Winter market warm
Canada's furniture industry anticipates strong year
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, January 20, 2003
Toronto — This could be a strong year for Canada's furniture industry if the energy evident throughout the halls during last week's winter market here continues to burn during the first half.
Factory executives said Canadian retailers are coming off a relatively strong year, although business began to drag during the fourth quarter. Below the surface optimism was an undercurrent of concern that events beyond the industry's control, such as war in the Middle East, could clobber consumer confidence.
"Retailers seemed to be in very good spirits," said Jeff Casselman, president and chief executive officer of Shermag. "The U.S. economy has so many clouds over it, so that's why we're a little cautious."
The consensus seems to be that business will be relatively robust in 2003, but in the event of war, all bets are off.
"We were very happy with the positive attitude on the part of buyers," said Roger Friesen, vice president of merchandising and customer relations at Palliser. "We came off the end of the year with a bit of a drag, so we came into the market looking to build momentum to carry us into the year. The first quarter will be a quarter on which we can build the year."
"It was nice to see everyone so upbeat," said Jason Harris, national sales manager for Stylus, Made to Order Sofas. "We've started off strong, that's for sure."
"Everyone I talked to was very optimistic about 2003," said Ron Dennis, vice president of sales for Simmons Canada. "We think the first six months are going to be OK, but that the real growth will come in the second half of the year."
Most said market attendance was stronger than in previous years and that certain regions, particularly Quebec and Atlantic Canada, turned out in force.
"Traffic was better than it has been for the past two or three years," said Christian Ladouceur, vice president of sales and marketing for South Shore. "We were always optimistic about 2003. Our increase in orders written during the show was at least 30% over last year, and we had a great year last year."
Jean François Michaud, president and CEO of the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn., said, "The traffic seemed to be spread out throughout the buildings," he said. "Retailers were interested in seeing all of the product on display."
This year's Canadian Home Furnishings Market was the largest in its 31-year history, with a total of about 450 exhibitors covering over 500,000 square feet of space. And for the first time, the QFMA has a long waiting list of companies seeking to exhibit.
Michaud said no plans have been make for a summer Toronto market and, at this point, he doesn't believe there's time to organize one properly. In its latest newsletter, the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. asked members to indicate whether or not such a show is needed or wanted. The results aren't yet known.
A highlight of this year's market was presentation of OFMA's Lifetime Achievement Award to Serge Racine, the retired founder, chairman, president and CEO of today's Shermag. When Racine took over Shermag in 1977, it was a small glider rocker factory. Now it's a full-line furniture maker with annual sales in the C$160 range, employing over 2,000 people in some 12 factories in Quebec and New Brunswick.
In his acceptance speech, Racine said the award didn't belong to him alone but to all those at Shermag who worked hard to make it the company it is today.
Toronto continues to be very much a market where independent retailers buy new product for the spring selling season and program their entire year's campaign. Space is at such a premium in the Toronto International Center of Commerce that exhibitors generally have room to show new goods only.
