Showtime goes global

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 14, 2012

HIGH POINT - Three new International Pavilions at High Point's Showtime fabric show next month will welcome 21 companies from Turkey, Taiwan and China making their U.S. show debuts.
     Officials from International Market Centers and the International Textile Market Assn. said the exhibitors will be in Suites at Market Square, which IMC owns and operates. ITMA hosts Showtime, which is set for June 3-6.
     The 21 new companies will enhance the international offering at Showtime by joining more than 165 exhibitors that already participate, including 80 permanent showrooms and 85 temporary exhibitors.
     "We are ecstatic with what has happened with the International Pavilions in such a short period of time," said Bob Patton, president of the ITMA board of directors. "We as an association don't have the resources to be as aggressive as IMC, who has been an invaluable partner to us. This is the best thing that has happened to Showtime in years."
     "We are fortunate to have had the full support on this initiative from Bob Patton and the ITMA from day one," said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. "Not only does this group of exhibitors represent a 24% increase in temporary exhibitors for the June event, but really demonstrates a global trend in the fabric and textiles industry. With the stagnant European economy, these foreign companies view the United States as an opportunity to grow their business, and we are positioned to help them do that."
     IMC said it has contracted with Al Bolton, a longtime fabric industry executive, and his agents in Turkey, Taiwan and China to assist in the development and coordination of the Pavilions effort. The agents include Sevim Keskinci in Turkey and western Europe and Carol Huang in Asia, concentrating on Taiwan and China for this first effort.
     The International Pavilions will be separated into three sections showcasing sources from each of the three participating countries.
     For a list of exhibitors, look up this story on www.furnituretoday.com.