Broad youth lines on display at Market

Tom Russell -- Furniture Today, October 16, 2012

This panel bed is part of the new Paris youth collection at Najarian. It features a reflective acrylic panel on the headboard.HIGH POINT - Youth bedroom resources here are seeing success not just with new products suitable for second and guest bedrooms, but also with revamped showroom displays that highlight the breadth of their lines.
An example is Coaster, which has redesigned its youth area this market to showcase new and existing bedrooms alongside a greater variety of accent pieces such as desks, storage cubes and bookshelves.
Standard Furniture's new Pure Imagination showroom area features a youth lineup including seven new bedrooms, said Todd Evans, president. Within that presentation is a host of styles ranging from glitzy contemporary headboards with beveled glass insets to metal canopy beds shown in three finishes and featuring traditional curved scroll details. The showroom also mixes in desks, storage cubes and bed benches.
Even AICO, known for its opulent master bedroom, has an area devoted to youth called Hollywood Kids. This 18-piece collection is a new category that mimics styles seen in its Michael Amini and Jane Seymour licensed line, Hollywood Swank.
Dealers like the display and the mix of SKUS, which feature boys and girls upholstered beds with tufted headboards accented with crystals and high-end upholstered vinyl similar to material used in high-end purses.
"So far so good," said Chuck Reilly, AICO senior vice president of sales and marketing. "The first customer that saw it bought a container of it, and people that did well with Hollywood Swank are also considering it."
SLF is seeing strong dealer response to its new RoomGear youth program. Dealers like the range of styles and product as well as innovative features including optional steps available for the front of bunk bed configurations. They also like the ability to mix the three groups.
"Buyers are purchasing it across the board," said Lee Boone, president. "It's a program and an advantageous program if you buy more than one set."
Najarian is seeing strong dealer response on new youth collections, including its Paris girls group, featuring a panel bed with a tufted vinyl headboard with faux crystal accents and a low poster panel bed featuring an acrylic reflective panel..
The company also is doing well with a new girl's group called Marseilles that has edgy and "sophisticated urban" design elements including a multicolored headboard and companion case pieces.
Novelty youth items also are doing well at resources such as Najarian and Powell, which is seeing strong dealer interest on sports-themed pieces - including soccer and football shaped headboards retailing for around $159 and a new $550 Dune Buggy bed.