PRIDE FAMILY BRANDS’ RECENTLY INTRODUCEDcontemporary collections have exceeded sales expectations and are setting records. Pride, which manufactures outdoor furnishings and accessories that are distributed nationwide through specialty- retail operations, ended 2015 with positive growth—due, in part, to the response to the new luxury outdoor contemporary category.

Rory Rehmert, senior vice president, sales and marketing, says, “The overall reaction to Pride’s five new contemporary collections has been nothing short of remarkable. A very high percentage of our customers added at least one slot of the new con- temporary products. In markets with a fall selling season, the retail activity on the contemporary col- lections already has been outstanding.” Rehmert attributes the greater-than-expected growth within the contemporary segment to the popularity of contemporary looks shown in the indoor markets, with consumers seeking clean and simple lines. Pride’s award-winning product-development team capitalized on the trend with design types and custom-engi- neered finishes.

“Many of our accounts are flooring a new contemporary collection from Pride for the very first time,” Rehmert says. “The new collections will have a very positive effect on 2016 sales for our retailers and for Pride.” Tricia Ingram Gist, owner of Ingram’s Furniture (Florence, Alabama), says, “Nothing is as exciting as Pride’s contemporary. There is more to it, beyond the look; the seat depth is

in the perfect proportion. I am excited to show the new contemporaries that are on the floor.” She is sure that they will be what customers want, she adds. The potential of the contemporary styles was also realized by Matthew Smisson of The Patio Shop (Chattanooga, Tennessee), who notes, “We liked the Live Edge table, and we’re adding contemporary as a new category for us.”

Two of the new contemporary collections are now in Pride’s top 10 collections. “One of the new contemporary collections, Park Place, is already within our top sellers, out of the eight new collections introduced in July and September,” Rehmert says.