13 January 2009
China furniture industry suffers along with U.S. market
Posted by Roger under: Industry Trends; Style & Design; Trade shows, expo and trade fairs .
As a regular reader of Furniture Today, and having also attended the same Shanghai show I felt compelled to comment on a recent post on Tom Russell’s Sourcing Strategies blog (See China’s furniture industry appears strong despite recent challenges) about the recent September Shanghai home furnishings trade show. Apparently I was not the only one compelled to share and in his next post, “China furniture industry suffers along with U.S. market” he re-quotes me and a few other readers:
A reader of my last Sourcing Strategies Blog raised some valid points in regard to China’s furniture industry. The reader noted that surface level observations seen at the September Shanghai home furnishings trade show were just that — surface level observations. “Anyone who is doing business will tell you — things are rarely as they appear here,†the reader wrote. “One of the hardest hit of all industries here in China has been furniture, particularly for furniture exporters, raw material sellers and anyone else attached to that industry.â€
In the comments section there are also quotes another readers who (mostly) shares similar opinions:
After buying from China for 6 years and going to trade shows every year, my best advice would be “don’t believe their numbers.” We work with some of the largest manufacturers in China and the “exports are up” story is not the same as the one they are giving. On top of it, compared to previous years, the traffic does seem slower. I remember the first year my business partner went, they didn’t even have enough lunch available for everyone attending the show. Now a days, you can walk away from a lunch booth well fed. (ctanner@wholesale-interiors.com www.wholesale-interiors.com)
Then of course you have the typical mainland Chinese viewpoint which is always one way or another the same: “Mei Wenti – Ni fang xin” which basically means, “relax, no problem, it will be just fine.”
Under lower demanding of USA market, My company mainly export our furniture to USA, Though, our orders didn’t discline from Last years. Because we keep our eyes on developing new customers. And due to smaller companier can’t easily survive in the situation, the it probably benifit to middle or large furniture company to take advance of the time. So at present, China also will keep normal development in furniture market.
If I had a dime every time I heard this one in China, I would be a rich man by now. Maybe this guy needs to get himself a “Meiwenti T-Shirt” from Zazzle? (though if its made in China, it will most likely not be up to spec 
)
Probably the best quote of all though is from Ultimate Accents and sums it up just nicely:
“Retail is so bad, it doesn’t matter if you are the biggest or the smallest,†said Ray Steele, vice president of sales for Ultimate Accents. “No one is coming in the door.â€
Lets cross our fingers and hope this climate improves?
HaoHao This
