An Open Letter to the Furniture Industry: The show must go on
By Kevin Castellani, Group Publisher, Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief, Joseph F. Carroll Publisher -- Furniture Today, September 30, 2001
Since Sept. 11, this industry, virtually with one voice, has been asking itself a critical question: "Where do we go from here?"
Furniture/Today believes the answer should be clearly audible and predicated on reason and sound business judgments, not on emotion.
Based on those criteria, we believe there can be only one answer: "We go forward, and we go forward immediately."
This is not the time to sit back and see what happens. This is the perfect time to go out and make something good happen. And the best environment for those dynamics to come into play, as it has been since 1909, is at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point.
At this month's market, set for Oct. 18-25, some 2,700 manufacturers in 175 buildings will show buyers from 110 countries the latest in home furnishing products and accessories. Tens of thousands of participants will utilize the show's almost 10 million square feet, a venue bigger than the combined space of other major home furnishings markets such as Cologne, Tokyo, Milan and Guadalajara.
Is it likely there will be some inconveniences associated with coming to market? Probably so. Might attendance be off? Most likely. But is there a bigger or more comprehensive venue to exchange ideas or buy and sell product? Certainly not.
With retail inventory levels ready for replenishment and manufacturers eager to help fill the pipelines with new product, this October's market has the potential to give new meaning to the win-win proposition.
The buying decisions made at this market will impact bottom lines in 2002 for many industry players. A number of analysts are calling for economic recovery next year. We can't sell from empty carts; we must be ready.
For close to a century, the market has survived war, rumors of war, depressions, recessions and more. It will survive this.
We all need to be at market. It is time to move forward. Let reason, not fear, guide us.
Kevin Castellani, Group Publisher
Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief
Joseph F. Carroll, Publisher
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