Ethan Allen opens design centers in Raleigh, Dubai

Plans more stores in coming months

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 25, 2009

DANBURY, Conn. — Ethan Allen is opening design center showrooms this month in Raleigh, N.C., and Dubai.

The manufacturer and retailer of upscale home furnishings said it is continuing to pursue other new locations in several markets in the coming months in the United States and abroad, including stores in Mount Pleasant, S.C., in Las Vegas as previously announced, and in Estero, Fla.

"We are pleased that even during these challenging times we continue to move our business forward in both domestic and international markets," said Farooq Kathwari, president, chairman and CEO of the Top 100 company, which has about 300 stores. "Our new Design Centers, along with the recent introduction of our custom case goods and Interior Design Affiliate membership program, offer consumers an affordable opportunity to achieve a custom-designed home interior."

The latest stores are new-concept retail footprints, with the 10,000-square-foot design center in Raleigh featuring a selection of the company's products, inspirational room vignettes and design tools and services including tools from its Web site.

The 12,000-square-foot showroom in Dubai in the new Dubai Mall is inspired by the success of Ethan Allen's design center that opened in Manhattan last summer and is the flagship store for the Middle East, the company said.