PowellKIDS Galleries to Make High Point Debut

Furniture World Magazine

Leading youth manufacturer Powell Co. announced that it will bring its innovative youth gallery concept to the High Point Furniture Market for the first time this fall. The PowellKIDS Gallery program, which was unveiled in July, focuses consumer attention in stores on unique product features, affordability and the shopping experience. Developed by Powell in conjunction with The Connie Post Companies, the new displays incorporate vibrant hues of bright lime green, blue, orange and fuchsia, and make use of movable walls for maximum product exposure, according to Connie Post, CEO of the retail design firm. PowellKIDS Galleries are designed to accommodate retail selling spaces and encourage repeat interaction with kids and their parents. Taking the lead from success in sales of Powell’s most recent licensed furniture collection, Little Miss Matched™, launched at the October 2007 High Point Market, the galleries deliver high visual impact to engage shoppers. “The four-foot circle graphics add life, with photos of kids smiling and having fun,” said Post. “There seems to be a heartbeat when you enter the gallery — a sense of life to the space. The kids department is the one single authentic place in a store to have fun. The expectation of the customer walking in is that it’s going to be fun and delightful — and the new PowellKIDS Galleries deliver.” “The idea was to make PowellKIDS Galleries compelling for both our dealers and their customers,” said Tom Liddell, senior vice president of national sales for Powell. “This is a moveable, flexible, affordable gallery program that creates a fun, family-friendly space and lets retailers tailor their environment to the ever-changing needs of their stores.” This month in the company’s High Point showroom in the National Furniture Mart, Powell will display a full-scale version of the PowellKIDS Galleries at Market– along with the introduction of two dynamic youth furniture groups: Dakota, a western-themed pine group, and Puzzle, a bright, multi-colored MDF group. The gallery also provides vertical boutique selling space for Little Miss Matched™ accessory products — from the famous socks to sleepwear, toys and books especially popular among ‘tween girls — to encourage add-on sales. Kid involvement is welcome in PowellKIDS Galleries Activity Center. Adjacent to the Little Miss Matched™ boutique, this area offers entertainment while mom and dad shop, and is an ideal flexible space where retailers can host in-store contests, sock hops, craft projects, story time, and even birthday parties — inviting return visits to the store. “It gives the savvy retailer the opportunity to do something event-driven, and even create a re-grand-opening around the PowellKIDS gallery,” said Post. “It’s about capturing customer loyalty, engaging her imagination, and speaking to the center of her heart, which is her children. This will propel retailers into a whole new genre.” The PowellKIDS Galleries will incorporate some eco-friendly materials, including low-VOC paint and recycled tire flooring which installs easily over carpet in the children’s area. Post has additionally installed colorful, information-rich ladder guards for Powell’s extensive collection of bunks and lofts, which serve as “silent salesmen” while protecting active kids from falls. ABOUT POWELL COMPANY: Founded in 1968, Powell Company has been a leading importer of design-driven, high-quality furnishings. Powell has long been regarded for its service-oriented culture, broad product offerings, multiple sourcing and delivery options and enjoys a reputation for reliability, integrity and honesty among its customers and peers in the home furnishings industry. Powell was acquired by Sun Capital Partners in 2007.