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Bedroom Source Launches

Heath E Combs -- Furniture Today, August 25, 2011

This Allen bedroom group with urban Mission styling, black oak finish with distressing and antique pewter knobs is among the introductions from new domestic producer Kith Furniture.HALEYVILLE, Ala. - Giving dealers a lot for their money will be a big focus for industry veteran Craig Smith's new domestic bedroom manufacturer, Kith Furniture, which is launching at this week's Tupelo Furniture Market.
     Smith said that the company will sell a wide variety of styles, including bedroom groups with features like raised headboards to fit big mattresses and an emphasis on construction and packaging.
     Kith Furniture's styles will include traditional, contemporary, Mission and country, among others, with and lots of "bling, bling" sets - with silver and gold overlays or faux marble tops, he said.
     "That's one thing we'll strive for is giving the dealers a lot of look for their money," he said. ‘We've just made a lot of things a lot easier for the dealers."
     The manufacturer is showing for the first time at this week's Tupelo Furniture Market in about 4,000 square feet in Building 6, space 6236.
     Initially it will focus on distribution in the Southeast and Texas, and on promotional price dealers, mom-and-pop stores and regional and national chains, Smith said.
     "But we're going to sell whoever we can," he said.
     The principals in the business are Smith, president and CEO; his brother Ken Smith, executive vice president, secretary and treasurer; and Bo Knight, executive vice president and chief operating offer.
     The company has started production and will begin selling in Tupelo with 14 bedroom groups ranging from $399 to $999 retail, Craig Smith said. The Tupelo market runs Aug. 18-21.
     Kith has purchased a factory and warehouse here and has built a building for a mill shop, he said. The factory has about 100 employees.
     Smith has been on hiatus from the industry for about three years. The Smiths were formerly executives with Harden Mfg., in which they sold a majority ownership stake about five years ago to Linsalata Capital Partners, a Cleveland-based private equity firm. Harden was founded by their father, Joe Mac Smith, in 1972.
     Kith will maintain inventory in Haleyville and will ship within five to 10 working days of receiving an order, Craig Smith said.
     "We feel like now's a good time to go ahead and get started. The housing market should turn around in the next couple of years. We just felt like it was a good time to re-enter back into the business," he said.
     He said the company will show at the Tupelo and High Point markets, and is currently running production to fill its warehouse. It also will own and operate its delivery fleet, Smith said.

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