Futon Place - With Us You're Covered

Aside from the line of high quality products that Futon Place regularly offers to their clientele, they've introduced something extra special for the coming year. Futon Place now offers superb quality futon fabrics available in designer pillow sets sets with an extremely low price tag. "Not only am I going to continue offering my customers outstanding futons, frames, foam pads, and solid futon covers," says Nick Nara, founder of Futon Place, "now, I intend to revolutionize the futon cover industry. I've taken a handful of popular heavy upholstery fabrics and created complete cover sets."

Mike of Futons 4 Less in Albuquerque says, "Sounds pretty common until you actually see the sets. We ordered the Route 66 futon cover print from the swatches. The sets arrived in less than a week, beautifully packaged. They came with the pillows and bolsters already stuffed and ready to go. I sold them right out of the box! I think the best part about it all is that I couldn't find better prices anywhere."

Designer futon cover sets are the latest addition to the product line of high quality futons, frames, foam pads, and covers for futons that Futon Place offers. This is another example of how Futon Place lives up to their motto; "trying harder every day to be number one".

August Lotz, Casual Lifestyle Settle

In order to expel any confusion or rumors, August Lotz Company, Inc., announced that in July 1996 the lawsuit between August Lotz and Casual Lifestyles, Inc., was settled to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. Both parties have moved forward and are operating business as usual.

August Lotz continues to experience exceptional growth, and with growing comes new product additions. "The Monaco", with its classic curved sleigh arm design with rounded top and wide slats is now available. This elegant futon frame is offered in Maple with a Natural Finish or Ash with Medium Walnut finish. The Monaco, like all August Lotz futon frames, is equipped with a patented conversion design that opens and closes from the front. Each futon frame also has an Auto-lock safety mechanism feature that greatly reduces the amount of customer breakage and number of in-home service calls.

"Hot High Point Market" Say Nation's Leading Futon Manufacturers

High Point, NC Three leading futon manufacturers report that the High Point buyers are more upbeat on futons' future sales potential.

"Futons continue as a very hot category now," Gold Bond Mattress President, Robert Naboicheck, said. Connecticut-based Gold Bond is America's largest producer of futon mattresses. "We were very pleased with High Point."

"Futons continue to be a growing segment of the furniture industry," said Shari Hammer, President of SIS Futon Covers, the United State's leading cover and pillow supplier. "We saw many of the leading home furnishing retailers in our space," she said.

Gold Bond, SIS Covers, and Island Futon a hardwood futon frame line produced by one of the world's largest RTA furniture suppliers showed together in High Point last October. As they returned to their factories, they assessed their first cooperative effort there together.

Ron O'Neil, President of Island Futon, said, "High Point buyers were seeking quality components. Today, retailers and consumers are interested in both quality of material and workmanship. The days of 'sizzle' and little or no 'steak' in futons are over. Today, value is judged not merely by price, but rather by quality. With Island Futon frames, the value is clearly evident."

O'Neil adds, "We work with quality hardwoods that we can put into any national chain with confidence that the goods will endure. Island Futon has established a state-of-the-art Indonesian operation to provide the futon industry with top quality plus competitive offshore pricing."

High Point buyers told Gold Bond's Bob Naboicheck that they realize futons are going to America's living rooms, and futon furniture must endure 10 or 15 years of daily usage. "The industry is coming to realize Gold Bond's premium mattresses are becoming a requirement to insure long term consumer satisfaction."

"Warranties were important during High Point and, because Gold Bond was founded in 1900, our credibility in that area was never a concern. Consequently, we had high interest in our three premium futons during High Point," Mr. Naboicheck commented.

"At SIS, the style and fashion of the futon come first," SIS Covers' Shari Hammer said. "We like to find ways to make the futon more inviting. Customers won't skimp if they love what they see. We've noticed a trend in buyers seeking a more sophisticated high-end futon style than ever before. SIS decorative collage futon covers and button pillows, at the premium end of our price list, got a great response. This was very encouraging."

The Glasser Group's Stuart Glasser, who represents Gold Bond and Island Futon nationally said, "Buyers at High Point are discerning. They want to sell better goods. They don't want to pay premium prices. Leading national buyers viewed our futon products with bonafide interest."

Gold Bond, SIS Covers and Island Futons indicated they would continue to promote futons at future High Point markets.