Three Futon Leaders Now Easier to Visit
Gold Bond, SIS Futon Covers and Night & Day Furniture Make a Move
HIGH POINT (N.C.) - Three of the futon industry’s leading manufacturers - Gold Bond, SIS Futon Covers, and Night and Day Furniture — moved their show space to the C&D Building’s fifth floor here to introduce their new fall line-ups to the home furnishings trade.
The futon manufacturer’s move to C&D Building Space 5-B is expected to provide them with enhanced foot traffic and accessibility. The move also increases by 50% the floor space for their new products and introductions. “We should see more buyers in the new location. As futons’ retail appeal continues to grow, we should be as accessible and visible as possible,” Gold Bond President Bob Naboicheck said. “Futon buyers have questions about futons, and as makers of the futon frame, mattress, cover and accessories, we want to be easily available in one showroom,” he said.
Gold Bond
Gold Bond will show the futon industry’s best-selling line of premium futon mattresses and point of sale support systems. Gold Bond, founded in 1898, helped futon retailers pioneer the modern comfortable futon by adding plushness and comfort to what was once a thin pad. The Hartford (CT) based company produces innerspring units, HR foam, encased springs, wool and 100% natural latex futon mattresses.
The three futon makers will be stressing the futon’s comfort, affordability and extraordinary per square foot profit margins generated by futon shops and galleries during the market.
Strongbow Sleepworks’ Zelda Makes Design Statement
The Zelda features a contemporary design that incorporates ease of conversion, durability, versatility, and comfort. It employs a front operating, wall hugging mechanism function and converts into a full size bed. It has the added benefit of having no exposed hardware, the perfect complement to its incredible design. The curved arms give the futon a stylish and unique presentation. The Zelda has added a design flair that takes futon design to the next level. The frame is only available in cherry.
AUGUST LOTZ ANNOUNCES FUTON FRAMES WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY
August Lotz recently announced they will be offering a life-time warranty on all their futon frames starting in October. “With our quality, it seems like a natural progression...”, and “...we are so confident in our quality, it applies to every futon frame we offer,” stated Mark Schlichter, company president. He believes that his product has significant advantages when compared to other futon frames. August Lotz futon frames utilize dovetail construction and thicker dimension lumber. Schlichter said, “In fact, all of our futon frames have these features, and also, most are front loading.”
Schlichter also announced his company recently expanded their selection of futon mattresses and futon frames to include more variety and lower price points. The newly unveiled line of futon mattresses named the Value-Line collection, which was available originally in black tick and full size only, now includes both natural and black ticks, with the natural ticks coming in queen, full, love and chair sizes. Price points start at only $42 for full size.
Additionally, the Pacific Collection of Oak frames, which originally consisted of four futon frames in full size only, is now available in a variety of sizes, and there are two new stylish models available. “Now you can purchase an August Lotz hardwood futon frame starting at just $125 in a full size”, Schlichter said.
He continued by stating this is part of a comprehensive strategy to help futon dealers hit a wider range of price points and still be able to tell the August Lotz story.
“The story begins in 1897, right here in Boyd, located in the north woods of Wisconsin, August Lotz started his company making fine wood products from the highest quality wood. You see, the winters are very cold in Wisconsin, reaching down to more than minus 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) which slows down the growing process that produces a very dense hardwood ideal for futon furniture. The town of Boyd has been centered around August Lotz now for over a hundred years, and we are its single largest employer. There are three generations of family crafting our fine furniture. In Wisconsin, it is well known: If you’re from Boyd, you make furniture,” said Schlichter. As the company progressed over the years, it developed an excellent quality control and inspection program, which allows it to claim a manufacturer’s defect rate of far less than one percent. “We apply this same inspection program to our import program, to ensure the futon retailer receives the finest quality futon frames whether they are domestic or imported,” he said.
“We’re not trying to beat everyone on price. We have developed a new price point which will stand out in the marketplace for its quality and value. When a futon retailer buys on price only, they don’t really know what they’re going to get. It’s a mystery. That’s why we believe in maintaining our three core components of quality, value and price, without sacrificing one for the other two. If you show customers our benefits and features, they will buy our futon frames,” Schlichter said.
“And from the futon retailers point of view, we have a 98% order fill rate which ships out within 48 business hours, an almost non-existent defect rate, and consistent quality and color. Why would any futon retailer want to deal with the hidden costs of damaged goods in the box (and in customers’ homes)? Add to this the August Lotz story and any serious retailer can carry futon frames with more features and better benefits. With our wide range of price points, the futon retailer also has a better chance to convert internal sales to a higher average with value, quality and a real story,” he added.
To help their futon retailers, August Lotz offers great point of purchase material such as new, dual sided, foam core color posters which measure 33” x 26”. Of course, they still offer the miniature deck and arm clip demo units which show how the futon frames and arms are constructed. When these tools are combined with the extensive training offered by factory representatives, it is an explosive combination.