by Winter storms kept some buyers away, but many exhibitors appeared pleased with market attendance, reception to product mix
LAS VEGAS — The furniture industry’s first major show of the year got off to a strong start as case goods and upholstery resources showcased a mix of inline and new products aimed to help generate business for designers and retailers alike.
Despite harsh weather conditions that delayed or canceled some travel plans, traffic was about as expected with some buyers coming as early as Friday or Saturday to avoid flight delays.
Most resources showcased product shown at the October High Point Market with some new items sprinkled into the mix. For example, Parker Living showed several new motion upholstery groups featuring sectionals, with two of the introductions also featuring castered ottomans.
Sectionals were targeted to retail from $2,999 to $3,499, company President and CEO Chris Lupo said.
“A lot of dealers that come to this market are warehouse buyers,” Lupo told Home News Now, noting that buyers here this week can get in-stock product shipped in a few days. “That is why this is usually a good market for us.”
Coaster’s showroom included products and programs shown in High Point and new for Las Vegas, ranging from an expanded home office line and mix-and-match dining program to its revived line of bunk beds, a staple in the line since its inception 45 years ago. As part of its 45th anniversary this year, the company also offered a mix of promotions and specials all tied into its 45-year anniversary theme.
As most of the product is either in stock or soon to arrive in the U.S., dealers can place orders on a wide mix of items and expect to receive those orders soon after market.
“We did have a really good introduction rollout where we bought about 70% of what we introduced,” said Crystal Nguyen, vice president of merchandise and strategic product planning. “That is a very high ratio. … So, of course, there is a lot of never-been-seen product introduced at High Point at this show here. And there is a lot of product that we bought that’s finally landing.”
Hooker Furnishings showed its licensed Margaritaville collection that debuted in High Point, along with several other popular collections, including Revival, along with bestselling upholstery pieces from its Bradington-Young line.
With the exception of the Margaritaville collection, which is expected to hit retail later this year, all items shown are in stock and ready to ship, allowing customers to place orders at market and receive them within days of the order.
Meridian Furniture, which was showing here for the first time since 2019, came with a mix of product that showcased a diverse mix of fabric and finish options. This presented a new look to buyers who were previously familiar with its more glam design aesthetic, noted Mitch Hodges, vice president of sales.
“Our goal here is to make sure that we have product that can show in the Midwest, or Colorado, Utah and places like that, but we also want to show customers in Florida lighter colors,” he said. “That is where our versatility comes in with what we are showing here. So our goal here is not to be pigeon-holed into a certain look, or a certain product type, but to really showcase the versatility of the line, whether it’s fabric or wood.”
Other resources including Phillips Collection and Four Hands had fairly extensive introductions with hundreds of first-time-seen items. At Four Hands, the mix included several hundred new pieces, many of which featured a mix of materials such as chrome or wood frames and leather applied to various seating.
“I think the fact we are bringing out great new materials and are mixing them together is really cool. It makes our product unique in the market,” said Adam Dunn, senior vice president of design.
He noted that traffic and buyer interest in the mix was strong at the start of the show, which officially started on Sunday and ends Thursday.
“I think people are being a little more selective on where they make their purchases, but I think from a price/value perspective we offer really amazing product that is still very competitive,” Dunn said of the importance of the price/value relationship. “I think that offering something unique in the market that people are still willing to spend and buy against is really important.”
