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Moran Says "G' Day" to High Point
August 29,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on August 30, 2012
Australian upholstered furniture manufacturer Moran Furniture will make its U.S. debut at the Oct. 13-18 High Furniture Point Market.
The company, which will show in a 3,500-square-foot showroom, space 648 of the International Home Furnishings Center's Wrenn wing, is kicking off a major push into the North and South American markets with its first showing in High Point, said John Byrne, who heads the companys U.S. operations.
Moran is very well known in Australia, as well as New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and has been a household name for more than 50 years, said Byrne. Moran is a major supplier to upscale Australian department stores David Jones and Myer.
Weve also done quite a bit of OEM work in Europe over the years, and some in the United States, and after a lengthy study of the market weve decided the time is right to further expand in the Americas, Byrne said.
In High Point, Moran, whose slogan is "Relax, it's a Moran," will showcase high-quality classic traditional and modern styles priced in the upper-medium range. The line includes leather and fabric stationary upholstery, sofa-sleepers, recliners, barstools and upholstered beds. Among the items Moran will be featuring in High Point is the Active Comfort Chair, a popular Euro-style recliner.
The made-to-order lines features include eight-way, hand-tied springs; spring cell seat cushions; body- correct lumbar support; kiln-dried, close-grain hardwood timber; and premium leathers and fabrics. Moran is known for its luxurious leathers sourced directly from leading tanneries.
We are thrilled that Moran has chosen High Point--the worlds leading home furnishings market as the launching pad for its expansion in North and South America, said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers, parent company of the IHFC.
As in Australia and Asia, Moran is targeting retail channels of distribution as well as the hospitality industry with its new sales effort in the Americas; and is setting up a network of independent sales representatives here to promote the line.
Moran Furniture was founded more than 50 years ago by the late John Moran. During his long career, Moran made Moran Furniture a household name by focusing on quality, style, service and value. Today, hundreds of thousands of Australians live with a piece of Moran furniture in their home.
Our long-term plan is to become an iconic global brand and be as significant here as we are in Australia and Asia, Byrne said.
Moran has production facilities in Melbourne, Australia; and Shanghai, China. It will offer North and South American customers direct-container service from both facilities. Smaller quantities of product will be available through a cross-dock facility in North Carolina.
Moran is known for listening to its partners, incorporating ideas derived from our active interchange with retailers, architects, designers and consumers, said Byrne. As part of the companys planning effort for its U.S. push, he added, it brought over a group of American retailers to its factory in Shanghai for a series of face-to-face meetings.