Wood arena adds pizzazz
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, March 2, 2003
Tupelo, Miss. — Retailers shopping for deals at the Tupelo Furniture Market found new promotional and lower-medium priced case goods with added pizzazz and style.
In casual dining, Bernards Furniture was one of a number of companies stepping up dining sets in looks and price to the $399 and $499 retail range. Dale Ward, vice president of sales, said young adults still need furniture they can afford, so Bernards also unveiled five table and chair groups, one with gunmetal finish and oak veneer tabletop, to retail at $199.
Hart Furniture strengthened its promotional bedroom line with three new collections hitting $399 retail for four-piece groups. Chris Hart, president and chief operating officer, said consumers are cashing tax refund checks and making purchases, so this is a good time for retailers to restock entry-level goods.
The 2600 Country Cove collection has a honey pine finish, while 2700 Southwind sports a cherry finish, both medium finishes that are strong right now, Hart said. Styles seem to be coming back to the middle after swinging first to dark then to light finishes over the past year and a half, he said.
Hart's third collection, 4200 Magic Nights, is more experimental with a dark, blue/purple finish called Mystic Marble. Accents and hardware have a silver finish, while the headboard includes a mirror, giving the collection a trendy look.
Also filtering down to lower price points are larger beds. One example, South Shore's new 345 group, has thick columns on the bed and a "sand and shell" laminate surface on the headboard, footboard and cases.
Founders Furniture added a power bed to its successful introduction from last year, Splash, in bright Bermuda Blue finish. A new look for Founders was Studio, a group based on silhouettes brought out in 2001. Its paper laminate finish has a cherry grain pattern with a translucent black finish.
Orleans displayed a new paper finish treatment on Forgotten Treasures. The rustic collection features worn edges and aged paint on an oak grain paper with antique whitewash finish. Tom Klinkert, vice president of sales and marketing, said the bedroom suite retails for $1,099.
Higdon Furniture showed off a new paper treatment with a more-realistic look. The Cedar Creek group has a pine grain pattern that gives the illusion of depth and knots, said Danielle Grimes, director of sales and marketing. The collection includes both master bedroom pieces and juvenile items like a student desk and slender dresser.
Two-tone finishes are hot for South Shore, which is strong in contemporary laminates with a natural wood look but has found success mixing the natural look with colors. The company's top collection is the 404 group with a blue and maple combination. Another colorful introduction is the 496 with a red and maple finish, part of South Shore's new youth group, the Freedom collection.
Smilze introduced a simple, quick-ship white youth group at attractive price points that can be decorated with packages of themed hardware and accents, said owner Gerald Hughes. Themes include Cowboy, Butterfly, Sports, Under the Sea, Transportation and Purse, and Hat & Shoe. The suite — bed, nightstand, dresser, four-drawer chest and mirror — is offered via direct container at $1,099 retail or out of the warehouse at $1,599.
Transworld Inds. said it had a winner with its Newzoo line of sports-themed bunk beds. The collection includes a twin-over-full bunk with a football or basketball motif. Colors can be customized to match popular college and professional sports teams, said President Earl Magdovitz. The beds retail for $399 and a matching metal locker is $99.
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