When the doors open at the International Centre here on the morning of May 28 (this Saturday), attending retailers and designers will see a somewhat smaller Canadian Furniture Show (CFS) than those visited in recent years, but one Pierre Richard and his team believe will be relevant, exciting and worthwhile for all participants.Richard, who is president and chief executive officer of both CFS and its owner-operator, the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Association (QFMA), has been leading the effort to rebuild and revitalise this country’s only national furniture industry trade event since beginning named to the job in September 2013.

Hall 5 during the 2015 Canadian Furniture Show.Many inside the industry are surprised to learn that despite the setbacks suffered in recent years, CFS is still one of the largest trade shows of any kind held in Canada each year. Last year – the first held the Canadian Furniture Show banner (for the previous 15 years or so, it was known as the Canadian Home Furnishings Market) – it hosted a total of 242 exhibitors, including ten ‘outside showrooms’ located throughout the city as well as the 38 permanent showrooms of the International Centre’s SOFA annex (Source of Furniture & Accessories).

The exhibitors on the floor included 49 Canadian furniture manufacturers – 19 of them from Quebec with the balance coming from across the rest of the country. There were also 17 mattress resources and a host of others offering every other category of possible interest to the typical Canadian furniture retailer, including six major appliance resources.Who’s on the floor?

At press time, the CFS web site stated this year’s event would host 221 exhibitors – fewer than in 2015 and probably the smallest contingent seen in quite some time.

Pierre RichardPerhaps the most notable absentee this year will be Palliser Furniture, this country’s largest upholstery maker. Also expected not to show are Statum Designs, the Toronto-based upholstery maker that has been a long-standing supporter for some time; leather specialist Jaymar Furniture; and, major appliance resource Electrolux, among others.

CFS president Richard also expects fewer furniture importers and distributors than in previous years, mainly as a result of the slide in Canadian dollar, which has made their product assortments more expensive, which in turn as caused them to retrench their marketing efforts.Richard acknowledged many of these companies left for what they believe are sound business reasons. “I don’t think it was an easy decision for any of them. But I’m hoping many of them will be back.”Having said that, the organisers expect to see some 65 first time exhibitors on the floor this year, including two fairly well known case goods producers: the Winnipeg-based Buhler Furniture, which has evolved from being a curio cabinet specialist into a Pinnacle Award-winning bedroom producer; and, Camlen Furniture, a solid wood specialist based in Knowles, Quebec.

Retailers walking the floor will also be introduced to trade missions from Indonesia and Poland, both of whom are looking to enter the Canadian market. There will also be a number of new technology suppliers, including Storis, the New Jersey-headquartered retail software specialist.

(Source: homegoodsonline.ca  Author: Michael J. Knell)