Heard at Market
-- Home Accents Today, 8/1/2007 7:03:00 AM
The word in the desert this week is green. Sustainability, environmental-friendliness, recyclables and fair trade are hot topics for retailers as they and designers look for ways to respond to consumer requests for healthier product choices. Here are comments from a few of them about how the eco-movement is affecting their shopping choices:
“All our customers are asking for and questioning the sustainability of items, and suddenly it seems their interest is growing even stronger,” said James and Henrietta Simpson, Designworks, Glasgow, Scotland. “It does get a bit tricky, though, when you’re trying to provide natural products but still need to make sure you’re meeting the requirements for things such as inflammability, especially in contract work.”
“Environmentally friendly and green products make up a large portion of our inventory, and many customers will specifically ask for things made from reclaimed or recycled wood or if a finish is water- or poly-based,” said Ryan Gledhill, Hobble Creek Trading Co., Springville, Utah. “We ask our vendors to provide a write-up on how they got the wood, or confirm that the wood was dead standing, reclaimed or recycled.”
“We’ve just completed a residential design project where the client was really big on green and is into setting a socially conscious example for their children,” said Kevin Weinstock, Biff Barton, BW Design Group, Wilmington, Del. “The house was completely gutted and rebuilt with things like Lyptus (plantation-grown eucalyptus) wood floors and bamboo drawer boxes and cabinet interiors. More of our clients are becoming educated and aware of their options thanks to the ability to research on the Internet.”
Other news from around the market:
* Surya Rugs entered the wall decor category for the first time this show, offering 50 SKUs of framed, limited edition prints. According to Satya Tiwari, president, the company decided to pursue this product category because it offers a logical extension for the company’s extensive color palette research. “Once we have developed the palette, we will look for other products that we can strategically build in to fit it.” The pieces retail for $299 to $599.
* Bailey Street has unveiled Couture Covers chairs, a line of custom upholstered chairs with interchangeable upholstery covers. The chairs are manufactured with muslin covers, but can be remade in about five minutes using one of 14 styles of slipcovers, which fasten securely with Velcro. “Change your mind; change your chair,” said Jim Berk, CEO. Covers come in skirted or unskirted designs, in plaids, stripes, solids or prints. Wholesale prices are $62 for the chair, $24 for unskirted covers, and $37 for skirted.
* Brandon Andersen, owner of Fireside Lodge Furniture Co., celebrated his showroom opening by inviting a few friends – to exhibit with him. Shady Lady brought the lamps, Woolrich brought the blankets, and Homemax Imports brought the soft goods. The result: A showroom that brings the lodge look together across many categories. “We wanted a destination for lodge buyers” at the Las Vegas Market,” Andersen said.
* Permanent botanicals manufacturer Natural Creations Inc. is adding a somewhat unexpected direction to its product line here: a furniture and floor care center. “When we asked store salespersons about ways to protect furniture and flooring, we were told to go to home improvement stores,” said General Manager Brent LeMay, who found himself wondering why stores would turn away customers for such products. So Natural Creations developed a rack for retailers to display in their stores that features an assortment of felt pads, scratch removers and a set of super sliders. The company also offers a Furniture Care Kit with a bulk supply of felt pads.
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