American Drew And Dupont Corian® Lead The Wave In Furniture Design

Furniture World Magazine

Keeping pace with the entertaining lifestyles of today's families, American Drew, a leading manufacturer of traditional furniture, has incorporated DuPont Corian® solid surface material into two new pieces for its "Pine Shop" collection. DuPont Corian® in Matterhorn was selected for the surfacing material in both the "cabinet base with hutch" and "hospitality cabinet" in the collection. For the cabinet base with hutch, DuPont Corian® is offered as a pull-out work surface, enhancing the aesthetics and practicality of this versatile preparation area. Corian® provides a beautiful, durable and hygienic surface, perfect for working with pastry items and preparing vegetables. The design of the hospitality cabinet also incorporates an emphasis on sophistication and functionality. The work area, made with Corian®, provides an easily accessible surface for food preparation. Plus, Corian® can withstand the wear-and-tear of being at the center of a busy household. Bob Carpenter, president of Motivational Marketing, created the original marketing concept and consumer position for the "Pine Shop" furniture line for American Drew. Carpenter recommended Corian® for the project because "DuPont Corian® is a brand name that consumers know and trust, with a strong reputation in the kitchen environment. Plus, Corian® can provide a beautiful work surface with superior functionality," added Carpenter. According to Carol Wheeless, a member of the American Drew design team at Aulbert-Wheeless & Associates, "The decision to use Corian® was an easy one. We needed a hard surface that was easy to clean and that wouldn't need to be replaced -- Corian® was the obvious choice." American Drew was pleased not only with the performance and appearance of Corian®, but they also discovered that Corian® was easy to fabricate, eliminating surprise expenses during the manufacturing process. "Corian® was an ideal choice because its benefits are recognized by both the consumer and retail markets," says Dennis Ammons, vice president of marketing, American Drew. "This recognition was crucial in appealing to the traditionally conservative furniture retailers." To further capitalize on the Corian® cachè, American Drew has created a special label to alert consumers and retailers to the use of Corian® in the furniture. Made with eastern white pine and Idaho white pine veneer, the American Drew "Pine Shop" collection combines proven traditional design elements with relaxed, real-life pine finishes, creating an extremely comfortable and casual line of furniture. In addition to the Corian® worktops, the "Pine Shop" collection also features antique iron hardware, turned feet, antiqued wrought iron, Victorian beaded molding, reeded cup pulls, stainless steel tops and functional hardware. The "Pine Shop" collection incorporating DuPont Corian® is available in two finishes: Gardenia and Natural Pine. Sears Homelife and several boutique stores have already signed on to carry the American Drew "Pine Shop" collection beginning April 1999. American Drew is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, medium-to-high price wood bedroom, dining room, home office and occasional furniture in a variety of style categories. The company operates three manufacturing plants in North Wilkesboro, NC and employs more than 780 people. The American Drew headquarters, including sales and marketing, is located in Greensboro, NC. The company's products are sold worldwide by approximately 60 independent sales representatives. DuPont Corian,, the global brand leader in the solid surface category, is used in residential, commercial, furniture and specialty applications. Corian® is a non-porous solid surface material that allows for superior design flexibility and self expression. Corian® is also stain-resistant, easy to clean, durable, hygienic and renewable. For more information about DuPont Corian,, please visit "The Corian, Community" Web site at www.corian.com or call 1-800-4-CORIAN.