Style, function power home entertainment furniture sales
Some pieces at High Point Market include TV mounting hardware
Heath E Combs -- Furniture Today, October 20, 2010
Signature Home Furnishings has had good reaction this week to its Miami entertainment group. A selling point is that a television can be mounted on the back panel.
AT THE MARKET - Style and function are big selling points for home entertainment units at this week's market.
Television mounts, fireplace units in media pieces, mixed media units and large scale entertainment walls are popular here with retailers in the category.
Many suppliers appear to have pulled back introductions in the category. Some continue to add new functions, but the innovation in the category looks to have tapered off just a bit, in favor of more focus on design or materials and construction.
Tim Donk, director of marketing at Legends Furniture, said the company was getting a good reaction to three console programs with lifestyle casual looks in black, spiced rum and brown cherry finish colors. The units retail can retail for $299, ship within 10 days and have a little more look at that price point than some consoles, he said.
"It's just something other than a standard box," Donk said.
The company also is doing well with entertainment consoles with recessed top tiers for sound bars, and with fireplace media units, he said.
Donk said the company did research to find a realistic flame box, which also has a heating element and remote control. He said the boxes in the media units are bigger than in many entertainment fireplace consoles and are taller, at 41 inches. Retail is $799 to $999.
Another big hit for the company is the Berkshire Entertainment Wall at $1,999 retail, with a cabinet bridge instead of a hutch to help it hit a lower price point for tall walls but still give it an upscale look, Donk said.
Signature Home Furnishings is doing well this market with back panel walls and units with mounts. Its symmetrically designed entertainment walls, such as its Miami collection, have a back panel hanging solution for flat-panel televisions, said Gene Head, vice president of design and marketing.
The company also is having success with its scaled-down New York dresser mirror with a slide-out television feature and hidden jewelry storage, Head said.
At Dinec, the #E-2072 solid wood console is a solid seller, in large part due to its construction story, said Philippe Darveau, vice president of sales for Dinec.
Dinec made improvements based on retailer recommendations such as anti-vibration glass, Ferrari 180 degree door hinges and 18-inch side cabinets, among other features - at $1,999 retail. The group is available in 86 finishes, 14 hardware options, and 12 foot and base options.
"We're the only ones that bring personalization to the unit," Darveau said.
Aspenhome is doing well on the extremes of the entertainment spectrum, said Renee Loper, director of marketing and communications. It is having success in the $299 to $499 console range, but also with its grand entertainment walls.
This market the company is seeing good response to its new Reede's Landing entertainment wall, a 104-inch tall group with touch lighting, secret gaming and touch panel hidden storage.
"I think people look to us for that non-commodity look. There's still a need for more furniture looking pieces," Loper said.
Bob Lephart, vice president of sales and marketing at Sunrise Home Furnishings, said contemporary looks are hot for the company as are televisions with built-in mounting systems.
Entertainment items in the $199 to $299 container and $299 to $399 warehouse range are doing best with retailers, he said.
Z-Line Designs reports good reaction to its Dover consoles, a transitional unit with glass framed doors and nickel accents for about $299 retail, said Rick Lamb, vice president of merchandising.
The company is also doing well with units that contain mounts, especially a program called Three-in-One which has a removable swivel tilt mount that can make it a console unit, Lamb said. It retails for $399, within the $199 to $499 price range that has been good for entertainment at this market, he added.
More High Point Market October 2010 Coverage
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Evolution of electronics drives entertainment
Apr 17, 2010 -
Function still biggest draw in entertainment
Nov 17, 2011 -
Better finishes, new sources sell casual dining
Nov 17, 2011
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