Motion upholstery business brisk
Producers scrambling to fill orders
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, April 7, 2002
HIGH POINT — There may have been a recession in the furniture industry last year, but it seems like a distant memory for motion upholstery producers.
The category, in fact, has been all but booming since late last year. Producers have been scrambling to fill orders by working overtime at factories and hiring more workers — but no one is complaining.
"We haven't been in a hiring mode for a long, long time," said Chuck Tidwell, product manager at Franklin. "Our business has been phenomenal."
Tidwell and other executives say no price point and no style seems immune from the boom. They say sales are brisk for promotional, medium and upper-end goods, regardless of whether they have fabric or leather covers, and regardless of whether they have gadgets like telephone jacks and refrigeration units.
"We're finding that consumers have decided to spend money on their home, for a change. And they have chosen to pay attention to comfort," said Paula Hoyas, product manager for motion furniture at La-Z-Boy. "Personal comfort is important to them."
While producers agree that comfort is a critical selling point, they say consumers aren't ignoring fashion and style. That's why, for example, leather and leather/vinyl covers are capturing an increasing chunk of the business.
One of BenchCraft's best-selling fabric motion sectionals, for instance, is now doing considerable volume with a leather/vinyl — despite retailing for an additional $500. And sister company Berkline is having great success with leather programs such as the popular-priced Solano collection, an import collection that incorporates the company's proprietary recliner mechanisms.
"It gives us the ability to combine European styling with American scaling," said Martha Shafer, Berkline's merchandise manager for leather products.
Strange as it may seem, some manufacturers say the recession did produce one noticeable benefit: it forced retailers to try to move virtually everything — including the clunkers — out of their warehouses.
"The slowdown lasted long enough that they cleaned out all the deadwood," said John St. John, product manager for recliners at Flexsteel. "Now, our business is really, really good."
Shown on these pages is a sampling of current best-sellers at retail. A bevy of new products are on tap for this month's High Point market.
| ONE-STOP SEATING The Cool Cat from Catnapper comes with a speakerphone, electric drink cooler and a massage system. |
| PURPLE PANACHE The Branson recliner, retailing for $569, has been a big winner for La-Z-Boy. |
| CORNERED LOT Flexsteel has scored big with its Triton sectional, which retails for $2,995 in leather. |
| MORNING, NOON, NIGHT Lory Ann, made by Canadian producer El Ran, is one of the company's top sellers in the U.S. market. |
| SNAPPY STYLING Lane has been successful with stylish motion groups that have the look of stationary upholstery. |
| REGAL REALITY The Monarch recliner from Franklin hits the popular $499 retail price point with this leather/vinyl cover. |
| LEATHER LUXE BenchCraft's Intrigue sectional, already a best-seller in fabric, is now doing well with a leather/vinyl cover. |
| THE RIGHT TRACK Palliser's popular Tracer series is available in a variety of motion sofa, sectional and recliner configurations. |
| COZY COMFORT Berkline's hot-selling Chicago group features the company's button-activated Wallaway recliner mechanism. |
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Bonded leather making inroads
Sep 3, 2011 -
Motion players draw their share of looks
Aug 3, 2008 -
Motion makers get aggressive with intros
Apr 24, 2005 -
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Jan 8, 2006 -
Motion upholstery spotlights comfort, convenience
Apr 14, 2002
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