Country Road kids offerings born to grow
By Joan Gunin -- Kids Today, 10/1/2005
Tupelo, Miss.— Rocking chair specialist Country Road's children's line was born two years ago with the birth of Vice President Tina Wilburn's grandchild.
Madison, now a sprightly 2½-year-old blonde who is partial to pink cowboy boots, was the inspiration for the line.
The collection was named Lil' Dumplin' because "all my daughter — Madison's mother, Lacee Wilburn Hall — craved during her pregnancy was dumplings!"
The kids' program, created one season after Country Road was established in 2002, follows the same production process. The carved solid oak frames are imported from China and assembled at Country Road's wholesale distribution facility here, using quality decorative leathers. The "lil' " rockers retail from $199 to $249.
The children's offerings are exact replicas of the adult rockers, including leather and hair-on-hide covers. "We don't use vinyl," Wilburn said.
For a small upcharge, the rockers can be personalized with a name, or flaunt such specialty carvings as three pigs, three bears or other nursery themes.
Country Road, a mainstay at the Tupelo Furniture Market, brought the line to the Las Vegas market this summer, where it was warmly received. "There were lots of people there who owned children's specialty stores," Wilburn said.
The children's line, which also offers a frame table with matching chairs, continues to expand. "We have some really neat things on the drawing board for next market, including high chairs," she said.
