Universal Furniture Introduces Its Own Version Of ‘Call Me Maybe’ With Its Homegrown Video

Furniture World News Desk on 10/9/2012

Universal Furniture, announced that it has  found an entertaining outlet for creativity plus some: a lip-synched video of the hit song “Call Me Maybe.” The video, “Universal Furniture and Paula Deen - Call Me Maybe” makes its debut through the Paula Deen social media platforms, on video sharing websites at http://tinyurl.com/universalfun2012, and in the Universal showroom at the High Point Market.

“We’ve all seen covers and parodies of ‘Call Me Maybe,’ so we thought we’d have some fun and do our own,” says Jeff Scheffer, president and CEO of Universal Furniture Inc. “It was a true team effort, and everyone – including Paula Deen – loved doing it.”

Shot entirely with an iPhone, the YouTube-style video is intentionally organic rather than highly produced. About 75 Universal team members relied on cue cards, a portable boom box and a good bit of improvising. An ample supply of laughter and pizza didn’t hurt, either.

“People just came out of their shells,” says Kevin Miller, director of marketing. “It was especially funny to see the talent emerge from generally reserved people who suddenly became animated like rock stars as they performed and lip synced to the catchy tune.”

Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” Billboard’s top Song of the Summer, is a YouTube phenomenon that has inspired parodies by the Harvard baseball team and the U.S. Olympic swim team, just to name a couple. Universal’s version includes some killer dance moves, jumping on beds and an unlikely chorus line, along with a surprise cameo by Paula Deen singing to company CEO Jeff Scheffer.

“We hope it will create some buzz for Universal, but the reality is that making this video was a blast for all of us and turned into a real team building experience,” Scheffer says. “Sometimes you need to just lighten up and have some fun together. But, after seeing ourselves on screen, I don’t think anyone is going to quit their day job.”

UNIVERSAL FURNITURE INTERNATIONAL, INC.: Universal Furniture International, Inc. is a whole home resource offering good, affordable, smart design. Highly regarded for its beautiful home furnishings at attractive prices, the company offers design excellence and exceptional manufacturing standards. Manufactured at its dedicated facilities in China, its brands include Universal, Paula Deen Home, Better Homes and Gardens by Universal Furniture, Pennsylvania House and SmartStuff™. Universal Furniture is sold through fine home furnishings retailers throughout North America and in numerous other countries. For more information,  visit www.universalfurniture.com.