Intertextile - successful event; launch of new show next year

“Since 1995, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has grown from being a part of Intertextile to the biggest home textile trade event in Asia. This year, the show has incorporated the whole home concept in its layout, providing participants with an even better and more comprehensive business platform,” said Mr Olaf Schmidt, Vice President of Textile Fairs for Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. The show held from 24 – 26 August 2010 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre attracted a significant numbers of exhibitors and visitors. Occupying 10 halls were 38,696 visitors and 1,017 international and Chinese suppliers.

China’s fast growing home textiles market combined with the good quality of attending buyers are two important factors for attracting suppliers to join the fair.

Ana Rios, International Division Manager for Aznar Textil said: “China is one of our key markets and we have established selling points for our products in high end department stores. Trade fairs are an important platform for us to maintain our brand image and find new business. This show is able to attract quality buyers, we are delighted with the busy atmosphere of the show. That is why we continue to join Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles.”

Gonzalo Ferri SA, a leading luxury home textile manufacturer in Spain joined under the new European Zone and was impressed with the high quality buyers at the show.

Javier Mico representing the Export Department of the company said: “We took the opportunity to exhibit in the show to gain a better understanding of the China market. As a result, we have managed to broaden our distribution channels by establishing contacts with direct buyers and department stores across Asia. We look forward to returning next year with an even bigger stand to showcase our products.”

With the new whole home concept, exhibitors were grouped into different end-use product categories ranging from bedding to towelling, from curtain to upholstery fabric and from wall covering to interior decoration.

With more than 250 years experience in producing top quality bedding products, Wedgewood is now aiming to further expand its business in China. Lydia Cheng representing Wedgewood Linens in China said: “Mainland China is now widely regarded as the country with the highest luxury goods consumption potential in the world. We think that the home textiles market has the same potential.” “Riding on the high industry profile of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles and the large visitor flow, we hope to achieve brand marketing in China and gain even more recognition for our Wedgwood Linens bedding series,” she further commented.

Italian based supplier Zambaiti joined the fair under the wall covering sector and was equally impressed with the busy environment at the show. “Wall coverings made with fabrics are gaining popularity in recent years, so I believe this home textile trade fair is an ideal platform for us to promote our products. I am glad to be present and the trading atmosphere is very positive,” said Wu Kai from Zambaiti.

The growing international reputation of the exhibition also attracted 4,630 buyers representing brands and companies from 107 countries and regions. Among them were Target in the US, Sweden’s IKEA plus a group of US retailers from the Home Fashion Product Association. To provide even more trading opportunities for show visitors, the successful Business Matching Programme was once again being offered on-site.

Jonathan Zhu, Market Representative for Target Sourcing Services said: “This huge, professional home textile event is one of the only trade shows that we visit every year in China.”

Mr Zhu’s colleague Jason Wang was happy with the results of the meetings he had. “We were looking for suppliers who can produce in high capacity at reasonable prices, this scheme is an effective means to help us find the right suppliers.”

Other attending buyers also praised the fair for being the best platform in China to source new suppliers and products. Egor Polukhin from Art-Deko, a Russian wholesaler said: “The quality of Chinese home textile products is growing very fast. At the fair, we found good products as well as new possible business opportunities with duvet suppliers.”

“The show is a good platform for me to learn about industry development and product trends. The quality and variety of the exhibits as well as the organiser’s services are all good,” said Ji Qing, General Manager for GRX International Enterprise Co Ltd, China.

To expand its service offerings Messe Frankfurt will launch a new home textile trade fair in Shanghai next year under its world renowned Heimtextil brand. The new show named Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Spring Edition as the name suggests is a sister event of the hugely successful Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, held annually in August.

This exhibition will take place at the INTEX Shanghai & Shanghaimart from 2 – 4 April 2011, and according to Wendy Wen, Director Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, it will be of particular interest to domestic suppliers and buyers of bedding, towelling and curtains. “With the Chinese economy developing at a rapid pace, we have been receiving in recent years more and more requests from manufacturers and retailers of soft furnishing products to stage an additional show during spring in Shanghai. Now that China is the second largest economy in the world behind the US and is expected to surpass this by 2020, we figured 2011 would be a good time to launch this new show”.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2011 will return to Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 29 – 31 August. The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).