Thomas Russell , Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, March 15, 2011
LAS VEGAS — Youth furniture vendors say they received a strong response to new and existing product they offered at the Las Vegas Market in January.
Offerings included girls' and boys' bedrooms in a mix of traditional, cottage and casual transitional designs. Retailers were drawn not just to the styles, but also to functional storage elements ranging from trundle units and bookcase headboards to drawers in bunk bed staircases.
Add-on pieces such as media chests and desk hutch units also provide extra storage and functionality in a category that continues to offer a strong value proposition in a still tepid economy.
Here are some of the sets that drew commitments and orders in Las Vegas.
Vendor: Acme Furniture Group: The Zoe Pink Stripes bedroom is a girls' set featuring pink stripes set against a white finish. It includes a desk and hutch unit, a bed storage bench and a companion dresser and nightstand. A twin bed, nightstand, desk and hutch and chair retail at $1,399. The set is expected to hit retail by late April.
Vendor: Stork Craft/Canwood Group: The Whistler junior loft bed in solid New Zealand pine is one of the most successful pieces Stork Craft gained in its Canwood acquisition, said Talia Beckett, manager for sales and marketing. Once available in only a natural finish, the piece now is also available in cherry, white and espresso. Customers at retail like having options, including several choices for what goes under the loft bed, like a slide-out desk, miniature shelves and bookcases. They also like the price of the item, which often sells for $250 to $300, Beckett said. Complementary pieces include a bookcase, threedrawer chest, two-door cupboard and slide-out desk. It's sold in an easy-to-assemble format.
Vendor: South Shore Group: Clever Room 3613 was a success for the company because it mixes several design elements with lots of storage space, according to Gilles Pelletier, vice president of sales and marketing. The hybrid daybed features design elements of captain's bed styles. It has two drawers under the bed with full extension metal glides, open storage space and a lateral headboard - making it ideal for smaller rooms.
Vendor: Powell Co. Group: Cassidy is a clean-lined design in teak veneers with a whitewash finish. It features a twin captain's storage bed that retails at $899. A panel bed also is available, along with add-on pieces such as a desk and hutch unit. Case pieces include full extension ball bearing drawer guides and felt-lined top drawers. Available from the company's warehouse in April, a four-piece set featuring a twin-sized panel bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand retails at $1,099.
Vendor: SLF Group: Safari is one of eight existing youth bedrooms that SLF showed in Las Vegas under the new Sammy youth brand. It is made with pine solids and veneers in a light pine finish and has raised panels in the doors and beds, carpenter's peg accents and tapered feet. With a golden retriever as its mascot, the Sammy youth brand aims to convey safety, reliability, trust and value - four key qualities for youth furniture consumers. Twin beds retail at $299, and the Safari bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand combination retails at $999. The collections are available container direct and also began shipping out of the company's domestic warehouse facilities in January.
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NAPLES, Fla. — Industry executives and guests took the opportunity to network and play golf during down time at Furniture/Today's 13th annual Leadership Conference here this month.