Pipefine Patio Furniture

More companies enter niche this year
One category of green home furnishings that looks to have established a permanent foothold is reclaimed wood furniture.

Last year Turning House furniture joined the category, looking to use wood from deconstructed buildings with historical value.

More recently, one of the biggest commitments to reclaimed products came from Four Hands, which announced a subsidiary with eco-designer Thomas Bina and a launch of 100 pieces at the October High Point Market.

“The reclaimed, eco-friendly story creates a nice presentation for our sales consultants, but the consumer really seems to be drawn to the overall look of the case pieces,” said Tatelman of Jordan Furniture.

He said consumers are looking for unique pieces that break the monotony of matching case goods collections. Reclaimed pieces can be shown in eclectic mixes and have applications in every room of the house.

“We are inundated these days with similar looks from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, but not everyone can afford to buy from those resources,” Tatelman said.

Furniture Classics began showing some pieces featuring reclaimed timber in 2007 and came out with its first significant offering that October.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Four area Ashley Furniture HomeStores in north and central Alabama are hosting the fourth annual Basket Brigade this year, where staff will be collecting food to feed hundreds of families in need this Thanksgiving.

Employees, vendors and customers can donate food to fill basket with everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal – vegetables, rolls, cranberry sauce, ingredients for dressing, desserts, yams, and fully cooked turkeys. Every year, employees and their families deliver the baskets to the families in need.

The recipients are identified by community organizations such as the nonprofit Manna House in Huntsville, Ala.

Collection boxes for donations are at the HomeStores in Huntsville, Hoover, Fultondale and Tuscaloosa, Ala. Donations of nonperishable items will be accepted through Monday, Nov. 30.

Total value amounts to $9.1 billion

U.S. furniture imports fell 22% for the first six months of 2009 as consumer demand skidded during the recession, according to new figures from U.S. government sources.

Numbers compiled by Furniture/Today’s market research staff from U.S. Customs Service, Census Bureau and International Trade Commission data showed that furniture imports in the first half were just under $9.1 billion, down from $11.6 billion in the same period in 2008.

Of the top 20 countries shipping furniture to the U.S., 17 saw double-digit drops during the period. Two, Vietnam and France, fell 6%, while only one – Poland – posted a gain, an 86% jump to $103.4 million that placed it at No. 9 on the list.

China retained its No. 1 spot, although its first-half shipments to the United States fell 19% to $5.4 billion.

Remaining a distant second was Vietnam, whose shipments fell 6% to $612.7 million.

No. 3 source Canada’s shipments fell 44% – the sharpest drop among the top 10 countries – to $580.9 million from $1.03 billion a year ago.

In order, it was followed by Mexico (down 22% to $415.5 million); Malaysia (down 15% to $290 million); Italy (down 43% to $257.9 million); Indonesia (down 22% to $235.9 million); Taiwan (down 23% to $216 million); Poland (up 86% to $103.4 million) and Thailand (down 19% to $95.7 million).

Further down the list were Germany (down 35% to $91.3 million); France (down 6% to $62.7 million); Brazil (down 40% to $54 million); Austria (down 41% to $49.7 million); the Philippines (down 52% to $41 million); India (down 13% to $40.9 million); the United Kingdom (down 30% to $35.5 million); Sweden (down 23% to $26.9 million) Norway (down 32% to $25.7 million) and Denmark (down 25% to $24.9 million).

For many source countries, shipments dropped more sharply in the first half of this year than they did for all of last year. For all of 2008, total U.S. furniture imports were down 6% from 2007, to $22.6 billion.

Canada remains top customer

U.S. furniture exports fell 21% in the first six months of 2009, signaling a drop in demand for the products in some of the top industrialized countries.

The numbers are based on information Furniture/Today’s market research staff compiles from the U.S. Customs Service, Census Bureau and International Trade Commission.

The first-half decline was a reversal from 2008, when U.S. furniture exports grew 15%. This year, shipments from January through June came to $1.05 billion, down from $1.3 billion in the comparable period a year earlier.

Canada remained the top market for U.S. furniture, but shipments to that market fell 21%, from $729.2 million to $579 million. That $150.2 million difference represented more than half of the overall drop in U.S. furniture exports during the six month period.

Other top markets in order include: Mexico (down 24% to $94.2 million); the United Kingdom (down 31% to $42.9 million); Saudi Arabia (up 33% to $27.7 million); Japan (down 2% to $21.3 million); China (down 42% to $16.6 million); the United Arab Emirates (down 14% to $15.7 million); Australia (down 31% to $10.4 million); the Bahamas (up 6% to $8.1 million) and Venezuela (up 60% to $7.9 million).

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the Bahamas, other countries in the top 20 that increased their furniture purchases from the United States included Panama (up 205% to $7.8 million), Qatar (up 109% to $6.1 million), Bermuda (up 41% to $6.1 million), the Cayman Islands (up 98% to $6 million), Costa Rica (up 95% to $5.7 million) and Malaysia (up 51% to $4.8 million).

Survey shows that appearance of furniture counts in commercial uses
– Casual Living

Twenty-one percent of shoppers said the most important factor when choosing their furniture is that the colors and fabrics are fashionable, according to results of the Telescope National Shopper Survey conducted by WSL Strategic Retail.

More surprising results showed 15% of consumers reported the most important purchasing factor is that the furniture is made in the USA, despite the recession and the usually more expensive price tags. Another 15% said the most important factor is that the furniture is well rated in website reviews written by other customers.
 
Low on the list of most important factors was “the salesperson tells me it is good quality,” with only 2% citing that as the top selling point.
 
Another finding in the National Shopper Survey provided some insightful information for the contract/hospitality industry — specifically in the cruise, hotel and restaurant segments.  Many guests decide to return based on the appearance and condition of the furniture, whether it is a cruise ship, hotel or restaurant.

More than half of hotel guests say the appearance and condition of the furniture influences their decision to return. Survey results found consumers ranked appearance as important in deciding to return to:
Hotel — 56%
Cruise — 49%
Restaurant — 37%

“In times when people are severely cutting back on vacations and nights out, it’s important to keep a competitive edge by providing not only good customer service and clean facilities, but comfortable and attractive seating and fashionable surroundings as well,” said Kathy Juckett, CEO of Telescope. “Organizations, especially service-oriented ones, should not lose sight of their furniture, as clearly, guests admit that it matters.”

What follows are some tips, confirmed by recent surveys:
* Comfort is key. More than 2/3 of cruise travelers, hotel guests and restaurant diners notice whether the furniture is comfortable.
* Guests notice if furniture looks used or old – especially in hotels:
Hotel — 46%
Restaurant — 39%
Cruise — 29%

The Telescope National Shopper Survey is a national internet survey of 1,500 adults, conducted July 10-22 by WSL Strategic Retail.