LeatherTrend to launch fabric unit
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, March 24, 2002
TIJUANA , Mexico — Leather-Trend has created its own fabric division and will present its initial product offerings to key retailers here in July, before an official High Point rollout in October.
Industry veteran Mike Larkey has been named president of the new division, called R&R Upholstery. He was most recently executive vice president of Gardena, Calif.-based upholstery resource Jonathan Louis and previously was merchandise manager for Seattle retailer Bon Marche.
In a related move, the company has promoted Bryant Dickens to president of LeatherTrend and its high-volume division LeatherMart. Dickens, formerly group vice president of sales for the leather programs, joined the company six years ago after a 10-year career with La-Z-Boy.
Luana Davis also has been promoted to executive vice president of product development and design for leather and fabric upholstery, from vice president of product development and special accounts.
Two years ago, LeatherTrend launched a microfiber line that will now be the cornerstone of its mid- to better-priced fabric program.
"While continuing our commitment to the leather business, which continues to grow, the new fabric division represents a further enhancement of our microfiber business," said Noel Robinson, group chairman of parent company Robinson & Robinson. "We are becoming a total upholstery resource."
In addition to the Caress microfiber line, which will be expanded into a good/better/best story, R&R Upholstery will source the world to incorporate linen, chenille and other fresh covers into casual, slipcover and exposed wood looks.
"We believe there is room for a LeatherTrend-type company on the fabric side, with adherence to the same levels of quality, consistency and service," said Peter Robinson, group president.
R&R Upholstery will offer chairs, chaises and storage ottomans as well as sofas, Larkey said.
Consolidation of space at the Robinsons' 500,000 square-foot complex in an industrial park here provided 120,000 square feet for the new venture. While all management posts have been filled, R&R Upholstery expects to hire and/or train nearly 300 local workers.
With the addition of the fabric division and other improvements, Noel Robinson is eyeing $250 million in annual sales by 2005-06. He said LeatherTrend/LeatherMart's U.S. sales volume is more than $150 million.
The fabric division represents a return to their roots for the British-born Robinson brothers. In 1989, the brothers sold their family's 50-year-old upholstery business in England and moved to America.
A year later, they launched Robinson and Robinson as a manufacturer of leather seating with the LeatherTrend and LeatherMart brands.
"I guess it's in our blood," Peter Robinson said. "It was a natural development."
The Robinsons are exploring types of upholstery construction and how the sales network will be formulated.
Other management changes include the promotion of Bill Pirtle to executive vice president of LeatherTrend and LeatherMart. He had been vice president of sales for LeatherMart and its InstantLeather quick-ship component. Gary Margossian, formerly vice president of operations for LeatherTrend, was elevated to executive vice president of operations for LeatherTrend and LeatherMart.
On the fabric side, Christopher Thorpe was promoted to executive vice president of operations for R&R Upholstery, from vice president of operations for LeatherMart.
Martin Chapman was promoted to executive vice president of information services and technology.
| Such microfiber styles as this three-piece contemporary sectional have laid the foundation for a full-fledged fabric upholstery program in LeatherTrend's new fabric division, R&R Upholstery. |
| Larkey |
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