Culp updates image
Bright new showroom opens
By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, January 9, 2005
High Point — It's finally Showtime for Culp Inc., which today is opening the first part of its new home on Eastchester Drive.
The spacious, light-filled building's ground floor of more than 18,000 square feet is designed to showcase fabric and to present a radically updated image of the textile company, which was founded here in 1972.
Juxtaposing industrial elements such as aircraft cable struts and open ceilings with natural-finished maple shelves and enormous windows, the showroom also is designed to be a destination for buyers at the Showtime fabric show — which runs today through Thursday — and the International Home Furnishings Market.
One shuttle will run during markets between downtown High Point to the building at 1823 Eastchester Drive, about three miles due north. Two more shuttles are available to pick up customers who call from any location in town; the number is (336) 848-2857.
Culp spent about $3.85 million for the building and an additional, undisclosed amount to upgrade and alter the interiors of all three floors. The company plans to move its offices from downtown to the building before the April furniture market, when the remodeling of the upper floors is finished.
Teresa Huffman, Culp's assistant vice president of human resources, spearheaded the project and gave Furniture/Today a sneak peek last week.
"We wanted a clean, open, neutral backdrop for our fabric introductions," she said. "For the first floor — which is a dedicated showroom — we worked with Ginsberg, a Charlotte, N.C.-based design firm that has done work for high-profile retailers like the Gap, Ann Taylor and Apple computer stores. The proof is in the pudding, of course, and we think our customers and our employees are going to love this."
Although the floors, furnishings and most walls will be black, white, gray or beige, each market will have a feature color in signage and certain walls. This season, it's paprika.
In addition to showrooms, the first floor has a coffee bar and entertainment area, and a space with seating and museum-like acrylic panels illustrating five steps in the production process from concept to finished product in the Culp Velvet Print and the Culp Decorative Fabrics lines. A business center for customers has several computer-equipped workstations and copy and fax machines.
A collaborative work area on the first floor has seating, work tables and wall clips for samples. It doubles as party space when needed.
A dining room and an oversized kitchen will be used daily during markets for breakfast and lunch buffets, and customers can book the dining area for dinner as well. Outside, a brick patio can host outdoor events like barbecues.
A large conference room and a private dining room round out the main features of the showroom floor, which is more than 18,000 square feet.
Although some questioned Culp's decision to move away from the High Point market center, Ken Ludwig, senior vice president of human resources, said the company expects to be as successful as Klaussner, for example. The big manufacturer is so far from the market center it's in another town (Asheboro), but buyers never hesitate to make the trip.
"We couldn't ask for a better location," Ludwig said. "We're near the airport and in a triangle of I-40, I-85 and Highway 311, which will be part of the new interstate. This building was well worth the investment and Teresa and her team did a hell of a job fixing it up."
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