N.C., Calif., Miss., S.C. dealers install Broyhill Showplaces
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 17, 2003
Lenoir, N.C. — Full-line manufacturer and importer Broyhill Furniture here reports continuing success with its Retail Concepts program, particularly the Broyhill Showplace segment that places 12,500-square-foot galleries in dealers' stores.
Showplaces are the newest and largest of three in-store presentations available through the manufacturer.
One of the Showplaces was installed in December, and three more opened in January.
Lowe and Lowe Furniture Co. in Greensboro, N.C., has installed a Broyhill Showplace in its new 37,500-square-foot store. This marks the first Showplace in North Carolina.
The Greensboro store is the second location for owners Jim and Gayle Lowe. They opened their first store in Elkin, N.C., in early 2002. The 35,000-square-foot Elkin store also has a Broyhill Showcase Gallery. The store is managed by their son, Jay Lowe.
The Greensboro store is managed by Brian Stanley.
In Rancho Cordova, Calif., Naturwood Furniture has installed the first Broyhill Showplace on the West Coast.
John Keyes is owner of the business, which was founded by his father Walter Keyes in 1946. Naturwood had its beginnings as an unfinished furniture retailer in Seattle. Two years later, Walter Keyes relocated to California, where he expanded his operation.
In 1958, Walter died, leaving his 17-year-old son, John, to manage the business. Today, Naturwood has over 140,000-square-feet of selling floor space with two stores and a clearance center.
Prior to becoming a Showplace dealer, Naturwood had had a smaller Broyhill Showcase Gallery since 1993.
In Hattiesburg, Miss., Andreas Galleries of Fine Furniture has opened its Broyhill Showplace. This marks the second Showplace to open in the state of Mississippi.
Owners Ricky and Denise Hill opened Andreas in Hattiesburg in 1991 as a second location for Crocker Furniture in Laurel, Miss., which was founded by Denise's father, Charles Crocker, in 1948.
In Beaufort, S.C., Furniture Warehouse Design Gallery has expanded its Broyhill offerings by installing a new Showplace.
Furniture Warehouse opened in 1972 in a 6,000-square-foot store in historic downtown Beaufort. After many additions to the old location, the decision was made in 1998 to relocate to a new 60,000-square-foot store just outside Beaufort.
Larry Mark, president of Furniture Warehouse Design Gallery, said, "In 31 years of doing business, the Showplace grand opening was by far our strongest retail event."
Broyhill Furniture Inds., founded in 1905, produces a full range of bedroom, dining room, upholstery, home office and occasional groups and wall systems.
Other elements of the Broyhill Retail Concepts program include Broyhill Home Collection stores, Broyhill Showcase Galleries, and Broyhill Furniture Centers.
Broyhill is owned by Furniture Brands International, the nation's largest furniture manufacturer.
