Leather still has kick
Tupelo hosts more newcomers, startups
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, February 29, 2004
TUPELO, Miss. — TUPELO, Miss. — Leather upholstery is still kicking up dust, with new manufacturers and importers joining the old ones at the just-concluded Tupelo market.
Newcomers and startups, including MAK Distribution, Ilami Imports, T.J. Furniture International and Infinity Leather, joined established leather producers, and the amount of leather upholstery brought in from offshore continued to grow.
Frames flaunting exposed wood were prevalent at Acme, Collezione Europa and Davis. Various traditional and transitional looks were popular at Crown Mark, Kathy Ireland Home by Standard, Leather Bella, Leather Italia, Mayo, Niroflex and others. Coaster stepped up with the New Yorker, a clean contemporary silhouette with tufted back, priced at $999.
Riding a growth wave
"Leather remains the fastest- growing segment of our business," said Tim Connors, vice president of sales and merchandising at Collezione Europa, which entered the category 18 months ago. "Since midsummer, it has exploded."
The Englewood, N.J.-based importer increased its leather offerings from seven to 30, with another 22 frames to be added at High Point in April.
"It's becoming a dominant business for us and retailers are giving up space for it," Connors said. As it mines the exposed-wood niche, Collezione Europa has "hooked into collections" with matching wood looks for bedroom, dining room and living room, he said.
Leather also is growing in importance for Davis International, which relies on cut-and-sew from China. Davis offers two-week delivery on a line it warehouses in nearby Okolona, Miss. "It's an asset that we can mix sofa frames on the same truck as bedroom or dining room," said Ted Jarnagin, corporate team leader.
Using a mix of traditional, transitional and exposed wood frames, Davis attracted buyers scouting good looks at good prices, he said.
Ben Mayo, project engineer for upholstery maker Mayo, which has built its year-old leather operation to 10 frames, said business is "looking a lot better than a few months ago. Things have definitely picked up."
Tony Pellegrini, sales manager for Leather Bella, said, "People are ready to spend again. Orders have been coming in."
Positioning itself as an alternative to Chinese sourcing, first-timer MAK Distribution offered leather and microfiber upholstery, as well as case goods, from five Polish producers.
A successful debut
"Our prices are higher than China but lower than Western Europe. What distinguishes us is quality and design," said Kris Samecki, marketing coordinator.
The upholstery lines include Kler, a well-known European traditional leather brand, and Meble Plast, for contemporary microfiber and leather special orders.
MAK had a successful debut, scoring well with an overscaled exposed wood frame sofa sporting a "Texas look," Samecki said.
Also new to Tupelo was Ilami Imports, a Dallas-based upholstery manufacturer, importer and retailer. The company has begun exhibiting at shows in Nevada, New Jersey and Florida as well as in Tupelo, said Essi Ilami, president.
"We offer high-end looks at a medium price," said Sales Manager Kristi Matthews. Half the contemporary custom line is produced in Texas with Italian hides, supplemented by imports from Italy and China. Many of its offerings are reproductions of designer looks, including a two-piece sectional on chrome legs and a double-chaise edged in contrasting welt.
Second times around
In its second outing here, T.J. Furniture International, an importer of finished leather frames from Thailand, capitalized on its warehousing out of Tupelo, said Ron Bolen, president of export development. T.J.'s loose-cushion sofas, in traditional and transitional styling, retail from $699 to $999.
Infinity Leather, also in its second time here, is finding a niche with warehousing and container programs. Its competitively priced in-stock program offers Brazilian-made traditional styles for $799 to $999 retail, while its container prices allow $699 to $899 on the same nine frames, said David Sisk, president of the Tupelo startup.
Sisk was kept busy at market writing orders. Midsized regional dealers were pleased by the opportunities presented by a quick-delivery program from a warehouse based in northern Mississippi, he said.
Racing Furniture, in its Tupelo debut, offered NASCAR-emblazoned leather sofas and Victory Seats — $99 retail beanbag chairs — all imported from China.
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