INDUSTRY UPDATES

VOL 8 NO 3

Futons & Frames Introduces "Home Office Loft"       

Futons & Frames, Inc., in Corvallis Oregon, manufacturers of environmentally conscious futon frames and other wood furnishings, has designed, and is introducing, a new product to the market. It is the "Home Office Loft".

The "Home Office Loft" is Futons & Frames' answer to the escalating market demand of how to utilize small living spaces with a multi-functional piece of furniture. The "Home Office Loft", designed to be easily assembled, is skillfully constructed using mortise and tenon joinery for exceptional stability. It is made from sustainably harvested alder, grown in the Pacific Northwest. The finish has a smooth low luster sheen, with two sealers and two top coats of non-toxic water based varnish that has been applied for asthetics as well as to preserve its longevity. Futons & Frames, Inc., has adopted the philosophy that furniture should last as long as it takes to grow a tree.

This multi-functional piece of furniture features the loft with a twin bed, a twenty eight inch glider futon chair that makes into a small bed, an ottoman that is collapsible for easy storage under the chair. In addition, it features a computer work station that could also be used as a desk.

Big Tree Announces "Super Slider"

Big Tree recently announced that their new oak futon love seats with the "Super Slider" ottoman pull-out are now in full production. The company also introduced a "Super Slider" ottoman pull-out for their futon chair.

"We have not seen this on the market before, and it should go great with the love seat," says Bob Pecoraro, National Sales Manager. "Our production manager, Mark Mandell, came up with this idea for the futon chair after seeing what our western regional manager, Bruce Sheppard, came up with on the love seat design," Pecoraro adds.

In addition, Big Tree's futon cover collections have some tremendous standard features, such as upholstery grade fabric on both sides, welting, boxing, machine washable, and "free" shipping.

Casual Lifestyles Comes on Strong with New Ad Campaign

Casual Lifestyles reports that their retail dealers are receiving customers from their recent ads in "The American Bungalow" Magazine. One customer informed them that a consumer came in with the ad and purchased over $2,500 in the Morris Collection. These results have come from the Bungalow newsletter (in Black & White); the full color ad is just arriving to consumers in September.

The Home and Garden Network (HG Cable) has just announced their schedule featuring Casual Lifestyles Manufacturing facility and product to be shown October 10 at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Pacific time, and 9:00 p.m. and midnight Eastern time. It also will be shown an additional ten times in November and December. A tape copy of this news piece is available to Casual Lifestyles' dealers by request.

Casual Lifestyles has obtained a permanent showroom in The Furniture Plaza Building in High Point, space #200. In this spacious 3,000 square-foot area, they will show additions to their Home Oak Collection as well as new case goods in the popular Provincia series. Casual Lifestyles has secured a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Corona, California. Their complete line will be available from there. 

Frameworks, Inc. of La Conner, WA filed for Bankruptcy

On September 25, 1996 Frameworks, Inc. of La Conner, Washington filed a voluntary petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Seattle.