ITMA: More than Showtime's sponsor
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, January 4, 2004
HIGH POINT — HIGH POINT — It's not easy to separate one of the largest home furnishings textiles shows in the world from the group that organizes it.
After all, much of the International Textile Market Assn.'s work revolves around the semiannual Showtime trade shows in High Point. Held in January and July, Showtime showcases the latest in home furnishings fabrics and materials, including leather.
The success of the show, which is going on this week, has helped boost membership from 192 in 1998 to 250 today, said ITMA Executive Director Catherine Morsell. It also has helped spur interest in related events such as the ITMA Roundtable, a discussion of industry issues held the Sunday night before Showtime officially starts.
"During the 13 years ITMA has been in existence, Showtime has grown from a regional show oriented toward the furniture trade to a market that reaches all trades of the home furnishings industry across the United States," said ITMA President Andrew Purcell.
"I believe Showtime's growth over the past five years can be attributed to a real need for such a market, not only in the United States but to serve a growing global marketplace," he said. "There is a need for producers to reach the global buyers. Being a member of ITMA offers companies a chance to take part in Showtime and be recognized as a producer for a worldwide industry."
But Showtime is just one aspect of ITMA. Formed in 1990, the association also has a design awards program that honors design students and a scholar program that recognizes a rising college senior entering the textile industry.
Through its educational foundation, it also sponsors interns that gain valuable experience by working for member companies. In addition to helping the companies pay their salary, ITMA helps participating students find housing.
Through its membership directory, the group aims to keep its members and business partners in touch with one another.
Earlier this year, it also produced a national sales representative directory to help buyers contact a rep in their territory. Previously, industry officials relied on rep directories published separately by region.
"The new reps directory, coupled with our member directory, is a powerful bit of information," Morsell said. "It's a separate publication, but it's included in the membership package."
The first complete reps directory was published in time for the July 2003 show, but Morsell described it as a work in progress that needs to be updated during the year.
A key ITMA task is to help disseminate information at a time when many domestic textile producers are facing intense price competition from importers.
For instance, the ITMA Roundtable, launched in January 2003, aims to educate members and thereby increase their global competitiveness. In addition to discussions on international trade, the forum has addressed issues such as copyright infringement, a subject of keen interest given the importance of protecting designs.
ITMA has contracted with New York attorney Richard S. Taffet, who appeared at Showtime initially this past July to help answer questions on design piracy. Members can retain his services themselves if they are having a problem.
Given the continuing struggles in the industry, Morsell said the association will do whatever it can to help provide information and resources, and to draw new talent into the industry through its education foundation and scholarship programs.
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