Mesa Brasileira ceases operations
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 6, 2008
Deerfield, Fla. — Mesa Brasileira, an importer of mosaic stone-top dining and occasional tables, is winding down operations after a five-year run.
Company principal Chris Figueira, a mechanical engineer by training, said he closed down the Virginia Beach, Va.-based operation about two months ago and is selling off 20 to 30 SKUs of remaining inventory.
Figueira started the business about five years ago, specializing in dining and occasional tables made with authentic mosaic stone tops. Made by hand in a factory in the town of Salvador in northern Brazil, pieces were sold at high-end price points with dining tables retailing from $4,000 to $6,000.
Figueira said the line generated some interest from the design trade. However, there was not enough interest from large retailers that could order in volumes necessary to help sustain the business over time.
"It's a great group to work with and you get some outstanding ideas and new concepts and designs," he said of the design trade. "Unfortunately, from my experience, there wasn't enough volume to sustain it. The feedback I got from the high-volume customers was that it was too high end for them."
He said the manufacturing capability still exists for the product should anyone be interested in picking up the line. The remaining pieces are available for sale out of the Deerfield, Fla., area, where he is now living and working.
For more information, contact Figueira at (757) 348-9673.
