AKTRIN to take Austrian Trade Delegation to April High Point Furniture Market

Furniture World Magazine

The Furniture Consulting Firm "AKTRIN" - in collaboration with the Austrian Trade Commission in New York - will take a trade delegation of furniture executives from Austria to the April High Point Furniture Market. Most of the delegates are new to the North American furniture business. The composition of the delegation is very diverse, made up of about 15 furniture retailers and manufacturers. However, they all have in common the desire to either source furniture on this continent, or to find new market opportunities in the United States. Austrian furniture manufacturers have a flair for good design and quality, producing products well suited for a North American retailers and consumers. So far, Austria's share of overall U.S. furniture imports is very small, lying below US$ 10 million per annum or less than one-half percent. Dr. Stefan Wille - President of the AKTRIN Furniture Information Center - says that wooden office furniture is the only product category for which Austria achieved a good success in the American market place. In fact, Austria ranks among the ten most important foreign wooden office furniture suppliers to the USA, well ahead of most other European countries. While the value of furniture exports from Austria to America is modest, progress during the past few years has been most satisfactory. For many product categories, the annual growth rate has been in the double-digit range. It has been particularly steep for wooden office furniture. The good export performance offers a welcome reprieve to Austrian furniture manufacturers who were faced with a shrinking domestic market during the past few years. The United States is the world's largest furniture market. According Dr. Wille, this should provide a strong stimulus to Austrian furniture manufacturers to more aggressively promote their products in this country. Speaking about Austrian furniture imports, foreign produced furniture capture an increasing share of the Austrian market, presently standing at almost 50%. This share is even higher for upholstered furniture. However, Austria's position - as a destination country for U.S. produced furniture - is negligible. The country accounts for purchases valued only at a few millions dollars annually. Dr. Wille says that Austrian furniture retailers would be well advised to seriously consider the USA as a potential source country. Several American furniture manufacturers have made impressive inroads in other European countries. AKTRIN is a report-writing and international consulting firm fully dedicated to the global furniture industry. The company has been in existence since 1985 and maintains offices in the United States and Canada. Representatives and affiliates are located throughout the world. For more information contact Wayne Damba at (336) 8418535