Monthly Issue
From Home Furnishing Business
July 18,
2016 by in Motion Upholstery, Product 
For relaxing after work or bingeing on a favorite TV show, nothing beats reclining—and American consumers seem to agree. Motion upholstery sales are on the rise with total category sales for 2015 of $11.02 billion, up from $10.48 billion in 2014.
Year to year, the category posted a 5.1% sales increase from 2014 to 2015—up significantly from the 2.7% growth from 2013 to 2014. This upward swing is tracking only slightly less than the 5.4% annual growth of stationary upholstery last year. This year is trending strong as well with first quarter of 2016 up 4.1% over the same period in 2015.
Bradington Young’s 932 Kerley
Ultimately customizable, this luxury motion collection can be configured as a sofa or sectional and is available in leather, fabric, leather and fabric combo, or COM. It features manual and power options as well as charging stations, cup holders and storage trays. Design choices include arm style, wood finish and nailhead trim.
Ashley’s 38401 Austere
When it comes to contemporary styling, this power reclining upholstery series lives up to its name. It features a tailored silhouette, sporty jumbo stitching, nailhead trim, a “weather-worn” finish, and a one-touch power mechanism.
American Leather’s Hudson
Part of its Style in Motion collection, this ergonomically designed motion group can be configured as a sofa or sectional. It features a wall-hugging design, a clean-profile mechanism, continuous support for head, back and legs in one fluid movement, an articulating power headrest, a stainless steel power control with back-lit LED and USB port, and a choice of classic (23”) or European (35”) seat cushion width.
Craftmaster’s L3112
Combining luxury and comfort, this power motion sofa is shown in “Caress 27” leather. It features two fully reclining power seats with hidden controls, coil cushioning, attached backs, nailhead trim, and decorative stitching on the backs, seats and arms. Matching reclining loveseat and reclining chair are also available. Suggested Retail is $1,799.
Ekornes’ Stressless Panorama
Strong and streamlined, this motion sofa features Balance Adapt technology enabling each chair back and seat to automatically adjust the seated position according to body movement. Suggested retail with a mid-grade leather is $5,795.
Flexsteel’s 1559 Jude
This best-selling power reclining group features smooth reclining and adjustable power headrests. Other options include a USB port located at the center of each power button, cup holders, and a storage compartment.
July 11,
2016 by in Product, Youth, Juvenile Furniture
By Trisha McBride Ferguson
There’s nothing pint-sized about the growth of today’s youth furnishings market. The category has experienced steady growth, keeping up with casegoods and tracking slightly behind upholstery. In 2015, youth sales grew 4.9% over the previous year—more than double the 2.1% growth experienced between 2013 to 2014.
Whether it’s the steady growth of U.S. births or consumers’ renewed interest in creating distinctive kid-friendly spaces, the trend is upward. As the children of baby boomers move through their prime child-bearing years, the slow but continued increase in the number of U.S. babies will propel the infant furniture and “Under 5” industries. While the recession slowed rates, births are now projected to grow 3.2% over the next five years and continue a slow ascent over the next 30 years.
The “Under 5” age segment has the highest projected population increase. By 2020, this segment is expected to grow somewhere between 3% and 5.2 %, increasing from 20 million to 21 million. Over the next 10 years, youth ages 5-9 are expected to grow 2.1%.
As one of the industry’s steadily growing segments, today’s youth and baby furniture markets offer retailers and suppliers the opportunity to reach consumers at an earlier age and build lifetime relationships and brand preference.
Standard Furniture’s Magnolia Home
The BOHO styling of Joanna’s Playhouse Canopy Bed brings grown-up style to youth spaces. Available in two finishes (white and salvage), it features a pitched, roof-shaped canopy top, open window pane headboard panel, shiplap head and footboard panels, and sturdy square posts. Suggested retail is $899 in twin.
Walker Edison’s Youth Desks
Small in scale yet big in style, these popular desks offer offer a generous work surface and are constructed of sturdy powder-coated steel and colored, tempered safety glass.
Samuel Lawrence Furniture’s Room Gear
The perfect retreat for today’s active youth, “ClubHouse” group features oak veneers, bronze pipe-inspired accents and antique brass-finished hardware.
Legacy Classic Kids’ Fulton County
Offering under-bed drawers, shelving and cubbies—the Bookcase Lounge Bed is packed with storage. It owes its reclaimed vibe to poplar solids with oak, pecan, hickory and ash veneers complemented by oil-rubbed bronze hardware. Suggested retail is $1,299.
Universal Furniture’s SmartStuff
Fun and functional, the Varsity Bookcase has a corkboard right door covering two adjustable wood shelves. It also features a self-closing lower drawer and a “Jersey” finish over birch veneers.
Capel’s Sailor Boy
Inspired by the fusion of water and sky, this casual area rug unites unites tranquil blues and greens. Handcrafted in North Carolina, it’s reversible and made of cotton chenille. Suggested retail for a 5’ x 6’ round rug is $349.
Trendwood’s Hideout Bed
American-made and kid-tough, this imaginative bed is built of solid Ponderosa pine and available in three stain finishes. It features four under-bed storage drawers and matching case goods are available. Suggested retail for bed as pictured is $699.
Elements International’s Alana
Fit for fairytales, this collection offers a button-tufted, faux leather headboard, delicate bow-tie moldings, and crystal hardware. Storage options include generous drawer sizes and a trundle bed option. Suggested retail is $599.
South Shore’s Mobby
A Twin Loft Bed with stairs is paired with a Twin Trundle bed on casters to turn every bedtime into an adventure. Its streamlined silhouettes are finished in a Morgan Cherry finish. Suggested retail for the Twin Loft Bed is $541.99.
Stanley’s Stone & Leigh
Taking a cue from the popularity of gray in today’s home décor, the Clementine Court collection is designed to grow along with its owner. A classically styled crib converts to a full size headboard and footboard and is also available in a creamy white finish. Suggested retail is $699.
May 19,
2016 by in Advertising, Industry, Product, Recliner
With the increasing demands of today’s overcommitted, technology-driven lifestyles, it’s no surprise consumers want to sit down and put their feet up. The motion upholstery category reflects this trend with 5.1 percent year to year growth from 2014 to 2015.
In 2015, total motion upholstery sales were $11.02 billion, with recliners’ share estimated at $4.74 billion. For the first quarter or 2016, the entire motion upholstery category is up 4.1 percent over first quarter of 2015.
While they’re looking for comfort, fashion and functionality are at the top of consumers’ shopping lists as well. Furniture designers have responded in a big way and are coming to market with a variety of styles, materials and options for every budget and décor style.
American Leather Comfort Recliner™
Featuring its best-selling arm style and a sleek tight back, the Fallon model shown here offers a variety of features and customization options including choice of chair size, arm and base, articulating headrest, and power or manual operation. Suggested retail is $2,999.
Bradington-Young’s Gallaway 3007
Offered in hundreds of cover options, the Gallaway 3-Way Lounger is shown here in an on-trend shade of gray (cover 9067-95) and is available in a variety of wood finishes with no upcharge. Suggested retail is $3295.
American Furniture’s 9930
Featuring a soft, tone-on-tone cover in Gazette Pewter, this timeless recliner continues to perform well on retail floors.
Flexsteel’s 1251 Brookings
This best-selling model is available as a handle-activated or power recliner and can be customized in a rainbow of leather or fabric choices. Suggested retail is $1,299.
Ashley Furniture’s 29501 Pranav
Consumers are responding to this updated twist on the traditional rocker recliner. The genuine leather model has sophisticated styling and contemporary flair.
Natuzzi’s ReVive
Designed to move with the user, this performance recliner intuitively responds to the body’s movement. Its innovative design ensures a seamless transition between body positions. Suggested retail is $2,500.
Craftmaster’s L361515
Classic never goes out of style, as seen with this top-performer from Craftmaster. Its rich brown leather cover is Galveston 08. Suggested retail is $1,199.
February 16,
2015 by in Casual Dining, Dining Room, Product
By: Sheila Long O'Mara
Gathering around the table to share a great meal has become the perfect bonding experience for growing, busy families.
To do that, families need a table at which to gather, and the furniture industry has come through with a wide variety of styles and looks to fill the bill.
While formal dining rooms seem to be becoming extinct in today’s homes — a sentiment echoed in the latest consumer survey by Home Furnishings Business — dining at home has not. Instead, they’ve shifted their dining location.
The 276 consumers who participated in our dining survey had shopped for dining room furniture for their homes within the last 18 months. More than 86 percent of them reported dining most frequently in their casual dining area or in the kitchen, and 13.5 percent said the formal dining room was their go-to spot for dining.
Their shopping patterns fall in line with that figure with 67.5 percent saying they were in the market to buy a casual dining group while the other 35.5 percent said they were seeking a formal dining group.
Busy family schedules filled with after-school activities for children, dual-income couples and other family activities have shifted the long-ago formal dinners to more casual affairs. That’s not to say coming together at the end of a full day takes on less importance. Today’s family is dining more casually, and dare we say more intimately, with lots of sharing of the day’s happenings from all family members.
The dining table — be it formal or casual — tends to be the hub of many homes and often serves multiple purposes. Consumers cited a number of activities that take place around the dining table, including sitting to talk (32.1 percent), watching television (17.8 percent), paying bills (16.4 percent), hobbies (13.6 percent), work (11.1 percent) and homework (9 percent).
Of those consumers shopping for casual dining styles, 43.5 percent bought a table and 42.6 percent also bought chairs within the last 18 months. Contemporary looks reigned with the consumers. More than 43 percent bought contemporary casual dining, while 28 percent opted for a traditional look. The remaining purchases were sprinkled among European country, rustic country, mission, cottage and transitional styles.
According to dining suppliers who submitted their top-selling dining groups, the industry offerings are inline with consumer trends and tastes. Consumers are on the prowl for casual, more livable dining options with little to no high gloss finishes for their casual dining areas. Nearly 60 percent say they prefer a medium gloss and 32.5 percent prefer a flat, dry finish.
Cherry, (26.5 percent) mahogany (29 percent) and oak (23.7 percent) score highest in preferred wood species among consumers in the casual dining market.
When it comes to pricing, consumers vary on their price expectations for a casual dining group — table and four chairs. More than 35 percent (35.6 percent) say they’d expect to pay between $600 and $999 for a casual dining suite. More than a fourth (25.6 percent) would pay $1,000 or more, while 21.6 percent peg the cost for a five-piece group at between $400 and $599.
Moving into the formal dining, 36.2 percent of the consumers who purchased the category within the last 18 months bought a table while 29.8 percent bought chairs, too.
As expected, price considerations for formal dining climbed beyond those of casual dining. Slightly more than half (50.7 percent) of consumers expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,999 for a formal table and six chairs. About 26 percent (26.2 percent) expect to pay less than $1,500, and 23.1 percent expect the group to cost between $4,000 and $11,999.
The style preferences for formal dining flip flopped from the casual dining category. More than 38 percent (38.7 percent) of the consumers say their dining room furniture is traditional, and 29.3 percent reported having a contemporary dining group. Medium gloss finishes come out ahead for formal dining as well with 65 percent saying that look is their preferred finish. Only 11.7 percent said they preferred a high gloss finish in their formal dining room.
Mahogany and cherry are the two referred wood species for formal dining with 35.5 percent selecting cherry as their top choice, and 31.5 percent opting for mahogany. Another 22.8 percent said they’d prefer an oak formal dining group.
Want More?
A more in-depth report on the bedroom category is available for purchase by calling Natalia Hurd at (404) 390-1535 or via e-mail at NataliaHurd@ImpactConsultingServices.com
Callouts
11.25%
Dining’s percentage of 2014 furniture sales through 3Q
$6.17 Billion
Dining sales through 3Q 2014
2.2%
Dining’s sales growth between 2013 and 2014 through 3Q
Retailers Say
Saloom’s Cresent Dining Table
“The maple table is available in a number of finishes offering a great amount of customization for our customer. We do a lot of COM on the upholstered seats, too.” Table retails at $1,200.
Peggy Burns
Circle Furniture
Acton, Mass.
Winner’s Only Mango Dining Room
“Customers like the casual, relaxed style, and the warm finish on the mango wood with the metal accent details. The butterfly leave makes it easy to expand the table for gatherings plus there are coordinating stools and a gathering table. It’s perfect styling for our Minnesota casual lifestyle.” Retail is $999 for dining table and four chairs.
Susan Strong
Schneiderman’s Furniture
Lakeville, Minn.
Suppliers Say
A.R.T. Furniture’s Harvest Dining from Collection One
Collection One from A.R.T Furniture is a casual dining collection inspired by antiques from Provincial Canada and American architecture. The Harvest Dining speaks to consumers with its classic style, rich scale, and detail and unique appearance. Suggested retail as shown is $2,999.
Copeland Furniture’s Audrey Dining with Estrelle Chairs
Audrey offers an abundance of versatility for consumers and retailers. The table from Copeland Furniture is manufactured in solid American walnut or cherry in five finishes and is available in six extension table sizes as well as two fixed-top sizes. The precision ball-bearing extension system with self-storing, butterfly leaf is popular feature. The 42-inch by 72-inch/96-inch extension in walnut retails at $2,999.
Hickory Chair’s Ingold Oval Table
Customization makes the Ingold table from Hickory Chair a winner. Its classic form can adapt to the traditional or the modern, and the table is available in a number of configurations, including round or oval. The pedestal bases can be built with casters of antique bronze, antique silver or antique brass. Starting suggested retail is $7,575.
Fine Furniture Design’s Antebellum
The Antebellum dining room from Fine Furniture Design offers relaxed traditional styling in the tradition of period pieces, but scaled and designed with today's consumer in mind. Crafted of walnut solids, figured swirly mahogany veneers, with inlays of maple and ebony veneers. Retail for table and chairs is $5,800.
Lexington Home Brands’ Tommy Bahama Home Ocean Club Peninsula
Ocean Club from Lexington Home features a timeless design and generous styling packed with function. The combination, along with the fresh interpretation of contemporary island living, makes the group a winner with consumers. Suggested retail for the table is $2,149; side chairs are $399, and arm chairs are $459.
American Attitude from Samuel Lawrence Furniture
Samuel Lawrence delivers a unique mix of artistry and design to dining with American Attitude. Building on the popular industrial chic trend, the collection pays homage to the environment with its authentic, natural viewpoint.
Retail, as shown, is $4,300.
Corliss Landing from Cresent Fine Furniture
An opaque driftwood stain enhances the knots and imperfections of the acacia wood in Cresent’s Corliss Landing. The natural weathered look remains a popular option for consumers looking for more casual dining options.
Artisan Shoppe from Kincaid Furniture
A design-your-own approach from Kincaid’s Artisan Shoppe speaks to consumers looking to furnish their dining needs. The collection offers a range of choices in sizes, shapes, finishes and chair styles as well as storage cabinets. Retail for table, $1,849.
American Drew’s Park Studio
The space-saving design of Park Studio from American Drew works for first homes or small, urban apartments and loft spaces. Tables are paired with compact seating options.
Suggested retail for round table and four chairs, $2,460.
Viewpoint from Emerald Home Furnishings
Emerald Home Furnishings offers simple, contemporary lines with Viewpoint. Solid pine combines with oak veneers to showcase a textured wire brush finish that speaks to the casual feel consumers are seeking. Suggested retail for five-piece group, $799.
January 12,
2015 by in Bedding, Product
The mattress category remains one of the shining stars in the furniture industry, and the close of 2014 was no different.
Through the third quarter of 2014, the most current figures, mattress sales totaled $9.7 billion, a 4.5 percent increase through the same quarter of 2013.
That’s good news for retailers who sell sleep surfaces, and even better news is that the most recent Home Furnishings Business consumer survey on mattress purchasing shows that consumers are for the most part pleased with their latest bedding purchase.
More than half (53.7 percent) of our consumer panel bought a traditional innerspring bed. That percentage was followed by memory foam with 37 percent opting for that construction. From there, the next closest sleep surface option was air at 5.6 percent. Most of our consumers bought mattresses for the master bedroom (77.4 percent) with guest bedrooms placing a distant second with 20.8 percent. Queen mattresses remain the top selling size with 46.3 percent of consumers acquiring them.
Bedding consumers remain price conscious with more than 77 percent spending less than $2,000 for their mattress purchase. In fact, price ranked as the most important factor in buying a mattress following by rest test options, brand and recommendations by a retail sales associate. Never underestimate the need for consumers to rest test a bed. More than 53 percent spend at least 10 minutes testing a mattress in the store. Thirty-seven percent of them opt for 15 minutes or longer.
Price constraints were a drawback for consumers who considered a memory foam mattress but bought an innerspring instead. More than 35 percent said the price was cost-prohibitive. More consumers bought from a bedding specialty retailer (37 percent) than other retail channels, while more than 22 percent bought their new mattress from a traditional furniture store.
Overall, our consumers were pleased with their shopping experience. More than 62 percent of our panel rated their shopping experience as “enjoyable” to “very enjoyable”. The sales associates’ product knowledge also pulled in kudos with 68 percent saying they were “satisfied” to “very satisfied” with the service.
Want More?
A more in-depth report on the bedroom category is available for purchase at FurnitureCore.com—Industry Info—Industry Reports—Bedding or by calling Natalia Hurd at (404) 390-1535.
Vendors Say
Thomasville Synchrony from Boyd Specialty Sleep
"Thomasville Synchrony air beds have patented six-chamber cores, layers of gel memory foam and feature IntelliTemp phase-change materials in the covers. They also come with an LCD hand control that shows graphics and settings in color. These beds sell well because they're very attractive, have demonstrable features and feel great." Retail is $2,999, queen.
Denny Boyd
Boyd Specialty Sleep
Spring Air Sleep Sense Hybrid Plus with Eurotop
“The Sleep Sense Hybrid Plus is by far one of Spring Air’s best-selling Back Supporter-branded beds. It offers consumers a unique look and feel, and retail sales associates like to sell it because it has a very demonstrable selling story: its patented ‘hi-lo’ core design delivers more support where the body needs it most.” Retail starts at $1,299, queen.
Rick Robinson
Spring Air
Dormeo Dolce Tranquility
The Dolce Tranquility from Dormeo features three layers of the company’s Octaspring technology and an Eco-cell core. The mattress features a plush-to-medium-firm feel, and appeals to couples looking to compromise on a feel that they both like. The price point is much better than other comparable options. Retail is $2,999.
Glideaway’s Clarity
The 12-inch Clarity from Glideaway features three inches of high-density memory foam, three inches of convoluted gentle support transition foam and a six-inch support core. The mattress offers a high-end look and features with an affordable price. Retail is $899-1199, queen.
Gold Bond Smart Series 3000
Part of the company’s first hybrid collection, Gold Bond’s Smart Series 3000 offers the support of an innerspring with the added comfort of a top layer of gel. The mattress is a winner because it provides the benefits of hybrids at an affordable price. Retail is $1,399, queen.
Valencia by Kingsdown
Valencia uses the highest quality materials to provide the ultimate in comfort and support. Individually wrapped coils conform to the body for support and a latex and gel-infused memory foam provide a combination of conforming, resilient comfort. Retail is $999, queen.
World’s Best Bed by Pure LatexBliss
Designed to appeal to a variety of consumer needs, the World’s Best Bed provides technology for warm or cold sleepers giving sleep partners a happy compromise. Incorporating gel into the ticking places it closer to the sleeper’s body optimizing the cooling and comfort benefits to provide a good night’s sleep. Retail is $3,699, queen.
Restonic’s ComfortCare Signature Mattress Collection
The ComfortCare Signature collection from Restonic features temperature regulating Outlast and gel-infused memory foam and is wrapped in Burberry ticking. The collection, endorsed by consumers and winner of multiple consumer press awards, features Restonic’s Marvelous Middle construction for resilient support.
Serta’s iComfort Collection
Serta’s iComfort collection has had successful momentum with retailers and consumers since launching in 2011. The Savant EverFeel model is the 2014 version of one of Serta’s most popular iComfort offerings. It features the company’s Cool Action Dual Effects Gel Memory Foam, for cooling comfort and targeted support. Retail is $1,799, queen.
Retailers Say
Serta iSeries Merit Super Pillowtop
"Customers love the combination of specialty foam while still having the innerspring support system." Retail is $1,999 with two free specialty pillows.
Kyle Johansen
HOM Furniture
Coon Rapids, Minn.
Sleep to Live 600 Series
“It provides the ultimate comfort and more importantly — support comfort — that most other brands don’t have. Under the good, better, best categories, it’s in the better category offering the consumer a great night sleep without completely killing the budget.”
Retail is $2,399.
George Bruni
Art Van Pure Sleep
Warren, Mich.
Corsicana's Lockhart
“It is not something you can survive on by selling, but it is a great starting price point for the customer.” Retail is $299.
Woody Whichard
Midtown Furniture Superstore & Mattress Center
Madison, N.C.
Serta's iSeries Vantage
“Number one, it's made right here in Detroit. Second, Serta's done a great job providing two operations with iComfort and the iSeries.” Queen mattress retails for $1,074.
Jeff Selik
Hillside Furniture
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.