TUPELO, Miss. — Lane Express, a quick-ship program from the

manufacturer and importer,  received accolades from parent Furniture Brands International.

During a conference call with securities analysts, FBI Chairman Mickey Holliman said a third-quarter sales increase of 2% at FBI was largely due to Lane, where he said business has been strong all year. He said the division had gained market share and lauded the success of Lane Express.

The program involves Lane’s entire case goods line and its best-selling upholstery SKUs, Holliman said. Dealers are promised 14-day shipping, but goods usually arrive in three to 10 days. Case goods and upholstery are shipped on the same truck, a first for Lane.

About 450 dealers are participating in the program, Holliman said.

Vicki Collums, merchandise manager for one participant, Jackson, Miss.-based retailer Miskelly Furniture, said Miskelly usually receives Lane Express product within five days of placing an order. Previously, Lane orders would take about three-and-a-half weeks, she said.

Retailers are asking Lane to include imported leather in the express program as well, she said.
The program began about three years ago, Collums said. She said the quick-ship promise is helpful to the store sales staff.

“Today’s customers, when they do shop, tend to want their merchandise right now. We don’t deal with customers happy to wait a month or two months. They want it delivered to them in one or two days, or even want to pick it up that day if possible,” Collums said.

Ed Cowart, merchandise manager for Brooks Furniture of Albany, Ga., has been using the program for about six months. He said orders are getting to the store in 10 to 12 days rather than six to eight weeks as before. Occasionally, if an item is out of stock, he said, delivery can take three to four weeks.

The Lane Express program tags items by points, with a minimum of about 30 required for each order, Cowart said. For example, a sofa is worth 2.65 points and a loveseat 2.53 points.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a perfect program, but it sure is nice to get some things a little quicker than six to eight weeks,” Cowart said. As for improvements, he would like the quick-ship program to include more of the store’s best sellers.

Holliman said in the conference call that a quick-ship programs also is in the works at Broyhill, another FBI company.

Lane officials declined to give more information about the program, and Broyhill officials were unavailable for comment.