Youth furniture vendors do well at Las Vegas Market
Companies report positive vibes
Lisa Casinger -- Furniture Today, March 16, 2009
LAS VEGAS — Most youth furniture vendors here were pleasantly surprised at the Las Vegas Market, not only at the positive vibes from retailers but also with orders.
Geoff Jackson, president of Bolton Furniture, said the company did well with Café Loft, a system with a twin bed on top and a twin on bottom that converts to a table and benches, reminiscent of a camper.
 Bolton’s Café Loft comes in four finishes, shown here in honey, and includes the lower mattress, $999. |
Youth represents about 25% of Coaster's business. Toby Konetzny, director of marketing, said while the company's showroom attendance was down 15%, sale were up.
Powell brought several new youth groups to market, including Rock N Roll and Lindsay, but its ongoing top sellers remain Z Bedroom, Shiver Me Timbers and Monster.
Sean Slack, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for Powell, said the company's youth business was up 33% in 2008 and January 2009 was up 27% from a year earlier. Powell rolled out its youth gallery program last year and has 19 retailers signed up for the program, with five up and running.
Domestic manufacturers including Khoury, Trendwood, John Boyd Designs and Trend Manor said they've seen an increase in business as youth furniture buyers look for U.S.-made product in an effort to escape the worry over the latest federal regulations on lead and phthalates.
At Khoury, which introduced cribs at the market, CEO Daniel Khoury said his company "meets and exceeds any standard out there."
