Furniture on grow for Macy's West
More free-standing stores possible
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, December 9, 2001
SAN FRANCISCO — Macy's West is set to open a free-standing furniture store in mid-January in Roseville, Calif., and is considering Phoenix for a similar unit.
The Roseville store will join a growing roster of seven free-standing furniture stores, 13 furniture and men's stores, and two full home stores from northern to southern California.
Bob Mettler, president of the 137-store Federated Department Stores division, said Macy's West is scouting other locations, like Phoenix, for furniture units. "I think there are definite opportunities," he said.
The Roseville store, about 20 minutes north of Sacramento, is near a full-line store without furniture that has been very successful. Furniture will have about 40,000 square feet, bedding about 6,000 square feet and floor coverings about 7,000 square feet in the new store.
Macy's West will offer furniture combining strong fashion statements and value, especially in upholstery, said Greg Nash, vice president, divisional merchandise manager for furniture, bedding and rugs.
That approach is illustrated in the February Home Sale book, which will feature some furniture at prices $200 to $300 lower than in August, Nash said.
Important in the mix will be merchandise from Shermag and Century. Microfiber covers are "becoming more and more important, now representing about 10% of the upholstery business, and the price points have dropped from $999 to $799," Nash said.
In addition, Tommy Bahama and Nautica are becoming more important as the brands move deeper into furniture, he said, offering "an important co-branding opportunity."
In furniture, warm contemporary and moderne, with emphasis on mid-century looks, will be a major design statement, said Rich Burford, fashion director, furniture.
Elements include lots of shape, attention to details and pieces that can serve more than one function, Burford said.
Earlier this year, Federated acquired 11 Hawaii-based Liberty House stores and its four specialty stores. Macy's West will operate them, retaining the name. Mettler said the company hopes to add bedding where space allows, using Hawaiian suppliers. Furniture is not now being considered because of the logistical challenges, he said.
Macy's West is eyeing free-standing bedding stores, similar to those at Macy's East, "but we have to see the dollars there before we decide," Mettler said.
| Mettler |
| 1. Palm Court from Jonathan Louis International boasts lots of details: woven split bamboo in a fine weave, antique brass hardware and medallions in the center of the arm fronts. Cotton canvas covers evoke a casual mood. |
| 2. The Nautica dining room from Lexington offers an Asian flavor and is matched to a Nautica armoire, back left, which sports lots of shape and brushed silver details. |
| 3. Natuzzi's Millenium leather is shown in a spare setting with mid-century floor lamps and a crocodile leather ottoman rather than a conventional cocktail table. |
| 4. A combination of materials and textures highlights the Tommy Bahama bedroom from Lexington, featured in a honey finish and with carved pineapple finials. |
| 5. Leathermart's new sectional sports a microfiber cover and is shown with tables in woven water hyacinth from Mirador. The cocktail table offers unique flexibility with four individual tray-top sections on bun feet that can be used together or separately or stacked. |
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