Broad range of beds wins buyer applause
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 28, 2002
High Point — Retailers at market gave good reviews to a broad range of new metal and wood beds, futons and daybeds.
The new looks, including some freshly interpreted tropical styles, will keep the category vibrant, according to producers.
"Metal beds are a great vehicle for retailers to change their floors," said Victor Sawan, president of Wesley Allen, which introduced a record 11 beds this market. "This is a time for retailers to be aggressive."
It is also a time for Wesley Allen to be aggressive, said Sawan. "I don't want to lose a customer because they can't find what they want in our line," he said. "You need to give the customer what the customer wants."
That means a diverse menu of new looks, including leather-and-metal beds, contemporary beds, and more traditional styles.
Fashion Bed Group offered tropical styles, some of which incorporate rattan weave and a braid-like abaca weave.
"Our tropical finishes are doing extremely well," said Ron Ainsworth, president. "Acceptance is very strong. Consumers are starting to buy these finishes all over the country. They aren't just for Florida. Rattan is selling all over the country."
He said retailers embraced the daring new looks, which will help them make distinctive statements.
Another hit for Fashion Bed this market was a gallery of youth beds, featuring some styles from adult-sized beds shown in twin configurations. New metal and metal-and-wood beds provide nice alternatives for retailers who are wood-heavy in their youth bed offerings, Ainsworth said.
Hickory At Home did well with a variety of new looks, including metal beds targeting the hot $199 to $399 price points.
"That's where the volume is," said Eddie Alala Jr., national product manager. "That's what people are looking for."
The producer also showed two new all-wood futon frames.
"Futons are here to stay," Alala said. "Some people thought they were a fad, but they are growing. Consumers are moving up in price points."
Some retailers see wood futons as a step-up product, he said.
Elliott's Designs did well with products its dealers have come to rely on, said Darien Chung, national sales manager. Winners included a new wrap group, a casted sleighbed and an addition to the Urban Collection.
"They are what Elliott's does best — provide a lot of perceived value," Chung said.
Largo, making a splash with its Jaclyn Smith Home collection, hasn't let its metal and wood beds get lost in all the excitement. The company showcased its biggest introduction ever in metal beds in new Connie Post-designed galleries that carry the banner, Retreat To Sleep.
Reports of traffic in metal bed showrooms ranged from good to slow. One executive, Wesley Allen's Sawan, said market authorities need to support a unified opening day. He had retailers coming by his showroom as early as Monday before the official Thursday opening, he said, although he didn't open until Wednesday. Traffic on that day "was surprisingly strong," he said.
Among the other companies with notable metal bed introductions were Amisco, Comfort Designs, Corsican, Founders Furniture, Huppe, Metropolitan Designs and Powell.
