Factory views wide-ranging on Toronto June cancellation
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, April 14, 2002
TORONTO — With some exceptions, Canadian upholstery producers are unhappy with the decision to cancel the June market here, and some will participate in the ad hoc mini-market being organized. Case goods makers generally support the cancellation, while bedding suppliers don't believe it will have a significant impact on their business.
Many still believe the June show could have become a second national market, but acknowledged that if the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn. couldn't get adequate support, they shouldn't be faulted for not pressing on.
The QFMA said at least a dozen furniture factories, including a number of industry heavyweights, that took temporary space at the 2001 summer market hadn't signed on for 2002.
"I thought the June show was going to become something special," said Ron Dennis, vice president of marketing for bedding major Simmons Canada. "But if it's not going to be meaningful, we can't expect the QFMA to put on a show. From Simmons Canada's point of view, we can certainly live without it. Our programs for the year are set and running."
"We would have preferred that the June show go forward," said Laine Reynolds, vice president of sales and marketing for fabric upholstery maker Superstyle Furniture of Toronto. "We will support a mini-show whether it's held in conjunction with the gift show (in August) or at some other time."
"I'm very disappointed," said Gerry Themens, director of sales and marketing for motion upholstery producer Berkline Canada. "We're doing ourselves a huge disservice…. While I appreciate the QFMA's dilemma, if we go this route, the idea of having a second national show will never be resurrected," and that would be a step backward.
But Sheldon Lubin, president of motion specialist El Ran, said he supports the cancellation. "It's redundant to have a June show," he said. "By then, everything is done for the year. Retailers start their buying in January and are finished by April market in High Point."
"We never supported the June show," said Rob McGuffin, vice president of sales for Choico/Universal Canada, a case goods manufacturer and importer. "It's not really a show for the majors. It's really for the local guys…. For us, the first year was a disaster and the second was just as big a disaster."
Manufacturers who show in High Point generally felt the June show was redundant since they see the overwhelming majority of their key Canadian accounts in April. The programs are set and orders written then, not some six weeks later in Toronto.
John Anderlum, vice president of sales and marketing for curio specialist Buhler Furniture, said the June show wasn't a big factor in Buhler's marketing plan.
David Hanna, vice president of sales and marketing for Korson Furniture, a maker and importer of case goods and occasional, said, "It won't make that much difference to us. We're going to be open for the (August) gift show."
Gary Fleischauer, Canadian sales manager for solid-wood bedroom resource Durham Furniture, said Durham had a major introduction planned for June. "But right now, we're booked so far out that when the dealers came to see us at the June show, they wouldn't have written orders anyway," he said.
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