by Despite ongoing uncertainty regarding tariffs, suppliers and their customers appear to be taking a business-as-usual approach to the fall market cycle
HIGH POINT — Despite the uncertainty that still looms around tariffs and the impact on the industry moving forward, vendors showing at premarket this week reported strong attendance and mostly positive attitudes from retailers in town for the event.
With a decision looming in mid-October on a furniture-specific tariff on furniture using wood components, many said the issue of future rates is beyond their control at this point, although many have factored existing tariffs such as a 20% rate on Vietnam into their pricing. Thus there was a mostly business-as-usual atmosphere at the event in which retailers focused largely on new products, while also offering feedback on new designs and even securing exclusive distribution in their respective markets.
With that in mind, participating importers and manufacturers had plenty to offer, including full collections of bedroom, dining and occasional, along with new stationary and motion upholstery.
Bernhardt’s mix of new products includes two case goods collections, the 38-piece Geneve and the 30-piece Brasea, part of its smaller scale Loft collection. Made with white oak veneers and available in two finishes, a lighter Alba and a darker Robor, Geneve has modern-casual design elements as seen in the soft edges on case pieces and reeded designs on table bases and drawer fronts. It also features mixed-media elements including cast aluminum on door fronts and the sides of case pieces. An upholstered bed in the collection retails at $1,999, and a trestle dining table retails at $2,100.
Made with Indonesian-grown Suar wood, Brasea has causal-modern design elements that showcase dramatic grain patterns on the fronts, sides and tops of case pieces. The pattern continues on the top of a double-ped dining table retailing at $1,699, giving it an organic live-edge look and aesthetic. Brasea also features mixed-media elements such as woven raffia on door fronts and metal bases on dressers and other case pieces, as well as on end tables and a round dining table.
The company also showcased 15 introductions in Bernhardt Living featuring stationary sofas and accent chairs and two sectionals, which are in addition to 16 new motion upholstery frames, including two new sectionals, all in leather.
A.R.T. Furniture showed three collections, including the 28-piece Boulevard, which has a mix of Hollywood Regency and art deco design influences. Made with prima vera veneers, it also has mixed-media elements that include metal bases with reeded detail on dining and occasional tables to decorative faux tortoise shell on hardware.
Its 30-piece Mezzanine collection sports a new Mascara Black finish on maple veneers, which gives an even further elevated appearance to the previous natural maple finish. Other design elements include frosted gray glass on the doors and drawer fronts of case pieces.
Its Southern California-inspired 35-piece Verge collection has soft modern design elements as seen in the rounded legs of dining and occasional tables and the rounded edges of case pieces.
Case goods manufacturer Vaughan-Bassett expanded its solid wood Artisan & Post line with Pure Maple, which is also part of the Erin & Ben Napier licensed collection. Featuring five beds that start at $1,299 retail, it comes in two main finishes, a darker Maple Syrup finish and a lighter natural finish, along with a white finish and an accent Sage Green finish. A fully upholstered bed retailing at $1,999 comes in five fabric options, including Blue Tweed and Blue Mist as well as three neutrals including Pure White, Sandstone and Mocha.
As opposed to offering a small number of beds and companion case pieces in a large number of custom finishes, the goal was to offer more beds in a more limited number of finish options, noted Doug Bassett, president, adding that the company is building the line for in inventory, meaning it can ship within 48-72 hours from the time of the order.
“With our custom program, you not only get what you want — you get it immediately,” he said.
The company also showed a Scandinavian-influenced bedroom made with walnut and maple veneers called NordHaven, which includes four bed options, retailing from $1,199 to $1,999, including two wood beds and two upholstered beds. The line was also shown with accent chairs, an effort to bring upholstery into the bedroom setting as other higher-end resources have done previously.
“We think putting upholstery in a bedroom display enhances the display and makes it more attractive to the consumer,” said Wyatt Bassett, chief executive officer. “It really warms it up and makes it more inviting.”
Case goods specialists Avalon Furniture and FD Home expanded their own bedroom and dining mix, bringing new styles and finishes to the category. Avalon showed eight bedroom groups retailing from $1,199 to $3,999 for four pieces, two of which included dining as part of a coordinated collection. The company also plans to bring out another eight bedrooms at market along with two coordinating dining sets.
“It has been very productive,” said President Mike Bradshaw of the early market cycle showing. “We are seeing the right people.”
FD Home gave buyers an early look at several new bedrooms it is introducing for the fall market cycle as well as two new casual dining sets. The bedrooms retail from $2,199 to $2,699, and the dining sets retail at $899 for a table and four chairs.
It also gave buyers a look at production samples from two top-performing bedrooms shown this past spring, highlighting the quality of construction and finishes they can expect to see once they start shipping and hitting retail floors.
It also will be showing another four new bedrooms and another dining set next month at market, plus seven new paper laminate bedrooms featuring melamine tops on case pieces that are targeted to retail from $999 to $1,399 for a bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand.
Full-line resources Liberty Furniture and Elements International showcased products across all categories, offering buyers an early look at the depth and breadth of their respective assortments.
Liberty showed six new bedrooms and has another four planned for the October market. In bedroom, the sweet spot of the mix ranges from $1,999 to $4,999 for four pieces, with some groups coming in higher. These are part of collections that also include dining and companion occasional/home entertainment. It also showcased six collections of leather motion upholstery, with another four planned to be here at market.
At nearly 100% market-ready, full-line resource Elements International’s introductions spanned all major categories including some 20 new bedrooms, several of which have companion dining as part of a full collection. It also showed 20 new stationary and motion upholstery groups.
“We take premarket very seriously,” said Paul Comrie, chief executive officer, noting that in addition to being market-ready with new products, the event “gives us the opportunity to train the sales team and have them ready to hit the ground running.”
Legacy Classic | Modern showed its Echelon collection, featuring updated traditional Louis Philippe design influences.
Made with walnut veneers, it features two panel beds including one with a parquet veneer pattern on the headboard and footboard and another featuring reversible wood/vinyl panels retailing from $999 to $1,199, as well as functional case pieces including a dresser and a server with hidden storage.
It also showcased 10 new standalone occasional groups and four new youth bedrooms featuring twin beds retailing from $499 to $599 and full-sized beds retailing from $599 to $699.
HH2 Home and Intercon also had a significant amount of their fall market product mix here at premarket. HH2 Home estimated it was about 60% market ready with major categories such as bedroom, dining and accent seating represented.
Intercon’s mix also included several new bedroom and dining groups as well as some new upholstery groups including sofas, chaises and sectionals represented. It also showed new outdoor seating groups and a new category of leather spectator chairs retailing from $599 to $699 featuring both footrest and tilt-back functionality.
With about 70% of its new product on display, it said it anticipates a few more new bedrooms for October and some additional leather seating.
