Cross-market dialog trend welcome
Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, February 23, 2003
As the 2003 markets roll on, home fashion shows everywhere are really getting down to business, which increasingly includes examining nuts-and-bolts business issues. Show sponsors are linking their basic raison d'etre — the launch of the next season's new products — to a variety of such issues.
We've seen it coming the past few years as home fashion shows featured industry panels discussing a broad range of subjects such as design copyright piracy, customs activities, upcoming government legislation and the like. We've seen these discussions spread around the world, including Asia, to all segments of home furnishings, including furniture and accessories.
Significant within this trend is the beginning of a new attitude in the home textiles arena. The various industry segments seem to be looking outside the business for opinions and participation.
In the past weeks we've noticed more cross-market dialog at some European events designed primarily for home textiles. Of particular interest has been the presentation of research data extending well beyond the focus of the show itself.
That such information is exceedingly valuable in a fragile business climate seems obvious. There can never be enough data, so long as it remains reliable.
As we study global happenings, we see a variety of issues, some fairly esoteric, being discussed, such as the positioning of the World Trade Organization and the extension of joint-venture alliances at all levels. These discussions, although on a somewhat abstract level, are valuable too. They address sometimes-controversial, always-essential issues of industrywide importance.
Of course, we still must follow the product trends on a global and regional basis. But it's great to see so many chinks in the silo walls. This breaking down of walls and barriers should continue, even more quickly and with more intensity.
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