Claire Murray Goes Door To Door

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 9/6/2004 12:00:00 AM

Osterville, Mass. —

Claire Murray is moving the way of Tupperware and Avon with her recently launched Home Galleries program, comprised of independent consultants nationwide who sell the designer’s broad catalog of goods to friends and neighbors.

“It’s my way of really branching out all over the country,” Murray said.

Murray created the program as a means of extending her brand presence into states where she has limited or no distribution.

Established this spring, the Home Galleries program has independent consultants — or “hostesses” —in 30 states, and “has really taken off” in the Midwest region as well as California, Washington and Wyoming, Murray said.

The independent consultants, who work on commission, are mostly stay-at-home moms, she said, but also include many professionals with flexible schedules, like nurses and teachers, “who are looking to make some extra money on the side.”

Added Murray, “I have some who have already hosted as many as 20 parties to sell my products.”

Murray developed a special catalog for the program to equip her consultants with selling tools. While the catalog emphasizes rugs, Murray’s core product line, the 68-page publication features all of her other wares — including ladies apparel and accessories, bedding, decorative pillows, kitchen textiles, tabletop and some furniture pieces — depicted in color photography vignettes, as well as product shots and outlines of prices and available sizes and colors.

Other new initiatives in the works for Murray include an infant line of goods for babies and toddlers, she said.