Rowe Furniture’s Mini Mod Collection Meets Consumers’ Needs and is Recognized by the Design Community

Furniture World Magazine

Following a year of strategic growth and introduction to retail buyers and consumers, Rowe Furniture’s Mini Mod Collection of smaller-scaled sofas, sectionals and chairs is recognized as a home furnishings solution and a stylish alternative. Sales for Rowe Furniture are up between 4% and 5% during the same period last year and the Capri Mini Sofa is in the top ten of Rowe’s best sellers. The response from retailers and the media following the introduction of the Mini Mod Collection at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina in April 2004 was encouraging.  Buyers from major department stores, regional retail chains and prominent independents made commitments to have the Mini Mod styles in their showrooms. The Boston Globe’s Linda Matchan reported from High Point that Rowe’s new Mini Mod collection was perfect for “consumers who don’t stay in one place for very long”.  The Indianapolis Star’s Courtenay Edelhart declared in her report from High Point that “It’s a Mod, Mod World”.  Both articles were syndicated nationwide and consumers noticed.  The sofas, chairs and sectionals in the Mini Mod Collection appeared at retail in late August.  The New York Times, USA Today, Ladies’ Home Journal and Better Homes and Gardens all reported on Rowe’s Mini Mod Collection leading the trend of smaller-scaled furniture.  People living in condos, lofts, apartments and smaller homes discovered how much easier it is to furnish a room with a sofa that fits – literally and decoratively. Recognition from the design community arrives in the November issue of I.D. Magazine which includes the Broadway Mini Sofa in its “New+Notable” column.  I.D. Magazine [The International Design Magazine] is America’s leading critical magazine covering the art, business and culture of design.  Winner of five National Magazine Awards, I.D. is recognized as a leading voice in reporting on the increasingly popular field of well-designed consumer products. The inspiration for smaller-scaled upholstered furniture originates from the fact that a significant number of people are moving into smaller condos, apartments or homes and they often have to contend with fourth floor walk-ups, irregularly shaped walls, or moving a lot.  The average size for a full-size sofa is 81" to 96" in length, with accentuated rolled arms and high backs.  The seat depth is usually between 38" and 46" or even more for sectionals.  These sofas dominate a room and if you have a big space to fill then this is the sofa you need.  But, if you have a smaller space you might choose a loveseat.  On average, loveseats are between 58" to 69" in length.  One person is comfortable.  Two people are cozy. The Mini Mod Collection introduces a new option.  Sofas that are scaled between 71" and 80" in length.  Sit two people comfortably; decorate your room without miss-matching the proportion of accent furniture like end tables, lamps, ottomans; and rest assured that you’ll be able to move it easily. The fabric applications are also scaled accordingly, so those 1960’s inspired bold stripes, bright colors and geometrics will make a subtle statement.  These sofas are mini, they’re modern and they’re mod. Rowe first ventured into the arena of smaller-scaled sofas in October 2003 when they introduced the Capri Mini Sofa at the International Home Furnishings Market.  The Capri measures 77” in length and was positioned to retailers as an alternative to the full-sized sofa.  Retailers in urban areas quickly recognized the potential.  The response from consumers encouraged Rowe to introduce a broader collection in April 2004.      Rowe Furniture, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture in the United States.  Established in 1946, Rowe Furniture offers a wide range of styling in sofas, sectionals, chairs and ottomans with over six hundred fabric selections.  The Rowe Furniture collections include Rowe, Robin Bruce, Jami L and Earth & Elements.  Rowe Furniture is available at major home furnishings retailers and better independent home furnishings retailers across the United States and around the world.  Rowe Furniture, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Rowe Companies which is traded under the stock symbol ROW on the American Stock Exchange. For more information please visit www.rowefurniture.com or call 800-334-7693.