ShowRoom plans to include top-end fabric suppliers
August 28, 2003
MANCHESTER, England — ShowRoom consolidated its position as a key event in the U.K. home furnishing industry's calendar with its second showing at Manchester's G-Mex Centre in April.
Sponsored by the British Interior Textiles Association, ShowRoom 2003 featured many of the U.K.'s leading suppliers for home interiors, with the emphasis on soft furnishings, particularly readymade bedding and curtains. Around 150 exhibitors from the U.K. and abroad took part, with some 30 percent showing for the first time.
Although the exhibition was about the same size as last year, improvements in the quality of many exhibitors' stands and plans for expansion gave the organizers cause for optimism.
"The show really looked great," said Showroom Expo director Simon Boyd. "And we received very strong feedback from across the board, with exhibitors telling U.S. the quality of international and U.K. visitors was excellent and business was brisk."
Revealing plans for next year's show (April 25-27, 2004), Boyd said a separate hall, called ShowRoom Mode, has already been earmarked for up to 18 invitation-only, top-end fabric companies. This will provide an exclusive and dedicated area, including hospitality suites and private viewing facilities.
"We want to move the show more upmarket and hope for a snowball effect over the next couple of months," he said. "We are trying to increase our offer and, with any luck, this initiative will catch people's imagination.
At 5,400, overall visitor numbers for ShowRoom 2003 were up just over 3 percent compared with last year, with the names reading like a "who's who" of the home textiles buying industry. "We were very pleased with the business our exhibitors achieved," he said, noting that major department stores and multiple retailers visited the show.
"The industry is pulling itself in different directions," he said. "It really needs to unite behind one show. We hope ShowRoom will become a truly representative industry exhibition, a one-stop event."
John Wilman returned to the U.K. scene under the guise of John Sebastian Ltd. The company presented an innovative range of fabrics and wallcoverings, sourced from all over Europe, in two collections — contemporary and modern classics comprising velvets, damasks and textured plains.
The renowned designer said: "We have spent the last two year putting these innovative collections together — products that are far beyond anything else seen at ShowRoom. We had a fantastic reaction with a steady flow of quality visitors.
"Our initial strategy is to focus on the U.K., where we have appointed six agents. The business plan has us exhibiting at shows in Manchester and Birmingham, and we will also be going to Europe."
Part of the Bradford-based Prestigious Textiles group, Prestigious Readymades said it exceeded pre-show targets for booking business and making new contacts. Graham Rhodes, divisional head, said: "The response to our new lines was very encouraging from home and export customer alike." Particular interest was shown in the company's new ranges of lined chenille jacquards, while industry feedback suggests that relaxed tab-top panels will be strong sellers this autumn.
Rhodes said it was sometimes difficult to export readymade products from the U.K. because of different sizing and packaging requirements for specific customers, particularly across Europe. "However, we do see great potential for exports, for example, to Scandinavia and the U.S."
He said some sophisticated, larger retail groups in the U.K. are buying direct from mills in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey and China — all the main countries supplying curtain and bedding fabrics to the U.K. market.
"Our strategy is to move upmarket, which means dealing with the likes of Dunelm, John Lewis and Allders — U.K. retailers with more aspirational customers. Readymades suppliers that don't trade up are leaving themselves exposed to cut-throat competition and ever-diminishing volumes."
Derek Nott, managing director of Manchester-based supplier of ready made curtains, curtain fabrics and linings Gordon John Textiles, said the company enjoyed a "very satisfactory" ShowRoom, seeing most of the customers it expected to.
Sales director Rob Surtees added: "The exhibition is basically a readymades show for the U.K. retail and wholesale trade. We had an excellent showing, certainly the best in the past five years."
Gordon John previewed new chenilles, prints and dupion silks and several new performance brands from its range of Sundour readymade curtains that received an enthusiastic reception. Surtees commented: "The textile industry has always been driven by fashion. We believe consumers want the same aesthetic appeal while enhancing their lifestyle."
The company exports to 35 countries in Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Key markets include Germany, France, Scandinavia, Australia and Canada, and export sales comprise around 20percent of the company's £15 million (US$25 million) turnover.
Gordon John is expecting a 15percent increase in total sales in the current financial year, and early indications are promising. "We are investing whereas others in the U.K. are standing still. Since our £2 million (US$3.3 million) management buyout from Headlam plc in 2000, we have been able to act more entrepreneurially. We try to be something different and innovative, as it's all about design and quality. I guess it means we're also a lot hungrier for business."
In the U.K. readymades market, the key players are the multiple independents and larger mail-order companies, Surtees noted. While some larger retailers have tried to deal directly with mills in, for example, China and Pakistan, they often find this is not so easy. "Retailers need converters for their design and marketing expertise," said Surtees. "We provide in-house design and coloration facilities and have just invested £50,000 (US$80,000) in a new CAD system and color printer.
The Gordon John team has been strengthened with a couple of new appointments. In March, Jane Wilkinson joined as export sales manager; she also held the same position for 12 years at Coloroll Wallcoverings.
More recently, Chris Healey, previously account manager at linen importer and distributor Turner Bianca, has been appointed national accounts manager. He will concentrate on the readymade curtains market and will have particular responsibility for Gordon John's mail-order business.
Commenting on ShowRoom, Paul Marshall, director of manufacturers and converters Fryett's Fabrics of Clifton, Manchester, said: "We had a great show, with a good volume and cross-section of buyers across all the days."
Philip Brooks, export sales manager, revealed that Fryett's doubled export turnover in 2002 and was expecting to grow overseas business even further this year. Key markets include France, Scandinavia, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand, and the company is keen to find distributors in other countries.
"We have appointed a new distributor in Hong Kong who is selling into China," Brooks revealed. "We would also like to do more business in both Western and Eastern Europe."
Sponsored by the British Interior Textiles Association, ShowRoom 2003 featured many of the U.K.'s leading suppliers for home interiors, with the emphasis on soft furnishings, particularly readymade bedding and curtains. Around 150 exhibitors from the U.K. and abroad took part, with some 30 percent showing for the first time.
Although the exhibition was about the same size as last year, improvements in the quality of many exhibitors' stands and plans for expansion gave the organizers cause for optimism.
"The show really looked great," said Showroom Expo director Simon Boyd. "And we received very strong feedback from across the board, with exhibitors telling U.S. the quality of international and U.K. visitors was excellent and business was brisk."
Revealing plans for next year's show (April 25-27, 2004), Boyd said a separate hall, called ShowRoom Mode, has already been earmarked for up to 18 invitation-only, top-end fabric companies. This will provide an exclusive and dedicated area, including hospitality suites and private viewing facilities.
"We want to move the show more upmarket and hope for a snowball effect over the next couple of months," he said. "We are trying to increase our offer and, with any luck, this initiative will catch people's imagination.
At 5,400, overall visitor numbers for ShowRoom 2003 were up just over 3 percent compared with last year, with the names reading like a "who's who" of the home textiles buying industry. "We were very pleased with the business our exhibitors achieved," he said, noting that major department stores and multiple retailers visited the show.
"The industry is pulling itself in different directions," he said. "It really needs to unite behind one show. We hope ShowRoom will become a truly representative industry exhibition, a one-stop event."
John Wilman returned to the U.K. scene under the guise of John Sebastian Ltd. The company presented an innovative range of fabrics and wallcoverings, sourced from all over Europe, in two collections — contemporary and modern classics comprising velvets, damasks and textured plains.
The renowned designer said: "We have spent the last two year putting these innovative collections together — products that are far beyond anything else seen at ShowRoom. We had a fantastic reaction with a steady flow of quality visitors.
"Our initial strategy is to focus on the U.K., where we have appointed six agents. The business plan has us exhibiting at shows in Manchester and Birmingham, and we will also be going to Europe."
Part of the Bradford-based Prestigious Textiles group, Prestigious Readymades said it exceeded pre-show targets for booking business and making new contacts. Graham Rhodes, divisional head, said: "The response to our new lines was very encouraging from home and export customer alike." Particular interest was shown in the company's new ranges of lined chenille jacquards, while industry feedback suggests that relaxed tab-top panels will be strong sellers this autumn.
Rhodes said it was sometimes difficult to export readymade products from the U.K. because of different sizing and packaging requirements for specific customers, particularly across Europe. "However, we do see great potential for exports, for example, to Scandinavia and the U.S."
He said some sophisticated, larger retail groups in the U.K. are buying direct from mills in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey and China — all the main countries supplying curtain and bedding fabrics to the U.K. market.
"Our strategy is to move upmarket, which means dealing with the likes of Dunelm, John Lewis and Allders — U.K. retailers with more aspirational customers. Readymades suppliers that don't trade up are leaving themselves exposed to cut-throat competition and ever-diminishing volumes."
Derek Nott, managing director of Manchester-based supplier of ready made curtains, curtain fabrics and linings Gordon John Textiles, said the company enjoyed a "very satisfactory" ShowRoom, seeing most of the customers it expected to.
Sales director Rob Surtees added: "The exhibition is basically a readymades show for the U.K. retail and wholesale trade. We had an excellent showing, certainly the best in the past five years."
Gordon John previewed new chenilles, prints and dupion silks and several new performance brands from its range of Sundour readymade curtains that received an enthusiastic reception. Surtees commented: "The textile industry has always been driven by fashion. We believe consumers want the same aesthetic appeal while enhancing their lifestyle."
The company exports to 35 countries in Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Key markets include Germany, France, Scandinavia, Australia and Canada, and export sales comprise around 20percent of the company's £15 million (US$25 million) turnover.
Gordon John is expecting a 15percent increase in total sales in the current financial year, and early indications are promising. "We are investing whereas others in the U.K. are standing still. Since our £2 million (US$3.3 million) management buyout from Headlam plc in 2000, we have been able to act more entrepreneurially. We try to be something different and innovative, as it's all about design and quality. I guess it means we're also a lot hungrier for business."
In the U.K. readymades market, the key players are the multiple independents and larger mail-order companies, Surtees noted. While some larger retailers have tried to deal directly with mills in, for example, China and Pakistan, they often find this is not so easy. "Retailers need converters for their design and marketing expertise," said Surtees. "We provide in-house design and coloration facilities and have just invested £50,000 (US$80,000) in a new CAD system and color printer.
The Gordon John team has been strengthened with a couple of new appointments. In March, Jane Wilkinson joined as export sales manager; she also held the same position for 12 years at Coloroll Wallcoverings.
More recently, Chris Healey, previously account manager at linen importer and distributor Turner Bianca, has been appointed national accounts manager. He will concentrate on the readymade curtains market and will have particular responsibility for Gordon John's mail-order business.
Commenting on ShowRoom, Paul Marshall, director of manufacturers and converters Fryett's Fabrics of Clifton, Manchester, said: "We had a great show, with a good volume and cross-section of buyers across all the days."
Philip Brooks, export sales manager, revealed that Fryett's doubled export turnover in 2002 and was expecting to grow overseas business even further this year. Key markets include France, Scandinavia, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand, and the company is keen to find distributors in other countries.
"We have appointed a new distributor in Hong Kong who is selling into China," Brooks revealed. "We would also like to do more business in both Western and Eastern Europe."
