U.S. stores to tour Polish factories
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, July 26, 2004
Elk Grove Village, Ill. — Elk Grove Village, Ill.— A furniture wholesaler here plans a trade mission to Poland in August to introduce some U.S. retailers to sourcing opportunities there.
The trip, organized by MAK Distribution and the economic division of the Polish Consulate General's office in Chicago, will include tours of plants run by some of the country's largest furniture manufacturers.
Among them are the Klose factory in Grudziadz, which makes dining room, bedroom and occasional products, and the Kler leather upholstery plant in Dobrodzien. Participants also will see the BRW plant in Mielec, which makes wall units, ready-to-assemble furniture and some bedroom and office products.
The five-day visit also will include tours of two plants that specialize in fabric upholstery.
Retailers set to take part include Coon Rapids, Minn.-based HOM Furniture, Lancaster, Pa.-based Breuners Home Furnishings, Warren, Mich.-based Art Van Furniture, New York-based Seaman's and Louis Shanks of Austin, Texas.
As a co-sponsor of the trade mission, Furniture/Today representatives also will participate.
With all the focus on Asian manufacturers, MAK Distribution said it planned the trip to let retailers know there are still viable sources in Europe.
"We would like to show the U.S. retailers that Poland has heavily invested in furniture for the past 10 years," said Marek Kowalczyk, president of MAK Distribution. "We would like to show them the alternative sources where they can get furniture."
He said retailers are particularly sensitive to whether European producers can make product suitable for the American market and deliver it in a timely fashion. Furniture made for European homes and apartments usually is smaller in scale. Kowalczyk thinks the visit will ease those and other concerns relating to product quality, service or delivery.
Woods include a number of indigenous species such as birch, beech and European and Ukrainian oak. These varieties also allow for a wide selection of finish options, he said.
"The manufacturers we carry are tremendous," he said. "There is no question about whether we can deliver or not deliver.... The quality is terrific."
