Suppliers featured new collections at Intertextile (China)

Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China was held last week from 18 – 21 March at the China Import and Export Fair Complex with positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors alike. The fair attracted nearly 202 exhibitors and 21,142 trade visitors, a 3.9% increase compared with 2011.

“The show continues to serve a key sourcing period in China with its business flourishing opportunities as it reaches the entire supply chain across the home furnishing and upholstery market in the concurrent events in Guangzhou, said Ms Wendy Wen, Director Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, fair’s organiser.

The fair’s strong positioning is a key factor to attract new and returning exhibitors. Italian upholstery supplier TA LI SRL returned this year with its high abrasion resistant leather collection. “We received many import and export furniture maker contacts from surrounding area as it’s a major manufacturing hub of the world’s furniture market,” said Mr Massimo Tchen from TA LI adding: “We even found potential clients at the concurrent trade fairs!”

Newcomer to the fair Leung’s Father & Son from Hong Kong showcased its refined jacquard upholstery for curtains and sofas. “Our first experience has been great, we have met with furniture exporters as well as international buyers from South America,” said Ms Ling Hong Yan, a representative for the company.

International buyers were equally impressed with the fair’s convenient one-stop shop. “My company sells interior decoration and furniture, this is an excellent opportunity for me to source from fabrics, sofas and even coffee tables, which are all conveniently located in one fairground,” said Mr Mohamed Bakkali, Chief Executive Officer for Kelebek Mobilier & Decoration, a furniture and home decoration retailer from Morocco.

Mr Moises Gal from Textiles Met SA , a home furnishing wholesaler from Mexico regularly visits this fair to buy home furnishing and upholstery products. “I am looking for all kinds of interior fabrics and here I can find a variety of curtains, furnishing and decorative fabrics at competitive price points.”

Some of the exhibitors made new collections catered specifically for the Spring season, a peak sourcing period for the domestic upholstery industry. Hong Kong upholstery supplier, Cheer Best brought their new fabric collection in bright colours and patterns. “We started to prepare this new collection last year for the March fair as this is normally the sourcing time for local and international buyers,” said Ms Lu Xia, a representative for the company.

Ms Chi Yun from Beijing Financial Policy International Houseware Co Ltd, a home furniture retailer from China agreed with Ms Lu and said: “We usually do our sourcing in March for this year’s bedding and interior decoration collections, the fair is held in time to complement our sourcing.”

International and local suppliers also brought collections tailor-made for China’s domestic market. Australian decorative fabrics supplier Auskin presented their new colourful collections with patterns designed to suit Chinese palette. “Though our current market share in China is relatively small, we are fully aware of this huge marketplace. That’s why we have made a separate product line for China and we are confident to expand our business here,” said Mr Jing Feng, General Manager for Auskin. He further added: “During the fair we have contacted with local buyers from different sectors including retailers, project contractors, designers, visual merchandisers and furniture manufacturers.”

Local supplier Sky Fabric was also highlighting new collections at the stand. “This Guangzhou fair is a unique platform for us to promote our brand and new collection in Southern China’s home textile market. We received many enquiries from retailers, wholesalers and furniture factories in this region,” said Mr Lu Qin, a spokesperson for the company.

With a great variety of products on offer, the fair attracted buyers from different business areas to attend, especially from Southern China. Ms Lian Zhi Li, Business Manager for Dalai, a contractor from Guangzhou was sourcing contract fabrics at the show. “We found a broad range of products suitable for hotel contract use. The design and quality are good.”

A seminar about sustainability and quality control took place on the second day of the fair and was well received by delegates and speaker.

“As many furnishing exporters set up factories in Southern China, it is vital for them to stay abreast with the current updates in international eco and home textile testing standardisations,” said seminar speaker, Ms Rachel Huang, General Manager for Hohenstein Institutes Guangzhou Branch.

Delegates were inspired by the informative seminar content. “Sustainability is still a new concept for Chinese suppliers and we want to learn more from industry experts, to increase our product quality and competitiveness in the market,” said Mr Zhu Dong Fang, Sales for Tongxiang City Yajia Textile Co Ltd.

The next Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China will take place from 18 – 21 March 2013 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex at Guangzhou.

The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, the China Home Textile Association (CHTA) and the China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corp.