April brings two things with certainty to High Point, NC – allergens and the International Furniture Market. While we have no control over spring and the former, the latter is ours to define in whatever manner we think best showcases our products.  Response from dealers who visited our Plaza Suites showroom reinforced our prediction that this would be a fantastic market for England Furniture. Our floor was filled with fresh looks, lively colors and a balanced mix of traditional, contemporary and transitional furniture.  Our Top 5 best-selling styles were the 5380 Weaver, 4630 Angie, 2V00 Vespers, 3B00 Paxton and 1Z05 Blayklee.  The top selling motion group was the 3A00 Masters and the favorite leather group was the 2T00AL Loyston. The cover chosen most to dress market purchases was Longhorn Silt, an overall simulated suede-look fabric.

Programs new in April, 2015, include Sunbrella, a line of indoor, outdoor furniture covered in soft, luxurious Sunbrella, Glen Raven Mill’s fade resistant performance fabric made of acrylic based fiber. Sunbrella was originally designed for patio and sunroom furniture, awnings, marine applications and other areas where the elements play havoc on natural fabrics.

Dorchester Abbey, a step-up leather program featuring select leathers and linens on a limited number of frames, is being offered to qualifying dealers. Work continues on adding Coil Core spring enhancements as an option to motion. Motion styles new at the April market can accommodate the upgrade; older motion styles will be converted as parts become available, our goal being by the end of June.

Traffic and sales were both up double-digits in the England Furniture showroom. For the sake of our beloved industry and the men and women who work in it, we hope other showrooms had similar results. Even though the pollen seemed up by double-digits, too – and it rained way more than we thought it should – it turned out to be quite a pleasant market. Many thanks to our England Furniture customers, the England Furniture employees who made it happen, and to our England Furniture dealers for affirming their efforts. Now on to planning for the October Market…