Istikbal line integrates sleep, storage, seating
By Ray Allegrezza -- Furniture Today, April 24, 2005
High Point — If things were not as they appeared at the Istikbal showroom during last week's market here, then the company met its objective.
According to Mehmel Bilici, president of Turkey-based furniture manufacturer, the focus during market was on the company's line of motion lifestyle furniture, which provides the integrated functions of sleep, storage and seating.
Every item featured in Istikbal's 6,000-square-foot showroom at Plaza Suites combined those three functions. There were chairs with hidden storage that also become sleepers, other sofa-sleepers with storage, a single mattress that folds out to become a full-size mattress, and more.
"While our company is 55 years old, we've only shown here in the United States for the past three years," Bilici said.
"However, our objective was to show American buyers the foundation upon which we built our business in Turkey: to sell quality and comfort."
He pointed to the construction of the company's line of daybeds, each of which has built-in coils and two layers of foam, topped by two layers of felt. He said the construction "makes them sturdy and comfortable enough to sleep on every night."
During market, the company also discussed a rollout of a gallery program that is finding favor with a number of large retailers, including Miami Gardens, Fla.-based El Dorado.
"Retailers typically give us about 1,200 square feet," he said. "We provide them with all the signage and point-of-purchase materials. So far, the gallery program is off to a tremendous start."
Istikbal operates a 300,000-square-foot warehouse in Clifton, N.J.
Bilici said that eventually, the company plans to show buyers here a wider representation of the line.
"Currently, we show about 55 frames here in the United States. However, in Turkey have more than 400 SKUs," he said.
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Istikbal line integrates sleep, storage, seating
Apr 25, 2005
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