Ekornes ends '07 on upswing
Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, January 6, 2008
Somerset, N.J. — Leather upholstery specialist Ekornes said it shipped $25.3 million in product to North American retailers in this year's third quarter, up 15.5% over $21.6 million in the same period of 2006.
For the year to date, sales were running 2.7% ahead of the 2006 pace, company officials said.
"Not only have we increased our corporate marketing spending, but our dealer group has also put more marketing resources behind our product and increased their support of our quarterly marketing promotions," said Peter Bjerregaard, president of Ekornes Inc., the U.S. arm of Norway-based Ekornes. "Those targeted efforts have resulted in increased sales, which are expected to continue in the fourth quarter."
Ekornes said it has added 37 retailers carrying the product line in 2007.
Earlier this year, the company introduced the Jazz model in its Stressless line of recliners. Jazz is the most expensive Stressless recliner to date, and Ekornes dealers nationwide are beginning to receive consumer orders.
The company will introduce five products in early 2008, including two Stressless recliners, two Ekornes Collection sofas and an accessory piece, the Oval Ottoman. The products, which have been well received in Europe, are expected to be in U.S. stores in mid-2008.
