Retail briefs

By Lisa Casinger -- Home Accents Today, 4/1/2005

• Niki and Shaokao Cheng opened their second franchised BoConcept store in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. "It's a remarkable neighborhood rich in culture," Niki Cheng said. "The restaurants are wonderful and the shopping is terrific." The 18th street store is located between Ladies Miles on Sixth Avenue and furniture row on Seventh Avenue. The 6,500-sq.-ft. space is about 2,000 square feet larger than the first store on Madison Avenue, which opened in July 2003. Since then, BoConcept furniture has appeared on shows such as The Apprentice, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Brini Maxwell Show.
• Robb & Stucky, Fort Myers, Fla., recently announced its alliance with Henredon.
  "The intention of this collaboration is to position Robb & Stucky Interiors into markets, maximizing exposure and fixing costs where a full-service showroom is not warranted," said Fred Berk, president and COO. "The new concept features a full-service interior design studio as well as exclusively highlighting the Henredon and Hickory Chair brands."
  Known for offering premier furnishings, the new 25,000-to 40,000-sq.-ft. studios will showcase Henredon brands including Ralph Lauren, Barbara Barry and David Easton as well as Hickory Chair brands such as Thomas O'Brien, Mariette Himes Gomez and Alexa Hampton.
  Robb & Stucky will open the first new concept studio in Coral Gables, Fla., this month. Additional studios are scheduled to open in Scottsdale, Ariz., in August; the Dallas suburb of North Park, Texas in December; Orlando in The Mall at Millenia in January 2006; and the Dallas suburb of South Lake, Texas, in February 2006. Future locations are in the planning stages.
  The retailer also recently opened a Robb & Stucky Casual Living store in Bonita Springs, Fla., which combines outdoor living furnishings with designer kitchen products. The 22,000-square-foot store is centered on a large cooking area that will host visits from celebrity chefs. The KitchenAid Culinary Center, which has space for 65 visitors, will feature classes and other events featuring well-known chefs such as Rachael Ray, host of 30-Minute Meals on the Food Network.
  "This new concept provides a one-stop showplace for customers who are building or remodeling a home," said Clive Lubner, CEO. "They will be able to see and use the latest in high-tech, work-saving appliances, cabinetry and countertops, while discovering wonderful ideas and furnishings for their home."
• Pier 1is making in-store changes, based in part on a third-party national survey it commissioned. The retailer is concentrating on new product offerings with more distinctive designs and fine-tuning its position as the source for unique furniture and home decor that invites shoppers to discover new ways to personalize their homes.
  According to the report, 84% of women surveyed see their home furnishings as a way to express their personalities. At the same time, 62% reported the home furnishings they see in most stores and catalogs are starting to look more alike. Additionally, 65% would like to add some color and brighten up the look of their homes. Most noticeable changes include a more organized, less cluttered shopping experience more suited to busy schedules.
  Shoppers will see a higher percentage of new and exciting products more frequently at Pier 1. With a broader price point offering for customers, the company will maintain its traditional value and mid-range product offerings while expanding upward to include more distinct merchandise. "Our stores have long been identified as a source for one-of-a-kind products from around the world and a shopping environment that is distinctly Pier 1," said Marvin J. Girouard, chairman and CEO of Pier 1.