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2,100 stores hit Toronto for market

Organizers: Quality of market improving

Michael Knell -- Furniture Today, January 13, 2011

TORONTO - Some 332 or so furniture resources, including manufacturers, distributors and support service providers, will host approximately 2,100 furniture retailers when the Canadian Home Furnishings Market opens for its annual four-day run at the International Centre here this Saturday.
     Owned and operated by the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn. for the past 39 years, THCFM remains Canada's sole national industry event.
     In format and events, this year's market hasn't really changed from those held over the past two or three years, although there has been some noticeable tweaking with the Trends Display, which this year will reflect the Quality Canadian Furniture campaign launched in September.
     "The quality of this market is getting better," said QFMA President and CEO Jean François Michaud. "The popularity of the events we hold is still growing and down the road we think that the market will grow."
     The social side of the market gets underway Friday evening with the traditional welcome reception in the lobby of the International Centre's conference facility, which will be followed by the Canadian Home Furnishings Awards gala and the presentation of the 2011 Retailer of the Year award to leasing merchant Easyhome and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award to Jean Deveault, retired executive vice president of casual dining powerhouse Canadel.
     Held the following evening will be the reception for the unveiling of the now renamed 2011 Quality Canadian Furniture Trends Display. Traditionally, the display has focused on Canadian-made furniture, particularly pieces from TCHFM exhibitors. A new wrinkle this year is the naming of television personality Janette Ewen as spokesperson for the display during the market.
Toronto Toronto introductions include this bed from Buhler Furniture’s Wilmington series, shown in a Sienna finish. It is available with a regular footboard or an optional storage footboard.     For the third consecutive year, the market will offer a conference program with sessions on Sunday and Monday. Kicking off the conference on Sunday will be social media consultant Amber MacArthur, author of the book "Power Friending" - an examination of how business can use social media to its advantage.
     The following day, Donald Cooper will tell retailers how they can "Sell More and Have a Life." The founder of Alive & Well, a destination ladies' wear retailer, and scion of the famous Cooper Sports equipment maker, he says that consumers are becoming ever more demanding and that to attract and keep a loyal clientele, retailers must continually raise their standards and learn how to distinguish themselves from the competition.
     Both sessions will be held in the Orion B room of the conference facility from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day.
Perhaps the most noticeable absence on the show floor this year will be mattress major Serta Canada. Its now-sister producer Simmons Canada hasn't been a market participant for several years, leaving Sealy Canada as the only member of the big S brands with a TCHFM presence.
    However, Michaud said that attending retailers will still have a wide range of mattress producers to see at the market.
     For the first time in years, King Koil Canada will have a presence on the show floor and will be one of some 37 exhibitors with mattresses as part of their product offerings. Other well-known names taking part in TCHFM include Natura World, two of the three Canadian Therapedic franchises including the Toronto-based Sleepking/ Crown Design, and Spring Air Canada, which also produces the Sommex brand. Specialty mattress producers Magniflex and Zedbed also will be present.
     "All of the independent mattress manufacturers serving the Canadian market are with us for the show," Michaud said.
     Approximately 50 companies will exhibit at TCHFM for the first time this year. Notable among these will be Couture International, the upholstery resource founded by Canadian furniture designer Normand Couture. Also showing for the first time will be case goods specialist DeFehr Furniture as well as England, a stationary upholstery division of La-Z-Boy.
     One of the largest exhibitors at 2011 TCHFM will be BDM+ Furniture, the owners of case goods specialists Bermex, Bertanie, Dinec and Mi-Di. Added to their show presence will be several new divisions including Shermag (and that brand's Liinz and Dezmo upholstery subsidiaries) along with contemporary upholstery specialist Jaymar.
At least two major appliance manufacturers, Samsung Electronics Canada and Electrolux, also will have a market presence this year.
     The mix of exhibitors has changed in recent years. Many of the big U.S. manufacturers such as Ashley have dropped Toronto from their itinerary, but almost every leading Canadian furniture resource has a presence including Palliser, Magnussen, South Shore, Superstyle, Décor Rest and Durham, among others. Furniture Brands Canada will also continue as a market participant with a new permanent showroom close to the International Centre.
     "If we compare ourselves to other major markets in the U.S., we haven't lost that much (by way of exhibitors)," Michaud said. "All of the important suppliers are part of this show."
Unexpected guests aren’t a problem with Port-of-Fino’s Model CT2611 ultra-modern casual dining set. The clear tempered glass top extends on both ends to provide both versatility and additional space.     Broadening the exhibitor base is critical to TCHFM's long-term survival, and Michaud said his senior management team is looking at ways to bring small Canadian furniture manufacturers into the market. There are a number of regional manufacturers working across the country that lack the financial support needed to exhibit at a major event such as TCHFM.
     "We would like to find these small, niche manufacturers and work with them, give them the exposure and help them grow," Michaud said, adding that it's critical to find the next generation of Canadian manufacturers and nurture their development.
     Retail attendance is always an issue for THCFM exhibitors and for 2011, Michaud is expecting the numbers will be comparable to last year and maybe even better. "Pre-registration figures were pretty good - we're running a little ahead of last year," he reported.
     With the support of the four major buying groups - Cantrex, Mega, Dufresne Retail Solutions Group and Home Furniture - Michaud is confident TCHFM will continue to attract the majority of Canadian storefronts. The organizers say they are also very aware that retailers in western Canada find it easier to fly to Las Vegas than to come to Toronto, but Michaud said that having appliance suppliers take part in TCHFM will have real appeal to these merchants.
     Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of TCHFM and Michaud said planning is already underway. "You'll see a lot of improvements to the show next year," he said.

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