by Accounts of any size can participate, allowing up to 3 dealers to take 800 cubic feet of product, while benefiting from lower pricing, shared shipping costs
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — To help customers flow product more easily and at a sharper value, Furniture of America has expanded its mixed container program to a shared container program.
Previously individual customers could ship product on mixed containers with anything from multiple SKUs to multiple sets of an individual bedroom or dining room.
While that option is still available, up to three dealers can now also flow product directly from the company’s bonded Vietnam warehouse on a single container.
The company said that it began developing and testing the program last year with a few key accounts. The option is now available to a much wider mix of retailers, from smaller, single-store dealers to large multi-store accounts, meaning that dealers of any size can participate.
By choosing this option, dealers can purchase a smaller amount of product at a time, thus allowing them to avoid building up or adding to already high inventories. Product categories include master and youth bedroom, dining room and living room furniture, including upholstery.
The company noted that containers are shipped directly to the FOA headquarters and distribution facilities in California. From there, it is offloaded, sorted and shipped directly to retailers.
“Dealers of any size can now take advantage of FOB pricing and lower freight costs,” the company said. “For dealers that are wanting to source factory direct, this option provides the benefit of factory direct without a minimum order quantity, or having their own quality control team on the ground.”
Officials note that this helps retailers put the responsibility of sourcing, qc and flowing goods entirely in the hands of FOA.
“They do not have to worry about the security or credibility of a factory, lead times or shipping,” added Jodi Brookshire, vice president, sales and marketing. “The FOA handles all quality control and will make the process simple and provide for a seamless, confident and secure transaction.”
Brookshire noted that another advantage of the program is that dealers can receive real-time information on products available from the warehouse. In addition, she noted, the FOA team can provide dealers a cost-savings analysis to help them make the best buying decisions based on their needs.
Dealers can learn more about the program at the upcoming Las Vegas Market where the company shows in B1108 and B1168. Dealers can also receive more information by contacting Brookshire at jodib@foagroup.com.
During the Las Vegas Market, the company also is unveiling its 2023-24 product catalog. Unlike previous catalogs, which positioned all categories in a single hardcover document, the mix is segmented by category in individual softcover booklets. This allows dealers to choose a particular segment of the catalog based on the specific category or categories they are most interested in rather than having the entire mix of product in a larger, more cumbersome document.
