Case goods sources pleased with Tupelo activity
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, September 1, 2008
TUPELO, Miss. — The market here was far easier to navigate with nearly all exhibitors consolidated into one building, and furniture suppliers selling case goods were content with business at this promotionally oriented market.
Full-line importer Sunrise Home Furnishings introduced 12 new SKUs of dining and entertainment here. Offering extended terms helped greatly in getting new placements on retail floors, said Bob Lephart, vice president of sales and merchandising.
“It's been steady,” said Lephart. “We did a lot of business on Wednesday. It's always been a good market for us. It's important because we do write business here.”
Lephart said he didn't expect the changing of the next market's dates from February to Jan. 24-28 to have a big effect on Tupelo's core audience of retailers.
“It's no big deal,” Lephart said.
There's still a lot of value hunters left in the seven southeastern states that make up the major audience for the Tupelo Furniture Market, said Ray Steele, vice president of sales for Ultimate Accents. The company's Circus Chest, based on a vintage Italian circus poster, which retails for $699, was a hot seller.
“I did more business on Wednesday than my first day in Las Vegas,” Steele said. “We had 63 dealers in.
“This market has my commitment. As long as they're here, we're here.”
Entertainment offerings did well for case goods source Eagle Inds. Market started on Tuesday for the company and by Thursday it was having its busiest day, said Holli Hanson, director of marketing.
“Traffic is better than in January. Up until January, this market was better than High Point and Las Vegas. This is so much a regional market that customers will be here.”
Promotional bedroom and curio maker Magnolia Classics by Orleans continued to focus on merchandising product for a national audience instead of targeting regional tastes, said Tom Stumpf, vice president of national accounts.
Tupelo remains a good market for the company, Stumpf said.
“We're a southern company. Our base is pretty good in the south,” Stumpf said.
Additionally, youth bedroom continues to do well for Orleans and now accounts for more than 10% of total sales, Stumpf said. “Two years ago, it was nothing.”
Case goods source Harden Mfg. of Haleyville, Ala., also had a good market. Introductions included several new import groups in bedroom, with some complementary dining pieces.
Some domestic items did well because they can still hit price points that freight costs are making prohibitive in imports, he said.
“We had a big launch of import product but domestic is doing pretty well,” said Lee Scott, vice president of sales for Harden Mfg.
“We had a great Wednesday. People are ready to write some business.”
