HIGH POINT — Across the U.S., manufacturers continue to respond with stationary, motion, and custom upholstery options for UFI/Lane and Klaussner retailers grappling with product supply issues resulting from the recent shutdowns. Joining other manufacturers who’ve reached out to Furniture Today, the following companies report they are ready and able to serve these buyers.
“Things on our end have been very busy since the news of Klaussner broke,” said Eric Vollmer, senior marketing strategist for Best Home Furnishings in Indiana. “In the short term, our sales reps and management team have been actively reaching out to existing Klaussner dealers offering immediate assistance. We realize this news was just as shocking to them as it was to the rest of the industry, and we’re finding that many of these stores had not only open orders, but special orders for specific customers.
“With our industry leading custom order turnaround times and diverse lineup of stationary, motion, recliners and chairs, and more than 700 cover options, we’ve been able to find similar styles and fabrics to ensure dealers can still keep their customers happy. After all, while the dealers had no control over the closing of Klaussner, in the consumers’ eyes, it can leave a negative imprint.”
Vollmer added that Best is emphasizing the 60-year-old family-owned company’s strong financial footing with dealers, along with the “strong domestic strategy” and “fast, custom-order lead times.”
“For the long-term, we’ve been partnering with our dealers, energetically building programs to fill the voids left by Klaussner,” Vollmer said. “Our dealers have been eagerly sharing what they hope to see at the upcoming October High Point market. Fortunately, we have a great lineup planned that addresses all the major product categories in upholstery, both fabric and leather, all at great value.”
Pennsylvania-based Ultra Comfort is positioned to serve dealers looking for lift recliners as well as power recliners, said Sarah Lydon, director of marketing. Noting the company’s quick-ship program, Lydon said that product ships 24 to 48 hours after order entry.
“Every single frame has a quick ship option, from our high-end to in-stock options for heat and massage. Additionally, three models of our Ultra Cozy non-lift power recliners are all stocked and ready to go.”
In New Albany, Miss., Homestead Furniture has made-to-order motion upholstery produced in three weeks available to buyers. CEO G. Lipscomb said that retail price points for upholstery start at $899 and go up to $2,599 to $3,499 for sectionals.
“We’re a special-order, boutique motion company with clean distribution throughout most of the U.S.,” Lipscomb said. “We’re a new company but one with a lot of experience, and we’ve been able to hand select our team and fill it with good people who know furniture.”
Lipscomb added that the Homestead team is “overbuilding” the upholstery product including padded arms and backs and Gorilla foam, a proprietary foam that he says is two to three times better than conventional foam.
“You can’t destroy it,” Lipscomb said.
According to representatives for Gorilla Foam and Peterson Chemical Technology, a Leggett & Platt company, Gorilla Foam is an “extra strong and extremely elastic foam that maintains the open-cell structure and compressibility that is standard with our technology.” Officials state that the foam is also designed to have superior breathability that allows excess body heat to dissipate.
Lipscomb said that Homestead Furniture has also opened its own frame mill and polyfoam plant to support its furniture production factory. Adding that “our number one asset is our people,” he emphasized that Homestead is able to provide customized services that support a wide range of buyers.
“We’re the company of yes!” Lipscomb concluded. “We’re setting up for the long-term, not short-term, and we’re ready to serve customers with whatever they need.”
As a service to our retailer audience, Furniture Today will continue to provide information on manufacturers interested in servicing former United Furniture/Lane and Klaussner buyers. Contact chodnett@bridgetowermedia with information.