Vegas success story: All signs point to a busy market for Barcalounger

2025.01.22

The Kimball group is part of Barcalounger's 16-brand product offering.

LAS VEGAS — With nearly two weeks until opening day, upholstery manufacturer Barcalounger is already looking forward to a busy Las Vegas Market.

President and CEO Larry Smith told Furniture Today that more than 50 retailers have already scheduled appointments for the winter Las Vegas Market. Last fall, Barcalounger announced that it would support its West Coast expansion with a showroom in Las Vegas and new warehousing capacity, and Smith said the early appointments suggest that the company’s strategy is hitting the mark.

“Product is now in our Sparks, Nev., warehouse,” Smith said. “We have opened 17 dealers so far with much anticipation to visit the Barcalounger showroom to see the assortment firsthand. We are excited about opening additional dealers who want to see, sit and feel before committing.”

The momentum seems to keep building for Barcalounger as the new year unfolds. Last fall, Smith told Furniture Today that the company had experienced its largest order written market in the past 14 years at High Point Market in October. The new West Coast showroom will enhance the company’s growth, he said, adding that Barcalounger has many categories represented in its existing West Coast warehoused inventory and partnership with 1 Click Logistics.

“We have worked with 1 Click for pick-up readiness in 48 to 72 hours from receipt of order,” Smith said. “The western expansion has already been received very well, with the opening of several dealers buying from the North Carolina warehouse last fall so they can have product on the floors and generate attention and sales prior to Vegas market.”

Barcalounger is also providing dealers with in-store point of sale materials including items such as catalogs and stands, in addition to visual support pieces. Barcalounger supplies these at no cost to their store partners.

In a previous interview, Smith told Furniture Today that while the majority of Barcalounger’s business model has been focused on rapid, quick-response shipping out of the existing distribution centers, the new West Coast location supports new growth funded by positive cash flow and working capital.

“A year ago, we decided it was time to go all in and do this,” Smith said. “If we can’t be a world-class service provider, then we don’t want to be part of it. We have five things we’re always watching that I call the five Ps: products, programs, procedures, policies and personnel. Those five Ps guide our business decisions. The time was right.”