Tom Russell
I'm Tom Russell and have worked at Furniture/Today since August 2003. Since then, I have had covered the international side of the business from a logistics and sourcing standpoint. Since then, I also have visited several furniture trade shows and manufacturing plants in Asia, which has helped me gain some perspective about the industry in that part of the world. As I continue covering the import side of the business, I look forward to building on that knowledge base through conversations with industry officials and future overseas plant tours overseas. From time to time, I will file news and other industry perspectives on-line and, as always, welcome your response to these Web postings. (to view or add public comments click on "Add your Comment" below each blog post)
Title: Associate Editor
Email: trussel@reedbusiness.com
Sourcing Strategies by Tom RussellLink This | Email This | Comments (2) China Labor Shortage Has Long-Term Industry ImplicationsAs we reported in our Oct. 5 edition, China’s furniture industry is having a bit of a labor crunch. Coastal area factories that let go workers due to a slowdown in orders need to rehire some of those workers as those orders pick back up. The problem is that, minus unemployment benefits like we are used to here in the U.S., many of those workers have returned to rural areas where they... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (3) China labor shortages could pose challenges for industryAs with any story, there are often two sides to report. The case is no different with recent news coming out of China. Officials with furniture shows held in Shanghai and Dongguan earlier this month reported increases in both traffic and order writing activity. They interpret that as a sign that China’s furniture industry is seeing a rebound and are probably correct in... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (1) Exports may be source of opportunity in downturnAs demand from the United States and Europe has declined, officials in China and Vietnam have encouraged furniture producers to target another important market - the one in their own backyards. In China, it’s been no secret that the government is trying to boost its middle class through policies that encourage home ownership and that offer tax rebates for purchase of items like... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (0) CebuX furniture show employs both print and online marketingLike other Asian source countries, the Philippines has had its share of challenges. Thanks to a slowdown in demand from the U.S. and other customers around the world, numerous factories have closed in Cebu and surrounding furniture production areas. Currency fluctuations in the Philippines peso and the U.S. dollar have been partly to blame, as has increased competition from China and Vietnam.... MoreLink This | Email This | Comments (1) Import numbers shed light on sourcing trendsA recent analysis of 2008 furniture imports by Furniture/Today’s research department paints a fairly grim picture about the state of the global furniture business.Overall imports had fallen 6% to $22.5 billion, from just over $24 billion the year before. That may not sound like a lot given the state of the economy. Still, it’s significant given that imports have been on the rise... More |
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| Sourcing Strategies by Tom Russell | 43 | 43 |
