Share this on

Soft contemporary case goods looks drive market sales

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, November 7, 2011

The Jackson bedroom by Intercon is produced in Vietnam is made with mango veneers in a raisin finish. Features include a nightstand with a power docking station and electrical cord management, along with full extension drawers with English dovetail construction. It also offers storage in the footboard.HIGH POINT - Soft contemporary forms with value-added features and function captured the attention of retailers shopping High Point for product that will update their floors for a new generation of consumers.
     Some of these forms have high gloss looks, while others are more mid to low-sheen distressed finishes that capture the essence of the wood story.
     Many are dark in tone, while others are lighter, often wire-brushed looks retailers may like, but that don't always strike a chord with consumers. Many lighter finishes also have eye-catching details such as fly specking, cerusing and water spotting.
     Companies such as Lexington Home Brands expect lighter finishes will do well. Lexington's new 40-piece Tommy Bahama Home collection, Road to Canberra, impressed retailers with its combination of quartered ash and mindi veneers, in a light natural tone finish with a light linen glaze.
     "This new fresh light finish, combined with Australian-influenced design with woven leather, aged metal and petrified wood, all that ties it together in a lifestyle presentation," said Phil Haney, president and CEO. He said buyers are buying the whole collection, which includes bedroom, dining room and occasional and is expected to hit retail in January.
     Another contemporary standout this market was Ashley's New Millennium collection, made with a high gloss durable laminate in smooth and textured wave-like surfaces.
     Dealers liked the finishes and the mix of functional pieces including lift storage beds and beds with storage in upholstered headboards. Other popular features include rounded edges on beds and case pieces, soft-close doors and charging outlets in nightstands.
     Bedroom packages, which include storage beds, dressers, mirrors and nightstands, are targeted to retail from $2,999 to $3,499.
     "We take what we know sells and what our customer base wants to sell and brought it in for a price they want to sell it for," said Kerry Lebensburger, Ashley president of sales.
     Another strong performer in casual contemporary realm this market was Thomasville Furniture's 37-piece Spellbound, made with combinations of rosewood, ash burl and mahogany veneers.
     "We are seeing a push towards contemporary and updated traditional," said Ed Teplitz, Thomasville president. "Spellbound's roots are in classic traditional but it is updated for the way consumer lives today. It is feminine and contemporized."
     Some more traditional forms also did well at market. Among those was Bassett Furniture Inds.' Moultrie Park, an 80-plus piece collection with Southern traditional design influences inspired by historic Charleston, S.C. One oThe Coventry bedroom by Riverside Furniture is made with wire-brushed ash solids and veneers in a weathered driftwood finish. The finish mixes well with a lighter antique white shown on the case pieces.f the company's largest collections in memory, the cherry veneered group impressed dealers with its styling and mix of finishes, from a darker rum and medium Tea tone to a light parchment.
     Both darker and lighter finishes that allow wood grains to show through also did well with new collections launched at Broyhill, Kincaid, Stanley and Riverside Furniture.
     Aspenhome's Hathaway Hill had a successful expansion into bedroom this market, the company said. Dealers appreciated the updated traditional styling of the group, which developed from a home office introduction in Las Vegas this summer. Made with reclaimed cherry veneers in a black truffle finish, it features king panel beds with storage that retail from $1,500 to $1,900.
     Companies also showcased new merchandising strategies at market to help retailers maximize their floor space. Aspenhome, for example, displayed its bestselling Cambridge bedroom to let retailers see the line in all of its three finish options and with various styles and sizes of beds.
     Several other companies with bedroom introductions also reported strong orders and commitments.
     Lifestyle Enterprise, for example brought out 15 new bedrooms targeted to retail from $699 to $1,999 for four pieces. Officials predicted that 10 would go into production after market.
     Intercon offered five new bedrooms made in Vietnam and targeted to retail from $1,299 to $1,499. Response was strong on all five, due largely to features ranging from the quality of veneers to power cord management in nightstands and storage options in footboards.
     New case goods resource Folio 21 offered 24 bedrooms this market and most will go into production, said Bill Benton, president and CEO. Three will hit retail as early as January and all will be available to mix on containers from Vietnam by next summer, he said.
     Retailers liked the variety of styles and finishes - 23 in total - as well as standard features such as dovetailing, felt-lined top drawers and cedar lined bottom drawers. Pieces such as storage benches and jewelry and lingerie chests also placed well, with average placements estimated at five to seven groups per account, Benton said.

Share this on

Soft contemporary a hit at High Point Market

Oct 26, 2011

Also by this author

Also by Thomas Russell

Featured Company

Wright Labels

Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more