Home entertainment remains a bright spot
By Tom Edmonds -- Furniture Today, January 26, 2003
San Francisco — Home entertainment continues to be an industry bright spot, and this was reflected in market showrooms here, with introductions ranging from compact TV stands to sprawling home theater configurations.
A broad spectrum of styles also was evident although, befitting the West Coast market, the designs leaned toward the casual.
As in other furniture categories, imports from Asia and Central America demanded attention because of their aggressive pricing.
Technology is still the engine pushing entertainment furniture into new shapes and sizes. With the evolution of TVs, surround sound and other home theater components, entertainment furniture producers and retailers have a helpful ally in the electronics industry.
"Entertainment is the only exciting category (in furniture) mainly because the electronics manufacturers are ... creating demand for larger and larger screens with a variety of different shapes," said Jeff Grubb, president of The Orman Grubb Co.
Before the end of next year, he predicted, virtually all new TVs will be in wide-screen format, which will continue to drive demand for entertainment furniture.
But throwing the same-old styles on retail floors just won't work, which may explain the response to Orman Grubb's new Victory collection, an updated British campaign rendition. "It's working because it's a fresh style," he said.
The wholesale shift in TV shapes and sizes seems to be creating at least a temporary advantage for domestic producers.
"Right now, the electronics industry is changing so fast that it's pretty difficult to keep up," said Steve Berglund, president of Surewood Oak, which imports and produces domestically. For now, it's easier for the domestic factory to respond to the new TVs, he said.
When families install massive new walls of furniture for home theater electronics, they often will need other pieces that match, and La Hacienda, a fast-growing, three-year-old factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, responded with table groups that coordinate with its entertainment centers.
"Our dealers seem to appreciate the ability to create a unified room," said President Ralph Orozco, adding that massive new Lodge-style walls and tables are fueling additional growth for La Hacienda.
If there is any single style that dominates this category, it's Mission. Berglund said Surewood makes more than 50 styles of TV stands and wall systems, but that Mission currently is the hottest.
At Noble Concepts, President Randy Passanisi said much the same thing. "Maybe 10 years ago, Mission would pop its head up and go back down again," he said. "Now, everyone wants Mission."
For this market, Noble expanded its Mission program with a corner entertainment unit, with solid-wood fronts and tops, retailing from $1,599.
While most entertainment introductions leaned toward the reconfigured but still familiar shapes, a few reflected more radical ideas. Stuart's Furniture unveiled an entertainment center, shaped a bit like a buffet and hutch, designed for a large plasma TV. APA Marketing and its new Encore division brought another design for the thin-profile plasma sets. The cabinet features a motor that raises and lowers the TV out of or into sight.
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