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Tupelo busy at opening

Attendance, buying interest up since August

By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, February 24, 2002

TUPELO — Smiles bloomed freely at the Tupelo Furniture Market last week as manufacturers reported strong business on opening day.

Parking lots overflowed more than usual, becoming crowded even before the official start on Thursday, in contrast to the reduced attendance at the last market in August.

"Pre-shoppers were very enthused about our look and our price," said Joseph Suyatno, president of newcomer New Pacific Direct, a California-based importer of wood and rattan living room, dining room and occasional pieces.

Suyatno said the company came to Tupelo to broaden its customer base. Established in Indonesia 20 years ago, New Pacific Direct launched its American division two years ago and just completed its third San Francisco market.

"We wrote a lot of business on Wednesday," said Tom Klinkert, vice president of sales and marketing for case goods and occasional producer Orleans.

Drawing interest were sliding door collectors' cabinets ranging from 25 inches to 40 inches wide, and home entertainment pieces, a category Orleans entered last April.

Dennis Moody, regional vice president of sales at motion upholstery and recliner source Catnapper, said his company's showroom was extremely busy on Wednesday and stayed brisk after that.

He said a new leather program featuring a motion sofa at $999 and a recliner at $599 was popular with dealers because the models are available in seven colors that are all in stock.

Sofas with faux suede and chenille covers fueled PeopLoungers' brisk start, said Vandy Baker, vice president of merchandising at the motion specialist. During the market's opening days, a new reclining sofa with a faux suede cover at $799 was especially popular, as was a new leather sofa at $999.

"Retail has been great lately," said Baker. "We can't get product to our dealers fast enough."

Garry Chute, vice president of sales and marketing at upholstery producer Skyline, said shoppers were "extremely interested" in the Emperor's Collection, which debuted at the San Francisco market. The collection's Victorian high-back sofa retails at $1,149 in all-leather or $999 in leather-vinyl.

Business Editor Larry Thomas and Leather Editor Joan Gunin contributed to this article.

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