Capel leads effort to open multi-brand Toronto showroom

Will help North Carolina companies export to Canada

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 15, 2010

TROY, N.C. — Capel Rugs is spearheading an effort to establish a permanent showroom in a Toronto design center for a consortium of North Carolina home furnishings sources.

The showroom in SOFA/Source of Furniture + Accessories, the design center at Toronto's International Centre, would allow participating companies to work collectively to tap the export potential in the Canadian market and gain exposure to the design community, officials said.

Manufacturers interested in learning about the effort are invited to a meeting in High Point July 28 at the Chamber of Commerce. Also in attendance will be representatives of the North Carolina and U.S. departments of commerce, who are interested in the initiative's potential to create jobs in the state, Capel said.

Participating companies would share the expenses of managing and marketing a joint showroom, gaining greater access to the Canadian market at a lower cost than with individual spaces, officials said.

Members of the consortium will also be provided with assistance in becoming familiar with the exporting process. Capel, which has been exporting to Canada for 25 years, will share its experience with other consortium members.

"Exports continue to be a growth opportunity for Capel and we know that by sharing what we've learned so far, we can create a situation where everyone benefits," said Bud Young, the company's vice president of marketing. "We are excited about this opportunity to work with other manufacturers in North Carolina to show in a premier space and to elevate manufacturing in our home state as a whole."

He said he hopes a permanent showroom, open year-round, could be established before the next Canadian Home Furnishings Market, which runs Jan. 15-18.

The High Point meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, 164 N. Main St. Any manufacturers interested in attending should RSVP by July 23 to Rebecca McMahan at Capel, at (910) 572-7179 or by e-mail at Rmcmahan@capel.net.

"We are hoping that this meeting will act as a springboard for companies that are interested in coming together to create an exciting new opportunity," said Young. "And this is just the beginning! If we work together, the potential for growth could be tremendous."

Speakers at the meeting will include Joe Carroll, former Furniture/Today publisher; Charlie Greene, chairman of North Carolina's Furnishings Export Council; Mike Padjen, director of the state's Furniture Export Office; and Danny Lester and Bobby Wertman, representing the SOFA design center.