Arbek leaves San Fran, will show at factory
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, January 6, 2002
CHINO, Calif — CHINO, Calif. — Case goods and occasional producer Arbek Mfg. has pulled out of the San Francisco market and will show in a much larger area at its corporate office here, then will exhibit in Las Vegas when that market reaches fruition.
Arbek won't be at this month's San Francisco Winter Market, said President Carlos Morales.
It's the latest big change for the company, which also recently entered a new product category, home entertainment furniture — taking up where its defunct neighbor, Great American Oak, left off. After Great American Oak ceased production in the fall, its vice president of sales, Duane Utt, approached Arbek with home entertainment product ideas and his former client list. Arbek liked the idea and named Utt sales manager of a newly created home entertainment division. Some former Great American Oak sales representatives also have joined the Arbek team.
"With our expansion into home entertainment furniture and new developments looming for our domestically produced bedroom collections, as well as imports, we have need for much more display space to showcase the Arbek lines," Morales said.
Having the showroom in Chino will give dealers the chance to see the factory and product displays on short notice, Morales added, since sales executives will always be on hand.
Right now, Utt said, Arbek is planning a show for retailers here in February.
If Las Vegas's proposed 7.5 million-square-foot World Market Center becomes a reality, Arbek will take part. Developers of the Las Vegas project expect to have their first furniture market in early 2004.
"We're probably one of the first bunch to sign up for Las Vegas," said Morales. "That's where our focus has been for a period of time."
He said Arbek will continue to show in High Point.
| Morales |
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