“We’re astounded by how good the response has been,” said Mr. Thomas O’ Dea of Australia’s Orient Sense at the close of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles on 31 August 2007. Mr. O’ Dea, a first time participant in the fair, echoed the sentiment of many exhibitors impressed by the vast turnout.
More than 31,600 visitors from 105 countries and regions – 9% more than in 2006 – flocked to the show, reaffirming its position as one of China’s largest and most important events for the home textiles industry.
For many exhibitors, the highlight was a heavy visitor flow – including 12% coming from overseas. Among the visitors were buyers from several famous international retailers. More than 800 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions occupied 88,500 sqm of exhibition space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre for the three-day event.
The show draws home textile manufacturers, designers, retail and commercial buyers and features bed, bath, table and kitchen linens; wall and window decorations; upholstery fabric; interior design and more.
Mr Naveed M. Farooq, Marketing Manager for Polani Textiles of Pakistan, found the internationality of the visitors has improved since the last time he attended in 2004. “We found some serious customers and met buyers from very big international retailers,” he said. Buyers he met came from Australia, USA, Eastern Europe, South America and even San Martin Island. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “China is exporting to the whole world.”
“Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is the most international trade show of its industry and has attracted a lot of market leaders,” said Ms Vivian Zhu, Project Head of the China-Europe Textile Alliance from Germany who visited the show. “Our members are very interested in the show. The home textile industry has huge development potential in China and anyone who wants to do real business can enjoy benefits from this show.”
Chinese exhibitors were also pleased with the results. Mr Yang Fu You, Director of Jiaojiang Fuyou Arts and Crafts Factory, said he is trying to increase his exposure in the international market.
“This is a very competitive market, so we have to seize every opportunity to showcase our products, and we believe the show is an excellent one. The exhibition provides us with a well-built global market so that we can communicate with our industry colleagues from all over the world. We are definitely coming back next year.”
Many exhibitors attended hoping to tap the enormous domestic market in China. “We’d like to see our brands in the domestic market, there is a growing opportunity in China,“ said Mr Sean Cook, Chief Executive of Delbanco Meyer & Co from the UK. “We made some good contacts.”
