Sklar Peppler opens first freestanding U.S. store
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, January 20, 2003
Boca Raton, Fla. — A new Sklar Furnishings store here is the first freestanding unit in the United States for Canadian upholstery producer Sklar Peppler.
Owned and operated by industry veterans Rick and Pat Howard, the 20,000-square-foot store is in the heart of this city's furniture district.
Meanwhile, the 14th freestanding Sklar Peppler Showcase store in Canada has opened in Calgary, Alberta. The 25,000-square-foot unit is a division of Alberta Fine Furniture, a multi-banner retailer owned by brothers Cliff and Stanley Eisenberg.
Gerry Modjeski, the manufacturer's executive vice president, said the new stores represent "our vision of what Sklar Peppler stores should look like."
Sklar has been expanding its dedicated distribution program to strengthen its brand name, he said. "The Sklar Peppler brand is very strong in Canada and we want to build it into a strong brand in the U.S."
The company's retail program differs somewhat from those offered by other manufacturers. Sklar is a stationary upholstery producer and occasional table importer and works with its retailers to floor products in other categories as well.
"While we are the dominant stationary upholstery producer in each store, we recognize that we have to offer a complete product lineup to the consumer," Modjeski said. "We work with the retailer to source case goods and other products that will complement the Sklar Peppler stationary upholstery line."
The Boca Raton store, for instance, is flooring case goods from Hooker and motion furniture from American Leather. In Calgary, Sklar upholstery is teamed with case goods from Hooker and Villageois and motion upholstery from Palliser.
"Because we wanted a fuller, more complete furniture store, we supplement our 10,000 square feet of Sklar Peppler upholstery with non-conflicting product," said Cliff Eisenberg, vice president of Alberta Furniture.
Also featured in both new stores are complete bedding departments, anchored on a newly introduced line of Sklar Peppler mattresses and foundations. "We're working with an established bedding manufacturer to make a Sklar Peppler brand premium quality, well priced mattress," Modjeski said.
He said the stores also are merchandised in style categories ranging from country to casual, traditional and contemporary.
Sklar will move aggressively in the next few years to expand the network of independently owned and operated stores. The company is looking at four to six stores a year, and Modjeski said he anticipates opening more stores in Florida soon to maximize the return on ad dollars spent to promote the first unit there.
"We believe we are giving strong independent retailers a strong brand to work with in their own trading areas," he said. "We don't want to be a retailer — we want to work with strong independent retailers. These are operating partnerships."
Eisenberg said he's enthusiastic about the Sklar store, and noted that Alberta Furniture has been buying from Sklar Peppler for a long time.
"We have a very old relationship with Sklar," he said. "In fact, our Alberta Home Interiors stores carried Peppler furniture before the two companies merged."
In addition to Alberta Home Interiors, the Eisenbergs operate two other stores — Roxton House and Eisenberg's Fine Furniture — as well as the Sklar Peppler Showcase.
The Sklar store includes a design resource center, complete with video imaging and areas for home planning and demonstrations. The store also has a children's play area and a cappuccino bar. The Sklar Peppler Sleep Shop has its own entrance.
Eisenberg said the Sklar format is part of Alberta Furniture's plan to break out of Calgary and into other markets in Alberta and British Columbia.
"It is out intention to open addition locations in our region," he said. "We're looking for potential markets."
