Lucky Toronto buyer can win free furniture
Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, May 19, 2003
Toronto — Retailers attending the Toronto Summer Furniture Show will have a chance to win C$25,000 worth of furniture to sell in their stores.
The prize package is one of several incentives being offered by the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. to retailers attending the show, set for June 7–9.
About 50 manufacturers with permanent showrooms in and around the Toronto International Center of Commerce will take part. OFMA said pre-registration requests have been received from about 400 buyers.
The weekend will be kicked off by the Retailer of the Year Award banquet on the evening of June 6 in the TICC's Aviation Ballroom. Tickets are C$150 (plus G.S.T.) each. This year's honoree is Bill Tepperman, president of five-store Tepperman's Furniture based in Windsor, Ontario.
Buyers will be given a "passport" which must be stamped by 10 participating showrooms. These will be turned into OFMA, which will draw the winner of the furniture package. Second prize is an all-expenses-paid vacation for two to Cuba.
Among the manufacturers contributing product to the prize pool are Artage International, Berkline Canada, Therapedic/Crown Design, Décor-Rest, Engelite, Kingsdown Canada, Korson, Origo Designs, Reflections, Simmons Canada, Superstyle Furniture and T&J Furniture. Although it is not exhibiting, Durham Furniture has contributed two queen-size beds.
Steinman Transportation will deliver the goods to the winning retailer.
Retailers pre-registering for the market also will be eligible to win several "early bird" prizes, including return airfare, hotel accommodations and the use of a rental car.
For more information about the Toronto Summer Furniture Show, contact David Hanna at the OFMA office at (905) 677-6561 or by e-mail at dhanna@ofma.ca.
