Davis opts to make promo upholstery in Miss.
By Ray Allegrezza -- Furniture Today, April 7, 2008
West Point, Miss. — With shipping costs rising, Davis International has resumed manufacturing some upholstery frames in its Houlka, Miss., factory rather than importing them from China.
Lynn Davis, vice president of the manufacturer, said the Houlka plant will produce between 10 and 15 frames to be used in sofas retailing at $399 and $499.
"While last year was our best year ever in terms of dollars and units, we realized that as shipping costs continued to rise, that was going to put pressure on our sofa lineup that ranged in price from $399 to $499," Davis said.
He said the company will import cut-and-sew kits for assembly in Mississippi. Davis said that by the end of the year, the company will have hired between 120 and 150 workers for the program.
At this week's market, buyers will get their first look at these sofas. They're in transitional and contemporary designs in a selection of microfibers, bonded leathers and chenilles.
Davis International also will offer 10 new sofas in its Laura Osborn line, an imported group slated to retail between $799 and $999. The lineup features traditional, transitional and contemporary looks and a strong emphasis on chenille.
"These sofas will also feature lots of look, accentuated by pillows, rope and tassels, which culminate in looks that you can't get domestically for those prices," Davis said.
The company also will make a strong statement in case goods with nine new bedroom collections sourced in Vietnam and Malaysia. The suites, which will retail from $799 to $1,499, will be offered in contemporary, traditional and transitional styles.
Davis also will show the line of motion upholstery it first rolled out at the Tupelo Furniture Market.
