Home Textiles Market Week Builds Momentum
White Plains, NY – The convenience of a cohesive luxury home textiles market drew raves from buyers coming to New York City for Home Textiles Market Week, January 31-February 7, 2008, at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94, 230 Fifth Avenue, and 7 West 34th Street.
With the continued expansion and refinement of better home fashion resources at the Javits Center, some 400 leading vendors of high-end bed, bath and linen products out performed expectations for the Market. Established home textiles brands, such as Sferra, Pine Cone Hill, Matouk, Peacock Alley, Legacy, Traditions, Home Treasures and Abyss/Habidecor anchored the At Home featuring Home Textiles division. Exceptional newcomers and expanding brands such as L’Erba, Dea, Signoria di Firenze, John Robshaw, GH Interiors, Fratelli Graziano, Tessilarte, Forza, Cuddledown and more, rounded out the mix.
“Both exhibitors and attendees expressed enthusiasm and gratitude about our continued coalescing of home textiles resources at NYIGF and across New York’s permanent showrooms,” said Penny Sikalis, GLM vice president. “Home Textiles Market Week is increasingly offering a depth and breadth of luxury home fashion resources not found at any other U.S. market, as well as limitless cross-category opportunities for buyers, and cross-channel expansion for vendors.”
“The changes made the Javits and Piers so much easier to shop. It is great to have all the textiles grouped together, especially for buyers with limited time or appointment schedules, who can’t see everything,” said Christine Dos Santos, Merchandising Director, Gracious Home. “Vendors also seemed more satisfied because they were getting more targeted buyers.”
U.S. retailers attended in force, with home textiles buyers representing a wide range of channels including department stores, specialty chains, mass merchandisers and independents. A sampling includes ABC Carpet & Home, Bed Bath Beyond, Bloomingdales, Fortunoff, Garnet Hill, Gracious Home, Hanover Direct, Macy’s Home, MoMA, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and West Elm.
“Buyers love the concentration of textiles exhibitors, and the market feels more open and more workable,” said Matthew Lenoci, President of Matteo. “Suppliers have really enhanced their exhibit spaces, knowing that a concentrated area means more volume and attention.”
“The New York Home Textiles Market Week seems to draw more international buyers who can benefit from a consolidated market experience,” added Janet Benton, National Sales Manager for Sferra. “The Market Week works for them, which means it works for us.”
The winter 2008 Home Textiles Market Week featured nearly 500 better home textiles vendors across all participating venues, featuring the newest bed and bath fashions, table linens, kitchen textiles, towels, area rugs, window treatments and decorative fabrics. The popular Home Textiles Market Week Best New Product Awards recognized unparalleled innovations in product design and development evidenced in the Market. Winners included Shades of India (Best of Market), Traditions (Bed Category), Matouk (Bath Category) and Matteo (Dining Category) and Fino Lino (Home Accessories).
The next edition of New York Home Textiles Market Week will take place Thursday, August 14, through Thursday, August 21, 2008, at NYIGF (Javits Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers), 230 Fifth Avenue and 7 West 34th Street.
Information and registration is available online at nyhometextilesmarketweek.com, or by calling GLM’s Customer Service Department, at (800) 272-SHOW, or (603) 665-7524.
