Romanian furniture makers set first High Point showing
Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, October 6, 2003
High Point — The Romanian Furniture Project, a consortium of eight Romanian manufacturers of mostly wood furniture, with some leather upholstery, will exhibit for the first time in High Point at the October market.
The group will have a space on the fourth floor of the Radio Building at 164 S. Main St.
The manufacturers will show an assortment of dining room, bedroom, accent, occasional, ready-to-assemble and outdoor furniture, and leather chairs.
Alexandru Stroe, a representative of the Romanian Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and an affiliate of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be in attendance.
Among the exhibitors is Transilvania Wood Products, which will bring three dining chairs, two barstools, a secretary desk, a cupboard, a baby bed, a bookcase and a spruce wood bedroom with double bed, nightstand, seven- and nine-drawer chests, and a two-drawer, two-door dresser.
Simex will offer the Royal dining room with cupboard and three-door cabinet, and the Michelle dining room, featuring a two-door cabinet. The Michelle table retails for $499, the chair for $99.
Other companies showing include Elbac, which will exhibit two leather armchairs and a desk in oak; Dumbrava, with two bars with coordinating stools, retailing for $899 with stools; Excomob, a cupboard; Adisan, the Kendall table and Bedford armchair, and outdoor furniture in robinia, a wood similar to teak; Mobam, a glass-door dining cabinet; and Modul Design, a PC desk.
The Romanians are counting on several issues to help penetrate the competitive U.S. market for imports: lower ocean freight costs than from Asia; high quality; and the encouragement and protection of custom designs.
Production lead times for products to be shown in High Point average 30 to 45 days. Most of the items are finished, but some are available unfinished.
