Tvilum offers kitchen cabinets
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 27, 2003
Cologne, Germany — Tvilum-Scanbirk, the Danish flat-pack furniture specialist, is bringing a new line of storage products, including flat-pack kitchen cabinets, to the U.S. market.
Kitchen already is a strong category for Tvilum in Europe, where consumers typically take cabinets and kitchen appliances with them when they move. The company now is looking to see if affordable kitchen cabinets might have legs in the United States. Prototypes were on display this month at the International Furniture Fair here.
Claus Sorensen, sales manager, said Tvilum aims to leverage the strength of its parent Masco, the faucet and hardware giant, to gain access to regional and national home improvement stores.
"Most likely, we'll need to develop a new channel of distribution for this," Sorensen said. "We're starting from the beginning on this, but it could be an opportunity for growth if we get it placed with the right retailers. We think there could be a market for a kitchen cabinet system that is attractive and yet extremely affordable."
He noted Ikea offers RTA cabinets and counters. "With their success, I would think more retailers would take a cue from that."
The Tvilum system, covered in paper laminates with either a cherry or maple finish, allows consumers to plan their own kitchens. The countertops are covered with a Formica-like material.
Tvilum also is exploring the potential of a line of storage cabinets for the garage or basement.
