The Jaclyn Smith Home™ Collection Expands To Include Upholstered Furniture

Furniture World Magazine

The newest addition to the growing Jaclyn Smith® Home ™ Collection is a line of upholstered furniture from the Hickory Hill Furniture Company of Valdese, North Carolina. In a joint announcement, Charlie Rice, President of Hickory Hill and Robert W. Nightengale, Jr., President of Nightengale Associates, Inc., the brand management and marketing company for Jaclyn Smith International (JSI), said that the line would be formally debuted at the April 2005 International Furniture Market. Lew English, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hickory Hill explained “We are delighted that Jaclyn has selected Hickory Hill to develop her collection of upholstered furniture. Jaclyn shares our vision of designing and marketing products that are functionally beautiful and priced appropriately for today's homes and consumers. I know this will be a rewarding experience for both Hickory Hill and the Jaclyn Smith® Home™ program”. According to Teddie Walker, Director of Program Marketing at Hickory Hill, “The Jaclyn Smith ® Home™ Collection is a tremendous addition to our successful life-style programs. Consumers today want furnishings that fit their lifestyle. Hickory Hill prides itself on understanding and filling consumer needs”. JSI's casegoods partner is Largo International, Inc. “Before asking Jaclyn Smith to work with Largo we conducted marketing research of consumer values and acceptance of Jaclyn as a brand. We were pleased to learn that she has significant awareness (87%) and great acceptance among our target audience. Consumers trust Jaclyn to provide them with high value and great prices. Because of this we became the first company to introduce the Jaclyn Smith ® Home ™ Collection and have had a wonderful experience working with her", said Glenn Wakefield, President of Largo. "The acceptance of her product designs has been exceptional among our growing retail base. For this market we are introducing two new exciting Collections. Inspired by the style of the French countryside, we are presenting a Country French Collection called "Avignon". It includes a full bedroom suite, dining room suite as well as a selection of occasional pieces", said Wakefield. "Our second introduction is called "Heritage", available in two finishes, Vintage Black and Vieux Cinnabar. This collection also offers bedroom, dining room and occasional pieces. Jaclyn will be with us to welcome buyers on both October 15th and 16th. We look forward to another excellent Market with her Collections”, said Wakefield. Another partner in the branded program who has enjoyed great success is the King Koil Company, makers of mattresses and boxspring sleep sets. Said David Roberts, Executive Vice President, “Since being introduced earlier this year, the Jaclyn Smith® Home ™ Bedding Collection, by King Koil, has far exceeded our original expectations. Consumers know and trust Jaclyn Smith. This has resulted in greater confidence and increased sales for products that bear her name”. Rosedale Wallcoverings and Fabrics Inc. and their Kingsway Fabrics Division are working with Jaclyn to create an exclusive collection of fabrics and wallcoverings. Catherine Shearson, President of Kingsway Fabrics expects to introduce the collection in 2005. Commenting on the Kingsway/ Rosedale association with Jaclyn Smith® Home™, Ms. Shearson said, “We expect the Jaclyn Smith name to be a huge selling feature in marketing our fabrics and wallcoverings”. In design at this time is a complete line of home accents and soft home products that are reflective of Jaclyn's personal style and taste. Included are bedding, bath, living room and table top products, rugs, lighting, crystal and ceramics, florals, trees, greenery and holiday decorations. Product will be available from BHP, Inc. and Art Frame Direct, Inc. Looking forward, Ms. Smith is reinforcing her commitment to building her brand by continuing to introduce products in diversified categories, and by providing a singularly focused program for home furnishings retailers. She is personally involved in product development, design and selection of all of the products in the Jaclyn Smith® Home ™ program. “I am thoroughly enjoying my involvement and the process. I feel very strongly that good value and good taste need not be mutually exclusive! Our goal is to provide products that will make our customers feel confident in their ability to make sound purchasing decisions and to make them feel proud and happy in their homes”. The Jaclyn Smith® Home™ Collection is a distinctive group of home furnishings designed and selected by Jaclyn Smith in conjunction with the companies that manufacture her brand.