Buyers seek extras in home entertainment
By Heath E. Combs and Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, February 16, 2009
LAS VEGAS — LAS VEGAS — Last week's market was a fruitful one for home entertainment vendors, especially those with a little something extra to offer retailers.
Products attracting interest included large entertainment centers like Riverside's half-oval Delcastle and Aspenhome's Barola Grand Entertainment Wall, measuring 132 inches wide and made to accommodate a 60-inch television.
But much smaller bedroom consoles also drew attention.
Sligh had items at both ends of the size spectrum. The Laredo Entertainment Wall, 110 inches tall and featuring a lift-top design to fit large flat-panel televisions, continued to get positive feedback from dealers, said Bob Kreter, marketing communications manager.
Sligh also did well with its new popular-priced brand Loft 102, addressing 32-inch and below TVs with retail pricing in the $599 to $899 retail range.
“We're still seeing caution and calculated purchases among dealers but we're feeling good about what they're telling us,” Kreter said.
Signature Home Furnishings, showing with about 50% more space this market, had success with two thinner lift-top consoles in traditional and contemporary styles, said Gene Head, vice president of design and marketing. Signature also did well with four groups featuring a patented dresser mirror that slides down, revealing a concealed television.
“Every market we get more dealers on board for this,” Head said. “As the economy started going down, these have continued to stay up.”
Lane Home Furnishings focused largely on its living room and home entertainment offerings in Las Vegas, said President Skipper Holliman. Items range from sectionals and home theater walls to TV consoles.
“We are focusing on anything in the living room and around the TV,” he said, adding that dealer interest in the program was strong at market. This was largely due to ongoing promotional activity surrounding its Lane Home Entertainment tour, which includes an 18-wheeler that houses a 1,000-square-foot mobile showroom featuring mostly home entertainment-related goods.
Home entertainment also was a winner at case goods manufacturer Fairmont Designs, which is pushing to capture market share in the category now that flat-panel TVs have become more affordable.
“The flat-panel TVs have dropped in price and are more affordable to the consumer,” said Steve York, vice president of merchandising. “We are giving them a better vehicle to put that TV on.”
Case goods manufacturer New Classic Home Furnishings also received strong response in the category with consoles priced to retail between $199 and $350. Michele McPherson, general manager, said dealers liked the fact that door panels are interchangeable in glass, wood or speaker fabric.
Companies such as Fairmont, New Classic and Somerton also showed new media chests for use in the bedroom or living room settings.
Magnussen Home received strong dealer response on 56-inch TV consoles with a number of functional features and retailing at $699.
Legends Furniture received positive dealer response to two new domestic entertainment collections, including the Plantation-style Morgan Ridge and a clean-lined contemporary group called Urban Loft. Each featured 32-inch, 48-inch and 56-inch TV carts and consoles priced from $199 to around $399.
Dealers also liked the fact that a number of these also were available in different configurations. said Tim Donk, director of marketing for Legends.
-
Buyers seek extras in home entertainment
Feb 13, 2009
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
