by Home News Now offers a snapshot of what we saw and heard during the 3-day event
HIGH POINT — To say premarket is extremely valuable for a journalist covering the furniture industry is an understatement at best.
Looking back, I can’t remember missing one of these events since working in the industry full-time since the fall of 2003, which would technically make this most recent one my 46th premarket. Indeed, that’s a lot of steps, but even more valuable time spent with industry resources, contacts and, yes, friends made over the many years.
The benefits of attending premarket are probably similar for retailers in that it gives an extra few days to visit people and companies a month ahead of market. Given the smaller number of people that are here compared to a market, it’s also easier to spend more quality time with those folks and get a better understanding of their introductions heading into the market cycle.
Monday of premarket tends to be the busiest day for most. It’s also one in which I take the most time visiting and getting information for a day one business story as we published a week ago this past Tuesday. I and a member of the sales team also spend time at the social held at Grandover on Monday evening, which is also a great time to connect with the industry. (Thanks to the premarket committee for extending this invitation.)
Like many retailers, we also spend part of Sunday and Tuesday visiting showrooms, some of which are event sponsors and others not. But like retailers here in town, we try to make the most of the short time allotted.
Below are some of the visits not mentioned in the earlier business story:
+ FD Home, like many, was waiting on finished samples to arrive. However, the showroom had plenty of inline product that are shipping now, plus photos of several veneered bedrooms and several paper laminate bedroom and dining sets featuring melamine tops. As always, it also was good spending time with industry friends Steve York and Albert Lim.
+ HH2 Home showcased a number of new products including bedroom, small-space dining, bar stools, accents and upholstery. For those who missed them at premarket, it’s probably worth stopping in at market to see this and more, including new daybeds and what’s available for quick ship out of the company’s domestic warehouse in Northwest Mississippi.
+ Corinthian, an upholstery manufacturer I have not spent a lot of time at previously, but one where I got to see some beautifully tailored sofas and sectionals and also meet company Vice President of Sales Lon Tripoli and Director of Marketing J.D. Townsley. Looking forward to hearing more about what this renowned Mississippi manufacturer has planned for market.
+ 16 West Home, where I visited with founder Steve Lush and talked a little about what the company is planning for the October market. It also reintroduced me to some of the company’s inline product including its line of leather motion upholstery and recliners.
+ Gascho Furniture Co., which had plenty of new product to show including new dining sets that showcase its capabilities in solid wood manufacturing. In addition to new regular and gathering-height footprints, it also showed several new wood finish options being offered in the line that offer similar clarity and depth as its traditional wood finishes. It also was great reconnecting with CEO and owner Brandon Yowler.
+ Stone & Leigh showed some new sectionals built off successful sofa groups shown last market and also showed four new leather frames available in four different grades of leather. These add to an already robust lineup of some 50 hides. With such selection, the company is offering dealers the ability to sell more per square foot from a placement or two. “More and more dealers are wanting to generate more special-order business and not say no to custom,” Jay Foscue, president, told Home News Now.
+ Banner House showcased a new bedroom and a new bedroom and dining set from solid wood resource Kincaid. It also showed some new bedroom and dining sets by Magnussen Home, including its Cypress Point bedroom which is available in two finishes and features shagreen on the drawer fronts of case pieces. During the visit, President Doug Townsend noted that Labor Day sales were strong. “We’ve had a noticeable uptick in business the last four weeks, which was great.” This was good news, particularly as it came off a slow summer for many in the industry.
+ Youth furniture resource Donco Trading has a lot going on heading into the fall market, including new bed configurations, new finishes, a new catalog and new sales reps covering various territories. It is also bolstering its inventory to support dealers wanting a quick turnaround on product. “We are ramping up so if anything changes we’ll be ready, just like we have always been,” National Sales Manager Jake Bumgardner told Home News Now.
+ Case goods resource Avalon Furniture showed seven of 15 new bedrooms planned for market. The company continues to expand on its style and finish palette, while also offering innovative new features to the mix. Along with charging capability and lights at the base of nightstands, new features included coin holders in dressers and proximity lighting in the drawers of case pieces. “The added value we are putting in the product seems to be resonating at retail,” President Mike Bradshaw told Home News Now. “It gives the retail salesperson something else to talk about. We are seeing positive results in a tough retail environment. The most important thing for us is that our dealers make money.”
+ Crown Mark showed about five first-time-seen bedrooms, representing just under half the dozen it plans to show at market, among other new products in dining, occasional and home entertainment. Retailing as low as $999 for a bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand, these represent the strong value story the company has to offer in the category. The company also is touting its 1 million-plus square feet of domestic warehouse space in California, Texas and High Point, offering dealers quick-ship capability on the majority of its line.
+ A standout at Napa Furniture Design was its new Valdera bedroom, made with solid mango and solid walnut. The suite is notable for its solid wood construction and the clarity of its dark wood-tone finish, not to mention the striking contrasting champagne gold finish on hardware. More new product is on its way for market, which we also can’t wait to see.
+ Karat Home showcased mostly inline product, but the visit was good for helping reintroduce us to the company’s line. This includes several stylish home office pieces including the Karat swivel desk, the Fiona lift-top standing desk and a third lift desk shown in a black finish. While they can easily be placed in a home office, these beauties also would look good in a bedroom or living room, according to Milan Rousset, sales and marketing director for Karat Home and sister company Z Gallerie. They also can be paired with a wide selection of some 100 inline office chairs.
+ Last but not least was Liberty Furniture, where I got the chance to chat with President Jonathan Cowles and Director of Sales Maggie Henning on Microsoft Teams this past Friday, an extension of premarket for sure. The company had one of the largest, if not the largest, product offerings, with about 80 new collections across various categories in its whole-home line. This represents some 80% of what the company is going to show at market next month. “We try to be as market ready as possible,” Cowles said of the need to show retailers new product. “We want to make it worth their time. … If we are going to be open and inviting customers into our showroom we want to be ready.”
Thus, throughout the week, the editorial team at Home News Now saw/spoke with about two dozen companies, including a couple not mentioned here. It’s an opportunity we value given the time spent with familiar faces we’ve gotten to know over the years. Thanks to all for making yourselves available, and we hope this market cycle proves successful for you and your customers.
