More Than 30 US Companies Have Shown At Interzum Guangzhou

Furniture World Magazine

International furniture production markets have shifted, supply chains have changed and so has the landscape of international trade shows for the woodworking industry. Three years ago, the German trade show organizer Koelnmesse responded to the move of the furniture manufacturing industry to Asia and launched the woodworking & furniture production show, interzum guangzhou. This industry event will take place from March 27-30, 2006. interzum guangzhou originated as a satellite of the well known interzum show, which takes place every 2 years in Cologne, Germany. More than 30 U.S. companies have since exhibited at this event. Says Rick Barrett of Shannon Lumber: “Being a major Hardwoods supplier worldwide, we exhibited at Guangzhou to increase awareness about us in the Chinese woodworking industry. Besides gaining many valuable new contacts, our participation has resulted in opening up an office in China in the next months.” “We were successful in finding new customers and stay in touch with existing ones. The show generates a tremendous amount of interest among attendees in China – we particularly saw a great number of Northern Chinese buyers at this show. To prepare properly, U.S. companies who look for distribution, should consider advertising prior to this event”, recommends Rich Nelson, Manager of the Guangzhou office of Northwest Hardwoods. To direct focus on the U.S. mattress industry, the Virginia based International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) will take part in this event for the second time. The spotlight will be on machinery, equipment, supplies and services available to mattress manufactures. Says Debi Sutton, VP of Marketing & Member Services: “In 2005, we came here to represent seven of our member companies and were successful in identifying new business opportunities for them. This event offers U.S. companies an attractive and well organized and well attended business environment. We already made arrangement to be back in 2006”. interzum gangzhou is one of the largest international trade fairs for furniture production in China. At the last event in 2005 the show attracted 380 exhibitors and 62,000 attendees. Every third attendee came from outside China. To make participation easy and convenient, Koelnmesse Inc., Chicago, has once again organized a USA Pavilion Exhibit. The organizer anticipates that the show will grow again and that space will be sold out by January 2006. The main product areas of this event will be machines for woodworking production, materials and components for furniture production, machines for upholstery and bedding and materials and components for interior works. For further information on exhibiting or visiting interzum guangzhou 2006, contact Ken Dickerson at Koelnmesse Inc., 8700 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Suite 640 North, Chicago, IL 60631 Telephone: (773) 326-9926; Fax: (773) 714-0063; E-mail: k.dickerson@koelnmessenafta.com Or visit the web site www.interzum-guangzhou.com