Evening star., 1936-08-22
FURNITURE MART
FEATURE EXPANDS
Major Appliance Section Ac.
claimed Greatest Showing
of Kind.
srec,al Dispatch to The Star.

orecial Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, August 22.-Acclaimed
the greatest showing Of its kind ever
assembled, the major appliance sec
ton Of the American Furniture Mart.
which made its debut on the mart's
nth floor at the recent Summer mar
ket. Is not only destined to continue,
but will be substantially increased in
size prior to the next January mar
ket, Frank S. Whiting, mart vice
president, announced this week.
Present plans call for the construc-
ton Of another main east-and-west
corridor through the northwest quar-
ter Of the floor, similar in design to
the corridor built last Spring bisecting
the southwest quarter. New display
spaces smaller than the typical mart
space will thus be created and
oil are to be devoted to the display
of appliances and kitchen furniture
and equipment. The finished ap-
pliance section will be the largest
grouping Of displays Of this kind
anywhere in the world, Mr.. Whiting
pointed out.
First Unit Sell0ut.
The first unit of the concentrated
division. opened for the Summer mar
ket. was sold out before the show
opened. with a large waiting list al
real established.
The growth of this section, accord
ing to Mr. Whiting, is due to several
factors. In the past few years major
appliances have taken rapid strides
forward. Department and home fur
nishing stores throughout the country
have enlarged their appliance sections
TO accommodate the lengthening lines
of new appliances offered. Consumer
interest in new stoves, comparable to
the Refrigerator rush." has accelerated
that industry; drastic new improve
ments in refrigerators, electric wash
ers, mangles and all types of circulat-
ing and radiating heating and cooking
units have been placed on the market
to meet the growing demand. Sinks
and cabinets of all descriptions have
taken their place in the ensemble
kitchen" and kitchen furniture has
appeared in new styles that contribute
materially to greater beauty and util-
1ty in the housewives workshop"
Organized This Year.
To keep pace with this growing mar
ket the American Furniture Mart or
ganized the major appliance division
early this year, and from the enthusi-
astic approval of the large number
Of buyers attending its premiere the
combination of related housefurnish-
ing items in a concentrated area is
Q popular move, for it assists them in
attending to their buying in an or
derly, easy manner-shortens their
work considerably and allows them to
spend more time in constructive buy
ing-learning more about the salient
points Of the new items in which they
are interested.
To further facilitate their efforts
and accommodate the throng of buy
ers attending the new division a spe-
cial cafeteria was built, and its popu-
larity proved enormous during the
market weeks.
1.-THE January stock. the major mar
ket for home appliance buying, will
find the enlarged sections practically
twice its present SIZE" said Mr.. Whit
ing, "for not only the parent lines, but
all kindred products pertaining to the
housefurnishing division, will take
their place beside their sister products.
We look to q fine market, and if the
present trend continues the January
market will undoubtedly be the largest
home appliance market, both in size
and volume, Of any market In the in
dustry's history.