San Fran changes July dates
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, January 31, 2005
San Francisco — Facing stiff competition from the Las Vegas furniture market that debuts in July, the San Francisco Mart has moved the dates of future furniture markets to coincide with the San Francisco International Gift Fair. The summer market is set for Aug. 3–6.
The changes will result in future San Francisco furniture markets being held in early February and early August. The upcoming winter market, set for Jan. 26–29, won't be affected.
The first market under the new schedule this summer will be a Wednesday-through-Saturday format. The Gift Fair, which takes place at the GiftCenter & Jewelry Mart and the Moscone Center, will be Aug. 6–10.
The new schedule puts this summer's San Francisco furniture market the week after the inaugural Las Vegas market, which runs July 25–29 at the World Market Center and Las Vegas Convention Center.
Numerous San Francisco exhibitors have said they won't show at that market once the Las Vegas show opens, but officials of the San Francisco Mart remain optimistic the market there can remain viable. They say that teaming up with the gift show will allow buyers to shop for furniture and decorative accessories in a single trip.
"More progressive stores have gotten into the accessory business as a way to bring customers in on a more frequent basis," said Roseann Carini, general manager of the SFM. "Giving our buyers an efficient way to shop for these impulse purchase items will help them boost margins and build traffic."
SFM exhibitors include relatively few purveyors of gifts and accessories. Carini said surveys of buyers and designers indicated they wanted more such exhibitors at the furniture market.
She said an alliance with the gift show has been discussed periodically for several years, but discussions became more serious when officials of the Las Vegas market initially announced their first show would overlap the San Francisco show.
The Las Vegas show has since moved its dates, but Carini said the SFM has "examined our own business and believes this direction will appeal to existing buyers, as well as attract a new pool of buyers."
The Western Home Furnishings Assn. endorsed the SFM's date change. Executive Director Sharon Bradley said it will allow members to shop for furniture and accessories in one trip.
For 2006, San Francisco furniture markets are scheduled for Feb. 1–4 and Aug. 2–5. Both are Wednesday-through-Saturday formats.
