Tupelo shortens schedule
No decision yet on consolidating space
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, March 2, 2008
Tupelo, Miss. — Officials at the Tupelo Furniture Market will shorten future markets by one day, but haven't made a decision on consolidating space or making other major changes to the twice-annual event here.
Condensing the market by one day both in February and in August "will be the new format for the future unless our customers tell us to do something different," said Bill Cleveland, president of the market complex. "Originally, a long time ago, those were the market dates, so we're going back to our roots."
Tupelo will change to a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule starting with this summer's new dates of Aug. 21–24.
While it is acting to resolve a common complaint that the market was too long, Cleveland said there were no immediate plans to tighten space in the Tupelo and Mississippi buildings — another suggestion that seemed to permeate the exhibition halls at last week's show here.
"It's something we're considering and talking about," Cleveland said, adding, "We want to do what's right for our customers. But we have to look at the overall package and look down the road. Timing is so important on these things. As V.M. (Cleveland, the market's chairman and CEO) told the local paper, 'It's not time yet.' But it was something that was brought up and that we are evaluating."
While figures were unavailable on market attendance, Cleveland acknowledged that traffic was off considerably.
"We were disappointed in attendance," he said. "Where we lost traffic was the mom-and-pop stores. They're the ones who are under the most pressure. Reps were telling me that their dealers had cut way back at their stores, cut their help down, and couldn't leave their stores during tax (refund) selling season."
But he said about the usual number of Top 100 dealers were present.
In addition, a statewide high school Beta Club meeting in Tupelo coincided with the market and caused some dealers to stay home when they found their usual accommodations were already booked.
"We think a lot of our customers who chose to skip this market will be here in August," Cleveland said. "We're looking for a good August market."
While exhibitors complained about the lack of retailers, there seemed to be a strong showing of support for the market. Moreover, according to Cleveland, order-writing generally was strong.
"I was prepared for the slowness, even though we had high hopes," said Simon Pang, president of upholstery importer Northca. "But I prefer Tupelo because it attracts mom-and-pops. We need shows like this."
Pang's comments were echoed by Kerry Cochran, eastern regional sales manager for Coaster Co. of America. "We would like this market to remain viable because we see people here that we do not see in High Point and Las Vegas," he said.
Promotional upholstery manufacturers showing here seemed to be doing better than their wood counterparts, and seemed more optimistic.
Jay Quimby, vice president of sales for upholstery source United Furniture, said the company "had a plan of introducing market promotions and that's paid off." He said United drew an unusual number of dealers from the Northeast as well as the usual Top 100 dealers. As for business, he said, "Things seem to be turning a little bit."
"You can't expect this market to be phenomenal," said Eric Duchow, a sales representative for upholstery specialist Best Craft Furniture in Brillion, Wis. "Vegas wasn't phenomenal. We're in a downturn or borderline recession. But we opened some new accounts. That was worth coming."
Herb Hester, CEO of Caye Home Furnishings, which has Simmons Upholstery, Stratford, Stratolounger and Homewood International under its umbrella, was "very pleased" midway through the market.
"We're seeing the same customers we have seen in the last five years in our showroom," he said, and added that attendance seemed healthy, based on the amount of fried chicken the company served.
"We had to order more," he said. "It's a good working market for us. To a certain degree this has turned into our premarket."
| Acknowledgements | ||
| Leather Editor Joan Gunin contributed to this story. | ||
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Tupelo going back to Thursday opening
Feb 27, 2008
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