Cantoni Readies Natuzzi Italia Showroom

November 27, 2012  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 28, 2012

Furniture retailer Cantoni is set to open a Natuzzi Italia showroom concept in its newly expanded flagship store in Dallas.

The Natuzzi Italia store-within-a-store concept is exclusive to Cantoni in Dallas.

Cantoni will mark the occasion with a grand-opening gala - A Celebration of Italian Design - in partnership with Modern Luxury Interiors Magazine Dec. 6 at the showroom. 

"Cantoni's partnership with Natuzzi Italia delivers on our 28-year-commitment to bringing our clients the best in cutting-edge modern design," said Michael Wilkov, founder and chief energizing officer of Cantoni. "Natuzzi Group-Italy's largest furniture manufacturer-is known around the world as a leader in leather furniture and Natuzzi Italia represents the best of Natuzzi on a global level. Natuzzi Italia designs are merchandised with a comprehensive range of high-style furnishings for a whole home concept that epitomizes the excellence, fashion and quality of products designed and crafted in Italy." 

Cantoni's 4000-square-foot, glass-encased Natuzzi shop-in-shop will feature the label's collections including Plaza, Frank, Opus, Savoy, Brio, Wave, Sound, Avana, Surround, Releve, Cambre and Opera. Patrons will be greeted by the warm and welcoming hues of natural materials and woods that comprise the foundation of each unique installation in the Natuzzi Italia space. Each vignette will feature distinctive furniture collections, case goods and accessories, all hand-crafted in Italy.

In keeping with the theme of the evening, Cantoni's grand opening celebration will feature live cooking demonstrations in the store's fully functioning Bontempi Cucine kitchen by renowned local chef Anthony Van Camp of SER Steak & Spirits. Guests will also enjoy fine Italian wines and cocktails by Ultimate Vodka & Patron, along with Italian-style music by dsqelectric, and an opportunity to view the latest designs from local Maserati dealer Park Place.

According to Brad Cates, senior vice president, Natuzzi Americas, the Natuzzi Italia store-within-a-store concept is unique to Cantoni and to the Dallas marketplace.

"As we move forward with aggressive growth plans for Natuzzi Italia in major markets, we are particularly excited to partner with a retail leader like Cantoni because it provides great consumer exposure to the Natuzzi Italia brand inside one of the industry's most recognized and respected lifestyle furniture retailers," he said. "No one understands the desires of design-conscious shoppers in the Dallas market better than Cantoni."

Wilkov attended his first Salone trade fair in Milan in 1984 the year he opened Cantoni, and has continued to attend the fair personally every year since.

"In launching Cantoni, my goal was to bring great modern design to our clients in Dallas," he said. "We've grown and expanded considerably since then, but 28 years later our vision remains the same. It's incredibly satisfying to be able to translate our experiences in Milan for our marketplace with true, made-in-Italy designs."

Cantoni will open the Natuzzi Italia showroom to the public Friday, Dec. 7. Shoppers will find that the new 4,000-square-foot Natuzzi Italia installation is one part of a stunning 20,000-square-foot expansion that recreates the feeling of a shopping experience more typically found in Milan.