Niche players get chance to shine
Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, April 14, 2003
Well, it came and went, without being particularly dreadful, noteworthy or directional. "It" being the just-concluded furniture market in High Point, of course. No one really expected the market to set records for product introductions, attendance or buying. And it didn't.
But despite what could have been perceived as big negatives, it was amazing how much was achieved all across the market. And it also was surprising how much energy was in evidence during the second week of market, which now truly is the second week.
This was especially true in the middle to upper-middle price segments, and among companies not considered huge volume players. Apparently, when there is a lot of must-see companies along with the biggies who command prime time, lots of these niche players often get short shrift from the retail community.
But with many of the majors opting not to offer huge new collections because of all the potentially negative influences on this market, the opportunities opened up for the second-tier players.
Another positive emerging from this market was the measurable surge in interest at retail in non-furniture product, virtually across the board. Clearly, rugs were the single largest beneficiary of this renewed interest, but folks in furnitureland's retail community also are learning the benefits, both financially and aesthetically, of becoming players in other home goods segments as a boost for their furniture business.
It seems the folks on both the resource and retail sides have been giving a lot of thought to the potential in furniture stores for other home lines, and are beginning to develop product, price points and merchandising approaches that are realistic for furnitureland.
It will be interesting to see how this market's offerings translate at retail.
