The drive from Atlanta is pleasant, taking you across three states in the old South.  The landscape doesn’t change much other than the gradual evolution of fast food signs.  Waffle House gives a little room to Mr. Waffle and Biscuitville.  Chick fil A is replaced with Mrs. Winners.  There’s the giant peach on the side of the road in South Carolina and a hundred billboards for Abbot Hill Farms fresh produce and fireworks, cross promotion at its finest.  There’s something for everybody there at Abbot Hill Farms.  Jams, jellies, strawberries, peaches…and explosives.

For some reason Judy and I had a craving for Mexican food and when traffic slowed us down on the far side of Charlotte we took advantage of a convenient exit that was bursting with major food chains.  It was the exit for Lowes Motor Speedway which illustrates the hilarity of the situation.  We are on our way to see some of the finest furniture made in the world and are completely surrounded by NASCAR and tobacco.  Judy spotted a little place tucked behind a gas station.  It had the obligatory happy hour banner and if that weren’t tempting enough, they had a sign with a painting worthy of the cover of a Harlequin romance novel; a busty Latin woman enthusiastically offering cerveza.  What more could you want?  I expected a cloud of smoke to pour out when I opened the door but we were relieved to smell grease and a hint of ammonia.  Perfect.  I love it when my expectations are low and subsequently blown away.  These folks could cook.  Judy had stuffed poblanos en mole, and I had the tacos carnitas, complete with a grilled jalapeno. 

Where were we?  Oh yes, furniture. 

I had a few things on my agenda, one of which was to check the mood of the manufacturers and see if the downturn in the economy had any impact on their offerings.  I was expecting to see more natural and muted colors as a continuation of last year and further progression of the clean lines and contemporary casual styling that dominated the previous market.  I also anticipated a continuation on the buildup of eco friendly products.

Given the crash of the housing market and its effects on the home furnishing industry, the overall market was in a bit of a somber mood, evidenced by the long stares of some of the reps, the relative dearth of promotional giveaways, and the unusual difficulty in getting a cocktail.  Drinks are normally thrust into your hand upon entering a showroom, whether you want one or not.  This year you had to feign being a player and then mention your thirst after a long day of buying.  Cough cough.  How much is that if I order a full container?  Thirsty.

I was right about the projected environmentalism.  Upholstery fabrics were made with thick weaves that screamed bohemian earth lover, whether they were eco friendly or not.  The craziest thing I saw was a sofa covered in a fabric made entirely from recycled tee shirts.  My friend Paul wants one.  Go figure.

The area rug manufacturers are having a field day with the green movement because they get to make trendy fun rugs out of recycled plastics and offer them at a lower price.  This is a double win as production costs are down and the likelihood that today’s fun rug will be replaced with a new fun rug tomorrow.

I was wrong about the colors.  Color was everywhere!  Maybe the manufacturers were trying to pep the market up with a spectral infusion.  Last years neutrals were accented by intense jewel tones.  This year the ruby’s and sapphire’s were gone but replaced by colors that were less intense and, well, a lot more fun!  Orange creamsicle, daffodil yellow, deep Gulf of Mexico blue, reds that were the tone of brick but with a hint of orange.  Paprika, maybe? 

Pressure from a tight economy extrudes innovation from the better companies.  I was happy to see that some top lines were offering lower cost alternatives in addition to their traditional excellent product.  The downward price pressure has been in place for a number of years due to the competition from overseas, primarily China, so efficiency has already been a focus.  What I saw this year were manufacturers of quality furnishings, typically boasting lots of custom options, introducing lines that focused on simplicity and fewer options which reduces cost without sacrificing craftsmanship.

Pressure from a tight economy extrudes innovation from the better market shoppers, too.  Texting was at a fevered pitch this year as my friends scattered throughout the market and reported on their findings.  Hooker is serving lasagna!  The bar at Uttermost is open!  Oysters at Stanley!  Blood Sweat and Tears is about to start playing in front of the IHFC!

Our store is in the beginning stages of a transformation and we will be unveiling some of the new product in the next couple of months.  I am really excited about it.  More choice, more fabric, more price points.  Stay tuned!