Wall décor supplier Classy Living (formerly Classy Art) has a lot of new things set for High Point Market later this month.
Along with unveiling its new name and brand, Classy Living is launching lighting.
“Wall décor has always been our foundation, but lamps allow us to bring new light —literally and figuratively — into our retailers’ assortments,” CEO and President Gabriel Cohen told Home Accents Today. “Lamps felt like the obvious first move: they pair perfectly with wall art and instantly help our retail partners build more cohesive stories with their showrooms. Lighting being the first step in our transformation, much like the butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Think of it like our butterfly logo — we’re stretching our wings into a new category but still carrying forward everything that made Classy Art successful. This is just the opening chapter of Classy Living’s story, and we’re committed to approaching it with the same focus on energy, creativity and sell-through that defined our wall décor success.”
The new lighting options are available in a wide range of materials from metal, art glass and real crystal to poly resin, leather and marble. Cohen noted that some of the lamps are wireless and rechargeable, and many have charging ports. Shades are included and in some styles the bulb is included.
When asked how Classy Living plans to differentiate itself in a crowded lamp market, Cohen said he doesn’t find it to be a crowded market when it comes to the types of values and styles it brings. “We polled our top 10 customers a year ago about what product they wanted to see us in next, or where is there a void, and 9 out of 10 all said lighting. It seems that they were all unhappy with what is currently offered in the marketplace, so we responded.
“The differentiator is based on the brand Classy Living, not necessarily the products. So, the same differentiators that set us apart and led to 5,000% growth in the last 20 years will apply to our lighting as well. Those differentiators are: 99% in stock always, consumers voting on the styles and every unit sold provides a meal to a hungry American child.”
The company’s long-term vision is to become a total home resource. “But like a butterfly, we’re not skipping straight from cocoon to full flight. The emblem in our new branding symbolizes metamorphosis, and like that transformation, we’re taking it one step at a time. We’re approaching it in deliberate phases because we take our reputation as a “best-in-class” supplier very seriously. Before we expand into any new category — be it rugs, accent chairs, or beyond — we want our partners and the marketplace to recognize us as a true leader in the category. That way, every stage of our evolution is grounded in credibility and trust. We’d rather be great in one class than “meh” in many. So, the plan is deliberate: earn credibility, nail the category, then spread our wings a little further,” said Cohen.
Classy Living has built its business serving independents, and it will never lose sight of that, but the company is looking to approach top-100 retailers, mass merchants and more.
“Our independents are treated with the same care, pricing, and attention as any Top 100 retailer. Over time, our growth has allowed us to partner with more and more of the Top 100, while still holding to our promise to the dealers who ‘brought us to the dance.’ We also serve select mass merchants, but those programs are always developed independently of our core catalogs. That way, our furniture retailers can feel fully protected and confident that their assortments remain competitive. The goal is to be big enough to grow but grounded enough not to forget where we started. It’s all about balance — expanding our wings without losing sight of our roots,” said Cohen.
The company will also bring back its traditional market bash. Get Lit will begin at 6 p.m. on October 25. Themed around light, the Get Lit event will include a live band, fire performers, stilt walkers, magicians and aerialists, along with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, costumes and entertainment inspired by the theme of illumination.
The market party will be held at the Classy Living showroom and courtyard at 401 S Hamilton, space 113.
