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) March 12, 2004
  
                                     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
  
  On March 12, 2004 the registrant issued a press release to disclose an agreement
  with  Precision  Fabrics to  distribute  flame-resistant  fabrics to the bedding
  industry. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
  
  Forward Looking Information.
  
   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  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins, SG&A or other expenses, and earnings.  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.  In
  addition,  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.  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:  March 12, 2004
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  Exhibit 99
  
  
                                    NEWS RELEASE
  
  Media Contact:      Kenneth M. Ludwig
                      Senior Vice President, Human Resources
                      336-889-5161
  
  
          CULP ANNOUNCES AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION FABRICS TO DISTRIBUTE
                   FLAME-RESISTANT FABRICS TO THE BEDDING INDUSTRY
  
  
  HIGH POINT, NC (March 12, 2004) - Culp, Inc. (NYSE:CFI) today announced that its
  Culp Home Fashions division has entered into an agreement with Precision Fabrics
  Group to distribute  flame-resistant  fabrics to Culp's customers in the bedding
  industry.
  
       Based in  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  Precision  Fabrics  Group has been
  producing  flame-resistant  products  for 15 years for use in  airline  seating,
  industrial  protective  apparel  and window  treatments.  After  three  years of
  development,  Precision  Fabrics Group has recently  introduced its SoftGuard TM
  MTP line of products for the bedding industry.  These fabric products consist of
  a  proprietary  blend of fibers  that are  treated  to  provide  superior  flame
  blocking  capability.  The fabrics are  designed to be used between the mattress
  foam and the ticking, or beneath  "sacrificial" layers of fiber or foam, and can
  be used to replace existing fabric and foundation  components.  When this fabric
  is properly  integrated  into a sleep set,  the  bedding  will meet the State of
  California's new open flame mattress flammability standard,  currently scheduled
  to go into effect on January 1, 2005.
  
       Through this new  partnership,  Culp will be the exclusive  distributor  of
  SoftGuard  TM MTP,  marking  the  first  agreement  between a  mattress  ticking
  supplier  and a producer of  flame-resistant  fabrics.  The Culp sales force has
  been extensively trained on the features of SoftGuard TM MTP and will be able to
  make  specific  recommendations  to its  bedding  customers  on the  appropriate
  placement. In addition, Culp plans to devote an entire showroom to the SoftGuard
  TM MTP product line at the upcoming  International  Sleep  Products  Association
  Expo in Indianapolis.
  
       Commenting  on  the  announcement,  Robert  G.  Culp,  IV,  executive  vice
  president  of Culp  Home  Fashions,  said,  "We are very  pleased  to have  this
  opportunity to work with Precision  Fabrics Group in introducing  this important
  product  line to our  bedding  customers.  As a  leading  provider  of  mattress
  ticking,  we want to help our  customers  comply  with the new safety  standards
  being imposed on the bedding  industry.  We believe that adding SoftGuard TM MTP
  to Culp's product line  complements our mattress  ticking  offerings and further
  enhances our competitive position.  We look forward to a successful  partnership
  for both  companies  as we  distribute  SoftGuard  TM MTP products on a national
  level."
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
       Doug Small,  business  director  for  Precision  Fabric  Group's  SoftGuard
  Technologies, added, "This partnership with Culp represents a unique opportunity
  for Precision  Fabrics Group to leverage the success of an established  industry
  leader and quickly introduce our product to the market.  Production of SoftGuard
  TM MTP products is already underway at our Greensboro plant and we will have the
  ability to meet the bedding industry's foreseeable needs."
  
       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.
  
       Precision   Fabrics  Group,  Inc.  ("PFG")  is  a  privately  held  company
  headquartered   in  Greensboro,   North  Carolina.   The  Company  develops  and
  manufactures  highly engineered woven and non-woven  products for a wide variety
  of technical end uses. PFG's products are used primarily in medical,  protective
  apparel,   home   furnishing,   industrial,   military,   and  consumer  product
  applications.  The Company operates three manufacturing  locations in the United
  States, and has sales offices in Greensboro and Frankfurt, Germany.
  
       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  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins, SG&A or other expenses, and earnings.  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.  In
  addition,  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.  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-
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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": "04665758"}, "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) March 12, 2004
  
                                     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
  
  On March 12, 2004 the registrant issued a press release to disclose an agreement
  with  Precision  Fabrics to  distribute  flame-resistant  fabrics to the bedding
  industry. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
  
  Forward Looking Information.
  
   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  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins, SG&A or other expenses, and earnings.  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.  In
  addition,  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.  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:  March 12, 2004
  Exhibit 99
  
                                    NEWS RELEASE
  
  Media Contact:      Kenneth M. Ludwig
                      Senior Vice President, Human Resources
                      336-889-5161
  
          CULP ANNOUNCES AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION FABRICS TO DISTRIBUTE
                   FLAME-RESISTANT FABRICS TO THE BEDDING INDUSTRY
  
  HIGH POINT, NC (March 12, 2004) - Culp, Inc. (NYSE:CFI) today announced that its
  Culp Home Fashions division has entered into an agreement with Precision Fabrics
  Group to distribute  flame-resistant  fabrics to Culp's customers in the bedding
  industry.
  
       Based in  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  Precision  Fabrics  Group has been
  producing  flame-resistant  products  for 15 years for use in  airline  seating,
  industrial  protective  apparel  and window  treatments.  After  three  years of
  development,  Precision  Fabrics Group has recently  introduced its SoftGuard TM
  MTP line of products for the bedding industry.  These fabric products consist of
  a  proprietary  blend of fibers  that are  treated  to  provide  superior  flame
  blocking  capability.  The fabrics are  designed to be used between the mattress
  foam and the ticking, or beneath  "sacrificial" layers of fiber or foam, and can
  be used to replace existing fabric and foundation  components.  When this fabric
  is properly  integrated  into a sleep set,  the  bedding  will meet the State of
  California's new open flame mattress flammability standard,  currently scheduled
  to go into effect on January 1, 2005.
  
       Through this new  partnership,  Culp will be the exclusive  distributor  of
  SoftGuard  TM MTP,  marking  the  first  agreement  between a  mattress  ticking
  supplier  and a producer of  flame-resistant  fabrics.  The Culp sales force has
  been extensively trained on the features of SoftGuard TM MTP and will be able to
  make  specific  recommendations  to its  bedding  customers  on the  appropriate
  placement. In addition, Culp plans to devote an entire showroom to the SoftGuard
  TM MTP product line at the upcoming  International  Sleep  Products  Association
  Expo in Indianapolis.
  
       Commenting  on  the  announcement,  Robert  G.  Culp,  IV,  executive  vice
  president  of Culp  Home  Fashions,  said,  "We are very  pleased  to have  this
  opportunity to work with Precision  Fabrics Group in introducing  this important
  product  line to our  bedding  customers.  As a  leading  provider  of  mattress
  ticking,  we want to help our  customers  comply  with the new safety  standards
  being imposed on the bedding  industry.  We believe that adding SoftGuard TM MTP
  to Culp's product line  complements our mattress  ticking  offerings and further
  enhances our competitive position.  We look forward to a successful  partnership
  for both  companies  as we  distribute  SoftGuard  TM MTP products on a national
  level."
  Doug Small,  business  director  for  Precision  Fabric  Group's  SoftGuard
  Technologies, added, "This partnership with Culp represents a unique opportunity
  for Precision  Fabrics Group to leverage the success of an established  industry
  leader and quickly introduce our product to the market.  Production of SoftGuard
  TM MTP products is already underway at our Greensboro plant and we will have the
  ability to meet the bedding industry's foreseeable needs."
  
       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.
  
       Precision   Fabrics  Group,  Inc.  ("PFG")  is  a  privately  held  company
  headquartered   in  Greensboro,   North  Carolina.   The  Company  develops  and
  manufactures  highly engineered woven and non-woven  products for a wide variety
  of technical end uses. PFG's products are used primarily in medical,  protective
  apparel,   home   furnishing,   industrial,   military,   and  consumer  product
  applications.  The Company operates three manufacturing  locations in the United
  States, and has sales offices in Greensboro and Frankfurt, Germany.
  
       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  future  sales,  gross profit
  margins, SG&A or other expenses, and earnings.  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.  In
  addition,  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.  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-