Exhibitors, buyers scarce in San Fran
By Powell Slaughter and Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, August 22, 2005
San Francisco — Low dealer attendance and fewer exhibitors at last week's San Francisco market reflected changes both in the industry and the main market building.
With the inaugural Las Vegas market a week earlier draining buyers and exhibitors alike away from the San Francisco Mart, quiet halls, sample sales and unmanned or shuttered showrooms were common.
Most activity was concentrated in the design-oriented showrooms on the Mart's lower floors, featuring an array of decorative accessories and rugs.
With the exodus of furniture exhibitors, SFM management aggressively is courting companies that cater to the design trade in order to maintain its value as a West Coast exhibition venue.
All exhibitors showed in Mart 1; the Mart 2 building was closed for market. In addition, Mart 1's entire sixth and ninth floors were closed. Ashley — here for the last time — had a skeleton showroom on the 10th floor, where it was the only occupant, and Palliser was the only exhibitor on the third floor. Portions of other floors were closed as well.
Ashley was typical of many companies that elected not to send senior management here.
For some of the few retailers here, this was the last time they'll shop San Francisco.
"We had no idea it would be this empty," said Sean Craig, manager of Badger Hoofman in Jackson, Calif. "We didn't go to Las Vegas, but we'll be there next time. We normally shop here a full day, but we left this time at 10 a.m. We had a nice train ride down though."
Erin Leonard, owner of Creations Rattan & Wicker in Santa Rosa, Calif., said her company has shopped San Francisco since 1970, but this was probably the last time.
"I was assuming it would be way down, and one of our regular resources will be gone from here by December," she said. "There's just going to be nothing for us to come here for."
At upholstery manufacturer Omnia, which maintains a year-round showroom for the design trade here, traffic was "like on a normal day" between markets, said Michelle Devine, showroom manager.
Full-line Canadian producer Palliser came to the show to support local sales reps, said Ben Horch, vice president of U.S. sales.
"This for all intents and purposes is our last show here," said Horch.
John Tran, general manager for Vietnamese case goods manufacturer Country Co., said his company hasn't made a decision on returning to San Francisco, where it has shown for three years in the temporary exhibit space on the second floor.
"We have to get the feedback from our local buyers," he said. "It's easy enough to show here, because our U.S. base is in northern California, where we have a lot of distribution."
If Country Co. doesn't return, it will show in Las Vegas and/or a 3,000-square-foot showroom at its Sacramento U.S. office and distribution center.
Meanwhile, Essi Ilami, president of Ilami Imports, a Dallas-based custom upholstery firm, also showing in the temporary area, said he was buoyed by the prospect of drawing new accounts.
"Since we specialize in custom, we hope to capture lots of designers," he saie.
"We would like to see San Francisco succeed," Ilami said. "Others have not even been willing to try. They have been hesitant. Everyone has been concerned, but we can't be concerned."
