HOM acquires Seasonal Concepts

Casual Living Industry News

By Clint Engel, Furniture/Today Retail Editor -- Casual Living, 3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

HOM Furniture has purchased the assets of outdoor home furnishings retailer Seasonal Concepts in Minneapolis, the Top 100 chain announced. HOM said it will open Seasonal Concepts Galleries in its six Twin Cities area HOM Furniture showrooms, as well as in the seven HOM stores outside of the metro area.

It's the second retail furniture acquisition in recent months for HOM, which acquired the upscale Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings of Edina, Minn., in August. The purchase price and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“When you have the opportunity to buy a brand of this quality, reputation and prestige, why would you pass it up?” HOM President and CEO Rod Johansen said. “We believe Seasonal Concepts will enhance and grow our business as the area's undisputed leader in home furnishings. We look forward to maintaining the longstanding tradition of defining Seasonal Concepts' brand as 'the' outdoor furnishings and design resource in the upper Midwest.”

New Seasonal Concepts Galleries opening March 15 within the HOM showrooms will carry a new and expanded 2009 patio furniture line, “along with offering the professional knowledge and assistance and convenient services consumers have come to expect from HOM Furniture,” the company said.

HOM has 13 stores in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

In October 2007, Marc Acord and a business partner had joined with other investors to buy three Seasonal Concepts stores located in Kansas City, Tulsa and St. Louis. Other existing Seasonal Concepts retail locations have been closed since the original owners filed for bankruptcy in December 2007.

HOM said it will retain many of the existing key Seasonal Concepts design and buying staff, which “will ensure seamless transition as well as long-term success.”

Seasonal Concepts' average price points generally are higher than HOM's, although the two retailers had some overlap at middle prices with domestic vendors such as Homecrest Outdoor Living, Woodard and Winston, said Steve Shedivy, HOM director of marketing.

Seasonal also has carried a larger offering in the wicker and rattan, while HOM offered outdoor and patio items that competed more with the big box retailers. Other Seasonal lines include Tropitone, Brown Jordan International & Sons, Erwin, LaneVenture and Hanamint.