Sep 4, 2008

Home Textiles Market Week defies challenging economy



WHITE PLAINS, NY … Solid and consistent order-writing by retailers unified the Summer 2008 Home Textiles Market Week across New York with an unexpected level of energy, despite current economic realities. The semi-annual market for mid-to-high-end home textiles ran August 15-21, at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) (at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers), 230 Fifth Avenue and 7 West 34th Street.

“Overall, the summer market was a showcase of both quality and quantity, drawing some 36,000 attendees from around the globe,” said Penny Sikalis, GLM vice president. “Buyers were amazed by the sheer number of textiles resources, the concentration of quality products and the enhanced presentations, and they placed orders accordingly.”

In total, the market featured nearly 500 better home textiles suppliers, featuring the newest bed and bath fashions, table linens, kitchen textiles, towels, decorative accessories, area rugs, window treatments and decorative fabrics. GLM continued to refine and coalesce luxury home textiles resources, presenting a critical mass of some 200 established and emerging vendors in its At Home division at the Javits Center. Attention-getting newcomers to market included Avanti Linens, DownTown, Isabella Collection, The Linen Home and WC-Designs; and alongside were expanded and repositioned companies including Amity Home, Andrew Morgan Collection, Home Treasures, John Robshaw, Mike & Ally, Peacock Alley, Plover Organic, Softline Home Fashions and Versai.

“The At Home section now has a higher concentration of textiles and more linen companies together, and that has a great impact,” said Herbert D. Knudsen, president of the Ogallala Comfort Company. “We saw specialty stores, high-end stores and interior designers, as well as international companies, especially from Europe. We had concerns given the current economy, but were very pleasantly surprised with the level of interest and buying activity.”

“The concentration of high-end textiles at Javits is extremely convenient for buyers,” added George Matouk, Jr., president of John Matouk & Co., Inc. “This makes it much easier for us to make contact with the key buyers at the show, and buyers keep their appointments with us with much greater consistency. If they pass by and we are busy, it is easy for them to return.” Through continued refinement and expansion of textiles resources at NYIGF, 200 luxury home textiles suppliers were consolidated within NYIGF’s At Home division at the Javits Center. Another 300 companies were presented in well-attended showrooms at 230 Fifth Ave and 7 West 34th Street as well as throughout other NYIGF divisions and locations.

“We were thrilled to see that the state of the economy had not affected our buyer traffic during Home Textiles Market Week and the New York Gift Show,” said Jane Gural-Senders, executive director of 230 Fifth Avenue. “Our showroom tenants were pleased with the retailer turnout.”

7 West’s Deborah Conkling, key account manager, Creative Bath, added “There was a constant flow of traffic with large orders placed by clients from Dubai to the UK, as well as domestically.”

The next edition of New York Home Textiles Market Week will take place January 23-29, 2009, at NYIGF, 230 Fifth Avenue and 7 West 34th Street. Information and registration is available online at www.nyhometextilesmarketweek.com.