Universal Extends "Smart Mix" to West Coast Furniture Retailers

June 8, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on June 9, 2010

Universal Furniture, High Point, is rolling out its "Smart Mix 500" program to West Coast retailers. Dealers in 10 western states will receive direct container pricing for minimum orders of 500 cubes--the equivalent of as little as three bedroom suites--of any mix of Universal products and collections.

"Smart Mix 500 was created to provide greater flexibility at a lower cost, in keeping with the company's goal to make good, affordable, smart design a real differentiator and value generator," said Jeff Scheffer, president and CEO of Universal Furniture. "Dealers can mix orders from Better Homes and Gardens by Universal Furniture and Paula Deen Home with any of the other Universal collections. There are no limitations to the product mix."

With Smart Mix 500, products are shipped from the company's high cube, automated Shanghai warehouse capable of holding 1,800 containers of inventory, on average, in less than two weeks. For more immediate needs, products can be delivered from domestic inventories in 10 days or less from Universal's 350,000-square-foot High Point warehouse. The company will phase out its City of Industry, Calif., warehouse operations, during the fourth quarter of this year. Smart Mix 500 will ship products direct to dealers via an out-sourced, cross-dock operation located in Riverside, Calif.

"We've been pleased with the dealer response to the flexibility and savings of Smart Mix 500," Scheffer said. "At direct container pricing, they are able to buy good, affordable, smart design with near domestic warehouse fulfillment but without the high cost of carrying inventory. It's a win-win."