CBK to produce Casa Cristina lamps, accessories
By Becky Boswell Smith -- Home Accents Today, 11/1/2004
Hispanic TV personality Cristina Saralegui has signed with accessory vendor CBK to develop a line of decorative accessories and lamps under her license. The products, to be introduced at the April 2005 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., will complement the Casa Cristina furniture collection introduced by Pulaski Furniture in October.
"We truly are so excited about being a part of the Cristina family," said Glenda Ray, CBK vice president of marketing. "That sounds silly, but I really feel as if we're in the family. We took design ideas from Cristina's home and her magazine and she was most helpful with suggestions on changes."
Ray said the CBK collection will be called Euro-chic to complement the Euro-Mediterranean Collection at Pulaski.
The product will be shown with the furniture collection, as well as be available to other retailers, and will carry the same hang tag theme as Pulaski. The hang tags explain how the product is made, as well as romancing the Casa Cristina theme.
Saralegui, who has been called the Hispanic Oprah, said she is excited about the furniture and the accessory programs being developed under her name.
Developing a furniture style to appeal to Hispanics is an idea whose time has come, Saralegui said.
"The numbers speak for themselves," she said. "We are the largest minority, growing steadily and have a strong identity in the marketplace. The sheer numbers of Latin Americans in America have brought our culture to the forefront and I think America is ready to embrace it."
According to James H. Kelly, Pulaski executive vice president, the company's designers sought inspiration for the line from Cristina's home and her own innate style sense. Focus groups of Hispanic shoppers also provided information to strengthen the line and the presentation, Kelly said.
"The No. 1 concern was consumers saying they want information about the products and the quality," he said, "and they wanted designer assistance in creating looks for their homes."
Cristina Saralegui
