The high points of market
Debuts focus on elegance, licensing, leather and home office
By Anna Thibodeaux
A “return to formality” with a continued love for eclectic were among the strongest trends, while licensing and demand for leather furniture remained in full swing at October’s High Point Market.
In strongest trends, a “return to formality” surfaced with a renewed interest in elegant, luxurious home furnishings, says Jackie Hirschhaut, spokeswoman for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, which holds the show in High Point, N.C. The look also translates into dark woods, high gloss finishes, and highly carved and painted pieces.
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| A suite debuted by the Lane Co. at High Point Market. |
In a salute to the British, several new collections were debuted: The Harrods Home Collection at Highland House, the Royal Doulton collect at Avillion and British Gentry at Thomasville. There were also French influences, which also contributed to the elegant and luxurious category.
Consumers’ love affair with mixed media, also called eclectic, is still on, encompassing an array of natural materials, steel, glass and stone, Hirschhaut says. The licensing phenomenon isn’t slowing down, she adds. They included Claude Monet at Habersham, Kathy Ireland at Vanguard, Eddie Bauer at The Lane Co., Historic Newport at Ficks Reed, Ernest Hemingway at Thomasville and Sedgefield by Adams.
Increased interest in leather furniture continued, Hirschhaut says, adding, “We’ve been watching it for a year or so, but it shows no sign of slowing down.” Leather’s appeal is broadening as consumers learn it’s practical, is more affordable with worldwide availability of quality hides at all prices and has more colors. “It’s not just a brown cow anymore,” she says.
Home office and juvenile categories were considered strong categories, Hirschhaut says. People are working at home more and Baby Boomers are shopping for their children and grandchildren.
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| Showing a British influence, Marge Carson unveiled this chair at Market. |
For the show, the outlook was good as well despite a slow summer. “Business is good and we’re optimistic for that to continue,” Hirschhaut says. “There’s no question that High Point is poised to maintain its stature as the largest international home furnishings market.” The market drew an estimated 80,000 people worldwide.
High Point Market was also highlighted by expanding show space, which Hirschhaut says will continue to grow. She anticipates reaching 12 million square feet of showroom display in two to three years.
Some of the 2,600 exhibitors there agree with Hirschhaut’s overview on show trends. But they also say, while they’re not concerned yet, traffic was slower than anticipated at their booths.
One exhibitor, Hillside Cottage Furniture Co., says the show went well while the crowd was more dispersed because of more show buildings. A lot of chain stores were shopping for high-end furniture, which is what they featured, said company Vice President Gary Atachian. A lot of new faces were seen, which he says may have been due to stores trying to upscale their markets.
Hillside Cottage, a $3 million furniture manufacturer with 50 employees in Pacolma, Calif., says buyers who promised to attend didn’t, which he says was probably due to a slow summer. Atachian says he isn’t concerned, while Arizona and the Southeast fell off, new business was picked up in the Northeast and he expects a great market in January.
Designer James Cole with Artedi Inc. in Paramount Calif., who’s attended market since 1986, says the show also went well for them.
Probably the biggest trend U.S. suppliers are watching now is product coming from the Far East and China and how it affects the market, Cole says.
They’re trying to decide whether to jump on board or compete.
While he says the show was lightly attended, he happily adds upper-end contacts did attend and his company did well. He isn’t worried about lesser attendance either. “I start getting worried when people stop paying their bills and ordering things, and so far that hasn’t happened,” he says.
Steve Rosenthal of mfa/eronga inc., whose hand painted furniture line includes Monopoly furniture, agrees licensing will gain steam in the market. “I think there’s an iconic value to it. People do want personal things now.”
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