Stork Craft acquires Ragazzi/Bambino names

Vancouver-based Stork Craft has acquired the brand names of Ragazzi and Bambino Reale.

As reported in our June 2006 issue, D&F Furniture/Les Meubles D&F, manufacturer of Ragazzi, ceased domestic production in May. The 34-year-old company was one of the largest youth furniture manufacturers of high-end furniture and a top vendor for many independent retailers.

"We acquired the trademarks of the companies," said Jim Moore, president and CEO of Stork Craft. "We have the full cooperation of the previous owner, Mr. Dinucci, who's not involved in the ownership but will be behind the scenes helping us in quality control."

Stork Craft will work closely with Armando Dinucci (former president of Ragazzi) and select members of his staff to ensure Stork Craft maintains the integrity of the Ragazzi name and product.

"I am very pleased that a large company such as Stork Craft has taken over the brands," Dinucci said. "They have the off-shore manufacturing expertise to produce a high-quality product for the best price; they also have very deep pockets allowing them to carry substantial inventory, develop manufacturing capacity and buy raw materials in volume internationally. The Ragazzi and Bambino retailers will be very impressed with this company and its management."

Moore said it's becoming increasingly difficult to manufacture product in North America but Stork Craft's resources will enable it to deliver the same quality product retailers and consumers expect from Ragazzi.

"Because of our size and scope, we can make the same high-quality product at lower prices," Moore said.

Stork Craft has set up a separate building at its Shanghai plant devoted to the high-end line with more than 250,000 square feet and 500 employees.

Moore and his partner also have invested about $10 million in West and East coast warehouses, which will mean delivery time moves from the typical four to six weeks to seven-10 days.

Stork Craft also has named Dan Ward the national sales and marketing manager, U.S. for Ragazzi/Bambino. Ward most recently was vice president of sales/marketing for Little Castle and before that he held the same position with Shermag.

"We've gone through exponential growth," Moore said. "We were looking at acquiring another company and we were watching Ragazzi. It just made sense for us to acquire them rather than building a high-end line from the ground up. It's a proven name and the transition has been seamless."

Stork Craft is a 60-year-old private company and one of the largest suppliers of infant and juvenile furniture in the world, focusing on both the United States and Canadian markets. It manufactures in Canada, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Taiwan and Vietnam with distribution in Seattle, New Jersey and Vancouver. Currently Stork Craft supplies nearly all large retailers in North America with opening price point to mid-priced products.

The addition of the Ragazzi/Bambino lines completes the mid-to-high market segment. Ragazzi will remain a brand that is distributed only to the best independent dealers in North America.

Stork Craft will exhibit the new Ragazzi line this month at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas in booth #3612.