Kuka Home Makes 46,000 Square Foot Debut In Las Vegas

Furniture World Magazine

For its North American premier, China’s Kuka Home announced that it has leased one of the largest permanent showrooms at the Las Vegas World Market Center in the new C building. Hailong (Gordon) Gu, company president said, “Today is one the proudest moments for our family business as we finally have the opportunity to show the North American furniture industry what Kuka Home is all about. This market, our largest in the world, has meant so much to our company’s development and I am honored to represent my family, our suppliers, designers and our 6,000 staff members as we meet the industry and present our latest design ideas.” Kuka Home, begun by Gu’s father Yuhua in 1986 and managed today by his two sons, is a totally vertical upholstered furniture manufacturing business, integrating leather tanning, polyurethane foam manufacturing, product research & development, furniture production and retail through its 700 plus store company-owned and franchised Kuka branded chain, China’s largest. At 90,000 square feet, the company’s flagship retail store in downtown Hangzhou is China’s largest furniture store. Domestic sales represented 43% of total sales in the first half of 2008. The parallel sales strategy focusing on domestic stores and exports, unusual for Chinese furniture producers, has borne very positive results. Kuka benefits from Chinese consumers’ growing thirst for upscale home décor products while also enjoying the world’s rich developed markets. Although it only began exporting in 2005, Kuka already counts upon North America for 40% of total sales, Europe for 32%, Australia & New Zealand for 14%, and the Middle East for 11%. Kuka’s products may be found at thousands of the world’s leading retail locations including Crate & Barrel, Sears/Kmart, Pier One, Marshalls/TJ Maxx, Rooms to Go, Bloomingdales, Z Gallerie, Cost Plus World Market, El Dorado Furniture and Sears Canada. In two massive factories totaling 2.5 million square feet, the company produces upholstered furniture, occasional chairs, upholstered beds, dining chairs, barstools, ottomans, benches and storage with all available in leather, fabrics and microfiber. Kuka also offers a complete collection of leather wrapped wall mirrors. For more information visit www.KukaSofa.com