Wednesday, June 24, 2009

CDT News 5-23-09

Quick news flash!!!!
This coming Thursday, June 25th, our Taylor King rep, Nancy Edgington will be in the showroom to show the latest things from the Spring Market.
Many of you will already be here for the event at Design d'Vision. Stop in from 3-5 and see what Taylor King has to offer.

We will be serving
Champagne, chocolate and other goodies!

Monday, June 22, 2009

CDT News Week of 6-19-09

Good News!
Color is back!!! I am sure that all of you are as tired of brown, bronze and browned-out shades as we are. Robert Allen's design team visited us this past week, and told us that they are anticipating a "return to pretty"! At our Duralee Furniture seminar on Tuesday we saw photos of their High Point showroom for spring, all decked out in white with splashes of hot orange and pink. Dazzling!
We are seeing lots of blue--after how many years? Rumor has it that purple is on the horizon for fall. Check out the new "Veranda" magazine. All the wood finishes are mid tones like maple and pecan. Nary a "Pottery Barn black/brown in sight.
People are hungry for cheerful colors...what will this mean for hemlines???
New Accessories
We have just received a new shipment of orchids, greenery and 2 LARGE trees!
We are in the process of placing about a dozen new pieces of art, and have received some new tabletop items, including great large trays. More will be arriving shortly.

Great Marketing Idea!!
Thanks to Janet Perry of Periwinkle Designs for this GREAT idea:

Janet brings groups of new and potential customers on a "Field Trip" to the Arlington Design Center. They do lunch nearby and Janet shows them around the various showrooms, stressing, of course, that they will not be allowed in without her. This whets their appetite for what we have available, and gives them a taste of what working with her would be like. Janet did this in Boston before moving here, and has continued with great success.

Again, our thanks to Janet for her generosity. If anyone else has an idea to pass on, we would love to do so. We can all learn so much from each other.

Welcome, New Designers!
Several designers opened CDT accounts this week! We get new customers almost every week, and I just now realized that this newsletter was a great way to welcome them to the gang.

So, to Karen Ludwig of Wild Orchid Interiors, Julie Hermanson, Alexis Presto, Kristy Brindley, and Jackie Posluszny of Designs by Jackie, all of us at CDT are happy to help you in whatever way we can. We look forward to working with you and getting to know you better. We have fun working here, and hope that you will too!

If I have missed anyone, my apologies. If you e-mail me, I will be happy to include you next week!
Even betterCDT floor sample sale:
We really want to move these things! If you have had your eye on an upholstered piece here at the showroom, give us a call. We will be marking a number of items WAY WAY down, including all 3 Temple sofas. We plan to have some new things in time for fall! Meanwhile, all Taylor King and Ferguson Copeland upholstered items on our showroom floor are and additional 25% off regular designer discount. All lamps that were here before mid April are also on sale. Take an extra 20% on the first lamp, and 20%-10% on 2 or more lamps.

Time to do your own house with deals like this!!!


Duralee Seminar
OK...so there IS still brown in this picture!
This is a shot of the gorgeous Duralee showroom in High Point. Featuring both Duralee Fine Furniture and Owner Select, this showroom drew crowds and lots of press at the spring market. Look for these fabrics and many more in the new Simply Modern collection.

In preparation for our seminar Camille did some research into Duralee's price structure. Many designers are afraid that Duralee's prices will be too high, because they are 100% COM. The results even surprised us. We compared a basic sofa of similar size and style, with similarly priced and graded fabric from Duralee, Owner Select,Ferguson Copeland, Century and Henredon. Beleive it or not, each of these sofas came in within $100 of each other.
Bear in mind that Duralee and Owner Select give an additional fabric discount if you use Duralee or Highland Court fabric, with over 25,000 fabrics to choose from!
This was eye opening for us, and for the designers at the seminar...and it opens up a huge range of products to choose from at that price point. If you would like
to see the actual price comparisons, we will have it here at the showroom.
What Andrea Can Do For You!
Many of you may be unaware that Andrea does CAD and rendering work for several of our designers on the side. We have never formally anounced it but we have noticed lately that there is a larger calling for it. If you don't have the experience or the time to use these programs but want a professional computer drafted / rendered project - just call Andrea. She has done everything from simple CAD line drawings in scale to full presentation boards with renderings including draperies and accessories.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Week of June 8-12

Hello, Designers!
Much of this e-mail is the same as last week, but all of it bears repeating, so scan over to refresh your memory! Here is the very latest news:

We have added beautiful lighting from Sedgefield. Lots of lovely crystal, brass,and other traditional and transitional pieces. Some great floor lamps.
Several items will be on our floor shortly.

Speaking of accessories, we just received shipments of Oriental Accents and Elizabeth Marshall. More accessories will be here in the next couple weeks.
Silk trees, orchids and more will be here late next week. Stop in and go shopping. Remember, accessories are fun and easy money!

Fabricut has decided to place some of their "Trend" fabric collection in the showrooms. We have received several books, which are hanging on the small divider walls in the Fabricut room. This is a great addition to your arsenal of moderately priced fabrics. More books will be arriving over the summer.

Remember to attend our upcoming furniture training!
Tuesday, June 16 from 10:30-1:00 Jerry Hoffman and Walt Kozy from Duralee will be presenting a "Back to Basics" seminar. Camille and Vicki will finish the program with tips on how to sell furniture when your client can't sit on it.

We have heard from several of our vendors this past week, telling us that they think that the fall season will be a good one. They are hiring again, and starting to introduce new collections and building up stock. What are you doing to prepare for this? Attending this seminar might be a good step!

Refreshments will be served, so please RSVP, 847 394-1800.

Don't forget...

CDT floor sample sale:
All Temple, Taylor King and Ferguson Copeland upholstered items on our showroom floor are and additional 25% off regular designer discount. All lamps that were here before mid April are also on sale. Take an extra 20% on the first lamp, and 20%-10% on 2 or more lamps.

Time to do your own house with deals like this!!!

Hunter Douglas, Duralee, Owner Select and ADO sales are still in effect.

The Inventory reduction sales from Century and Ferguson Copeland are ongoing.
There are some great deals here if you take the time to look!


Great News---CDT Now carries Henredon!!
We are delighted to announce the addition of Henredon Furniture to our product mix.

Long a favorite of designers and our clients, we feel that this collection really completes our mix of top quality, but not insanely expensive product. Joining Taylor King, Century, Duralee, Ferguson Copeland, Bausman, Guy Chaddock Old Biscayne, Weiman and Thayer Coggin, Henredon gives CDT the most comprehensive selection of products at that price point of any showroom in the area.

We hope that all of you will soon be using this lovely
product to complete your clients homes.

TREND
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Fabricut has now extended distribution of their moderately priced Trend fabric collection, so it is now in the showrooms, including CDT. For space reasons, we will have the most designer oriented books only, no hangers, and memos will not be stocked in house. We will be happy to order whatever you need. We know that this will come in handy, just like Robert Allen @ Home, and Duralee Suburban Home. Sometimes that promotional pricing is what enables you to close a sale. Some Trend books are here now, others, including the Jacqueline Smith collection will be arriving soon.
New Minutes Matter Version Out!!!
This new version is so easy to use - you will love it. You can now add trim to a drapery panel in just one click! You can customize the toolbars to have all your favorite commands. Minutes Matter now also has the exclusive to Jackie Von Tobel's modules (The Design Directory of Window Treatments).

Not familiar with Minutes Matter? Call Andrea and set up a time to have a private seminar.

We are expecting the new 3.0 trial cds soon in the showroom.

Already have Minutes Matter? You can purchase this upgrade!

Monday, June 8, 2009

CDT News week of June 1-5

Remember to attend our upcoming furniture training!
Tuesday, June 16 from 10:30-1:00 Jerry Hoffman and Walt Kozy from Duralee will be presenting a "Back to Basics" seminar. Camille and Vicki will finish the program with tips on how to sell furniture when your client can't sit on it.

We have heard from several of our vendors this past week, telling us that they think that the fall season will be a good one. They are hiring again, and starting to introduce new collections and building up stock. What are you doing to prepare for this? Attending this seminar might be a good step!

Refreshments will be served, so please RSVP, 847 394-1800.

Don't forget...

CDT floor sample sale:
All Temple, Taylor King and Ferguson Copeland upholstered items on our showroom floor are and additional 25% off regular designer discount. All lamps that were here before mid April are also on sale. Take an extra 20% on the first lamp, and 20%-10% on 2 or more lamps.

Time to do your own house with deals like this!!!

Hunter Douglas, Duralee, Owner Select and ADO sales are still in effect.

The Inventory reduction sales from Century and Ferguson Copeland are ongoing.
There are some great deals here if you take the time to look!


Great News---CDT Now carries Henredon!!
We are delighted to announce the addition of Henredon Furniture to our product mix.

Long a favorite of designers and our clients, we feel that this collection really completes our mix of top quality, but not insanely expensive product. Joining Taylor King, Century, Duralee, Ferguson Copeland, Bausman, Guy Chaddock Old Biscayne, Weiman and Thayer Coggin, Henredon gives CDT the most comprehensive selection of products at that price point of any showroom in the area.

We hope that all of you will soon be using this lovely
product to complete your clients homes.

TREND
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Fabricut has now extended distribution of their moderately priced Trend fabric collection, so it is now in the showrooms, including CDT. For space reasons, we will have the most designer oriented books only, no hangers, and memos will not be stocked in house. We will be happy to order whatever you need. We know that this will come in handy, just like Robert Allen @ Home, and Duralee Suburban Home. Sometimes that promotional pricing is what enables you to close a sale. Some Trend books are here now, others, including the Jacqueline Smith collection will be arriving soon.
New Minutes Matter Version Out!!!
This new version is so easy to use - you will love it. You can now add trim to a drapery panel in just one click! You can customize the toolbars to have all your favorite commands. Minutes Matter now also has the exclusive to Jackie Von Tobel's modules (The Design Directory of Window Treatments).

Not familiar with Minutes Matter? Call Andrea and set up a time to have a private seminar.

We are expecting the new 3.0 trial cds soon in the showroom.

Already have Minutes Matter? You can purchase this upgrade!

June 16, 10:30 Duralee Furniture TrainingJuly 3-5 CLOSED FOR 4TH OF JULYSept 4-7 CLOSED FOR LABOR DAYNov 25-29 CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVINGDec 24-27 CLOSED FOR CHRISTMASDec. 31-Jan. 3 CLOSED FOR NEW YEAR'S