Marquis Exotic Solid Hardwood Futons & Bedroom Furniture Introduced at High Point Show MELBOURNE

(FL.) — Marquis Furnishings introduces its new line of exotic domestic solid hardwood futon frames and bedroom furniture at the High Point Market, Commerce and Design Building, space 7F, October 14 to 22, 1999.

Marquis Furnishings uses North American cherry, oak, maple as well as exotic black walnut and rare birds-eye maple. Styles are notable for their simplicity, workmanship and skillful heirloom quality. Buyers will see some of the most magnificent hardwood furniture on the market today, company President Mark Crispen announced.

SIS Covers Marquis Furnishings manufactures futon and bedroom furniture and is a division of Crispen Holdings, a 15 year-old Florida-based company. Two new bed frames—the “Marquis”, a spindled hoop design, and the “Mission” – are complemented by matching blanket chests, night stands, and dressers.

Limited Production Emphasized

“Previously, the line has been sold in several U. S. markets with excellent results. For the first time it will be available to selected futon and furniture merchants nationally,” Crispen said.

“This is a non-mass produced hand made product line. Retailers are urged to secure exclusivity early. Production will be limited,” he said.

“Hand rubbing brings out the true beauty of North America’s most stunning solid hardwoods. To our knowledge, no other futon or bedroom sets have the luster, individuality or drama found in the Marquis line,” he announced.

Marquis Furnishings is represented nationally by The Glasser Group of Tampa, FL.

For information, call 800-466-9099, FAX 800-303-6353, email: glassergroup@ij.net or call Mark Crispen at 407-733-0515.

SIS Covers Unveils Artists' Series

Are your attempts to collect museum quality artworks thwarted by financial constraints? SIS Covers is unveiling fabrics recreating Van Goghs, Monets, Klimts and Matisses for futon covers, pillows and bedding at the High Point Market. Now you can own an impressionist masterpiece for the mere price of a pillow or futon cover.

Visit SIS Covers showroom on the seventh floor of the C&D Building to view our collection of masterpieces and to also see futons by Gold Bond Mattress and futon frames by August Lotz.

For more information contact SIS Covers at (612) 789-0956.

Bluestone Mills Introduces New SOHO Line

The Pennsylvania Amish produced solid appalachian oak futon furniture manufacturer is introducing modular home office and occasional tables in its Westminster collection, designed in the currently hot “Arts and Crafts” look.

The collection includes: a desk with keyboard tray; return with pencil drawer; hutch with CD storage and stylish bookcase doors; lateral file; bookcase; liquor bar; sofa table; coffee table, end table, and two plant stands. Features include: pewter hardware, European slides and hinges, and halogen lighting, along with baltic birch drawers. All are available in Chardonnay and Cognac finishes.

“The introduction of this new collection will expand our customer base to include oak specialty and full line conventional furniture retailers,” said Robert Thomas, national sales manager, who added, “It will also provide our existing futon specialty retailers with the additional accent pieces that their customers have been requesting.”

The collection is being introduced at the October High Point Furniture Market at the Radio Building on the fourth floor.

For information call Bluestone Mills at 336-255-0149 or fax 901-358-8273.

Aries Line Top Seller for Burlington

The Burlington Futon Company is pleased to report great success with Aries, a new line of machine washable futon covers and accessories. Since its introduction at the Las Vegas Futon Expo, the Aries line has become an instant bestseller for retailers.

The search for truly washable and dry-able fabrics resulted in a partnership with Microfibres™, one of the top-rated fabric mills in the country. These ultra soft faux suede solids feel like cashmere and are available in eleven colors. Covers and sample books are in stock.

Burlington Futon Company is also offering a new merchandising program. Retail accounts are given the opportunity to create a fresh look in their showroom with the latest fabrics at a discounted price.

The company’s merchandising program encourages showing multiple coordinates to provide customers with greater design ideas. Sales of frames, as well as covers, will increase when dressing futons with coordinated covers and accessories; covering beds with Burlington Futon Company’s new line of duvets and bed pillows will draw attention to and increase sales of bed frames.

In response to customer demand for futon covers that fit thicker futons, Burlington Futon Company has reduced the cost for making loft changes to its covers. “As sales of thicker futons continue to grow, the need for larger covers is also growing,” said Chris Van Genechten, the company’s wholesale manager. “We receive daily requests for futon covers with larger loft sizes to accommodate innerspring and other large futons,” she said. While their standard cover features a 5” side panel fitting a 6” to 8” futon, Burlington Futon is now set up to accommodate all loft change requests.

For more information contact Burlington Futon at 1-800-862-5986.

August Lotz Prepares for High Point and the Future

The futon industry is maturing. Retailers are now selling price points that only a couple of years ago they were afraid to try, and many conventional furniture stores have experimented with futons and had very positive results. However, there is still much growing up ahead.

“I feel that the biggest danger to the futon industry is selling inferior quality products,” says Mark Schlichter, August Lotz President. “We must protect the integrity of the futon industry if we want to survive,” he said. Schlichter went on to say that selling cheap, low end products with low margins and numerous service problems, will affect the level of customer service and therefore have a corrosive effect on the whole industry. “We must present our products in the most appealing manner as possible and stop taking a back seat to conventional furniture. Our products are the most unique and functional products in the market,” he said. He added that taking the functional advantage that we now have and running with it is the task of both the manufacturers who make it and the retailers who sell it. “We all need good margins to properly do the job and low end, low margin, poor customer service, poor presentation is not the way to last!,” he said.

With that in mind, August Lotz plans to capitalize on the upcoming International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC with several new products in a new location. The company invites everyone to come see them in Suite 7G of the C&D Building.

In other updates the August Lotz Company will be adding two new mattresses to their already diverse product line. “The Eternity” is a 10 inch thick, all foam mattress which is just one of three mattresses currently utilizing August Lotz’ patented Memory Foam Hinge, allowing thicker mattresses to hold their fold. “The Eternity” also boasts a Lifetime Warranty! At the opposite end of the spectrum, August Lotz will be introducing a new starting price point mattress - at an exceptional value.

Also, responding to a demand for more hard rock maple products, the company will be showcasing two new styles at High Point. “These are actually re-introductions of two existing Northern White Ash arm styles that have extremely successful sales histories,” said Schlichter, “and we’re anticipating a tremendous response to these maple versions.” Both the Craftsman and Avalon models will become front operating units when produced in Maple, by utilizing the current 6600 bodies.

In other company news, recent internal promotions have given August Lotz veteran, Kathy Goltz, the new title of Inside Sales & Customer Service Coordinator. “Kathy has been the company’s Credit and Office Manager for the past three years,” said Schlichter. “During her tenure with August Lotz, Kathy has worked closely with the sales department and is very familiar with the product line and the customer base,” Schlichter said.

For more information contact August Lotz at 1-800-826-7326.

Customers are Covered by Cotton Works

Cotton Works Industries is introducing new fall covers designed to hook customers — and give them the slip.

Florida-based artist and television personality Be Forbes, known for his distinctive paintings of marlins, has selected Cotton Works to be the exclusive source for futon covers and accessories featuring his art work, said Cotton Works President Jim Martin.

“We’re excited about this opportunity to take Be’s work and transfer it to damask,” said Martin. “The marlin designs are striking and are available on either blue or green backgrounds. The collection includes coordinating fabrics, so it’s easy to accessorize.”

Forbes’ art is respected and collected around the world. He is known for his paintings of gamefish, particularly marlin. His work is also featured on other fine clothing, furniture and gift items.

Cotton Works has also slipped in another new line for this fall.

“We now have slipcovers for metal frames,” Martin said. “Our slipcovers are of the same high quality as our other products, and are available in all fabrics.”

These new products follow the debut of Cotton Works’ leather futon covers at the Las Vegas show. “Our leather covers are doing great,” said Martin. “Altogether, we now offer seven different lines of futon covers, so we’re able to accommodate the tastes and budgets of the full spectrum of customers.”

And speaking of fabrics, Cotton Works’ fall line-up includes thirty-five new ones. “We’ve got lots of coordinating and matching patterns and colors,” he said. “Coordinating pillows and accessories is really simple. You’ll be able to see our new products at the show in High Point. We’ll be at 100 Center Point Theater. We hope to see you there.”

For more information contact Cotton Works at 912-438-1900.

Harlee Expands Sales and Service Team to Better Serve Retailers

Harlee International, an eighteen year veteran of the futon and furniture industry has expanded its sales and support staff to better serve retailers. New to the Harlee family is outside sales representative Bob Mills who will be visiting and serving customers in the Southern California areas of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and the central and eastern portion of Los Angeles county. Bob also serves the cities of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Yuma, Arizona. Bob has many years of conventional mattress experience and brings this expertise to Harlee customers.

Retailers in North and South Carolina and Virginia will soon be meeting new Harlee outside sales representative, Larry Craver. Having over five years of experience in owning and operating a retail furniture store, Larry knows the retailer’s side well and will be sharing his expertise with customers in those states.

Also new to Harlee is Jacqueline Wills who joins Tricia Hodawanus and Mary Cripps in the Customer Service Department in the California office to help retailers nationwide with their requests, questions, orders, and follow up. Jackie came to Harlee with a history of customer service in the consumer financial industry.

To request a visit from Bob or Larry or to get to know Jackie, Harlee can be reached at (800) 745-7660.

Omni Softgoods Celebrates Fifteen Years

“It's sometimes hard to believe that it was a decade-and-a-half ago that I was about to give girth to my first baby, even as I was signing the papers for my newly-acquired business!” So muses Robin Reid, owner and CEO of Omni Softgoods, as both her company and her daughter approach their fifteenth birthdays. And as the daughter prepares to start her first year at prep school in Chicago, so Omni prepares to go forward into a new century as one of the industry's most respected and innovative leaders. “Even with the advent of e-business, which we are aggressively pursuing,” says Reid, “there still remains the core of what our company is all about— a top-notch product backed up by good old-fashioned customer service.”

As further proof of that dedication to service Omni has recently introduced two additional, convenient customer benefits. First, Omni will now accept credit cards for all transactions that were previously conducted as cash. This will allow customers on C.O.D., pre-pay, and 30-day terms to use Visa and Mastercard to pay off their balance. Second, Omni has introduced custom work for European-style futons. This means that covers and accessories in “odd” sizes can be obtained at standardized prices with the same dependable quality as domestic products.

As the millennium approaches Omni continues its progressive course with two new pillow styles - the double-flanged and the boxed-edge. The latter come in a variety of attention-grabbing shapes, such as triangles, stars, and Christmas trees, adding a playful accent to any futon or bedding set. Some of Omni's new patterns also have a millennial feel - futuristic style names like Metallica jostle with esoteric tags such as Crop Circles in the forthcoming fabric line.

For more information, call Omni Softgoods at (800) 283-8037.

Zad Designs Moves Into “Zad Home”

“Zad Home,” showed sixty custom swatch fabrics, in their distinctive west coast look, at the San Francisco Design & Furnishings show last July. The “Zad Home” line offers carefully chosen, richly textured fabrics that are used as futon covers but also double as more traditional bedding. “We are trying to offer different looks — more relaxed and luxurious,” said Akim Azad, Owner of Zad Design & Mfg. “We hope retailers can use these swatches to sell more than just futon covers, because we are now offering complete bedding accessories as well.” Interested retailers can request swatch samples for their review.

Also, in a strong show of commitment to their existing dealers, Zad Design offers POS materials that emphasize the real value of American made futon furniture, and also become effective sales training tools for sales associates. “We show our dealers how to sell futon furniture as a fine piece of furniture that reflects the customers' lifestyle instead of the typical promotional furniture that is still out there. Our futon frames, mattresses, and covers are all made in here in the States with a commitment to produce fine quality furniture, and we would like our dealers to be able to deliver that message to the consumers,” he said.

For more information, call Zad Designs at (805) 486-8393.