With new records set for both visitor and exhibitor numbers at this year’s Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China, there was a general agreement from all involved that the fair was a success. Held from 18 – 21 March in the China Import and Export Fair Complex across 20,000 sqm, 218 exhibitors presented their latest home furnishings and upholstery.

These suppliers hailed from China, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan, while exhibitors in regional pavilions from Yuhang, Haining, Jiaxing, Shaoxing and Nantong showcased the best bed, bath, table and kitchen linen, carpets and rugs, upholstery fabric, wall and window decorations, textile handicrafts and much more on offer from China. The 218 participants this year represented an increase of 7.9% compared to 2012.

Meanwhile, visitor numbers continued to climb, with an increase of 21.7% on last year’s fair. This was the result of 25,729 buyers from 97 countries and regions choosing Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China as their sourcing platform for the Chinese home textiles market. Ms Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager for the fair’s organiser, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, was pleased with the outcomes from the four days of trading. “Once again this fair proves its value for overseas suppliers to gain a foothold in the Chinese home furnishings market, which continues to flourish as domestic spending increases,” she said.

As such, the 2014 edition will be one day longer to meet the growing needs of the industry. “Due to feedback received from buyers and exhibitors, we have decided to extend the length of next year’s fair to five days. We believe this market will continue to grow in China, and we wish to retain our place as the leading trade fair in the region for this industry,” Ms Wen said.

Rising visitor numbers ensure exhibitors are content with their participation

With the growing number of visitors attending Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China, a positive response was received from exhibitors overall regarding the opportunities to meet local buyers. Korean company, Nanocis Co Ltd touched on what all exhibitors are conscious of when attending fairs in China: not just the quantity of buyers attending but also the quality. “This show brings us many high-quality visitors, and is very helpful to my retail business plans in China,” said Mr Heejun Lee, President.

Impact Weavers, an upholstery fabrics company from Foshan, China, was pleased with not just the number of local buyers, but also those from abroad. “So far we are happy about the number of visitors that have come to our booth,” said Ms Winnie Luo, Assistant to the General Manager. “We joined the show to look for domestic customers, but it was a nice surprise for us to see a large number of overseas visitors in the show as well.”

Mr Thomas Jeong, Managing Director of Decorama Inc, a repeat exhibitor from Korea was just as pleased. “In the past every Intertextile Hometextile show brought us clients from new countries and regions, and this time is no different,” he commented. “I’ve already got in touch with several potential customers in the first day, so the show is above and beyond my expectations,” Mr Jeong continued.