Kinwai USA launching youth, top-of-bed lines
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, July 28, 2008
LAS VEGAS — Case goods and upholstery manufacturer Kinwai USA is launching a youth program and is showing new top-of-bed ensembles at this week's market here.
The youth program includes two colorful new bedroom sets. A white lacquer set has either lime green or orange front panels, and a melamine set has aquamarine panels.
Kinwai said it developed the youth line over the past 45 days in response to the success its twin beds were having in the marketplace.
Since some retailers already display these beds in their youth areas, company executives thought it made sense to expand the line to include not only youth beds, but companion pieces such as nightstands, dressers and bookcase/room dividers with storage.
The youth sets are contemporary in design and reflect the capabilities of the company's recently expanded plant in southern China, according to Kinwai. In addition to the melamine sets, the factory can produce case goods made with veneer on MDF, veneer over solid wood, and all-solid wood sets.
Pricing had not been established at press time.
For Las Vegas, Kinwai also will show 10 to 11 master bedrooms, including a new six-piece white lacquer set. These sets will display new and existing top-of-bed ensembles the company produces at its southern China upholstery factory.
Designed by Elisa “Lisi” Watson, a former Drexel Heritage employee Kinwai has hired to head its top-of-bed division, the ensembles are contemporary in nature, reflecting the company's design niche in case goods and upholstery.
About 20 ensembles are in the line. The 11 to be shown in Las Vegas include three or four new designs and seven or eight seen when the line was launched in April.
“It is contemporary and specifically meant to go with our product,” said Gary Greenbaum, vice president of sales and marketing, adding that the top-of-bed concept further solidifies the company's position as a total home resource in the contemporary realm.
“That customer base, when they come in and see it, they will buy it. We want to make it easier for the retailer.”
A complete set, which includes a duvet, shams and accent pillows, retails at $199 for a queen set. Selected king sets also will retail at $199.
Kinwai is showing in the World Market Center, B-780.
