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Michael Ashton Designs Makes High Point Debut
April 11,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on April 12, 2013
Solid wood bedroom furniture importer Michael Ashton Designs makes its High Point Furniture Market debut next week.
At Market, the company will exhibit in a 9,000-square-foot showroom, Furniture Plaza, Space 611, just off the escalator on the sixth floor.
Based in Plymouth, Mass., Michael Ashton Designs is a new company making its first-ever market appearance. At the April market, the company will introduce 11 master bedrooms and four juvenile bedroom groups in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. The products will be made at a group of five factories in Vietnam, with warehousing in Plymouth, High Point and Ontario, Calif. Much of the wood being used--cherry, oak, ash, poplar and pine--will be sourced from the United States and New Zealand.
Well have nine of the master bedroom collections in our warehouses and ready to ship by the time market starts, said company President Mike Facchini, a veteran furniture executive formerly with Tradewins. Retailers will be able to place orders at market and begin receiving product right away. Well have more than $2 million in inventory when we launch.
Michael Ashton Designs plans to maintain U.S. stock on its entire line, including juvenile products, to service small and medium-sized retailers and provide backup stock for large container customers. It has a 20-person sales representative force in place to work with retailers nationwide.
Construction details include an 11-step finishing process, the use of Hangman anti-tipping mechanisms on case pieces, and LED directional lighting and USB ports incorporated into all nightstands.
Were putting a number of functional and safety extras into the product to make the value even stronger, Facchini said.
Initial designs being shown at market include a sophisticated British group; a warm, distressed pine set; a clean, Amish-inspired group; and a painted poplar style. Storage options, including storage beds, are available in all the collections. Price points range from $1,499 to $2,999 retail for a four-piece group.
Were excited that Michael Ashton Designs has chosen High Point as the platform for the launch of its new line, said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers. The decision to debut in High Point provides another example of why the market is such an important destination for manufacturers and retailers worldwide.
During the April market, Michael Ashton will give away entry tickets for a future raffle of a free Harley-Davidson motorcycle. All container customers are eligible. The prize will be awarded at the October High Point Market.