Gear, Pennsylvania House And Dupont Corian® Team Up For New Furniture Collection

Furniture World Magazine

Gear Holdings, Inc., a pioneer in developing coordinated collections for the home, and Pennsylvania House, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of fine solid wood furniture and custom upholstery, have signed an agreement to develop a casual lifestyle furniture collection. Scheduled to debut initially at the Breuners chain of retail furniture stores late this summer, the collection will be unveiled at the October 1999 International Home Furnishings Show in High Point, NC. "This Collection represents quality products that meet the needs of today's retailer and consumer," agreed Rick Meiser, president of merchandising for Breuners Home Furnishing, and Bettye Martin Musham, president and CEO of Gear Holding, Inc. Gear became a household name in 1980 when the company created the nation's first in-store shop for Macy's that carried a full line of coordinated accessories for the home. The Open Home collection for Sears Roebuck, also designed by Gear, became the largest retail program of coordinated home fashions in retail history from 1980 to 1992. In addition, Gear has 50 lifestyle shops in the Isetan and ADO stores of Japan. Pennsylvania House, a LADD Furniture, Inc. company, is long known in the furniture industry for its ability to execute fine finishes and unique coloration on solid wood furniture. According to Ken Ponville, Pennsylvania House President, the company is looking forward to the alliance with Gear. "This is a unique opportunity to utilize the strengths of Pennsylvania House and the marketing acumen of Gear to address the desire of today's consumer to create and personalize her own environment. Gear's design expertise and strong brand create a synergy that will inspire our mutual customers," offers Ponville. DuPont Corian® will be featured in this furniture collection for a triple-branding approach with the solid surface material featured in selected pieces of the collection. The high brand recognition of Corian® and its reputation for high quality make it a natural, synergistic partner. DuPont Corian® and Pennsylvania House speak to the same demographic customers. In addition, DuPont Corian® brings a marketing expertise that will enhance the recognition of this new lifestyle collection for Pennsylvania House. To gain design input and marketing knowledge from the Generation Xers, the companies have sponsored a design contest open to design schools and architects. The challenge for each competition participant is to design a piece for the furniture collection that would use DuPont Corian® in a new and innovative way. The three top winners will be awarded cash prizes and round-trip airfare and lodging to the Spring 2000 Milan Furniture Fair. Parsons, Pratt, the Rhode Island School of Design, Kendall and the Chicago Furniture Design Association have agreed to participate. The competition is open to students as well as design professionals. DuPont Corian®, the global brand leader in the surfacing 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 stainresistant, easy to clean, durable 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.