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Showtime earns high marks

Show has evolved into broader event

Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, December 13, 2006

HIGH POINT — Optimism permeated Winter Showtime 2006 here last week, with the 34th edition of the twice-a-year fabric show receiving almost universal high marks from exhibitors and buyers.

Because the show has evolved from a furniture-focused event into a broader format that attracts buyers from jobbers and retailers to recreational vehicle makers and handbag producers — in addition to major furniture manufacturers — there are always timing problems for some segments.

Floral and textures are among the new patterns in Quaker Fabric’s Terrazzo performance fabric line.

But overall, this Showtime was the most upbeat in several seasons. And the new Studio show, which featured 15 design studios offering textile designs, proved a big hit.

Several major furniture manufacturers and jobbers surveyed at the show mostly agreed that, with some exceptions, the show lacked “knock-your-socks-off” introductions.

“It was a soft summer at retail and this is getting close to Christmas, but the furniture manufacturers are always here,” said Danny Kingsley, president of Advantage Fabrics.

A rich tapestry look from upscale Turkish mill Penelope answers the call for luxe decorative looks. The viscose and polyester jacquard costs about $24.

Although attendance figures weren’t available at press time, many exhibitors felt traffic was down a bit. However, they said all their major customers showed up, and companies that work by appointment only said they were fully booked throughout the show.

Catherine Morsell, director of the International Textile Market Assn., which produces the show, said the association’s exhibiting members were happy with the show.

“The winter show is always a little lighter than the summer show, but they recognize they have to show up every time to build loyalty with the buyers,” she said. “Several of them told us they had their best Showtime ever.”

Another encouraging sign: excellent attendance at social events every evening of the show.

The buying team from Norwalk Furniture was shopping “for natural fibers like linen and cotton, and for neutral colors like taupe, smoky gray and mineral colors,” said Debbie McKirahan, director of retail merchandising. “We found plenty of good values and interesting patterns.”

Spanish resource Costa Blanca showed new water-cleanable performance velvets and woven fabrics Velor and Carabou, designed as alternatives to leather and featuring extended colorways.

Keith Feuerhaken, vice president of U.S. sales and marketing for Canadian upholstery maker Sklar Peppler, said, “Everything is changing so rapidly these days that we have to do more ‘sweeping up’ while we’re still at the show. All the loose ends have to be tied up because we need to have our fabric by the first of the year to get the line ready for the spring market in High Point in March. Everything is two weeks quicker than usual this season.

“We were looking for gems — an item here and an item there,” Feuerhaken said, noting Richloom and Valdese were the source of some of the gems Sklar’s team found on its first shopping day at Showtime.

The ITMA Studio show was lauded widely as a great addition. Karen Nehlsen, director of design for upholstery fabrics at Microfibres, said, “Having the art studios at the show really steps Showtime up a notch, and I hope they all come back again.”

While the art studios didn’t get as much traffic as they’d hoped, they understand it will take time to build the show’s profile, and all are expected to return in June for the next Showtime.

“We didn’t see as many new faces as we hoped, but you have to give a show three or four goes before you decide about it,” said David Hedley, director of Artwork Design Ltd. in Cheshire, England. Designer and TV personality Candice Olson was among buyers who visited Hedley’s booth, buying three patterns for her upholstery line.

Velvety animal skin patterns are a staple in fabric. KETS-DeLeo’s new Puma is a double-sided reversible pattern of acrylic and polyester.

“We saw furniture manufacturers, bedding producers and even outdoor furnishings companies,” said Martina Steiner, U.S. agent for Italian textile designer Giacomo Barzaghi.

Another English studio, Art Cottage, plans to return in June and believes the size of the Studio show is about right, at least for now. “They need to give it more time to get established,” said Nigel Brown, managing director. “There’s not enough business generated yet, and if they bring in more (exhibitors), it will dilute it. Most customers who buy textile designs typically do business with just about eight to 10 studios.”

Marketgoers also appreciated the first-time Sample Bank and Trend Presentation, which offered a hands-on look at dozens of samples. Tricia Lancia, textiles designer, and Robert Barkdull, product manager, for high-end home accents source MacKenzie-Childs were among those who used the presentation to look for new suppliers and get a quick overview of market introductions.

“The hunt is on for impact fabrics,” Barkdull said, “and we’re optimistic, although it may be that fabric producers took fewer risks this season.”

The dates for Showtime in 2007 are June 3-6 and Dec. 2-5. Information is available at ITMA’s Web site, www.itma-showtime.com.

	Designer Joe Ruggiero’s Sunbrella designs for this season included a group based on menswear patterns. Shown are performance fabrics Fusion, top, Zensation, New Coat and Lancaster in colorways mist, aquifer, spa and shale.
	Designer Richard Frinier created these Asian-inspired patterns of Sunbrella performance fabric for indoors and outside. From the top are Kirbati, ginger; Sakura and Ming, both in papyrus; and Sislana, ginger.
	Andrea Bernstein, left, and Mark Aizawa, both of Chris Stone, with textile designer Amy Karyn at a launch party for a licensed collection of Amy Karyn prints.
	Tricia Lancia of MacKenzie Childs looks over the new Sample Bank.
	Blue, which was a strong trend at Showtime, sets the mood for Bentley, a lush chenille frame from Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills.
	Scott Jensen, left, T.S. Berry; Jana Burvikovs, Wesley Hall; and Jennifer McConnell, Pearson Co.

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