More case goods than usual introduced in Tupelo
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, March 2, 2003
Tupelo, Miss. — Buyers had boatloads of new case goods to check out at market here.
Tupelo typically is a place where many wood companies show furniture previously introduced in San Francisco or High Point. But that changed this market for a variety of reasons.
Tupelo is more relaxed than High Point, said Phil Miller, vice president and general manager of bedroom and youth resource Founders Furniture, and retailers have more time to look at new product and offer feedback. Founders usually has a few new items here, and a small area devoted to prototypes.
The company expects more traffic here than at High Point premarket, which starts March 3, Miller said, so he hears the opinions of more customers in Tupelo. He said he relies on retailer feedback to improve product.
The West Coast dock shutdown last fall has had an impact on introductions. Some companies had goods stuck on boats during the October market, and this led to more new goods showing up at San Francisco and Tupelo.
Master Design delved into mixed media for the first time last fall, but some of those imported pieces were delayed by the West Coast work stoppage, said Norm Joslyn, president of sales and marketing. Several introductions are on tap for April market, he said.
New home entertainment walls will be shown in April and also next October, Joslyn said, because the company doesn't want to overwhelm buyers with too much at once. Also, the early dates for market this spring are hindering Master Design and other manufacturers from getting goods ready in time, he said.
The early April market led Global Furniture to preview a few new pieces here. Arlington Elm is a 20-piece collection with 18th century influences that will debut in High Point, but Global showed the solid-wood sleigh bed, dresser and mirror here. Jack DeBonis, president and chief executive officer, said the sleigh bed with rails will retail for $699, while the 36-inch-tall dresser will retail for $599.
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