Portugal fair stirs business with styles
By Jay McIntosh -- Furniture Today, March 2, 2003
Porto, Portugal — Manufacturers here put their best designs forward at the latest Export Home show, aiming to stir excitement despite uncertainty about the economy and the Iraq situation.
The 15th edition of the trade show in this northern Portugal city, a region that is home to much of the nation's furniture manufacturing, maintained its size with 750 exhibitors and an estimated 34,000 visitors from the trade. About 15% of the buyers were foreign — the majority from neighboring Spain — as Portugal continues to look abroad to supplement a sluggish local market.
Jorge Silva, manager of exhibitor Atrium Mobilario Lda, said he hoped the show would trigger "a new drive for the sector and the beginning of a new cycle for 2003."
Several exhibitors were looking forward to the resolution of the Iraq crisis, which was dominating the headlines and airwaves here as it was in North America.
"We're waiting until this war thing blows over. People want to do things, but they're just waiting," said Antonio Peixoto, export manager for Animovel and commercial director for sister company Agol.
Despite such worries, Animovel, Agol and others were not shy about introducing new designs at Export Home. The two companies also are hoping to sell more in the United States, having attended a recent design show in Miami and in December opening a store in Coral Gables, Fla., called Villa Estilo.
At the Porto show, European contemporary was the dominant genre. Clean lines and curves were common, platform beds were everywhere, and the use of leather was copious — not only in seating but in headboards, table tops and even drawer fronts and pulls.
Some manufacturers also offered more classic or traditional styles, nearly all of it with an admirable attention to detail and craftsmanship and selection of materials.
Several exhibit spaces had central themes aimed at making their product more memorable. A few exhibits had soft jazz or acoustic background music. Others used variations in lighting. The Mobiremos space was lit softly, mainly by 40-watt bulbs, and Moveis Pedrosas illuminated part of its display with candles.
Case goods producer Seiva, meanwhile, parked a pair of all-terrain vehicles in its space and projected concert videos on a wall to promote a "spirit of adventure" theme. Its furniture designs also revolved around the theme, in contemporary designs using medium-blond wood and sheet metal. Some pieces included features for the outdoor enthusiast, such as movable pegs on the sides of cabinets to hang daypacks and bike helmets.
American manufacturers were rare. Ashley was there, and while the company didn't send factory executives it did place a U.S. flag outside its space — along with a Portuguese flag.
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