Hardwood shines in the high-end market

HomeCategoriesHardwood shines in the high-end market
Adam Ward, senior product director, laminate and wood, Mohawk, previewed the new BelleLuxe collection from Karastan.

Las Vegas—With so much of the focus in hardwood flooring today trained on hybrids and entry-level products, some suppliers are countering by placing a greater emphasis on the upper-mid to high end of the market. This strategy was readily evident within the booths at some of the upscale brands featured at Surfaces last month.

Case in point was the newly re-imagined Mohawk space, which showcased the first-ever Karastan hardwood flooring rollout, BelleLuxe. “When we looked at launching Karastan into hard surface, we really wanted to represent what the brand stood for, which is for the discerning customer at the premium end of the market,” said Adam Ward, senior product director, laminate and wood, Mohawk. “When retailers step into the booth, they see the brand presence, which really showcases what the brand is all about.”

BelleLuxe debuted in four collections that showcase the beauty of the product, starting with Worthington Herringbone, available in a 5 x 24 format in four colors. There’s also a coordinating plank product, Worthington Oak. “Customers can do a herringbone pattern in the foyer and a plank pattern across the rest of the house with the same coloration,” Ward explained.

Next up is the Ashmore collection, a 9-inch-wide product inspired by French wine makers. Comprising seven SKUs—six natural and one stained—the color palette features trendy washed naturals and whites and earth-toned grays. Also available is a 71⁄2 inch-wide maple offering, Villa Pointe, regarded for its compact grain pattern. It features hand-detailed wirebrushing for a more rustic look. Rounding out BelleLuxe is the Chevreaux oak collection, a 10½-inch-wide plank that Ward described as “majestic.” All SKUs are supported by an accessories program featuring full stair treads and vents.

All this won’t come cheap, though. “This line is positioned as a higher end price point—a premium upgrade in keeping with what Karastan stands for as a brand,” Ward stated. MSRP could exceed $12-$14 per square foot, he noted.

The spotlight on high-end hardwood also shined brightly across the hall at the The Dixie Group booth. There, Jamann Stepp, the company’s vice president of hard surfaces, touted the attributes of the Fabrica brand. Following a successful launch in 2018, the line has been expanded to meet growing consumer demand. The line now includes five hickories and four new white oaks in a 9½-inch-wide platform in thicknesses ranging from 5⁄8 to 9⁄16 of an inch. Top layer options include a 3mm, 3.5mm or 4mm live-sawn face.

“We’re sourcing out of Canada, Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S., depending on the profile,” Stepp explained. “For example, the 9½-inch-wide Chateau collection is coming out of Thailand, but the 7-inch-wide x ½-inch French oak product is sourced from Portugal. Hickory is coming out of the U.S., maple (Canada) and the opening price point white oak comes out of Vietnam. We really feel like we have the wood program rounded out, using a good/better/best analogy. And our ‘good’ starts at the middle point. It fits the Fabrica mold, which is all about design and taste.”

In terms of pricing, products range from $6.99 up to $14 per square foot for “stock” items, depending on the width and construction of the product. The Fabrica brand also features some custom-handscraped products that retail anywhere from $18–$20 per square foot.

Despite the growing popularity of wood look-alike products that sell for much less than higher end offerings, upscale brands are not discouraged. “There’s definitely an opportunity for products that retail at the upper end of the market,” Stepp said. “Home centers were successful for a long time selling 3⁄8-inch or ½-inch products with 1.2mm or 1.5mm rotary-peeled faces. But when the rigid core category came along that changed everything. However, where the real wood category has a great future is in that mid price range to the higher end. Even though this rigid core craze is going on year No. 7 now, real wood is always going to be desirable and add value to the home.”

Must Read

Southwind names Jim Mahaffey divisional VP

Dalton, Ga.—Jim Mahaffey has been chosen to be the divisional vice president for Southwind's Northeast region of the sales team. Mahaffey joins Southwind after...

Aladdin Commercial unveils new Main Street collections

Calhoun, Ga.—Aladdin Commercial has unveiled new and refreshed Main Street collections designed to complement every setting with a mix of fresh style and long-lasting...

Coverings 2024 and Earth Day activities

Atlanta—Coverings, North America’s largest and preeminent international tile and stone exhibition and conference, has released a curated selection of sustainability-centric show activities to commemorate...

Cali launches new Mavericks laminate collection

San Diego, Calif.—Cali has introduced Laminate Mavericks. Named after the Northern California surf spot known for its massive waves, this new NALFA-certified collection offers...

Natural Stone Institute Awards Program calls for entries

Oberlin, Ohio—The entry period for the 2024 Natural Stone Institute Award Program is now open. The association is calling for entries for the Pinnacle...

Wood: Opportunities abound at the high end

In the current inflationary environment—although there are signs that it seems to be cooling—one might assume that subsegments such as the ultra-high-end hardwood flooring...

As seen in

Feb. 24, 2020

DOWNLOAD
Some text some message..
X