Usually you will want to strip it before you stain. In many cases, it will be hard to find an exact-match to the existing stain and even if you do get lucky enough to get a close match, there is no guarantee that the stain will absorb in the same way.
Depending on the damage / wear and tear, you might try putting a coating of Old English furniture polish on it before you go to the trouble of stripping and re-staining. I have found that you can often times get light surface scratches, etc, out with it. ... View related article.
Formica is both a company and brand name for thier laminate products. Many times people will use the term interchangeably when talking about laminate countertops, etc. It is kind of unfortunate for them, as I think they actually produce a number of other products as well. :D
(I don't work for them but, if you want to check out thier product offerings, I'd suggest visiting thier website.)
