Casual dining mfrs. broadening scope
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, April 19, 2004
HIGH POINT — HIGH POINT — Casual dining furniture has come a long way from dinette sets as producers blur the line between their goods and formal dining.
Casual dining once was synonymous with small, cheap and low on style. While manufacturers still need those promotional goods in their lines, the fastest-growing segments of business are in better goods.
With the advent of the great room concept, many families moved the dining table from the dining room to the family area. Smaller tables fit better in these multipurpose rooms, so case goods manufacturers like Kincaid and Universal began marketing small formal dining sets.
Casual dining companies have responded, not only looking to reclaim their share of the market with more-stylish designs, but also by going after the formal dining category.
This market, casual dining leader Canadel will offer tables up to 128 inches long, with all the leg and base options featured in its style book, according to Jean Deveault, vice president of sales and marketing.
To accompany these larger varieties, Canadel is adding four case goods pieces to each series — a server, dry goods pantry, pantry cabinet and a 72-inch buffet/hutch.
Canadel has been a leader, in style and sizes, for casual dining, said Deveault. "Now, we want to repeat the same success in the dining room section, always with our palette of options."
The list of other sources showing small-sized formal sets this market includes Ital Art Design, HomElegance, APA Marketing and Coaster.
Coaster used to be known for its imported dinette sets, but over the past few years, the company has grown its line to include products in many styles and better price points.
Coaster has never really pursued master dining before, but will enter the category this market, said Sam Contreras, product manager. The tables and cases for the six collections will be bigger and grander, he said.
The company's strategy is to provide a wide breadth of offerings and become a one-stop destination for retailers, Contreras explained. Dining furniture takes up 130 pages of Coaster's latest catalog and makes up about 20% of its sales.
APA Marketing is making its largest dining introduction ever with 17 groups in both casual and upscale designs. They include Lodi, an upscale country collection; Roanoke, upscale mixed media; and Mesa, upscale urban contemporary.
Contemporary is a key style this market in casual dining. Master Design is bringing out a modern collection in oak and another in maple. Others showing contemporary include A-America, Amisco, Chromcraft, Cramco, Pastel, Primo Designs and Saloom.
Higher tables continue to sell well. This market, Cramco is featuring Stormy and Cobbler, two counter-height bistro sets with return-swivel stools. APA's Mesa comes in standard and counter heights. Master Designs' contemporary groups come in counter height.
Saloom has 65 tables now offered in pub and counter heights with a variety of top options. The company also now offers its three best-selling swivel stools in pub and counter heights.
Companies also have developed more pieces for the kitchen and family area this market, such as islands, cases, bars and wine storage furniture.
Ligo Products' Hampton group has two solid-wood kitchen carts with granite tops. Powell introduces Kitchen Butlers, four mobile kitchen carts with granite and wood tops. APA is adding five counter-height dining islands.
Wine storage is a popular function across several categories, including casual dining, formal dining and occasional furniture. Hooker Furniture and MagnussenHome have wine armoires, Powell offers a cellarette, and Stanley has a wine cooler.
Several companies are offering home bars this market, ranging from small pieces that can fit in any room to Hooker's large bar with canopy. Ashford Place from Regency House has a dozen pieces of bars and barstools. Stanley's Beau Nouveau, in materials such as cathedral walnut, African crotch mahogany and polished Zebrano woods, includes a mirrored bar and a martini bar.
