Furniture Manufacturers Offer Fresh Look At Spring High Point Market

Furniture World Magazine

Furniture retailers were seeking a new look to update store inventories at the April 2002 International Home Furnishings Market. The manufacturers reported that retailers found and bought it, according to an annual survey. The Furniture Styles/Material Use Survey was completed at the spring market by survey crews from Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc., High Point, NC; the American Walnut ManufacturersAssociation, Zionsville, IN; and the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association, Reston, VA. Crews visited each showroom to record the design style and wood species used in bedroom and dining room groups, wall units, entertainment centers and home office in 2002. An estimated 70,000 manufacturers, sales representatives, furnishings buyers, interior designers, exhibitor support personnel, suppliers, and news media attended the market. Attendance was improved from spring 2001, most exhibitors agreed, but what was more important was the desire to purchase furniture. Retailers reported that store inventories have finally been sold to levels that store owners are able to restock. Other retailers reported they wanted to bring new product into their stores to attract new customers. Manufacturers responded by offering new products in many categories and manufacturing it in new places. The survey includes the manufacturing origin of products and more goods than ever before were imported. China and Indonesia made significant gains in showing finished furniture at market. Cherry, red oak, maple and pine continue to be the top four species on display. Rubberwood, alder, and American tulipwood advanced in the numbers, and many were finished to look like cherry. Asian wood species like parawood, koto, mindi and primavera, were introduced or expanded at market. Exhibitors often referred to these as “Asian oak” or “Asian cherry.” According to the numbers, cherry [20%], red oak [11%], pine [10%], hard maple [9%], mahogany [6%], and white oak [6%] were the most popular wood species used in bedroom and dining room casegoods. Painted on wood, printed on wood, overlays, and brass-glass-metal combinations totaled 19%, up from 18% the previous market. The bedroom and dining room styles did not change appreciably from last market, as American and Contemporary continued to dominate. In the traditional European styles, English, French, Italian and Spanish were ranked in that order. The same was true for wall units, entertainment centers, and home office. A major increase in wood use was found in the explosion of products in the home office, entertainment center and wall units categories. The number of pieces in these groups rose more than 200%. According to the numbers, red oak [21.4%] cherry [19.2%], hard maple [10.7%], pine [10.2%], and white oak [9.5%] were the most popular wood species used in wall units, entertainment centers and home office. Painted on wood, printed on wood, overlays, and brass-glass-metal combinations totaled 11%, up from 8% at the previous market. The survey crew discovered 40% of the products shown were made in the USA, and 60% were made outside our borders. The numbers reflect an increase of 10% for imports. The survey also asks about the different types of construction used by the manufacturers. Many of the traditional casegoods are made from solid lumber, yet a combination of solids and veneered panels again dominate the construction techniques. When quality is of the highest priority, the bedroom headboards and dresser tops, dining room table tops, and major portions of the wall units, entertainment centers, and home computer stations will incorporate the use of beautifully matched veneers along with the solids. The vast majority, 80% were made from a combination of solids and veneered panels, 18% were all solids, and 2% were all panels. Twice a year since 1934, voluntary crews from the various associations have taken an unbiased survey of bedroom and dining room casegoods, identifying the casegoods by style and the materials used in the manufacturing process. The survey crews, usually two-person teams, walk by every showroom in search of the bedroom and dining room units and the modular wall units, entertainment centers, and home office casegoods. The survey includes wood imitations, metal and glass, and other materials to reflect what is happening in all segments of the market. The American Walnut Manufacturers [AWMA] is the original association sponsoring the survey. In 2002, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. [AHMI] assumed primary responsibility, with assistance from AWMA and the Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association [HPVA]. Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. P.O. Box 5762, High Point, NC 27262 Tel. 336-885-8315 Fax 336-886-8865 ahmi@northstate.net -