September 2009

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles
China International Trade Fair for Home Textiles & Accessories
Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China
25 – 27 August 2009

Asia’s leading home textile trade fair, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2009 ended with a high note on 27 August, which successfully attracted a record-breaking 36,854 trade visitors from 99 countries and regions. The remarkable increase of 13 percent in attendance reflected that the global market is leading the path to recovery.

With an exhibition space of 103,500sqm, the fair featured 908 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions including special pavilions from Germany, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan and Turkey, plus a brand bedding and towelling hall featuring major international and domestic brands such as B. Sousa, Casablanca, Konglong and Salsa.

New to the fair and located in the brand bedding and towelling hall, Ms Nurhan Nalbant from the German based Advansa was impressed with the quality of trade buyers. “We are delighted with the professionalism of the fair along with the volume and quality of the buyers it attracts.”

Ms Barbara Schmidt-Zock, Head of Economic Affairs for the Association of the German Home Textile Industry was equally thrilled with the positive response at the show.  “Walking the nine halls of the fair, there was little evidence to suggest that the current economic downturn had impacted the development of China’s home textile industry.”

Ms Schmidt-Zock further commented on the business at the fair. “Exhibitors appeared to be deeply engaged in talks with buyers most of the time. This trade fair is the optimum platform for European companies to showcase their high quality products which are highly demanded by the local market.”

Mr Anuj Sharma from Dicitex Décor, a leading upholstery fabric’s supplier in India was also enthusiastic about the vibrant atmosphere of the event. “We have met many buyers who are looking for high quality fabrics because consumers nowadays are demanding more varieties of products with sophisticated design.”

Exhibitors unanimously praise this year’s fair as best yet

The 2009 fair drew a great deal of international and domestic buyers including delegations from the Middle East, Korea, regional department stores, as well as invited major buyers from Australia, Brazil, France, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, and the UK. “We are glad to meet many potential Asian buyers. To me, this is the best home textiles fair ever in China, “said Mr Osman Nuri Canik, General Manager for Elvin Tekstil from the Turkish pavilion.

The flexible service and improving product’s quality of Chinese suppliers are major attractions for overseas buyers. “Chinese suppliers have adapted really well to the changing market and most of them are able to produce in small volume at reasonable prices. In fact, I have increased our purchase of bed linens from Asian suppliers from 15 to 50 percent this year, “said Ms Patricia Gibbons, brand manager for Bela-Bouchana from France.

Some of the buyers have also joined the business matching service organised by Intertextile. “This service really helps narrow down our sourcing time at the fair and we are delighted to meet quality suppliers here,” said Ms Sherry Lee from Nibico, licensee for Calvin Klein and Trussardi, who have joined the matching service together with Marks & Spencer.

Domestic buyers paying more attention to distinctive home textiles design

Seeing the potential for designed home textile products in China, Mr Gordan Welkowitsch from German based mode…information GmbH joined this fair to promote his trend products to domestic buyers. “The Chinese market is gaining a greater understanding and appreciation in the value of design.“

The 2009 fair established several design and trend focused activities on-site. These include the Metropolis Lifestyle Studio that mirrors the S/S 2010 interior design trends. Top brands such as Garnier-Thiebaut from Paris, Giuseppe Bellora from Milan, Carpenter + from New York and Koms from Tokyo have displayed their latest collections at this special area under the theme “Happy Land”.

Ms Wendy Wen, director for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd was pleased with the result of the fair. “This year’s fair is a great success resulting from the close cooperation with China Home Textile Association and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT over the past 15 years. We are glad to know the new initiatives adopted at the fair including the brand bedding and towelling hall, department stores visiting delegation and business matching services were well received by exhibitors and visitors from China and abroad.”

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2010 will return to Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 24 – 26 August. The show is organised 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. For information on Messe Frankfurt home textile fairs, visit: www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

Additional Exhibitor Statements

“The fair exceeds our expectations. It is a good opportunity for us to promote our brand and business in China and we have found five to six potential clients in the first two days. Beside, the fair is also an ideal platform to maintain good relationships with our existing clients.”
Mr Carlos Caldas, Commercial Director for B. Sousa, a bedding supplier from Portugal

 “The show is a good platform for us to reach the overseas market. We have met a lot of buyers from Europe and the US and some of them even place orders on-site.”
Ms Fang Ling, representative for Casablanca, Hong Kong

“The show is getting better every year and we are glad to find new buyers from China. We will return for the 2010 show.”
Ms Suzanne Chen from Huaw Lon Special Textile Industrial in the Taiwanese pavilion

“China’s market is huge and this fair is an important platform to establish our brand in the market. Not only have we met Chinese buyers, we have also met high quality buyers from Brazil and the US.”
Mr Kent Hsieh, Sales representative for Merryson, Taiwan

“The fair has a busy visitor flow from China and overseas and we have made 20 serious business contacts on the first day of the fair. Buyers are looking for good quality products with competitive price. We will join again next year.”
Mr Goswami, Business Head – Textile Operation for Recron, Malaysia

“The Chinese market is growing more mature with an increasing demand for sophisticated design products. I like the arrangement of the Designer’s Studio and the fair should keep it.”
Mr Remy Kaufmann from Elka Studio, one of the exhibitors in the Designer’s Studio

Additional Visitor Statements

“Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles consistently displays high quality items that incorporate innovative designs at competitive prices. Again, we are leaving having found new suppliers at the fair.”
Ms Karen Mchee from US based Spencer Enterprise

“The depth and scale of exhibiters participating at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles makes this a must attend event for us. Not only can we meet with existing suppliers, we have the opportunity to source potential new suppliers, which is not always easy.”
Mr Hohans Cheung, Director Sales & Marketing for Morphrow Europe BV

“The show’s location is very convenient as I can arrange factory visits after the event. I have met good quality local suppliers here and will attend again next year.”
Mr Rui Altenburg, President for Altenburg, Brazil

“This is my third visit to this fair. Here I can find good quality curtains and other home textile products from the local suppliers.”
Mr Pasquale Carillo, manager for F. Lli Carillo, Italy

Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s leading trade fair organiser, with 440 million euros in sales in 2008 and more than 1,500 employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 52 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2008, Messe Frankfurt organised more than 100 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to nine exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Center. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com 

Media contact:
Ms Telly Cheuk
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.
Tel (852) 2239 9956
Fax (852) 2519 8632
telly.cheuk@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
www.messefrankfurt.com.hk