Anti-France mood affects some vendors
By Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, April 13, 2003
High Point — Political tension between France and the United States led to some uncomfortable scenes at market.
Some resources with names, products and identities linked to France reported dramatically lower traffic, incidents of mild protest and "a feeling in the air" that French goods were not welcome.
"You can feel it, yes," said Gill Geisler, chief executive at Dallas-based House of France, where walk-in traffic was very light. "There is a reluctance on the part of the public to come in."
Geisler described a scene in which a couple walked by the showroom, one person showing interest until the other said, "No, we're against France."
"To already have a weak market because of the economy and the war, then to be off limits for some narrow-minded buyers?" Geisler said. "We're all American citizens here."
At Forege, traffic was off 70%, said Venetia Belleton, sales and marketing director. Those who did come in were sensitive to the French origins of Forege's mostly soft contemporary case goods.
"They come into the space and pick up a brochure," Belleton said. "They ask, 'Where is it made?' I answer, 'Europe.' They say, 'Where in Europe?' I say, 'France.' They put (the brochure) back down and walk away. There is a lot of ignorance out there."
Not all French-focused lines suffered. Los Angeles-based French Heritage reported no incidents of animosity. Market traffic was down, but President Jacques Wayser attributed that to the war and to a bad economy.
"We're very blessed to have the dealers we have, who understand that this (anti-French fervor) will be very short-lived," Wayser said.
French Heritage did tweak its marketing materials before market, however, replacing references to France with "Old World," among other changes in verbiage.
It also was business as usual for ready-to-assemble specialist Gautier, where dealers like Rooms To Go and El Dorado had no reactions to its French heritage.
"There are a few stupid people out there," said Jose Gosselin, chief executive of Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Gautier USA, "but we have seen no effect."
At French Market Collection, the owners wanted to adorn the showroom with a large banner reading "Freedom," but International Home Furnishings Center management wouldn't allow it.
"Other than that, (anti-French sentiment) hasn't been an issue," said Peggy Richardson, owner of the Covington, La.-based furniture and home accents company.
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