HIGH POINT MARKET: American Drew offers new Jessica McClintock

Bedroom, dining room, accent furniture in 32-piece collection

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, October 7, 2009

HIGH POINT — Case goods resource American Drew is launching its third Jessica McClintock collection at the upcoming High Point Market with 32 new pieces of bedroom, dining room and accent furniture.

This low-profile leather bed is one of 32 pieces in the new Jessica McClintock Home — Couture Collection by American Drew. It features a pierced cartouche crown adorned with crystal buttons.

The Jessica McClintock Home — Couture Collection mixes traditional and transitional elements that the fashion designer describes as the "New Traditional."

The collection has 18th and 19th century European design elements inspired by furnishings in McClintock's Victorian Queen Anne style home in San Francisco Bay.

Case pieces have serpentine shapes and framed pilasters. The fronts have highly figured walnut veneers and the tops have marquetry inlays with maple and ebony borders.

Wood pieces also are adorned with shell, floral, leaf and vine carvings and have a mid-tone, wool waxed mink finish. Other pieces such as an accent chest have a hand-painted gesso design with scroll inlays.

There are two beds, a low profile leather bed and a traditional carved mansion bed. Dining tables include a 60-inch round and an 82-inch oval table that extends to 144 inches.

American Drew President Jack Richardson said the oval table is similar in shape to a table in the first Jessica McClintock collection launched in October 2000, which is the best selling table in the licensed collection.

Prices are at the upper end of the American Drew spectrum. A four-piece bedroom with a bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand has a suggested retail of about $4,000, while a table and six chairs retails for $5,000.

Richardson said he believes the new collection offers something fresh. He said that in these "challenging times," many retailers have not changed their assortments much.

"At some point there comes a time when you have to freshen these floors up. I think this collection is a standout in that it is unlike anything else they have on their floors," he said.

He said the collection is a departure from some of the lifestyle looks American Drew has offered of late.

"We have a little over 50% of our product assortment in that lifestyle category, and we feel that's plenty," he said. "(The question is) how do you differentiate yourself — when you have a 56-inch merlot box, how are you different from anyone else? Unless you are so far ahead of the curve on the front side, uniqueness will win every time."

Based on reaction at premarket, Richardson said the first cutting is already scheduled. Production will begin by early January and the product is expected to hit retail by mid to late March.

In High Point, American Drew shows in the International Home Furnishings Center, C-926.

More High Point Market October 2009 Coverage