Carini era starts at SFM
Mart's new GM takes on broader role
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, January 26, 2004
SAN FRANCISCO — This week, Roseann Carini will attend the San Francisco furniture market for the 27th time as a San Francisco Mart employee, but it won't be anything like the first 26.
This time, she'll be the leader of the pack — the Mart's general manager — at a time when the venerable Mart buildings are undergoing considerable physical changes and the market itself is facing an unprecedented competitive challenge.
But she's excited about her new role, even though it puts her in the spotlight like never before.
"When I was leasing manager, my job was easier once market started, but that won't be the case anymore," she quipped. "I have a lot more on my plate."
Carini, who was promoted to general manager in October after SFM President Michael Gennet left to become president of upholstery producer Lazar Inds., joined the Mart's leasing department in 1991. Prior to that, she was an upholstery buyer for California furniture retailer Breuners, and she believes her background gives her insight into the needs of exhibitors and buyers.
"I've seen the market from both sides," she said. "I'm sure that's going to help me a lot."
But she has had little time for reflection since taking the new post. She has been busy dealing with a number of major issues, including the building renovations, the change of this month's market dates to avoid conflicting with the Super Bowl, and the competitive threat from the proposed World Market Center complex in Las Vegas.
Carini said she is particularly excited about the progress of the renovations. For the first time in at least five years, there won't be any scaffolding blocking the view of the art deco façade of the historic Mart 1 building.
"It's just amazing how much better it looks. The change is really dramatic," she said.
The scaffolding came down after workers finished replacing the last of more than 800 windows. The new aluminum windows closely resemble the steel ones they replaced, but unlike the originals, the new ones can be opened from the inside.
Carini said the showroom buildings are in their best shape in years, thanks to new roofs, new carpet, paint and lighting in hallways, and remodeled restrooms on floors 3 through 9. A new sound system has been installed in the Mart Exchange ballroom, tables and chairs have been added to the Mart 1 lobby, and the lobby leading to the parking garage elevator has been renovated. Carini said tenants and buyers have responded positively to the renovations.
They also appear to have embraced the Wednesday-through-Saturday format implemented for this month's market. Market organizers made the one-time switch from the traditional Friday through Monday format so the market wouldn't be in session on Super Bowl Sunday, but Carini said the response has been so enthusiastic that the change could become permanent.
"We're seriously considering that," she said. "We will be surveying people after the market is over to get their feedback."
No date change would take effect until 2005, which means the July 2004 show will still begin on Friday, July 16 and run through Monday, July 19.
The year 2005 is also significant because developers of the proposed World Market Center in Las Vegas have said their first furniture market will be held in July of that year.
Las Vegas market organizers have made no secret of their desire to replace San Francisco as the dominant West Coast market, but Carini said she and her staff don't spend a lot of time worrying about that market's next move. San Francisco market organizers, she said, are better off giving their best efforts to meet the needs of exhibitors and buyers.
"Yes, it's a topic of conversation, but I've seen no reluctance from tenants when their leases come up for renewal," she said. "We haven't had any problems filling the buildings."
