Planned June market in Canada canceled
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, February 19, 2007
Winnipeg, Manitoba — The first Connections West furniture market, announced for June in Calgary, Alberta, has been canceled, an apparent victim of mounting support for the Las Vegas Market by large and small furniture retailers in western Canada.
The event will be rethought and moved to Las Vegas, probably next year, according to Furniture West, the factory association here that created the market and organized previous markets in western Canada.
Furniture West Chairman Terry Clark said retailers have voted with their feet.
"Even small independents from places like Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and Hay River, Alberta, were seen in Las Vegas (in January). They stayed away from (the January market in) Toronto, choosing instead to go to Las Vegas," he said.
Also, about 30 Canadian furniture suppliers participated in the winter Las Vegas Market, either in permanent showrooms at the World Market Center or in temporary spaces in the WMC's Pavilions tents. Among them were Hamilton & Spill, El Ran, Amisco, Bermex and its Dinec subsidiary, Dynamic, Dynasty, Dutailier and G. Romano.
"This seems to be where everyone wants to hang up a shingle and do business," Clark said.
Furniture West said it is talking to the World Market Center about leasing an as-yet-undetermined amount of temporary space in the Pavilions, which the association would then offer to its members. When the first such showing will be held and other details are still being worked out.
Joe Malko, president of Furniture West, said he will be surveying members to determine their interest in participating and their space needs.
In a written statement announcing the cancellation of Connections West in Calgary, Furniture West said, "The globalization of the furniture manufacturing industry is dramatically redefining the buying pattern of western Canadian retailers of home furnishings. In making plans for Connections West '07 in Calgary, the sudden changes in North American markets, including the emergence of Las Vegas as an important event for the trade in western Canada, could not have been anticipated."
Clark noted that even the smallest retailers can now put together mixed containers of imported furniture and bring a variety of goods to their floors without difficulty and huge surcharges.
The idea behind Connections West was that it would be a platform for retailers and senior factory executives to discuss a wide variety of issues and review the latest product plans. The goal was to build relationships, not write orders. That thinking drew praise from some manufacturers and retailers but was widely criticized by sales representatives.
"It was a bit of a cultural shock to those who don't want to change," said Malko, adding he talked to a lot of people from all segments of the industry but found support for the concept wasn't sufficient. "It wasn't for want of trying," Malko said.
