Value-priced occasional draws strong interest
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, February 15, 2010
LAS VEGAS —
Occasional and accent vendors had success at the Las Vegas Market with value-priced merchandise aimed at spurring impulse buys among consumers who are still leery of large-ticket purchases.
Progressive Furniture, for example, saw strong dealer interest in promotional three-pack occasional table groups retailing from $179 to $299, including a number that were shown in High Point in October. A new group called Meadowview — an updated Mission-inspired design that includes a $229 lift-top cocktail and a similarly priced sofa table — also received strong dealer response.
Homelegance saw strong interest and commitments on three-pack contemporary groups retailing between $279 and $299 and accent chairs in various fabric and color choices, at price points of $169 to $189 for a new swivel model.
The company also reported good response to two other contemporary table groups, featuring a cocktail with a glass top and shaped metal base retailing at $299, and a glass-top cocktail with a flared wood base with chrome inserts retailing at $249. The latter was built off a successful dining group.
Fairmont Designs launched 12 new standalone occasional table program at market with cocktails priced between $229 and $499 retail. With styles ranging from contemporary and transitional to traditional, many of these coordinate with new and existing sofa frames in the company's Guildcraft line.
While the company had a slight drop in traffic, order writing and commitments at market were strong, said company CEO Jason Liu.
“We opened some new accounts,” Liu said, adding that there was strong representation from dealers from the East, West and Midwest parts of the country. “Between Fairmont and Guildcraft they have found that they can shop in one place.”
Chromcraft Revington also showed a number of new freestanding occasional groups in its Peters-Revington line. Among the most successful was an updated retro group called Astor, which had $299-retail cocktails and $199 end tables. Dealers liked the X-shaped bases and glass inset tops as well as the tobacco finish, which is expected to show well with leather or microfiber upholstery.
Another popular group in the Peters-Revington lineup was Transitions, a transitional group offering a 48-inch cocktail retailing at $299 and a 38-inch version retailing at $249. Dealers liked details such as the slate tops and drawer storage in the tables.
Magnussen Home Furnishings showed one new occasional group called Lino, which features a glass top group with bentwood frames and retails at $399. Dealers liked the contemporary design and the two accompanying stools.
The company also had success with a dozen other table groups seen in High Point as well as a half dozen entertainment consoles also shown in High Point that retail from $399 to $499.
“A lot of peoples' inventory is very low,” said President and CEO Richard Magnussen, adding that retailers are filling those slots accordingly and are looking for the type of in-stock merchandise Magnussen has to offer.
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