Paris furniture show reorganizing for Jan. 2002 run
By Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, October 14, 2001
PARIS — PARIS — To better accommodate its 50,000 buyers, organizers of the Salon du Meuble here have completely redrawn its layout.
The reorganization, to be unveiled at the 2002 show in January, will aggregate promotionally priced and midpriced goods in roughly one half of the show, and higher-end, more niche-oriented furniture and accessories in the other half.
Mass-merchant buyers, distributors and large chains will be able to concentrate their time in the Grands Marches halls, about 1 million square feet devoted to furniture for broad distribution.
High-end furniture, displayed mostly by lifestyle and environment, will be integrated in the show's new Expressions area, covering about 800,000 square feet. Buyers from specialty stores, boutiques, concept stores and specifiers will likely concentrate their time in these halls.
"We are doing as much as we can to make the show as efficient and as qualitative for the buyer as possible," said Christophe Piquee, the show's U.S. representative. "With this arrangement, the big, general furniture retailers will be able to quickly find what they want."
High-end specialists at the market typically present furniture in fully accessorized room vignettes, even entire homes in some cases. That tradition will continue, according to Piquee, who said the show has a team of architects and designers on hand to help with design and buildouts.
"Lifestyle environments are the best selling environments," he said, "and that will continue to be a strength of the show."
Also on tap for the 2002 show is a celebration and commemoration of French 1930s styles in a cruise ship-themed section called French Line. The setting, which will replicate features of the famous French liner Normandie, will pull together furniture, tableware, lighting, textiles and floor coverings that pay tribute to the mid-'30s.
On the "boat" decking, alleys and periphery will be furniture from, among others, Charlotte Alix, Dominique, Michel Dufet, Paul Follot, Andre Groult and Jean Pascaud. Jean-Claude Maugirard is coordinating the display.
The Salon, slated for Jan. 10-14 next year, is France's largest furniture fair and one of Europe's biggest. The roughly 1,500 exhibitors participating report doing between 12% and 15% of their annual sales at the show.
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