Art Van Furniture to add Scott Shuptrine design studios

Will revive high-end name in eight of its stores

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, August 17, 2010

WARREN, Mich. —- Art Van Furniture will reintroduce the high-end Scott Shuptrine name through in-store design studios in eight of its 33 full-line showrooms beginning next month.

The 4,500-square-foot Scott Shuptrine Interiors design studios "will address the needs of guests who desire distinctive furniture and interior design services at Art Van values," the Top 100 company said in a release.

Art Van's Van Elslander family acquired high-end retailer Scott Shuptrine in 1986 and ran it as a separate business for years until it closed the remaining three metro Detroit stores in 2002. At that time, the retailer cited the week economy and sluggish business at the high-end, as well as the desire to concentrate all resources on Art Van.

"The Scott Shuptrine name is being revived because it has strong name recognition and high regard," said Art Van Elslander, Art Van founder and chairman.

The design studios will be opened in key stores targeting upper-end consumers, starting in Warren and Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept. 28. Other stores that will roll out the banner by the end of the year are in Novi, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Traverse City, Royal Oak and Petoskey, Mich.

Shirley Maddalena

Each studio will staff two certified interior designers and will carry "premiere furniture lines" such as Bernhardt, Baker and Hancock & Moore. The retailer said it will expand some brands it currently carries and add others.

Shirley Maddalena, a prominent Michigan interior designer for more than 30 years and owner of Maddalena Design of Birmingham, Mich., will head the new venture as design principal. "Ms. Maddalena will bring an unparalleled level of professionalism and savvy to the design table," Van Elslander said.

The move is just the latest in a series of new initiatives by Art Van. Last year, the Michigan furniture giant opened the first of now two Art Van Pure Sleep free-standing bedding stores. Earlier this year it, added Paul TV's audio and television departments to it stores, and late last month, it acquired the two-store Brewbaker's of Onaway, Mich., boosting its presence in the northern part of the state.

"Art Van is open for change and open for business," said CEO Kim Yost. "Scott Shuptrine Interiors is one more example of how we're sustaining and growing our market share in this brave new world."