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Creativity sparks sales

By Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, April 27, 2003

Cernobbio, Italy — The business of producing fabrics for upholstered furniture and other home furnishings goes on despite weak economic conditions, geopolitical unrest, the mysterious SARS contagion and questionable trade practices.

Competition from low-cost producing countries in the Far East continues to pressure price points for many fabric producers elsewhere, such as the United States and Europe, while those same markets demand ever-better quality and service, as well as technically advanced products.

And, the war in Iraq is expectedto hurt business across the board to at least some degree, obviously bringing sales almost to a halt in the Middle East for some exporting mills, and making shipping to Europe difficult for producers based in the Middle East.

But a positive attitude helps, says Luc Vandeweile, managing director of Belgian producer Beaulieu Fabrics: "We want to ignore the issue and get on with business."

Some producers had a good business year in 2002 — others not. For some companies, 2002 was "horrible," while for others it was "steady, but not booming." And for at least one company, it was "solid with a growth of about 22% (in the European market)."

All those conditions notwithstanding, the strongest fabric sources survive because of creativity and innovation, qualities much in evidence at the Proposte and Scoperta fabric fairs taking place here in May.

Ultra-microdenier fiber fabrics, whether they are chenilles, velvets, suedes or flocks, with their softness, durability and cleanability stories, continue to delight the market thanks to technological advances that regularly offer new looks and new characteristics. Polyurethanes also advance every year, and this season is no exception, with a new crop of leather alternatives that are striking in their hand, appearance and performance.

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