High Point Market exhibitors offer more options in dining

Consumers can choose their finishes, fabrics

Tom Russell -- Furniture Today, October 20, 2009

AT THE MARKET - A number of dining resources seeking to tap into custom-order business are adding options at this week's High Point Market, ranging from new finishes to colorful fabrics on dining chairs.
In many cases, they are utilizing domestic capabilities to finish the goods. In others, they are using overseas resources to offer a limited number of choices for consumers.
Hekman/Woodmark is offering a new program called Design and Dine, which offers 37 finishes on 10 formal accent and dining chairs. A total of 48 fabrics also are available on these and two other frames that don't receive custom finishes.
Woodmark will import whitewood frames from overseas and finish and upholster them at its plant in High Point, said Hekman President Dan Masters. He added that chairs will retail from $399 to $599, which is similar in price to the same chairs in a standard finish.
Riverside Furniture is adding several new dining pieces in its Splash of Color program, which also is available on select bedroom, office, entertainment and occasional pieces. Six new colors also are being added this market, said Michael Charlton, senior vice president of product development and merchandising.
The imported pieces are finished in Riverside's facility in Fort Smith, Ark. While tables are available in black and white, the other colors can be applied to chairs, servers and other pieces in the category. A table and four set in the program retails around $1,199, with no upcharge for the custom finishes.
"It's a very popular program with all our dealers across the United States," Charlton said. "People love color."
This market, Harden Furniture has added a new domestic dining table program to its Classic Cherry collection. This program was inspired by the success of a custom upholstered headboard program offered last October and a custom bed program launched in April.
Produced in the company's factory in McConnellsville, N.Y., the custom dining program offers five table leg styles and three table top shapes in three designs, including solid cherry, sunburst veneer and lattice veneer. There are also three new dining chairs in the program.
Items are available in more than 40 wood and painted finishes. A few of the painted finishes have an upcharge; the others are considered standard.
While the Classic Cherry styling is more traditional or formal in appearance, the different finishes give the line a more casual appearance, said Arlene Hall, marketing director.
With such an extensive program, inventory costs could easily get out of hand. But like other domestic producers, Harden is producing these goods to order, which minimizes the need to warehouse a lot of product.
"Customized furnishings are here to stay and driving more consumer demand," said Harden President and CEO Greg Harden. "Fortunately, it's an area that domestic producers with flexible and efficient operations like Harden can really excel in."
He added that the designs complement existing cases, which helps update "a category we are renowned for."
Not all the new custom dining options being added this market have a domestic angle. Casual dining and occasional importer Jofran is offering four Bella velvet fabric colors on dining chairs that complement various casual dining sets. The chairs and fabrics are produced in China and are available on full, mixed and shared containers as well as from the company's warehouses in Seattle and Boston.