Sklar gets into celeb act with Designer Guys line
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, March 5, 2006
Whitby, Ontario — Sklar Peppler has launched its first line of celebrity furniture, an upholstery collection created by The Designer Guys — Matt Davis, Anwar Mukhayesh and Allen Chan.
Principals of the Toronto-based design firm Precipice Studios, the three have a home decorating show, "Designer Guys: DGIII," seen weekly on HGTV Canada.
"The approached us and asked if they could co-license with us to create a new line of furniture," said Lisa Tweedy, director of corporate marketing for the stationary upholstery specialist. "They came to us because of our broad appeal among consumers — they wanted to be in the mass market, not off tucked in a corner somewhere."
Sklar Peppler launched the first two suites in the collection, Low Boy and Convertible, at the Canadian Home Furnishings Market in January. Those groups, plus a new three-piece sectional called Clark, will be part of Sklar Peppler's presentation at the High Point market in April.
Tweedy said the pieces' design reflects the eclectic approach of the "guys," best described as urban contemporary with flashes of functionality — an influence that comes from Mukhayesh, an engineer by training. Davis and Chan are architects. On their show, they often tackle the problem of redesigning a small area to add eye appeal while getting the most possible usable space.
The Low Boy sofa, for example, has a drawer in its arm. The Convertible is a return to the traditional davenport — a sofa that folds into a bed.
"These are also things that we haven't done before at Sklar," Tweedy said. "They wanted a refined, complete look."
The collection, which will be featured on the television show in the coming months, is called Designer Guys by Sklar Peppler. It is offered in 16 fabrics and two leathers, all from Sklar's existing book.
Tweedy said that while the collection's suggested retail is higher than Sklar's core lineup, she's confident consumers will see it as affordable. Suggested retail on the Clark sectional, for example, will be C$1,799.
To reinforce the brand, the collection will be merchandised on retail floors in a gallery.
Eventually, the collection will include tables and perhaps even other case pieces. But for the time being, Sklar is concentrating on building the core upholstery offering.
"We're planning to add two or three groups every market for the next while," Tweedy said. "Eventually they want to have a fully accessorized line."
Sklar will begin shipping the collection in May.
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