Youth producers devise new ways to save space
By Jane Kitchen -- Furniture Today, February 27, 2005
High Point — With kids rooms often the smallest in the house, today's youth bedroom producers are coming up with innovative ways to maximize space and storage in their designs.
And as consumers purchase pieces with multiple functions, some retailers are looking at groups that offer fewer SKUs with more functionality.
Underbed storage and trundles have long offered a way to pack in more storage and functionality, and those options continue to sell well at retail, said Glenn Prillaman, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Young America.
Prillaman said Stanley's Young America division has offered underbed storage for decades. A few years ago, it even introduced a sofa unit that fit under a bunk, which combines seating and sleep in one unit. But it wasn't until this fall that Young America ventured into the field of the all-in-one loft, as part of its Teen Bungalow group.
Young America's Teen Bungalow loft bed combines sleep, study and storage in one piece, but allows the consumer the flexibility to choose what options she'd like. A desk can be added under the bed, storage can be added onto that, and trundle and underbed drawer space also are options. While the collection has not yet hit retail, Prillaman said it has placed very well, and he plans to include similar designs in future groups.
Kids 'go right to them'
Jami Myers, merchandising manager for Breuners Arizona, said lofts are a growing category for her youth department. And she sees the fact that manufacturers like Young America are getting into the category as evidence that lofts are here to stay.
"Kids go right to them," she said. "The child likes it, and the parent thinks 'This is great.' " And while the "cool" element appeals to boys, "Little girls love them just as much," said Myers.
Rhonda Wolf, assistant vice president and assistant director of merchandising for Haverty's, also is seeing an increase in her loft business. One of her most successful groups, she reports, is a loft bed with built-in storage and a trundle.
Functional solutions
While the typical consumer doesn't know these space-saving pieces are available until she gets to the store, once customers see them, they're sold, said Wolf.
"They're delighted to have that much function and storage," she said. "It used to be you had to buy four or five separate pieces to get what you get in a loft bed. In the end, it's a lot more value for the customer."
Wolf said she's looking at fewer pieces for each youth group, but with more storage per piece. This move has allowed her to show nine youth groups in an area where she used to be limited to just four or five.
And while she used to floor 10 to 15 pieces per bay for youth, she said, she's now down to about half that level.
"The wrap days are over," she said.
Earl Wang, vice president of product development for Lea Inds., said he's seen a shift to smaller collections with a focused number of pieces. He said while dealers see the attraction of smaller-SKU groups, he doesn't think the shift is consumer-driven.
Prillaman echoes that sentiment.
Simplifying logistics
"It's not a trend the consumer needs," he said. "It's operationally driven."
Sourcing from overseas, for one thing, means fewer SKUs are easier to manage.
Lea's promotional groups contain a tight SKU selection, but the company still features between 30 and 40 pieces in its better and best groups, said Wang. The company also is working on new ways to maximize space and storage, and has recently brought out corner beds and dressers that take advantage of small spaces.
Wang said Lea's space-saving designs are selling well, including the Build-A-Room program, which features case pieces designed to nest underneath a loft bed, which is a top-seller.
And along with corner pieces, Lea is making many case pieces taller in order to offer more storage in the same footprint. Pieces like lingerie chests are retailing well, said Wang, because they offer a lot of storage.
"The consumer needs more choices for the smallest bedroom," said Young America's Prillaman.
"You never know what size or shape to fit things into."
-
Storage beds neatly hide clutter
Nov 30, 2008 -
Looking past childhood
Nov 6, 2005 -
Youth sources eye two main targets
May 7, 2006 -
Youth bedrooms grow with children
Dec 18, 2005 -
Youth bedrooms grow with children
Dec 7, 2005
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
