OFMA endorses, won't promote, June mini-mart
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, March 31, 2002
Toronto — The Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. has endorsed an effort to put together an ad hoc mini-market here June 1-3, but won't be involved in planning or promoting it.
"We're supporting it but not in the sense that we're actually going to do something," said Gerry Cockerill, OFMA president. "Manufacturers are going to have to send out their own invitations and promote their own activities."
Citing a lack of industry support, the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn. said two weeks ago it was canceling the June 1-3 Toronto market.
Cockerill, also director of export sales and marketing for case goods producer T&J Furniture, said the QFMA was right to cancel the show. "If I had been in their position, I would have done the same thing," he said.
The mini-market, or "manufacturers' open house," is being spearheaded by Gerry Modjeski, executive vice president of stationary fabric maker Sklar-Peppler.
Several factories with permanent showrooms in and around the Toronto International Center of Commerce have indicated they'll be open the June 1-3 weekend, including Superstyle Furniture, Lane Home Furnishings, Therapedic Toronto/Crown Design, Berkline Canada and Korson Furniture.
Events set for the weekend will go on, including the franchise meeting of Leon's Furniture and the mid-year merchandising meetings of Furniture Plus and Mattress World, both banners of major buying group Cantrex. Also, OFMA's first Canadian Retailer of the Year award will be presented to Tom Leon on Friday evening, May 31.
Cockerill said OFMA had neither the time nor resources to plan and promote even a small-scale market on short notice, but recognized that a summer show is important to upholstery manufacturers. Many retailers and sales representatives already had made arrangements to come to Toronto that weekend, he said.
Many manufacturers favored delaying the mini-market until August to coincide with the trade show of the Canadian Gift and Tableware Assn., Cockerill said. But the OFMA board believed that with so many events already set for the June weekend, it was better to endorse the informal mini-market.
OFMA will decide later whether to bring back the August show, which it organized until the QFMA launched the June show in 2000.
Cantrex also will have meetings for other members the June 1-3 weekend. Steve Braniff, banner manager for Furniture Plus, said the group's Ontario, Western and Atlantic Canada division has invited all 450 members to Toronto that weekend. Traditionally, Cantrex's Quebec division meets at the Salon du Meuble de Québec in September, held in Quebec City.
Braniff was disappointed the market had been canceled. "June is definitely the best time for our members and we always hold our meetings around the show," he said. "When else are you going to look at new product for the fall? August is too late."
Bill Speer, furniture merchandising manager for Mega Group, said the show's cancellation shouldn't affect his members significantly. "It will make things a little more challenging for our members in Atlantic Canada, but I don't see it affecting a lot of other people," he said.
Mega's Countrywide banner has shopped the Toronto summer market, and Speer expects that will shift to the Calgary, Alberta, show.
The organizers of Marketplace Showplace in Calgary and the Québec City show don't believe they'll pick up a significant number of new exhibitors with the demise of Toronto.
"We really don't expect it to have an effect this year," said Terry Clark, chairman of Furniture West, which organizes Market Showplace, usually held in June but moved to August this year. Clark did note a number of potential Calgary exhibitors hadn't shown there before because the Toronto and Calgary shows were only two weeks apart.
Francine Beaudin, manager of the Québec City show, said she's had inquiries from Toronto exhibitors, but space is almost gone and she doesn't anticipate being able to accommodate many new exhibitors.
-
People On The Move
Feb 23, 2012 -
Hooker creates two teams in case goods division
Feb 22, 2012 -
Masse Leaving Cantrex
Dec 15, 2010 -
Alain Masse to step down as Cantrex president
Dec 6, 2010
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
