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Now that the semi-annual High Point furniture market has come to a close and I’ve been able to sort through my notebook – which is filled to the brim with scribbled and hard-to-decipher notes – I wanted to point out a few trends and general themes I noticed.
Big new product intros
Suppliers are being aggressive with new product introductions in hopes that at least something will catch the eye of a retailer looking to round out their floor. Several debuted their biggest intros yet, while others brought out collections encompassing every category they offer.
Universal Furniture, for example, broadened its Modern collection with its largest expansion ever, adding 198 SKUs this market. New items cover upholstery and case goods, and include mirrors, bar cabinets, occasional chairs, dining sets, stools and more.
High-end supplier AICO was another to have its largest introduction ever, unveiling around 25 new collections, again spanning all of its categories. Other companies to have major debuts were Bernards Furniture, Sherill Furniture, Martin Furniture, Magnussen and Legacy Classic.
“Updated traditional” is a strong style trend
Traditional looks, particularly in case goods, are strong, continuing the trend seen last April. Suppliers are really ramping up their focus on the style, with many offering “updated” takes. One example is the new Revival collection from A.R.T., which honors the company’s 20th year of business.
“This is a collection that targets Grand Millennials,” said Doug Rozenboom, president of A.R.T., referencing a Millennial consumer who’s inspired by traditional design and seeks to blend vintage looks with modern touches.
Features of the line, which encompasses case pieces and upholstery, include swirl mahogany veneers and wood-backed dining chairs with tufted upholstered fronts and bead work. The company’s sister brand, Jonathan Charles, also focused on updated traditional with extremely decorative items “meant to evoke class and elegance.”
Other companies to push this style were Universal Furniture, Legacy Classic and Hooker Furniture. Hooker’s two new collections, Americana and Bella Donna, blend “classic aesthetics with today’s functionality to create two looks that will resonate with a broad spectrum of our customers,” said Mike Harris, president of case goods and upholstery.
New categories
This is a continuation of the big new product introduction trend talked about earlier, but still worthy of being pointed out. Case goods suppliers are expanding into new categories to both gain new customers and to strengthen business with existing buyers. Many have strong relationships with specific buyers, and those buyers have expressed interest in purchasing a wider range of product if a supplier were to offer it.
Domestic case good manufacturer Copeland Furniture made its debut into upholstery with the new Sierra collection. Magnussen also got into upholstery, unveiling 100 new SKUs in the category covering leather motion, fabric motion and fabric stationary. And Martin Furniture, a specialist in entertainment and home office furniture, entered the dining category with 15 collections.
Others to venture into new categories included Legacy Classic, which got into motion upholstery with 12 new sets; Artistica, which got into upholstery with six new sofas and chairs; and Vaughan-Bassett, which re-entered the dining category after a three-year absence.
Most handled STURDY the same way
At last spring’s market, suppliers were grappling with the challenges and uncertainty of meeting the STURDY Act. This fall, with the rule already in place, the challenges are largely over. But I wanted to know how these challenges were met.
Nearly every supplier I talked to reported meeting the standard in at least one of the following ways: adding weight to the back of a case piece, increasing the back panel’s thickness, and using ¾ extension drawer slides.
Last market, when I asked people what they were considering doing to meet the standard, many said the answer could lie in interlocking mechanisms that prevent more than one drawer from opening at a time. Last week, however, almost everyone I talked to opted not to go that route. One supplier said it was too risky, saying it could jeopardize the lifetime warranty it offers.
The majority of suppliers I talked to said they did not raise prices, instead opting to eat the costs themselves, which were minimal for some and painful for others. One prominent supplier, that wished to remain off the record, said retailers simply would not accept a price increase at this time. A few others echoed this sentiment.
Quick-ship and mixability are selling points
Quite a few suppliers are investing in programs to get product to retailers more quickly. High-end domestic manufacturer Stickley Furniture was one, unveiling its new express shipping program in which select items ship in either 30 or 60 days.
Legends Furniture was another, with a chief focus on expanding its Mixology program, which allows buyers to mix and match from all of the company’s categories out of its Vietnam warehouse. There are no minimums per item, and Legends handles all the logistics.
Domestic manufacturer Fusion Designs was another to put its focus here, adding two new dining lines to its quick-ship Essentials program. Under Essentials, buyers can get solid maple dining furniture in 10 days from time of order.
Did I miss anything noteworthy? If you were at the High Point Market, let me know what you saw. Email me at rdalheim@furnituretoday.com.
