Dealers install Lane galleries in stores across the country
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 10, 2003
Tupelo, Miss. — Lane Home Furnishings, a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International, has opened a number of galleries across the country.
Globe Furniture of Chillicothe, Ohio, has dedicated 3,000-square-feet of the store's 50,000-square-feet to a Lane Comfort Furnishings gallery.
Globe was opened in 1905 and is owned and operated by the fourth and fifth generation of the Friedman family. The store is on historic Main Street in the downtown area.
Kueblers Furniture in Redding, Calif., has a dedicated Lane Comfort Furnishings space of 3,100-square-feet. The 25,000-square-foot store is located on Churchcreek Street and has been in the Redding area since 1989. Kueblers has a total of five stores.
Two retailers in Florida and Alabama have dedicated a quarter of their showroom space to Lane Comfort Furnishings galleries.
Airport Furniture in Panama City, Fla., has dedicated 4,900 square feet in its 20,000-square-foot store to the gallery. Tom and Carolyn Caulkins own and operate the store.
Harvey's Home Furnishings in Jackson, Ala., has a 10,000-square-foot store, with 2,500-square-feet dedicated to Lane product. Terry Harvey is the owner/operator.
Mike McClure, owner of Furniture Warehouse Showroom, in Lyman, S.C., has opened a second store in Spartanburg, S.C., dedicated to Lane furniture The new store is 9,500 square feet.
"Two years ago, we opened a 6,500-square-foot Lane Comfort Showcase in our Lyman location," McClure said. "In the second year, our Lane sales jumped over 200%. With this success, we decided to open a second store and dedicate it to Lane product."
Additionally, two Lane Comfort Showcase in-store galleries have opened. Williams Furniture, a 57 year-old store in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a 5,000-square-foot gallery. Star Furniture in Clarksburg, W.Va., has a 6,000-square-foot gallery.
Simply Country, a store in Sonora, Calif., has opened a 3,700-square-foot Lane Comfort Furnishings gallery.
June and D.C. Canada, owners of Bond Furniture in Loveland, Ohio, have expanded their Lane offerings, dedicating 6,000-square-feet to the manufacturer. The move makes Bond Furniture a Lane Comfort Showcase dealer. It previously was a Lane Comfort Furnishings retailer. Bond, a full-line furniture store, has been a Lane dealer since its inception in 1965. The store is located in historic downtown Loveland, a suburb of Cincinatti.
Mike Skinner, owner of M&S Furniture in Philadelphia, Miss., has opened a remodeled showroom that features drive-by-viewing windows and a 3,500-square-foot Lane Comfort Furnishings gallery. M&S carries the full line of Lane products in its 24,000-square-foot building, half of which is used as showroom space.
Lane Comfort Furnishings and Lane Comfort Showcase galleries are marketing agreements between retailers and the manufacturer. The programs are similar, with Showcases devoting more space to Lane product.
Lane Home Furnishings makes and imports case goods and upholstery, including motion furniture and recliners.
