Rose Hill unveils RTA upholstery in Tupelo
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, August 18, 2003
Tupelo, Miss. — Upholstery manufacturer and case goods importer Rose Hill is unveiling ready-to-assemble upholstery at this week's Tupelo market.
The company said the program, called SofasToGo, features a user-friendly lock-and-pin system that doesn't require tools to assemble and that can adapt to any design. A full-sized sofa is packaged in a single box and can be put together by one person.
The pin is forced in place by the seat deck, which creates an even stronger joint as the piece is used. The RTA upholstery will be made in Okolona, Miss., where Rose Hill is based, using English-made hardware that's patented in the United States.
"Benefits to consumers and retailers are significant," said President Hamp Hughes. "Residents of large cities often have to get their upholstery cut into pieces for delivery into tight spaces at considerable cost. The resulting furniture is much less stable than the original and it immediately voids all warranties. This system eliminates that need altogether."
He said SofasToGo would provide a 20% reduction in freight costs, reduced costs for warehousing and delivery, and 100% parts replacement. The program targets the popular $399–$499 sofa price range.
"We feel this system will allow consumers to load a piece of upholstery in the back seat of their car and take it home with them," Hughes said. "It certainly opens up many possibilities for traditional and non-traditional furniture retailers alike."
"We're trying to create a reason for consumers to buy so that everything we do we can keep in the United States," said Hunter Bigham, vice president of sales. "We don't want to import unless we have to."
The RTA upholstery recently won accolades in the Under-The-Covers Design Competition sponsored by a trade publication and the wood products industry. Rose Hill officials will be on hand to accept the award at an upcoming ceremony.
The SofasToGo program follows Rose Hill's recent unveiling of an imported entertainment center program that consumers can assemble with minimal effort.
