Modus offers big selection of new product at Las Vegas Market

"We have spent the last 18 months getting ready to come out of this when things pick back up," said Jon Richey, the company's operations manager. "This market, I feel like things are going to come together. Retailers are getting to a point where business is stabilizing and they are willing to try new things."

The bedrooms include two new Angelo Home sets designed with HGTV designer Angelo Surmelis. They feature Marlowe, a group with a classic Hollywood inspired upholstered shelter bed with solid wood legs and rails that retails at $499. Accompanying cases have chocolate brown bases and black tops.

The other Angelo Home group is Chicago, a clean-lined urban contemporary wood bedroom with a panel bed and cases with gun metal accents and metal legs. A four piece set retails at $1,499.

Five new standalone upholstered beds in wing, shelter and panel styles also will be shown in a variety of fabric, leather and polyurethane options. They will retail from $299 to $599, or from $699 to $899 for storage versions.

"These are clean-lined contemporary looks with unique design features," said Richey. "We take the classic contemporary look and add a unique twist to it. They are a natural extension to our line and can mix with different groups."

The five new dining sets are smaller-scale, urban contemporary casual sets ranging from a 48-inch round leg table and four chairs retailing at $499, to 60-inch round table and chair set with a wine storage base, at $999.

The new Parsons chair program has 15 styles ranging from $59 to $149. These upholstered chairs come in six pastel color fabrics and six metallic fabrics. As with the upholstered beds, they can mix and match with different groups.

Richey and Jon Lannertone, the company's national sales manager, said the urban contemporary styles give Modus a niche that appeals to young consumers, and to those of any age seeking sets that would fit well in second bedrooms.

Lannertone added that the company has expanded well beyond its initial core group of Los Angeles-based retailers to become more national in scope. He believes the new product mix will help it gain market share.

Richey said president and owner of Modus, Oliver Wong, invested about $1 million in the company's Indonesian factory in late 2008. Since then, Modus has honed its production capabilities, boosting its capacity by about 50% to nearly 200 containers per month. It also has doubled its inventory in its Fontana, Calif., warehouse and in the past two months has reduced its lead times from 60 days to 30 days.