Birmingham, England - The Furniture Show 2000, combined with Design Interiors was held at the National Exhibition Centre 23-26 January. The move to hold the shows simultaneously drew praise. It may be the beginning of a sustained buoyancy in the U.K.'s economy, although the retail sector of the furniture industry is still having a tough go of it.

Figures of dedicated attendance, unaudited at press time, showed a slight downward trend. However by taking into account visitors who crossed over from allied exhibitions running concurrently, this year's total, about 42,000, was up by around 10 percent. The number of Furniture Show exhibitors grew from around 1000 to 1154 and many, from the exhibitors to individual visitors, were reportedly satisfied with the level of interest shown and orders placed.

Improvements in the show's physical plant helped make a good impression on visitors and exhibitors. Wider carpeted aisles allowed the stands to be seen at their best. ''Last year the show was drab and scruffy,'' said Neil Smith of the Pine Manufacturers Association. ''This year it is bright, lively and well organized.''

So what was so good about the four-day event? For starters, many of the exhibitors had 'gone to town' on their stands, presenting their wares in more imaginative and attractive ways than in the past. This may have been a response to statements made by many marketing people who say a lack of promotion within the industry is a problem.

Parker Knoll's fabric division introduced some new traditional lines, but according to Sales Director Chris Warren, plains in the 'modern' styles were still popular. ''We were very busy,'' he said. Revealing the general satisfaction with the show's presentation, Warren called it ''vastly improved. ''They got the formula right.''

Warren also said that contract sales were definitely up, but he confirmed that the retail sector remains in the doldrums.

OVERSEAS PARTICIPATION
Exhibitors from Europe and beyond numbered 29 with Denmark, France and Italy leading the way. After a three-year absence, Italy's largest manufacturer, Natuzzi, made a return to the show with a 700 square meter stand. Also present were exhibitors from Asia, North America, the Far East and Scandinavia, making the exhibition truly international. But all this overseas interest in the U.K. show raises a question: Can the British manufacturers compete? As one Italian exhibitor remarked, ''In Italy we view Europe as our home market, while in Britain, Europe is treated as overseas and export.''

SMORGASBOARD
Because there was such a wide range of products on display, it was hard to discern style and design trends. It was really a case of 'what you want is here' with the so-called 'modern' styles probably having the edge.

There was evidence of a buying trend, though, apparently dictated by the general public, towards the use of individual pieces of furniture in a variety of styles rather than the traditional three-piece suite.

In the field of upholstery, leather continues to be popular with an ever-increasing number of color options including indigos, soft grey-greens and blue-greys.

An unexpected fixture in the Press Centre was a box of jelly beans. Tim Brown of Leathermasters, who, while propounding the ability of his cream to restore the color of pulled leather, explained that the beans are a by-product of the gelatin produced in the tanning process.

DESIGN INTERIORS
This section of the show saw an increased number of contract furniture companies including Bampton Design, Sherwood Industries, Martin J. Dodge and Nicholas Scott, all of which were pleased with the interest shown.

''The show has been a huge success for us,'' said Yvonne Smith of Bampton Design. ''It's a hardworking show with many benefits.''

Michael Northcroft-Brown, a director of both the British Contract Furnishers Association and his own exhibiting company, Northcroft Ltd., said, ''No contract furniture company should miss exhibiting at Design Interiors in the future. Its more up-market position attracts the visitors looking for quality, which is one feature of the products sold into this demanding sector of the market.'' Northcroft said he believes that British designers need to be more innovative to beat the overseas competition.

NEED TO PROMOTE
From many quarters, a call has resounded for British retailers to promote themselves and furniture products. The demand stems from a general consensus, especially among manufacturers, that the fate of the industry is inextricably linked to the success or failure of these retailers. One industry columnist said that items that are presented glamorously during trade shows lose their appeal when they are returned to the corner of some cluttered showroom. Neil Smith of the Pine Manufacturers Association voiced similar sentiments. ''The buying public must know what is available,'' he said, speaking primarily to the approximately 100 member companies of the association. ''Promotion is a must.''

INDUSTRY INITIATIVES
The show took place against a backdrop of various industry initiatives. One is the business support program started by the Pine Manufacturers' Association with the Department of Trade and Industry. It was launched at the county level in 1997 and is now a national operation.

Another, the Furniture and Furnishings Industry National Training Organization, a consortium of furniture trade organizations, announced it now has official government support. It aims to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers by implementing training standards and programs for the entire British furniture industry. The organization will reach out to schools and colleges and support apprentice schemes. Mike Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Association of Master Upholsterers and Secretary of FINTO said, ''This is a trade-backed initiative which will ensure that our skills base is maintained and the skills gap is addressed.''