Logistics will co-star at this market
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, April 14, 2002
From all reports so far, this year should shape up as pretty good for most everyone in the consumer products arena. And furniture should be no exception.
According to conversations we've had over the last month with furniture makers and retailers, business today remains erratic — one day or week way up, another day or week way down. But, overall, it looks pretty good, and for some even super good.
Lots of retailers have tidied up their inventories in recent months, leaving them in a situation where they are looking for new things — but not too different. It's not a time, a number of them say, to go out on a limb, but yet there is a need for freshness and newness.
Then there's the housing market, which has continued its strong pace despite a blip here and there. If all goes according to conventional wisdom, furniture business should show a big uptick over the next six months. But this is not an era of conventional wisdom, so lots of hard work will be needed to make this happen.
So, this week's furniture market should be one of the more interesting of the semiannual events.
Product, of course, will play an important role, as it should. But co-starring with it will be the role of logistics — getting the stuff from the source to the consumer in a radically changed time frame.
The market might well take heed of a broadcast campaign run by Raymour & Flanigan in upstate New York. The thrust of the program is the retailer's three-day guaranteed delivery. And then they mention all the name brands involved.
On the resource side, Lane is touting its new ability to ship case goods and upholstery together.
Neither may be revolutionary, but in furnitureland, each is something to give pause as market unfolds.
-
Buyers' shopping lists full at High Point Market
Apr 20, 2012 -
Buyers looking for goods at Las Vegas Market
Jan 24, 2011 -
Buyers seek fresh looks, values
Nov 4, 2011 -
Closeouts, fill-in inventory sought in Tupelo
Feb 18, 2011 -
Furniture business on an upswing
Apr 17, 2010
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
