Other exhibitors introduce range of fresh product
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, February 5, 2007
High Point — The second Forbidden City furniture show here saw several manufacturers bringing out new product and sketches.
Exhibitors said they were pleased with traffic at last year's mini-market, organized by importer Lifestyle Enterprise, and this time came prepared with product to show.
Case goods importer Largo International's introductions included three bedrooms and a dining suite. Showing the new product — just a portion of what it will have in March at the High Point Market — in January allows Largo time to gauge dealer reaction and make changes before the next market, said President Glenn Wakefield.
Wakefield said he hopes the Forbidden City event gains enough steam to replace the current spring premarket (a month before High Point) because the timing is better.
"It gives us enough time to bob and weave and make any adjustments we need to make," added Ron O'Dell, president of case goods and leather importer Trade Masters. He showed new items last week including mattress sets, three youth groups, three bedrooms and five updated finishes for existing groups.
Legacy Classic showed off sketches of two new groups. Retailers coming to High Point for this event must be able to buy container loads, and Legacy Classic does most of its business through direct containers, so it made sense to be open, said Mike Harris, vice president of sales.
Case goods importer JT Michael Designs showed samples and sketches of five new bedroom and/or dining room groups. The lineup illustrates the importance the company is placing on the Lifestyle show.
"If it grows, we'll grow with it," said Jon Starr, a partner in the company.
Vaughan Furniture sent letters telling retailers that it would have new product this month. It showed a traditional cherry group, a new two-tone Black and Fruitwood finish on New Bedford, group 217 in pine out of its Galax, Va., plant, and sketches of other collections in the works.
Bernhardt had one new pine collection here, the earliest the company has ever had a group ready, said Rountree Collett, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Pennsylvania House showed sketches of a new casual European group and a dressed-up Louis Philippe. Tom Halvorsen, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the market has been flooded with a cleaner Louis Philippe look and this step-up collection brings back some style with fancier veneer and better hardware.
Youth importer Opus Designs showed sketches of a new 10-piece group in either a clear maple or Merlot finish. Marc Katzman, president of sales and marketing, said the group is the first to include a redesigned student desk. Rather than a "me-too" approach, the desk tries to be stylish yet innovative, with ports for laptops and iPods.
Kincaid showed a new group named after its founder, called J. Wade. It's a solid American cherry group that has the look and feel of furniture that could have been made when the company began in 1946. The 30 pieces of bedroom and dining feature quality touches like cedar drawer construction and English dovetailing front and back. The top drawers have felt linings and working locks. Everything but the dining chairs will be U.S.-made.
Kincaid also is updating its 2000 Laura Ashley introduction, Camberly. The seven-year-old group still has movement, but with less carvings and a more relaxed, European casual feel. To fit with today's TVs, the group has a 56-inch and 65-inch TV console with storage.
American Drew showed sketches of four new groups, ranging from English traditional to a Louis Philippe addition to its sharper-priced lifestyle program, Profiles. Rather than the typical cherry, this Louis Philippe has walnut veneers with walnut burl borders, said President Jack Richardson.
The English traditional group draws on popular elements of American Drew's licensed groups with designers Bob Mackey and Jessica McClintock. The 371/372 group uses laurel burl, which has tighter grain patterns than the ash burl many other companies are using, Richardson said.
Another group included a dining table with a distinctive elliptical shape, which expands from 80 inches to 116 inches to seat 10. The eight-piece dining group, including the double-pedestal table, will retail for $3,999.
| Acknowledgements | ||
| Associate Editor Thomas Russell and Staff Writer Heath E. Combs contributed to this story. | ||
