At High Point: Bedroom business slow
Resources cite market dates, sluggish retail
Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, October 5, 2007
AT THE MARKET — Bedroom business has been somewhat slow this week, and exhibitors are offering several reasons why. Executives at bedroom resources, some of whom asked not to be named, typically labeled traffic as light to moderate, citing the early October dates, Las Vegas “hangover,” sluggish retail business and other factors. Showroom shuffling could be hurting some companies. One company with a new location this market is CR-Home, comprised of Chromcraft Revington divisions Chromcraft, Cochrane, Peters-Revington, Silver and Sumter. Another company in a new space is Hammary. And some spaces are dark. One company president said he walked his floor in the International Home Furnishings Center and saw three empty showrooms. At Lifestyle Solutions, traffic was down about a quarter from a year ago, said President Bill Carpenter, but everyone he saw was a major customer. For the West Coast importer of case goods and sofa-sleepers, Las Vegas is a better fit, said owner Sean Pathiratne, adding almost every dealer who came by this week also was in Vegas. The company cut its space from 12,000 square feet to about 9,000 square feet this market, and could downsize again. Several executives questioned why High Point’s dates had been moved up closer to the summer Las Vegas show. Also, premarket was in August this year, giving exhibitors — and dealers — little time in between. For Canadian vendors here, shifting currency rates have affected business. The U.S. dollar was much stronger than Canada’s looney a few years ago, making Canadian furniture a relative bargain for U.S. retailers. But that advantage has disappeared completely, with both currencies near parity. Still, officials at Durham Furniture, a Canadian solid-wood bedroom maker, said currency rates have been a non-factor this week. Ron Fuhrman, vice president of marketing and product development, said he’s had only four or five people bring it up. Besides, Fuhrman said, companies can’t control such things as gas prices and conversion rates, so they must focus on what they can control: the product. “We are extremely pleased with the response we’ve had to virtually all our introductions,” he said. “The new Metroplace is placed in virtually all the stores that we targeted, plus we had numerous surprises.” The entry-level Richmoor line also was well accepted, Fuhrman said. Some companies reported that, regardless of traffic, orders and commitments here have been strong. Gene Clark, vice president of Ligna, said he didn’t like to use the cliché “cautiously optimistic,” but it fits what he’s seen. Everyone feels a little concerned because business has been slow across the industry, but no one wants to talk about that, he said. Instead, vendors and buyers are looking at product and trying to figure out what will sell. Ligna is optimistic because it’s seen some quality accounts this week, including some new ones. Clark said there’s been more interest this week than at any show he’s attended since joining the ompany in mid-2006, which amounts to three markets each in High Point and Vegas. He said customers want something new, something to bring new looks or excitement to their floors. And it’s not all about price, “It’s about being able to turn it,” Clark said. At Vaughan Furniture, order-writing has been OK, but commitments have been very strong, according to Roger Porter, senior vice president of sales. Introductions were well received, and important retailers that Vaughan hasn’t sold before came in, he said. Vaughan’s broader line is one reason people are taking notice, Porter surmised. In addition to its line of moderately priced domestic goods, the company now has a value-priced import line, and a new upscale domestic line, Virginia Sterling. This was the first market that Furniture Brands companies Drexel Heritage and Henredon showed together on Eastchester Drive. Drexel filled the top floor of the building, while Henredon showed new groups downstairs. Leading the way were two new collections crafted by two designers that have created some of Henredon’s best-loved groups, Tom Black and Chris Bergelin. Black’s reVision group puts a fresh spin on contemporary, using American walnut and figured paldao, a wood noted for its varied grain effects. Bergelin’s Brompton is a traditional Edwardian group, drawing on 19th-century English styles. It features mahogany and ash burl veneer.
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
