Archives

A Highlighted Event

Intermob
Tüyap Convention and Congress Centre
Istanbul, Turkey
September 26 - 29, 2009

The 12th Intermob was held in conjunction with Wood Processing Machinery 2009, which together hosted 714 exhibiting companies. More than 32,600 professionals visited the fair, of which 2,135 were from overseas. Part of the transportation, accommodation and living expenses of these visitors were paid by Tüyap.

The fair was opened by C Tanıl Küçük, Chairman of İSO - İstanbul Chamber of Industry; Osman Kahveci, General Manager of Forestry – Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the directors of Tuyap.

In order to promote these events and the respective industries abroad, a group of journalists representing trade publications from all over the world (including the members of International Alliance of Furnishing Publications - IAFP) were invited to the fairs for the first time, thanks to the sponsorship from Ekin Publishing Group. The delegation consisted of about 30 people from 24 furniture and furniture supplier magazines from 16 different countries (Germany, Australia, Belgium, the UAE, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine and Greece).

The scope of the Intermob 2009 included: furniture accessories, laminate, wooden parquetry, MDF, laminated chipboards, log, timber, all kinds of chipboards, wooden doors and windows, door fillings, door surfaces, kitchen cabinet covers, rail, sliding systems, wooden, plastic drawers, side bands, paint, varnish, polish, adhesives, paint spraying apparatus, hardware, abrasive, nail, screw, upholstery, impregnated, sponge, casters, table legs, armchair components, trade publications and trade organisations.

A Specialised Interior Design Festival

Index
Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, UAE
November 14-17, 2009

Index 2009 makes APID, the Association of Professional Interior Designers, the official partner for this year’s show. It marks the first steps towards a combined goal of introducing the Dubai Festival of Interior Design, which would place the Emirate at the forefront of the international interior design calendar.

APID is hosting the 24th General Assembly of the IFI (International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers) and the World Interior Design Congress 2009. These biennial events are being held in Dubai for the first time in their 46-year history, and take place from November 6-11.

INDEX takes place the following week, from November 14-17. The exhibition will showcase some of the industry’s leading products and designs from high profile companies including Longhi, Rexite, Porada, Andreu World and Colleccion Alexandra. Pre visitor registration for INDEX is already at record levels, up by over 90 percent from August last year.

In order to bridge the gap between the events, INDEX will be hosting cultural tours for IFI delegates on November 12-13 as well as a reception at the show. In addition, IFI delegates will be invited to join the INDEX VIP Business Match-Making programme, which will match top interior designers, specifiers and buyers with relevant exhibitors.

APID and INDEX are collaborating closely to ensure that this event will be a landmark in the design calendar and an event at the forefront of “Design” “Worldwide”, for the future.

Lu Buchanan, INDEX event director said, “We have been working closely with the industry to ensure that INDEX 2009 is very design-focused, as we want to produce a show that rivals the other leading international interior design events. Our longer-term goal is to expand INDEX so that it becomes part of a brand new Dubai Interior Design Week. Working with APID, and other interested parties, will ensure that this happens, and our formal relationship for INDEX 2009 is a great start to this process.”

Kenneth Laidler, APID President, added, “”APID was given the opportunity to host the IFI National Assembly and grasped the opportunity with both hands, similarly APID welcomes the opportunity to partner with INDEX and is confident the collaboration will produce a truly individual inspiring and memorable event.

Mebel Meets

Mebel Moscow
Moscow Expocentre
Moscow, Russia
November 23 – 27, 2009

One of the largest Russian events for the furniture industry, it will be featuring two other shows in the same venue – the 3rd Moscow International Salon – Interior Show and the ZOW 2009 International Specialised Exhibition for components, semi-finished products and accessories for the furniture industry. These will serve to complement each other and provide a broader range of exhibits for visitors to Mebel.

In order to make the fair a more focused experience, the Mebel exhibition development programme, Mebel’2009/2010, will be introduced to bring various sectors of the furniture market together and boost demand. This was devised in order to tap into the large potential Russian furniture market and help industry players. The programme will be designed to cater to the market position, resources and needs of every exhibitor.

In addition, the exhibits at Mebel 2009 will be arranged according to categories to help enhance visitor navigation. They will be split into seven broad categories, namely

1. Style – international furniture: classic and modern;
2. Comfort – upholstered and cabinet furniture for homes, upholstery;
3. Components – component parts, hardware and fittings;
4. Kitchen – kitchen world: furniture, appliances, accessories;
5. O Office – office and specialist furniture;
6. Design – interior design; and décor – separate furniture and décor items.

The fair will also pay special attention to national pavilions. At this edition of Mebel, the German pavilion will be another highlight of the fair. Nineteen companies will be brought in to exhibit their products and present recent industry achievements and trends in furniture interior design. The 600 sq m exhibition space will showcase the versatility and diversity of German-made furniture to visitors and exhibitors alike.

On top of that, exhibitors at Mebel will also receive an additional promotional package to enhance their presence at the fair. It will include a training seminar on effective exhibiting; publication of company information in the news section of the exhibition website; free entrance to all exhibitions at Moscow Expocentre from May 18, 2009; online registration; assistance in extending invitations to potential visitors; programme of business-related events; and a flexible price policy for small and medium enterprises.

International exhibitors at Mebel 2009 will see representation from 42 countries, including six new participants, Egypt, India, Latvia, Moldova, Singapore and Estonia.

Pure Living Space

IMM Cologne
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre
Cologne, Germany
January 19 – 24, 2010

The next edition of IMM Cologne will see a new exhibition format for premium design in lighting, furniture, specialist ranges, and the bathroom. This new format, called Pure Village, will create a platform on which stand-alone presentations of exclusive design items are showcased just as effectively as creative interior concepts.

Pure Village will be located at Hall 3.2, where the various highlights of the different sectors will be grouped together. It will see the juxtaposition of classic and modern, traditional and cutting-edge designs, making it the ideal projection surface for current trends in interior design.

IMM Cologne will also be showcasing the bathroom segment for the first time under the heading Living Bath Room. Pure Village will be presenting it as an inherent part in interior design, and will also provide a link between design in the living room and bathroom. Hence, a large range of products and designs will be presented accentuating the idea that the modern bathroom represents the fusion of various living areas.

IMM Cologne is expecting around 1,000 exhibitors from 45 countries, a similar statistic to the previous edition.

New Interiors

Interiors Birmingham
NEC Birmingham
Birmingham, UK
January 24 – 27, 2010

Catered specially for retailers, interior designers, architects and contractors to get to know the newest products from designers, Interiors Birmingham will be held from January 24 to 27, 2010. The concentration is largely on injecting new blood into the design industry, with highlights for the fair including Designersblock, Thinking Space, New Design Britain, and the Student Lighting Designer Competition.

Designersblock will showcase products from young and emerging designers in furniture, lighting and textiles. This section last year displayed the works of 30 new talents in the design world, which helped set trends for the next year. Thinking Space will be a new feature this year, and aims to provide an area where it is hoped that industry players will be inspired, invigorated and informed through its displays.

There will also be quite a few events that provide a platform for industry newcomers to exhibit their designs. New Design Britain and the Student Lighting Designer Competition are two venues in which outstanding works are honoured. New Design Britain will focus on interiors, and judges will include M&S, House of Fraser, Barbara Chandler and Michael Sodeau. The Student Lighting Designer Competition will allow students to learn more about the lighting industry while using their creativity to design new products. In addition, Interiors 2010 will host a unique collaboration between Birmingham City University and Global Colour Research, which will take up part of Thinking Space. The project will demonstrate how to apply trend forecasts, provided by Global Colour Research, to both contract and domestic environments.

Decorative Australia

Australia International Furniture Fair
Sydney Exhibition Centre
Sydney, Australia
February 3 – 5, 2010

Australia International Furniture Fair will showcase the latest furniture and furnishing designs from over 200 Australian and international companies. Fair highlights for the upcoming edition include Hotel + Hospitality, The Edge – Design and Innovation Showcase and Eco Luxury.

Hotel + Hospitality will be a returning event for its third year, and will showcase the latest furniture and trends in the hotel, motel, club and restaurant sectors. Focusing on another sector of the industry, The Edge provides a platform for new and emerging furniture designers from Australia and other countries. They will get a chance to introduce their products and designs to industry players in the Australian furniture business. The designs will be presented in the categories of Commercial, Concept, Student and Green. Applications are now open for participation in The Edge. Combining green concepts and style, Eco Luxury will exhibit products from Australian designers and architects. They will concentrate on the concept of eco-living while incorporating luxurious and sustainable designs.

The Australian International Furniture Fair is organised by the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia Ltd. It will be co-located with the fair Decoration + Design Sydney, an exclusive trade fair for the Australian soft furnishing and interior products industries.

Office Designs

The Office Exhibition 2010
Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, UAE
February 9 – 11, 2010

The 2010 edition of the Office Exhibition in Dubai will bring events new and old designed to make your fair visit a more enriching one.

To be held at the Office Exhibition for the first time, the Office Awards is an online awards programme created exclusively for the fair. It will be open to all exhibitors at the show and the judges will be selecting winners based on the criteria of design, sustainability and ergonomics. The “O Award” will be presented to winning exhibitions and in turn provide high-profile exposure and recognition for newly launched products and creative efforts in the industry. In addition, all winners of the awards will receive exclusive marketing materials as well as additional press, website and email coverage. For Office exhibitors, registration for the Awards will be through the exhibitor zone, and you will be notified when it is open for registration.

Another highlight would be the Office Talks. Launched in 2009, this seminar series proved successful and will be returning for its second run in the 2010 edition of the Office Exhibition. Industry leaders will be touching on topics including office ergonomics, going green and green technologies, the latest in office design techniques, and office technology and applications. Some speaker slots are also still open, and interested parties are invited to apply.

Combining leisure and business, the fair will introduce the Office Café. This will feature three unique cafes located at the rear of the show with furniture, branding and concept provided by three different companies. Each will focus on a different area, namely high-end design, sustainability, and ergonomics. This will enable visitors to examine the practical application of these three concepts on the design of a café.

Interior Design Solutions For Consumers

Malaysian International Furniture Fair
* Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
* Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)
* MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 2 – 6, 2010

For 2010, MIFF is adding a new branch with “ID Trends”, held in conjunction with the main event at the MECC. This is in line with MIFF’s aim to reach out to local consumers by offering them an accessible platform where interior designers and contract manufacturers are located in one spot to offer consumers advice and answers to their lifestyle needs.

One of the highlights of ID Trends is booths set up for interior designers as a platform for them to offer consultation to visitors. Because ID Trends is held during the same duration as MIFF 2010, participants will also be able to build their network all across the region.

ID Trends will feature booths that reflect conceptual designs; and will offer furniture and furnishings. Expect products for the home and the office under one roof, plus lifestyle solutions that is catered to consumers’ demands and needs.

Export-Focused Furniture

Export Furniture Exhibition
Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 3 – 7, 2010

Located at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS), the 2010 edition of Export Furniture Exhibition (EFE) will showcase more than 500 leading local and international manufacturers, exporters and suppliers.

Products to be exhibited include a wide range across the whole spectrum of the furniture market, including cabinet; sofa, upholstery and accessories; bedroom; home; living room; dining; kitchen; children; outdoor; rattan; hotel; leather; office; occasional; and entertainment furniture.

Added features of the fair include an international buyers’ lounge, a business centre, free Internet facilities, foot reflexology and massage services, free shuttle services, a luggage room, as well as a gala dinner for visitors and exhibitors. The international buyers lounge is a specially designated area for foreign buyers, media and guests within the exhibition centre. Shuttle services for EFE visitors will ply between the MAEPS and major hotels.

Now And Tomorrow

Manila Now
SM X Convention Cente
Manila, Philippines
March 4 - 7, 2010

The show’s slogan goes: "Come to Manila Now because tomorrow the world will have changed."

Manila Now Philippine International Furniture Shows (PIFS) 2010 renews its aggressive desire to lead the furniture design industry in Asia by moving its show dates to March 4-7 in order to assimilate into all the ASEAN furniture shows and make it convenient for the furniture buyers who come every year to Southeast Asia.

Manila Now PIFS 2010 has also moved to a new venue at the SM X Convention Centre. The 46,647-sq m exposition hall ensures that there are more exhibitors, bigger booths, and a wider range of furniture and furnishings to choose from.

Manila Now PIFS 2010 Targets Furniture and furnishings retailers, wholesalers, importers; specifiers, interior designers, hoteliers; real estate developers; restaurateurs, spa developers and landscape architects. They can expect to find office and residential furniture, as well furnishings such as lighting and accessories. Raw materials and components such as wood rattan, wicker bamboo, stone and sea grass can be found too.

Promising Platform

International Furniture Fair Singapore
Singapore Expo
Singapore
March 9 – 12, 2010

With more than 50 percent floor space already booked before November 2009 by exhibitors both old and new, the International Furniture Fair Singapore promises a strong cast despite the floundering economy. More than 60,000 pieces of furniture and furnishing products will be on display from companies representing more than 30 countries.

A highlight of the show will be PLATFORM 2010, a Design Entrepreneurial Development Programme initiated by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC). It plans to be a premier platform for new and promising furniture designers in Singapore and the region to introduce their new designs into the international market, launch their design careers and attract potential manufacturers. It also aims to become a sharing space where creative ideas can be borne and exchanged. PLATFORM promises to be an avenue through which new designers can reach an international audience from the visitors of the fair, as well as worldwide editorial exposure in more then 20 countries. In addition to that, SFIC and relevant government agencies will also ensure minimal cost-entry barriers for participants. PLATFORM 2010 is now open for submission.

Viva la VIFA

VIFA
Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
March 11 – 14, 2010

VIFA 2009 recorded an attendance of 15,000 trade visitors from 59 countries, who contributed to US$70 million in sales at the show. Out of the 150 exhibitors, about 60 percent were repeat participants. First-time exhibitors were also satisfied of the results.

Said a representative from Sun Glass Co Ltd: “This is our first time exhibiting at the VIFA and it was a great decision that we have been seeing good responses. The fair is very well organised and the organiser has been really nice ad friendly. We will definitely be back again for the next year”.

This year, much is done to upkeep market interest in VIFA. A marketing budget of over US$180,000 was set aside to promote the exhibition across 15 countries. Besides publicity in international publications and fairs, organisers also sent out invitations directly to quality potential buyers all over the world.

One of them, Raquel Pereira of Iber’s Design’s said of the organisers in 2009: “You are good in organisation but in my opinion, the organising committee should arrange some buses to drive the visitors from the city centre to and from the fair. It would be more convenient to the visitors.”

According to VIFA’s 2010 sales brochure, bus route numbers 34 and 102 “stop near the front of the venue”, without specifying from where.

The fair showcases a full spectrum of furniture for residential, bathroom, outdoor and office use. Others featured include interior furnishing and accessories, as well as woodworking hardware.

Famous For Furniture

International Famous Furniture Fair (Dongguan)
Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Centre
Dongguan, China
March 16 – 20, 2010

Held twice a year, the International Famous Furniture Fair in Dongguan, China, will return for its next run from March 16 to 20, 2010. Product segments this year include modern furniture, classical furniture, home accents, metal and glass furniture, upholstered furniture, and pavilions from various Chinese states.

The exhibition will occupy nine halls in the Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Centre, with more than 700 exhibitors from over 10 countries displaying their latest products. It will be held concurrently with the International Famous Furniture Woodworking Machinery & Material Fair and the Dongguan Home Accents Fair, and together they will cover almost every sector of the furniture industry. Categories on display include bedroom furniture, living room furniture, upholstery, wall décor, decorative accessories, lightings, textile, and woodworking machinery and materials.

The International Famous Furniture Fair is the only furniture event in China that is supported by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and also the only furniture exhibition that has received UTI Approved Event endorsement in China.

Eco-Themed CIFF

China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou)
China Import and Export Fair Complex
Guangzhou, China
March 27 – 30, 2010

The coming March will see the China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) – Office Show, held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. One of Asia’s prestigious fair for office furnishings and facilities, CIFF – Office Show will feature the latest trends and concepts in office with regard to office furnishing, lighting, flooring and acoustics.

A new feature of the show would be the Office Environment Theme Pavilion, which combines humanity, technology and ecology as components for an ideal working space in the future. Designed by Xu Zhaoming, a professional designer with 40 years experience, the pavilion will integrate multi-media and physical displays to demonstrate the newest trends and ideas of a modern office space. Visitors will get to experience the evolution history of the office environment, appreciate the finest collections from big brands in office furniture, enjoy the “life office environment space”, keep up with the trends in eco-office, and obtain more information on materials and colour trends through interactions with the designer and attending related forums.

CIFF – Office Show 2009, together with concurrent events China International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Raw Materials Fair (Guangzhou)/interzum Guangzhou saw a total exhibition space of 130,000 sq m, gaining a reputation for being a major event in the Chinese office furniture industry. The fair is organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre (Group) and is supported by the Guangdong Furniture Association, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Furniture & Decoration Trade Association, and Taiwan Furniture Manufacturers’ Association.