| Wednesday, December 13, 2006 |
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Cole is piloting Laurent Leather to new life
By Pete Goode @ 7:43 PM :: 281 Views
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"Captain" Cole and his decorator wife, Donna, bought the company in December 2005 after the death of the original owner, Glenn Lawrence.
Donna Cole, who knew of Laurent Leather from her 10 years as owner of Cole Creations and Studio D in Cornelius, N.C., is now chief designer. Laurent Leather had been closed for about a year before the couple purchased it.
Today, the company has a 40,000-square-foot plant and employs about 50 people, including 24 independent sales representatives. Steve Cole attributes the company's success to the rehiring of its skilled craftspeople, many of whom had been with Laurent more than 18 years.
"I wanted to keep the quality," Cole said, noting his sofas typically retail at about $3,600. "I had contacted about 10 retailers first and that's one of the things that drew me to the buy."
Steven Hutto, former owner of Monroe, N.C., upholstery maker CFD, returned as general manger/sales manager, overseeing the sales reps. Mike Early is production manager.
"I am really enjoying the people," Cole said. "They want to put out the prettiest and the best furniture they can."
Under the new management team, Laurent has streamlined its leather selections, automated its tracking system and implemented a quick-delivery program.
"We have kept the styles that worked, cut back on the leathers we have in stock, and are putting furniture out the door in 28 days," Cole said. "We have a 98% record on our 28-day turnaround."
For this market, the company has added more decorative leathers and about 10 new styles, including a daybed, a daybed/ottoman with bolsters, banquette dining seats and barstools. Leather wall tiles will also be introduced. "It's a decorator look," Cole said. "They are plain leathers with some action."
Comparing his two pursuits, flying and furniture, Cole said both rely on "attention to detail. We always look to that in the Navy and furniture is similar. You have to look at everything."
Although he laments, "My golf game has gone south," that's what happens when you're a father of two (11 and 15) working in the furniture business Monday to Thursday before jetting off to South America Friday through Sunday. He combines jobs when he can, shopping for furniture in Guadalajara, or selling it in San Francisco or New York.
"I've never had a 9-to-5 job in my life," Cole said. "I thought this might be slow but it's not; there's always something going on."
The company shows in Hamilton Square, space 127.
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, 10-17-06
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