Capretti Home makes quiet debut

Florida-based Capretti Home made a low-key debut in January with its heirloom quality, high-end line of infant and youth furniture.

The line, which has three collections and about 150 SKUs, is being sold exclusively to independent retailers through private, invitation-only viewings. The company will not exhibit at industry trade shows. Two collections will debut this spring.

Mitchell Schwartz, president of Capretti Home, said the line went from concept to sales floor in eight months and he's sold the line to 42 retailers across the country. He plans to limit distribution to 50 to 55 retailers the first year.

"We were extremely concerned about the industry and what it had to offer the independent retailers," Schwartz said. "I think we have the recipe for what they need. We're partnering with retailers we worked closely with in the past; they're like family."

The imported furniture is available in finishes like rubbed black, caramel, cherry, espresso and rubbed snowdrift and delivery takes 2–8 weeks. Furniture already has hit retail floors and Schwartz said the response has surpassed expectations.

"We developed this line with retailers in mind," Schwartz said. "We took the best and made it even better. We'd sold the line sight unseen to several dealers and they weren't disappointed."

The opening price point for drop side cribs is $699 retail and convertible cribs (including conversion kits) are $899. The cribs carry a "nine-year, three-child warranty."

Schwartz said members of the Capretti Home team have 100 years combined experience in the industry and he sees the company as "filling a void for independent retailers."

Capretti Home enters high-end, infant/youth furntiure market with three complete collections and two more on the way.