EVENTS

HARROGATE’S HOME

IMPROVEMENT

Home & Gift 2022 will be opening in Harrogate from the 17-20th July, and this year will see the launch of the brand-new Furniture Collection …

www.homeandgift.co.uk

Hall Q and the King’s Suite at Harrogate Convention Centre will feature the latest home and furniture pieces from some of the UK’s top brands, and Furniture Collection buyers will also be able to enjoy the rest of the buying festival and shop for giftware, fashion, gift food and more across the show’s marquees and halls.

Following on from the success of the Manchester Furniture Show co-location at Home & Gift last year, organiser Clarion says it wanted to offer buyers a further selection of furniture and home accessory brands – including the likes of Bronte By Moon, Kettle Interiors, Shankar, Smart Trading, Zinc Home, Deluxe Home Art, AWS and IFD, Gallery Direct, T A Interiors and more.

Meanwhile, the Home & Gift sectors will include Design-Led Gifts, Food Emporium, Gift, Home & Interiors, Jewellery and Fashion. The buyer crossover makes the festival unique, offering brands the opportunity to connect with buyers of all sizes, from small retailers to large department stores and online giants.

James Ellis from Ancient Mariner, an exhibitor from last year’s Manchester Furniture Show, had a highly successful event, and states: “The buyer crossover suited our giftware ranges perfectly.”

Some of the retail industry’s key buyers have already confirmed their attendance this year – including John Lewis, Next, Soho House, Dobbies Garden Centre, Garsons, Roys of Wroxham and English Heritage.

Interested parties can register for a ticket on the Home & Gift website, while anyone interested in being part of Furniture Collection should contact James Howard on james.howard@ clarionevents.com

INSPIRING INDONESIA

After two years of waiting, IFEX, Indonesia’s biggest export furniture and craft exhibition, finally returns to Jakarta next month …

www.ifexindonesia.com

The seventh edition of IFEX Indonesia promises to showcase a wealth of the country’s signature furniture, craft, design and art, inspired by its abundant natural resources. As a business networking platform, it will bring buyers together within pleasant, safe surroundings, carefully managed to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

While international visitors must still show results of a negative antigen test, be fully vaccinated and in possession of a valid certificate to prove it (please check procedures before travel), the Republic of Indonesia’s government has lifted all requirements for visitors to quarantine upon arrival (find details of the latest VoA travel guidelines at www.bit.ly/ListofCountry).

“This is the perfect time to do business with Indonesia’s signature products,” states organisers DYANDRA and HIMKI. “We present the perfect combination of uniqueness, innovation and technology – in short, high-quality furniture – at IFEX Indonesia. It’s local product at an international standard.

“The IFEX 2022 August edition will be the perfect time and place to do business,” they conclude.

IFEX 2022 will take place at Jakarta International Expo from 18th-21st August. Secure a visitor ID by preregistering on the IFEX website

FAIR PAIR INCOMING

Brought to market by leading UK buying group Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the INDX Home brand has confirmed the dates for its next furniture and beds and bedroom trade shows, which are both set to return to Cranmore Park Conference and Exhibition Centre in Solihull this autumn.

www.indxshows.co.uk

INDX Furniture is first in the calendar, and will be taking place from 30th August to 1st September, with INDX Beds & Bedroom closely following on 13-14th September. The first day of both shows is reserved exclusively for AIS members, with the general trade welcome to attend the remaining dates.

While INDX Furniture will bring together leading names across sectors including upholstery, cabinet (living, dining and bedroom), lighting, accessories and garden, INDX Beds & Bedroom will present beds, bedroom cabinets and sofabeds from some of the biggest names in the industry.

Showcasing an exhibitor selection curated by experts with a wealth of experience in the retail sector, each show will provide a business-focused opportunity for retailers to connect with top suppliers, discover the latest market innovations, and attend on-site trend presentations and speaker sessions.

All INDX shows are free to attend with free on-site parking, and visitors also enjoy complimentary barista refreshments throughout the venue.

Exhibitor bookings are being taken, and online visitor registration is now open for both shows, and can be completed via the INDX website

VIETNAM WELCOMES THE WORLD

With the pandemic reportedly largely under control in the Far East, the Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair (VIFA EXPO), the country’s biggest trade event for export-facing furniture and wooden product, is back in Ho Chi Minh City from 31st August to 3rd September this year …

www.vifafair.com

Having enjoyed outstanding growth in recent years, Vietnam is now the world’s second-largest furniture exporter, doing business with more than 120 countries – the principal markets being the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan. With free trade agreements with the EU, ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru, which helps reduce tariffs on furniture imports – it is little wonder Vietnam is focused on becoming ‘the furniture factory for the world’.

In 2021, Vietnam’s furniture export turnover reached US$14.8b (up +19,7% YoY). In March, Vietnam’s PM approved the ‘Project on sustainable, efficient development of the wood processing industry in 2021-2030 period’, which aims to bolster Vietnam’s wood processing sector, build a reputable brand for Vietnamese wood products at home and abroad, and turn Vietnam into one of the world’s leading wood producers – export turnover of timber and forest products is projected to reach US$20b by 2025, and US$25b by 2030.

Against this backdrop, VIFA EXPO welcomes international buyers back to Vietnam. This edition’s slogan is ‘Discover the fascination of Vietnamese Furniture & Handicraft’ – exhibitors will showcase brand-new product, from wooden furniture to indoor and outdoor furniture, home decor, handicraft, gifts and souvenirs, hardware and fittings, timber and woodworking machinery.

Buyers will meet in person to discuss and start business partnerships with leading Vietnamese and international furniture manufacturers. The exhibitors will also be ready to take buyers to their factories in Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An Provinces (one-to-three hours’ travel from the show).

VIFA EXPO 2022 will take place at Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) across more than 15,000m2, bringing together more than 170 Vietnamese and international enterprises on more than 1000 stands. There will be talks, workshops and seminars – including a seminar hosted by Canadian Wood Vietnam and HAWA Corp, entitled Canadian Wood – Exceptional Design Flexibility, taking place on 1st September. Alongside the physical exhibition, the organiser will set up business-matching sessions to help buyers who cannot visit in person.

Vietnam has fully reopened its borders, so there is no requirement for quarantine, a medical declaration or Covid-19 test for vaccinated entrants. VISA exemption has been resumed for UK citizens. However, upon arrival, visitors will need to present proof of valid medical/travel insurance covering Covid-19 treatment (with a minimum liability of US$10,000).

Next year, two editions of VIFA EXPO will be held – in March (8-11th) and August

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Spring Furniture & Bed Show dinner / Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth / Tuesday 17th May

www.springfurnitureshow.co.uk

A champagne reception preceded an evening of merriment for the visitors and exhibitors at the Minerva Furniture Group’s inaugural Spring Furniture & Bed Show, which took place over 17-18th May at NAEC Stoneleigh. Buying group members and non-members alike enjoyed a dinner, plus entertainment from comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner (who also visited the show), and live music from No Angel. The event’s Best Dressed Stand Award went to Emma Sleep