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| Home > Magazine > Futon Life Fall 1999 > Industry Updates |
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| Futons Slipcovered by Your Request |
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INDUSTRY UPDATES
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| Customers are Covered by Cotton Works |
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Cotton Works Industries is introducing new fall futon 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 futon 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 futon 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.”
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| Slip covered by Your Request |
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Mitch Gelbard, VP of Simmons Futon Sales, says: “More and more of our customers wanted a complete piece of futon sets, and that meant right down to the futon slipcover.” This time they opted to follow tradition, rather than fight it.
“We were very aware how difficult and expensive the futon slipcover business can be, relative to fabric and all,” says Gelbard. “Rather than trying to get into the type of business where we offer hundreds of futon slipcovers, we decided to choose several that have been consistently popular. When we approach our suppliers, we always ask them to please sell us ‘what’s hot.’ We want to offer what’s selling.” All covering is available in either with zipper or slipcovers, the later of which comprise the vast majority of sales
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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 Suede by 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. Futon 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 futon frames, as well as futon covers, will increase when dressing futons with coordinated 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.
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| Zad Designs Moves Into “Zad Home” |
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| “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 futon 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 futon covers are all made in here in the United 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. |
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SIS Unveils Artists' Futon Covers Series
Are your attempts to collect museum quality artworks thwarted by financial constraints? SIS Futon 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 Cover 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.
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| Fall 1999 |
| Now Viewing Industry Updates : |
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