September 2008

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles
China International Trade Fair for Home Textiles & Accessories
Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
26 - 28 August 2008

FINAL REPORT

Show attracts visitors from around the world while exhibitors praise country pavilions set up to highlight them

New product zones in International Hall for bedding & towelling, upholstery and curtains help buyers find their way

Designers experience rise in interest from China and abroad

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2008 ended with a positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike about how international the show has become: "The advantage of this show is customers come from all over," said Mr Engin Ocak, general manager of Turkish supplier Guleser who met buyers from Russia, Asia and the Middle East. 

With more than 103,000 sqm, the show was 15% larger than in 2007 but had 35% more international exhibitors. Nearly 32,600 trade buyers from 98 countries/regions attended the show, 26 - 28 August at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. More than 900 suppliers were featured,

The show featured several highlights - product zones in the international hall for bedding & towelling, curtains, and upholstery; Chinese domestic halls organised by products; an expanded Designer's Studio to showcase international fabric design firms and pavilions for suppliers from Pakistan, Portugal, Taiwan and Turkey.

Country/region pavilions group exhibitors in one easy location

Nearby, 20 exhibitors were featured in the new Turkish Pavilion, organised by the Uludag Exporters Association, including many upholstery suppliers. The contemporary and striking design of the pavilion attracted many visitors, and suppliers said they look forward to returning to a larger pavilion already planned for next year.

Suppliers at the Portuguese Pavilion met buyers from around the world, said Dr Sofia Botelho, Executive Director of ATP, The Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal. "It's good for the Australian, New Zealand, Taiwan, Korean and Japanese markets. It is a convenient place for Europeans like us to meet buyers from these countries in this part of the world," she said. "It's a very professional show."

"Pakistani exhibitors had a very good response, better than expected," said Muhammad Ishaq Shinwari, assistant director for the Pakistan Trade Development Authority, which helped organise the Pakistani Pavilion, with 16 participants. "This is a unique show. China has the purchasing power so it is very important to Pakistani suppliers. But the target market at this show is not only China but also this region of the world."
 
"This is our first time to participate," said Mr Jack Wu, Sales Director, Merryson Corp., who joined the Taiwanese Pavilion. "Our aim was to expand our business in the China market because there is a rising demand for high quality products. We were glad to find good buyers here and Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is an effective channel for our company to tap this potential market."

New zones for bedding & towelling, upholstery and curtains

To help visitors locate specific products more effectively, the International Hall featured three special product zones: bedding & towelling, upholstery and curtains.

"We came to expand our business in China and overseas, and we have seen many wholesalers from Turkey, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia and China," said Mr Tommy Gunawan, Export Manager for Glolink, Hong Kong, which joined the curtain zone. "The show is better than we expected and our booth location is good. We will return for the next fair."

In the Bedding & Towelling Zone, Mr Michiaki Hashimoto, General Sales Manager for towelling manufacturer Uchino of Japan said many buyers from China were interested in his high-end products. "We achieved a very good result at the fair. The China market is growing and consumers are willing to spend more not only on appearance but also on quality of life."

Expanded Designers Studio brings new designs to China

Thirty designers - 30% more than in 2007 - joined the popular Designers Studio, a special area for designers to showcase creative new designs. The zone's popularity and growth reflect a rising sophistication among Chinese textile manufacturers, according to many participants.

"I think the design market in China has improved in recent years. People know what we are selling," said Mr Gordan Welkowitsch, Sales Support Manager for Mode Information, Germany. "I am surprised by the results. We sold many of our design products. It was so busy I only had five free minutes the entire second day! For sure, I will come back next year."

"We're getting more and more buyers buying for the domestic Chinese market," said Robert Schein, a designer with Leo & Yosshi, from USA. "Last year the interest was designs for export - those popular in Europe. This year, many buyers are choosing ones that appeal to Chinese consumers. In general we've seen more people, so the show is growing. And we're starting to see more Europeans with factories here in China, looking to include designers in the production process."

Hundreds of domestic Chinese suppliers appeal to buyers

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is one of the largest home textile trade events in Asia, with eight domestic Chinese halls in addition to the International Hall. The Mainland Chinese halls featured special product areas for suppliers from a particular manufacturing region, such as Haining, Jiande, Nantong, Pujiang, Shaoxing, Tongxiang and Yuhang.

Mr Eric Tsai, C.E.O. of La Fatté, a bedding retailer in Taiwan praised the value of Chinese products. "The quality and design of home textiles in China have improved a lot in recent years. This fair is a very important meeting point for us because we can make orders directly with the Chinese manufacturers. I am also impressed by the product zone arrangement, which helped me find target products and compare prices easily."

"I have attended other home textiles fairs before but not like Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, where I found many Chinese products. This is a very interesting fair with a wide spectrum of high quality products. I will definitely come again next year," said Mr François Levy, President of Lamy, a decorative fabrics and bedding supplier for hotels and hospitals in France.

"Our company is looking for a medium/high product level so quality is very important for us, followed by style. Bed linen is very strong at the show and there were very good styles from Chinese suppliers," Ms Elena Degetto, chief buyer for Gruppo Coin Spa, Italy's largest department store. "I saw some interesting trends and some new ideas. I think Chinese manufacturers are improving in fashion and going toward European styles."

The show is building its image as a significant destination for international, not only Chinese, trade. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2009, to be held 25 - 27 August 2009, will expect more international participation from buyers and suppliers, making it second in the world after its parent show, Heimtextil. 
 
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.; The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and China Home Textile Association (CHTA). For information email textile@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com or fax (852) 2598 8771.

*High-resolution photos of the show can be downloaded from:
http://www.messefrankfurt.com.hk/fair_photogallery.aspx?fair_id=5&exhibition_id=5

Additional Exhibitor Statements:

"We had interest from South America and around Asia, including quite a lot of interest from Japan. This is a good channel for getting your product out there, to a large market. The retail market in China is also massive so if you can even get a slice of it, it's huge."
Ms Penny Honos with Woolstar from Australia, makers of eco-friendly, all-season quilts, participating in the Woolmark booth

"There has been more and more interest from Chinese buyers and this year there are more professional textile buyers. We think the China market is very important, but also the surrounding countries. This is an important fair for us to reach markets in Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines."
Mr Francois Colomar, Export Manager for Rafael Catala, Spain

Additional Visitor Statements:

"I am very satisfied with this show. I have sourced many good quality bedding and towelling products from China that are suitable for the Russia and Ukraine markets."
Mr Sergey N. Loukianov, President, Monolit, Russia

"We were very surprised to find the Pakistan suppliers here. It was good for us - we have been in contact with some of them before, but here we were able to actually meet each other directly."
Alexander Ishenko, Chief of Purchasing for DM Textile Management, Russia

"It was good to see new designs and upcoming trends. The show was well laid out. It was good having it in clusters and it was well sign-posted."
Ms Marie Cirillo, bed linen buyer for Myer, Australia

 "This show is a must-attend event for us every year and the only one we visit in Shanghai. I am looking for new-tech fabrics like bamboo and soya fibres. I am very happy that I found them and it was really a worthwhile trip."
Mr Sun Dongxin, Sales Manager, Shandong Taifeng Textile Group, China

"We were here to find high quality suppliers of decorative fabrics. It was our first time at the show. It is very big and we found many purchasing options."
Mr Lu Jianjun, Vice Purchasing Manager, Shanghai He Yong Furniture, China

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is Germany's largest trade fair organiser, with 424 million Euros in sales and more than 1,400 employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 29 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 48 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. In 2007, Messe Frankfurt organised 112 trade fairs in 30 cities in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Messe Frankfurt also operates one of the world's largest exhibition grounds in Frankfurt. For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com 

Media contact:

Juliana Gittler
Tel +852 2238 9941
Fax +852 2519 8632
Juliana.Gittler@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
www.messefrankfurt.com.hk
http://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com