Here-today, gone-tomorrow mentality
Carole Sloan, Senior Contributing Editor -- Furniture Today, January 21, 2007
Like most recent trade shows involving home furnishings, this month's Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, suffered the same attendance blues of its cohorts around the globe.
The now-standard mantra — "The key people were here; it's the tire-kickers who didn't show up" — was oft-uttered in Frankfurt.
For a small cluster of decorative fabric companies that deal both with the piece goods and cut-order segments of the business, Heimtex could become the odd man out in the early year market derby in Europe.
These fabric guys are being advised by their customers that Maison & Objet in Paris a couple weeks later is the way to go. The latter market, they are being told, is the place for direction and insight into the top of the marketplace.
Still, there was a good representation in decorative, upholstery and curtain fabrics at Heimtex — at least for the just-concluded show.
One thing that really stood out from a broad perspective was the almost total absence of American decorative fabric companies at Heimtex. The changing makeup of the visitor base is definitely a factor. But beyond that, and more basic to all offshore shows, is the here-today, gone-tomorrow mentality of the U.S. decorative fabric community. It's something that has been part of this industry's DNA since time immemorial.
Granted, the policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce on who can participate in the U.S. Pavilions vis-a-vis domestic versus offshore production is unrealistic. With much U.S.-designed, developed and marketed decorative fabrics being produced offshore, there's a major opportunity for global sales — from source country to anywhere in the world, without having to ship it to the United States and out again.
Global sales are more of an opportunity for American companies than ever. It just takes a little more effort than before.
-
Spring, fall High Point Markets in DOC program
Mar 4, 2011 -
Marketing executive launches CR Young Consulting
Apr 14, 2011 -
American fabrics shine at Heimtextil
Jan 27, 2008
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
