C.S. Wo to open first store on U.S. mainland
Metro L.A. unit is 20,000-sq.-ft. gallery
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2007
Costa Mesa, Calif. — Honolulu-based Top 100 company C.S. Wo & Sons is opening a store in this metro Los Angeles city, its first on the U.S. mainland.
The 20,000-square-foot C.S. Wo Gallery store is expected to open June 16 in the South Coast Home Furnishings Center, on Interstate 405 at the Harbor Boulevard exit. A grand opening celebration will take place in August.
The center also is home to other furniture stores, including Wickes, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, Arizona Leather, Easy Life and Munros. C.S. Wo Vice President Wendell Wo said in an e-mail the home furnishings stores "all complement each other nicely."
C.S. Wo Division Manager Brad Harris has been spearheading the move into Southern California, something Wo said the 14-store retailer has been planning for about two years.
The store's interior will reflect details of the upscale C.S. Wo Gallery flagship in Honolulu, Wo said. It will offer looks ranging from contemporary to casual elegance, British Colonial, Mediterranean and island-inspired tropical.
"What makes the presentation so special is the way in which we mix in our direct imports of Chinese antiques, Thai wood carvings and statues and Philippine products, blending materials such as rattan, wicker, seagrass, abaca, lampakanay and cane," Wo said.
The store will carry some of the retailer's stronger suppliers, such as Stanley, Fine Furniture Design & Marketing, McCreary Modern, Schnadig and Southern, he said.
"The difference will be the tremendous values we will offer on collections directly imported from the Philippines, China and Thailand," Wo said.
He said the company has contracted with an outside source to handle warehousing and delivery. He would not project sales for the new store.
C.S. Wo had estimated furniture, bedding and accessory sales of about $88 million in 2006, up more than 7% from 2005.
Asked if the retailer is considering more mainland stores, Wo said it will test the market with Costa Mesa first. "We have other locations we would like to consider but will proceed carefully."
