Thomas Russell — Furniture Today,
AT THE MARKET — Metal bed vendors here are
using a mix of styles and new finishes to raise the profile of the category this market. So far, the effort appears to be paying off.
Design leader Wesley Allen is showing 11 new models in a host of styles and price points from $549 to $1,199.
The $549 Sunset is an Asian-inspired contemporary style bed with the Chinese character for the sun figured into the head and footboard. At the high end is the $1,199 Windsor bed, a traditional style with updated features such as angled square tubing and British Colonial style castings and finials.
The one getting the best reaction from retailers here is Harmony, a $799 French-style bed with fleur-de-lis shaped castings.
“It’s easy to understand, and they see it for $800 from Wesley Allen and know it’s a good product and a good value,” said President Victor Sawan.
Traffic has been light at the showroom, Sawan said, but not as bad as he expected. With so many new styles, he said the company is prepared for buyers even if the retail environment is sluggish.
“You have to put your best foot forward,” he said.
Hooker Furniture has five new metal beds, including one in its Glenhill case goods collection. Priced from $799 to $899 retail, the updated traditional style bed has an antique bronze finish with gold highlights. Dealers had strong reaction to the bed, particularly since its design and finish tie in well with Hooker’s case goods, officials said.
The other four models are traditional to transitional styles, priced between $799 and $999 retail. Among the most popular of these is an antique nostalgia bed in a creamy almond finish with a matching nightstand and bench. Design elements, including the finish and turned castings, match well with elements on the bench and the nightstand.
The new offerings are in addition to 12 existing models in the line, said Kenneth Williams, company vice president of merchandising.
“It gives us such an opportunity, since we are a category-based company, to bring things together,” Williams said of the metal beds. “They (buyers) are looking for options to regular bedroom since people want to put them permanently into their rooms.”
Fashion Bed Group isn’t introducing new metal beds this market, instead focusing on items it launched in Las Vegas in January. These include four models priced from $399 to $599 retail in a range of styles. The antique reproduction Langley bed in a copper penny finish is at $499 retail, and the transitional Granville is a $399 bed in a platinum frost finish.
Reaction on the beds has been strong thus far, particularly for dealers who hadn’t seen them in Las Vegas, said Vicki Fil, company director of product development.
Powell Co., another prominent player in the metal beds market, isn’t showing any new adult models this market. However, it does have two new youth beds, both of which are drawing strong reaction from retailers, according to Sean Slack, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing.
They include Princess Emily, a $399 bed in a white finish with pink undertones. Design elements include crown-shaped finials on the canopy and headboard. The bed also has four stationary carriage-type wheels.
Powell’s other hot youth bed is the $249 Princess Rebecca, available in a soft silver finish. It too features crown-shaped finials on the canopy and headboard.
