In an interview during his debut show in Shanghai, China, in mid-September, Zou Wenlong looked both tired and pleased that he was able to pull the whole thing off. Barely a year earlier, construction of the first 2 million square feet of the project was just getting under way, with workers pouring foundations and raising the walls of several buildings.

As president of show developer and organizer Jisheng Wellborn Furniture Group, Zou had a lot riding on the success of the first Shanghai International Furniture Fair.

Despite some unpolished aspects of the event, including some unfinished floors and some unfinished showroom space, the event accomplished what China is becoming more and more famous for around the world — getting projects completed in an amazingly brief time. One company official told us it took about two weeks to get his two-story showroom built — from the ground up.

Mr. Zou was gracious enough to meet with Furniture/Today at the end of the much anticipated first day of the show. He spoke of his feelings of having reached his goal and of the improvements he plans for next year. Over the next few years he plans to create a complex of more than 8 million square feet, so the project is far from over and there should be exciting developments to come.

In talking about his vision for the future, Zou also spoke of his hopes of collaborating with the High Point Market to increase the profile of both events in the global furniture industry.

“The people (in High Point) have a good vision and attitude and a cooperative spirit,” he said through an interpreter.

While details of such cooperation are somewhat sketchy, it could involve some sort of cross-promotional activities that refer buyers and exhibitors to each market. How this pans out remains to be seen, but it could land High Point some business that a competing show in Las Vegas misses out on.

Without revealing specifics, Zou said he perceived an arrogance about the Las Vegas Market that he didn’t sense from officials representing High Point, namely Brian Casey, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. As a result, Zou made it clear he wants to work with High Point and not Las Vegas.

Perhaps that explains why Casey was invited to participate in the opening ceremonies of Zou’s inaugural event. Industry trade press and thousands of Chinese industry officials at the event listened to Casey’s presentation, which touted the importance of the High Point Market to the industry and the community.

“It was an opportunity to promote High Point to the Chinese marketplace,” Casey said.

As far as collaborating with the new Shanghai show, Casey also is a little unclear on the details. But he is optimistic about the potential.

“Our discussions were preliminary in nature,” he said. “As we look at promoting High Point around the world, we are seeking other show organizers with whom we can participate in cross-show promotion. If there is a way to do that, it makes good sense. It has to be a win-win situation. …

“I think there is a way to find collaboration, and at the very least, we have established some positive dialogue and some open lines of communication, which I think is a good start,” Casey added. “When it comes down to it, business is based on relationships, and we continue to seek positive relationships wherever possible.”

How this arrangement works out remains to be seen. But it will be interesting to watch and could become an important part of High Point’s competitive strategy.