Cresent expands Vietnam warehouse

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, October 14, 2012

HIGH POINT - Solid wood case goods specialist Cresent Fine Furniture has expanded its Vietnam warehouse by 25,000 square feet due to the popularity of its less-than-container program, the company said.
The program includes five collections that can be mixed on a container with a 500 cubic foot minimum order - about four bedrooms or five dining rooms. It allows retailers to reduce inventory with Cresent holding finished goods in its warehouse.
"In the last couple of years we've had more retailers wanting to go direct and getting it faster. But this less-than-container program has been very successful because people just don't want to buy full containers anymore," said Richard Tomkins, director of sales and marketing.
Cresent takes the inventory risk and cash flow burden off customers and provides a quick turnaround, he added.
The Vietnam program supplements Cresent's Tennessee warehouse, which stocks sold orders and best sellers.
Cresent has now has about 50,000 square feet in the climate-controlled Vietnam warehouse, from which it began shipping about 18 months ago.
"What we found is that we were draining the warehouse because it was very popular. Faster than we were producing it. So we've had to increase what we're stocking there," Tomkins said.
The company shows here in Hamilton Square, space 204.