Ethan Allen Redecorates E-Commerce Presence

High-end brick-and-mortar furniture retailer Ethan Allen Interiors (NYSE: ETH) is doing some redecorating of its own. Today, Ethan Allen announced that it plans to start selling furniture and accessories on its Web site in late September. The company is undergoing an online makeover, with its Web site currently being redesigned.

"We have been watching developments on the Web very carefully and feel that now is the time for us to launch a major initiative," said Farooq Kathwari, chairman and CEO of Ethan Allen Inc. "As a vertically integrated company with a dedicated distribution base of exclusive retailers, Ethan Allen is in a unique position to capitalize on the marketing opportunities on the Web."

Ethan Allen will leverage its retail distribution structure of more than 100 local service centers to deliver major items to online customers. Smaller items like lamps will be shipped directly to customers.

Store Will Feature More Than 5,000 Products

The redesigned website will offer more than 5,000 products, including Ethan Allen's complete line of wood furniture and a selection of sofas, chairs, lamps, rugs, mirrors and wood accents. Online sales promotions will correspond with Ethan Allen's eight seasonal sales . Ethan Allen's new EA Kids collection will also be featured on the Web site.

The Web site also plans to offer an interactive feature that will allow customers to e-mail decorating questions to Ethan Allen's design professionals. The redesigned site will ofer a link to Ethan Allen's national network of more than 4,000 retail professionals, including 2,500 designers.

"With our redesigned site, we will have the ability to connect our online consumers with designers in their community to help them on their specific decorating projects," Kathwari said.

About Ethan Allen

Ethan Allen sells home furnishings through a network of more than 300 stores, 72 of which are owned by the company. The company manufactures its own furniture, with 21 manufacturing facilities and three saw mills in the United States.

In addition to its U.S. stores, Ethan Allen has stores in Brazil, Bangladesh, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, the Phillippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.