Meet&CoATLANTA — O.W. Lee is expanding beyond the materials that have long defined its outdoor furniture assortment, introducing poly lumber for the first time while maintaining the design and manufacturing characteristics associated with the nearly 80-year-old brand.
The Texas-based manufacturer debuted its Harbour collection at the July Casual Market Atlanta, combining poly lumber and aluminum in a mixed-material design. Company representatives said the collection received positive feedback from buyers during the market.
Source: https://www.furnituretoday.com/
A new direction
“Our new Harbour collection has been very well-received. This is our first foray into using poly lumber, and it‘s a new mixed-material direction for us,”said Leisa Rogers McCollister, vice president of marketing.“We‘re combining poly lumber and aluminum. We‘re able to source both materials here because we are all American-made.”
For specialty retailers — the main bread-and-butter customer, the ability to offer shoppers something they cannot find everywhere remains an important differentiator. That same flexibility also appeals to designers seeking finishes and fabrics tailored to the needs of individual projects.
“We‘re made to order, so we have 13 finishes that can go on any of our frames and 130 stock fabrics that can go on any of our cushions,”McCollister explained.“You really can make something that is unique to you. Designers love that.”
Even as Harbour introduces a new material to the assortment, O.W. Lee continues to lean on the metalworking and comfort stories that have long defined the company.
Color and Comfort Shape New Product Stories
Material expansion was not the only change on display in O.W. Lee’s showroom. The company also highlighted bolder finishes and continued to emphasize comfort in its outdoor furniture.
McCollister said buyers are showing more interest in color, suggesting that outdoor furniture does not always need to remain within traditional neutral palettes. Comfort is another major consideration as outdoor spaces increasingly accommodate everyday living and entertaining.
“I think people are wanting to take a few more risks with color,” she said. “They’re also looking for comfort. That’s what we’re hearing people want right now.”
The Tetra collection, shown in a rich blue finish, illustrated the company’s approach to introducing stronger colors without making them overly bright.
“It turned out really well. I think it’s a really nice blue because it’s not too bright, but it’s still rich,” McCollister said.
