HIGH POINT – The massive uptick in business that furniture suppliers saw over COVID was obviously great at the time, but it came with a caveat. Business would drop off over the next few years as people had bought all the furniture they needed.
But as time continues to pass, that furniture – at least some of it – is wearing out.
“I think the refresh cycle has begun, at least with upholstery and occasional,” said David Weiss, president of Oregon-based Porter Designs. “The stuff people bought over COVID is wearing out. We saw the more promotional stuff start to come back last year, and now the mid-priced is starting to return as well. Bedroom though, especially if retailers bought it over COVID, hasn’t started to turn.”
The Albina sofa was a hit at High Point Market, said Porter Designs.
One of the company’s most successful new launches was the promotional Albina sofa, which sells for around $1199. It features a birch trim and seven color options. The company also offers a range of sofas in top-grain leather for around $599 retail.
Weiss also spoke more positively about the recent High Point Market than he did last spring. After two “dead” markets, he said people were buying.
“People do need newness,” he said. “Last market was really slow with the small and middle-sized guys, but it was better this time. Upholstery – really leather – is flying off the shelves for us. Occasional is strong and our best case goods category.”
Weiss also spoke to another recent trend: the strength of warehousing.
“Our warehouse business is picking up, particularly with the middle-sized guys who are afraid to order containers,” he said, adding that Porter has warehouses on both coasts. “A lot of them I think still have PTSD from the supply crisis over COVID. They want what they need when they need it.
“I know that if I had three stores, for example, I’d be afraid of ordering a whole container.”
Still, when it comes to pure dollars, the company’s container-direct option still makes up more business.
Ekta dining
On the case goods side, a new highlight was Ekta, a solid acacia dining table out of India retailing for around $1,499.
“Our top five customers probably make up 90% of our container direct business, which is probably more than half of our business,” he said. “But we have more customers ordering out of the warehouse and a lot at that opening price point.”
Jeff Schwall, vice president of sales, predicts business to improve before the middle of next year. “If I had to predict, I’d say second quarter,” he said. “All the catalogs go out in the first quarter, and that will stimulate interest.”
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