Marge Carson Resumes Manufacturing; Will Reenter Casegoods Market
Furniture World News Desk on
1/18/2023
In just 60 days after acquiring high-end furniture brand Marge Carson, the new owner and chief executive Janet Linly announced that the company has resumed production and is taking orders under the new name of Marge Carson Global, Inc. Operating from a 68,000-square-foot production facility in Tijuana, Mexico, the company has re-hired many seasoned Marge Carson craftsman to manufacture and service its luxury brand, Linly said. “It is a testimony to the energy and experience of the Marge Carson Global team and the excitement about our vision for the brand that we have been able to resume manufacturing in only 60 days,” she said. She added that the resumption of production was anticipated to take up to 12 months after acquiring the brand that had ceased operations. Marge Carson also is poised to resume production of casegoods in Indonesia in the near future, including existing and new designs.
Founded 75 years ago by interior designer Marjorie Carson and known for its plush, generously-scaled and trend-setting upholstery with exclusive fabrics and trims, Marge Carson expanded into casegoods 25 years ago under its previous owner Jim LaBarge. However, the company had exited the category it imported from Indonesia and the Philippines in 2021 to centralize production in North America.
Over 400 SKUS available through “brand ambassadors” with new quality assurance process
The luxury line of upholstery, bedroom, and occasional pieces will be distributed and serviced nationally to retailers and designers through a team of “brand ambassadors,” Linly said, adding that she has implemented an elevated product quality assurance process and applied new higher standards to packaging. “Commodities are sold by salespeople, but a luxury brand like Marge Carson should be represented by brand ambassadors,” Linly said. She added that she has hired a new quality assurance team utilizing multiple inspection steps and is implementing new packaging to “ensure that our line is at the highest possible level of quality.” Other updates planned include a comprehensive new website and a “reintroduction and restyling of the brand” at the High Point Market at a soon-to-be-announced date, Linly said. Going forward, the Marge Carson look will be “sophisticated and classic. While we will retain the more casual bestselling collections like the Bentley and Santa Barbara upholstery lines, our focus is on elegance.” Fabric selection will be collaborative, with contributions from select new designers as well as designers who have overseen textiles at Marge Carson in the past in order to achieve consistency of style but also elevate the offerings, she said. To activate an account with Marge Carson Global, Inc., place orders or make inquiries, designers and retailers may email customerservice@margecarson.com or call 630.686.2686
About Marge Carson
Founded in 1947 in California, Marge Carson is an iconic resource for luxury residential upholstery, bedroom and occasional furniture available internationally through high-end furniture retailers, design center showrooms and interior designers. In 2022, Chicagoland interior design firm and retailer Linly Designs acquired the custom furniture brand from longtime owner Jim LaBarge. For more information, visit www.margecarson.com or www.linlydesigns.com.