used  principally in the  production of  residential  and
  commercial furniture and bedding products.
  
  
  This release contains statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements"
  within  the  meaning of the  federal  securities  laws,  including  the  Private
  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of
  1933  and  Section  27A of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements about  expectations for the company's  earnings,  future  operations,
  production levels, sales, expenses and other performance measures.  Factors that
  could influence the matters  discussed in such  statements  include the level of
  housing  starts and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer  confidence,  trends in
  disposable income, and general economic conditions.  Decreases in these economic
  indicators could have a negative effect on the company's business and prospects.
  Likewise,  increases in interest rates,  particularly  home mortgage rates,  and
  increases in consumer  debt or the general rate of  inflation,  could affect the
  company adversely.  Because of the significant percentage of the company's sales
  derived from international shipments,  strengthening of the U. S. dollar against
  other currencies could make the company's products less competitive on the basis
  of price in  markets  outside  the United  States.  Additionally,  economic  and
  political  instability  in  international  areas could affect the demand for the
  company's  products.  Other  factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
                                      -END-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c8kq204p.txt", "description": "PRESS RELEASE 2ND QTR PRE RELEASE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8783}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CULP INC", "cik": "0000723603", "assigned-sic": "2211", "irs-number": "561001967", "state-of-incorporation": "NC", "fiscal-year-end": "0430"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12597", "film-number": "03946265"}, "business-address": {"street1": "101 S MAIN ST", "city": "HIGH POINT", "state": "NC", "zip": "27260", "phone": "3368895161"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2686", "street2": "101 S MAIN ST", "city": "HIGH POINT", "state": "NC", "zip": "27261"}}
text: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                     ---------
  
                                     Form 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
  
                 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                               Exchange Act of 1934
  
                                   -------------
  
          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 15, 2003
  
                                     CULP, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           North Carolina                  0-12781                56-1001967
  (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)       (IRS Employer
           incorporation)                                    Identification No.)
  
                               101 South Main Street
                         High Point, North Carolina  27260
                     (Address of principal executive offices)
                                  (336) 889-5161
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Item 9 - Regulation FD Disclosure
  
  On  October  15,  2003,  the  Registrant  issued  a press  release  to  disclose
  management's  expectation  about its  earnings  for the  second  quarter  of the
  Registrant's  fiscal  year  ending May 2, 2004.  A copy of the press  release is
  attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
  
  Forward Looking Information
  
  This report contains statements that may be deemed "forward-looking  statements"
  within  the  meaning of the  federal  securities  laws,  including  the  Private
  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of
  1933  and  Section  27A of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements about  expectations for the company's  earnings,  future  operations,
  production levels, sales, expenses and other performance measures.  Factors that
  could influence the matters  discussed in such  statements  include the level of
  housing  starts and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer  confidence,  trends in
  disposable income, and general economic conditions.  Decreases in these economic
  indicators could have a negative effect on the company's business and prospects.
  Likewise,  increases in interest rates,  particularly  home mortgage rates,  and
  increases in consumer  debt or the general rate of  inflation,  could affect the
  company adversely.  Because of the significant percentage of the company's sales
  derived from international shipments,  strengthening of the U. S. dollar against
  other currencies could make the company's products less competitive on the basis
  of price in  markets  outside  the United  States.  Additionally,  economic  and
  political  instability  in  international  areas could affect the demand for the
  company's  products.  Other  factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
                                     SIGNATURE
  
  Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
  Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                      CULP, INC.
                                      (Registrant)
  
                                       By:  Franklin N. Saxon
                                       ----------------------
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer
  
  Dated:  October 17, 2003
  Exhibit 99
  
                                   NEWS RELEASE
  
  Investor Contact: Kathy J. Hardy              Media Contact: Kenneth M. Ludwig
                    Corporate Secretary                        Senior Vice
                    336-888-6209                               President,
                                                               Human Resources
                                                               336-889-5161
  
                   CULP REVISES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS OUTLOOK
  
  HIGH POINT, NC (October 15, 2003) - Culp, Inc.  (NYSE:CFI) today announced that,
  based on  preliminary  information  and estimates,  it expects  earnings for the
  second  fiscal  quarter of 2004,  which ends on November  2, 2003,  to be in the
  range of $0.23 to $0.26 per diluted share. These projected earnings are ahead of
  the company's  previously  announced  expectation  of $0.12 to $0.19 per diluted
  share for the period.
  
  Commenting  on the  announcement,  Robert  G.  Culp,  III,  chairman  and  chief
  executive  officer of Culp,  Inc.,  said,  "Our  revised  outlook for the second
  fiscal quarter primarily  reflects  better-than-  expected demand for upholstery
  fabrics. Volume in our upholstery fabric segment has picked up through the first
  two months of the  quarter,  although we believe it is still too early to say if
  this trend points to a sustainable  recovery.  Additional  factors affecting our
  results include  continued solid performance in the mattress ticking segment and
  improved manufacturing efficiencies realized from past restructuring initiatives
  within the upholstery fabric segment."
  
  The company expects to announce  financial results for the second fiscal quarter
  ended November 2, 2003, on or about November 24, 2003.
  
  Culp,  Inc. is one of the world's  largest  marketers of upholstery  fabrics for
  furniture  and is a leading  marketer  of  mattress  ticking  for  bedding.  The
  company's  fabrics are used  principally in the  production of  residential  and
  commercial furniture and bedding products.
  
  This release contains statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements"
  within  the  meaning of the  federal  securities  laws,  including  the  Private
  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of
  1933  and  Section  27A of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934).  Such
  statements  are  inherently  subject  to  risks  and   uncertainties.   Further,
  forward-looking  statements  are  intended to speak only as of the date on which
  they  are  made.   Forward-looking   statements  are  statements   that  include
  projections, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise
  are not statements of historical  fact. Such statements are often but not always
  characterized  by  qualifying  words such as  "expect,"  "believe,"  "estimate,"
  "plan" and "project" and their  derivatives,  and include but are not limited to
  statements about  expectations for the company's  earnings,  future  operations,
  production levels, sales, expenses and other performance measures.  Factors that
  could influence the matters  discussed in such  statements  include the level of
  housing  starts and sales of  existing  homes,  consumer  confidence,  trends in
  disposable income, and general economic conditions.  Decreases in these economic
  indicators could have a negative effect on the company's business and prospects.
  Likewise,  increases in interest rates,  particularly  home mortgage rates,  and
  increases in consumer  debt or the general rate of  inflation,  could affect the
  company adversely.  Because of the significant percentage of the company's sales
  derived from international shipments,  strengthening of the U. S. dollar against
  other currencies could make the company's products less competitive on the basis
  of price in  markets  outside  the United  States.  Additionally,  economic  and
  political  instability  in  international  areas could affect the demand for the
  company's  products.  Other  factors that could affect the matters  discussed in
  forward-looking  statements are included in the company's periodic reports filed
  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
                                      -END-