Ambiente International 1/2018

2018

Trends Interior & Business

2018

online platform for glass purchasing

glass factory

The perfect combination on your table

Zakłady Porcelany Stołowej „KAROLINA” Sp. z o.o. ul. Wolności 4, 58-140 Jaworzyna Śląska, Poland, tel. +48 74 85 88 212, karolina@karolina.info.pl www.karolina.info.pl

EDITORIAL |

Dear Readers, Who is the most important in eve-

this issue. You know that marketing is the art of being different from

ry company? A customer, of course. Is a

others, so wanting to offer your customers something other than your

customer a king? One of Japanese busi-

competition, in addition to the world’s largest exhibition events, it is

ness gurus said that customer was not a

worth sometimes to visit a trade fair in particular country, such as

king, but a god, because he decides eve-

trade fair of home textiles Interior Design Forum in Warsaw. You can

ry day about our „to be or not to be.” Do

read more about this event and about Polish brands in the magazi-

we sell him our products or services? No.

ne that you have in your hand. A customer does not come to a sto-

In fact, we sell him a realization of needs.

re today only to buy a product. He expects there a unique shopping

To be able to do this, we must know them first. Knowing current

experience, including attractive marketing and visual merchandising,

expectations of customers is not enough today, because they can

as well as excellent customer service. You will certainly find inspiration

change before we respond to them. A standard in successful compa-

by reading articles presenting the most innovative interior design sto-

nies is forecasting future needs of buyers. What can help us in this?

res in the world - winners of the Global Innovation Awards.

I encourage you to read about trends for 2018, prepared by world experts, which you will find in this issue. Where can you get products

I wish you in 2018 many interesting inspirations and successes in their implementation.

that meet rapidly changing consumer needs? I recommend visiting

Jerzy Osika

the most important trade fairs, about which you will also read in

Chief Editor

Jasło Glassworks started its operations in 1922 with the production of glass tableware and glass packaging. The glassworks returned to this tradition about twenty years ago. Since 2016, in order to revive and promote Polish design, Jasło Glassworks has been collaborating with young, talented designers.

Sweet line

Glass Tableware Technical Glass Antique Stained Glass Bespoke Glass Solutions

Huta Szkła w Jaśle S.A. ul. Śniadeckich 19, 38-200 Jasło T.+48 13 443 82 00, F.+48 13 446 20 94 E.sekretariat@jaslo-glass.pl, www.jaslo-glass.pl

30

8 28 26

C o n t e n t s 2018 Editorial 3 Dear Readers

Trends

8 Ambiente Trends 2018 14 Heimtextil Trends 2018/2019

18 22

24 26 28 30

Focus Poland Interior Design Forum Bolesławiec - the capital of Polish ceramics Rotora’s second life Fascinating porcelain Crystal Violetta Szklanydom.pl “On each day and for everybody”

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Retail in the world 32 London’s beloved Borough 34 Soaring to Lofty heights

36 37 39

International fairs International events 2018 Baltic Fashion & Textile Riga 2018 Jubilee of the furniture trade fair in Ostróda

New products 40 New products from Poland Interview 42 Malaysian home textile sector

on the cover: Szklanydom.pl Glass factory and brand distributor EDWANEX Rossosz 2, 21-010 Łęczna biuro@szklanydom.pl tel. +48 81 752 15 87

Publishing House PROMEDIA Jerzy Osika Stępińska Street 22/30 00-739 Warsaw, Poland tel. +48 22 243 45 33 fax +48 22 851 50 30 www.promedia.biz.pl e: biuro@promedia.biz.pl President of the Publishing House Jerzy Osika e: j.osika@promedia.biz.pl Advertising Agnieszka Pilars e: a.pilars@promedia.biz.pl tel. +48 22 243 45 33

find us on www.promedia.biz.pl

Free entrance for international visitors

| TRENDS

ambiente trends 2018 tradition meets innovation

What is new? What stays the same?

The interior design trends of the future will be on show in a comprehensive presentation of merchandise at the international consumer goods trade fair Ambiente from 9 to 13 February in Frankfurt.

Text and photos: Messe Frankfurt, www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com

modest regenerations Plain and simple A trend which is both contemporary and timeless while also being plain and relaxed. It stands for a clear, contemporary concept of living space, combining well established ideas with new ones. The preferred materials will be wood, stone, concrete, ceramics, bamboo and cast iron – either glazed or enamelled – as well as linen and wool, in natural colours.

colourful intentions Ethical claim combined with strong colours This style stands for strong, bright colours, powerful patterns, dynamism and vitality.

The mixture of materials, recycling and upcycling, are backed up by an ethical claim, ensuring that products are not just impressive, but also sustainable. Recycled plastic, metal, wood and textiles are presented in chequered patterns, stripes and decorative borders. Technological emotions – innovative Materialien in emotionalem Design.

8 | 1/2018

Huta Szkła Gospodarczego Tadeusz Wrześniak Sp. z o.o., Ładna 30A, 33-156 Skrzyszów, Poland Tel. +48 14 674 85 20, +48 14 626 96 96, +48 14 674 57 52, Fax +48 14 674 51 60 e-mail: office@glassworks.pl, www.glassworks.pl

| TRENDS

technological emotions Innovative materials in an emotionally appealing design A stylistic direction with an impact that is visionary, sophisticated and sensitive at the same time.

Experimentation with new technologies has created an impression not of cool pragmatism, but of a design that appeals to the emotions. It includes some uncommon combinations of materials and products, e.g. paper and linen. Other elements that speak to the senses are super-thin films, soft textile structures and innovative visual accents.

opulent narrations The courage to be opulent A courageous trend world with a penchant for eccentricity and historical quotations.

This picturesque look is marked by precious oriental materials and a love for opulent details.

It involves the use of artistically decorated porcelain, precious stones, ornate leatherwork, brocades, embroidery and relief carvings.

Polish exhibitor at Ambiente 2018 in Frankfurt Joanna Kawalec Zakłady Porcelany Stołowej „Karolina”

In February 2018, once again you are presenting at the Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt. Please, tell us why do you decide to regularly participate in this event and what are your expectations this year?

The Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt is the biggest and most important event of this kind. Apart from all of our most important international clients, the other leading porcelain manufacturers are also present here. That makes it a great opportunity to present new shapes and decorations, track new trends, share experiences during numerous meetings with clients, suppliers and other manufacturers as wel as to establish new business contacts. This prestigious event has such a long tradition and is so widely recognized by the porcelain industry

10 | 1/2018

that our participation here is inevitable. This year we are focusing on presenting our visitors with new shapes and decorations referring to the Spring/Summer 2018 trends.

What new features are you planning to present at your 2018 Ambiente fair’s stand?

This year’s newcomers at Ambiente include four shapes – Flavio, Natura, Enjoy and Laura - made of both, hard porcelain as well as Fine Bone China. Although we are still developing the range, we already want to present them to our customers as the debuts for the upcoming season. Since we are holding big plans regarding our new products, please keep your fingers crossed for us during Ambente 2018!

The Chicago Show is the key show in my calendar. It has a combination of amazing innovation and quality suppliers.

We always find new and differentiated product and innovative ways to display and showcase it. The organisation is excellent, and the ability to visit quality retailers in Chicago is an added benefit. We are selective on the number of shows we go to - but this is a must!

Anna Berry, Head of Buying – Cooking & Dining John Lewis Plc United Kingdom

10 – 13 March Chicago, USA Show information and free online pre-registration:

2018

SHADOWS CLUB – PROGRAM OF FABRIC ROLLER BLINDS

PROGRAM OF FABRIC ROLLER BLINDS LOOKING FORWARD

SHADOWS CLUB is a PROGRAM OF FABRIC ROLLER BLINDS of Marcin Dekor company.

Three selected collections of fabrics gathered in elegant and functional catalogs.

Decorative plugs of the mechanism can be used with all available fabrics from catalogs: BASIC, PREMIUM and CONCEPT. Cassettes are especially recommended for Day&Night and 3D roller blinds, to which fabrics have been collected in the CONCEPT by SHADOWS CLUB catalog.

BASIC

LEARN

MORE

SHADOWS CLUB COLLECTIONS

BASIC – RICH COLORS The BASIC collection is a catalog of smooth fabrics grouped in eleven colorful color palettes.

From cool, soothing colors of gray and blue, through calming greens, extravagant purples, to energizing sunny colors.

The collection includes transparent, opaque and metallized fabrics.

CONCEPT – 3D FABRICS / DAY&NIGHT The CONCEPT collection surprises with ingenuity, because the roller blind fabrics cataloged in it are custom, original proposals of Day & Night and 3D fabrics.

The catalog contains a unique collection of Day & Night fabrics of unprecedented design and rich colors.

PREMIUM – LUXURY FABRICS The PREMIUM collection is selected, exclusive fabrics for connoisseurs that delight with their design, colors and quality.

The whole collection is kept in precious earth tones, from warm, subdued beiges and browns to cool expressive grays and graphites.

CONCEPT

PREMIUM

| TRENDS

The future is urbaN

Heimtextil presents 2018/19 trends Text and photos: www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

Urbanisation is one of the key words of our time. More than half the world’s population already lives in cities.

In its “Theme Park” inspiration area, the upcoming Heimtextil (9-12 January 2018) will reveal how urban life is likely to impact the worlds of living and working in future.

The Flexible Space

The Re-Made Space

This lifestyle trend shows solutions for big city dwellers who are increasingly living like modern nomads and in ever smaller flats.

Designers, architects and planners tackle this challenge with a great deal of ingenuity and optimise the available space with convertible and adaptable design.

Another phenomenon of urbanisation is the rapid generation of waste. For the first time in history, the amount of waste produced in cities is growing faster than urbanisation itself. To conquer this huge mountain of waste, cities must understand that the future is to put waste on an equal footing with resources. This will make waste a starting point for new design.

The Healthy Space

The Maker Space

We’ve long known the far-reaching effect that the spaces in which we live, work, learn and relax can have on our well-being. Designers, architects and materials scientists are increasingly searching for innovative design that promotes our levels of health, satisfaction, attentiveness and productivity. From the integration of plants indoors to new directions in wellness, the healthy space is on the rise.

The maker movement has triggered a revolution in the manufacture of interior design objects. It has the potential to fundamentally change production, particularly thanks to the democratisation of digital manufacturing technology. DIY instructions, open source and downloadable designs make it possible for everyone to develop their own personalised products wherever they might be.

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Beautiful fabrics

for interior decoration

HEIMTEXTIL, 9-12.01.2018, HALA 4.0 STAND E 71 02-486 Warsaw, Al. Jerozolimskie 200, Poland, tel: +48 22 578 10 61, +48 608 608 494 e-mail: tkaniny@rad-pol.com.pl, www.tkaninydekoracyjne.com.pl

| TRENDS

The trend experts have also worked on the development of an additional five themes that give an outlook on the trendy colours, materials and designs of the 2018/19 season.

Relax/Recharge Colours are known to influence moods and feelings. In contrast to current views, blue has been shown to be stimulating and red calming. Relax/ Recharge is a transformative design option that uses the power of colours to bring the energy balance of over-stimulated urban living worlds back into equilibrium. Walls, floors and furniture are completely immersed in colour.

Perfect Imperfection Indigo, one of the oldest dyes in the world, is currently much in vogue among numerous current brands and designers. They are rediscovering indigo dyeing and accepting all of the foibles and the many colour gradations of this deep blue colour. Based on the Japanese philosophy of WabiSabi (“accepting the imperfect”), materials and products bear the traces of the way they were made. Brush strokes and seams are made visible and welcomed as part of the poetic documentation of the creative process.

Soft Minimal Urban living systems are multifunctional and can be adapted. Soft Minimal focuses on interior designs and products that appeal because of their functionality and are valued for a lifetime. Cosy materials – wool, felt, linen and bouclé yarn – give a minimalistic flat some warmth and personality.

A reserved colour palette of muted pastel colours and neutral shades complemented by matt black ensures timeless elegance.

Adapt+Assemble Freed of all excess frills, the designs appeal with geometric and interchangeable shapes and materials that are perfect for packing and transporting – travelling and moving made easy. The textile techniques used are simple and reliable. Industrial materials are reinterpreted and converted for home use. Bright primary colours ensure a playful appearance.

Urban Oasis Designers transform interiors into green oases in order to use nature to achieve an increased sense of well-being. Green is regarded as the most relaxing colour for the eye. Lush green shades are used to refresh both body and soul. Dark forest and sage green are mixed with matt pink.

Textures that imitate nature ensure a full, soft feel.

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| FOCUS POLAND

Interior Design Forum business and education Interior Design Forum Fair is the most important meeting place for the companies operating within the interior design textiles industry in Poland.

In 2018, PGE National Stadium in Warsaw will host two more editions of this truly exceptional event, which combines broad exhibition offer of the best producers and importers of textiles, with a rich substantive part. This year’s fair also offer a lot of novelties that the visitors will surely enjoy.

„HAFT” – AT YOUR HOME FOR GENERATIONS Cosmonova

Fabryka Firanek i Koronek Haft S.A. ul. Złota 40, 62-800 Kalisz POLAND

+48 62 768 66 11 +48 62 768 68 63

export@haft.com.pl

www.haft.com.pl

12. trade fair for home textiles 1.03.2018, 6.09.2018 NATIONAL STADIUM WARSAW You’re welcome!

More information: www.interiordesignforum.pl, tel. +48 22 243 45 33 Organizer:

Do you want to increase your export?

Introduce your company in our trade publications in Poland

&

worldwide

Forest Group Polska

We offer also: • Promotion at our home textile fair Interior Design Forum Warsaw / 1.03.2018 / 6.09.2018 • E-mailing to Polish buyers • PR and marketing services • Lectures about the Polish market

PROMEDIA Jerzy Osika tel. +48 22 243 45 33 • fax +48 22 851 50 30 international@promedia.biz.pl www.promedia.biz.pl

gerster

Several dozen of Polish and foreign companies and brands from home textile industry will present their offer during the 12th and 13th edition of the IDF fair. The visitors will find everything they need in one place – starting with window dressings (net curtains, blinds, cornices), through carpets and wallpaper, and finally upholstery fabrics, tablecloths, linen and bathroom textiles. A special offer directed to HoReCa industry, including suggestions perfect for the offices, hotels or restaurants will be a novelty in 2018. This year’s edition of the IDF fair will also include a new technological zone, where some presentations and trainings on some current solutions will take place. This part will surely interest the regular guests of the fair, meaning the representatives of interior furnishing shops, window decoration studios, as well as retailers and interior decorators.

The IDF fair attracts the visitors every year, not only thanks to the possibility of establishing some business relations, but also because of its rich substantive offer. This year, the organizers are also preparing a very interesting lectures and presentations program. The participants will find out, for instance, how to encourage the clients to visit their shops thanks to some modern marketing tools, how they can provide them with the best shopping experience through effective visual merchandising and professional service, and how to keep the clients by using some loyalty cards. A new issue, exceptionally important and actual for the owners of the shops and retailers, are the ways of employing and keeping good salespeople. The lectures will be conducted

by Jerzy Osika – the owner of Promedia company, an expert on sales and marketing, the lecturer at the most important fairs and conferences all around the world, together with the experts invited by him.

POLISH LAUREATE GIA AWARDS SZKLANYDOM.PL

The Interior Design Forum Fair will be held on PGE National Stadium in Warsaw. The spring edition will take place on 1. March and the autumn edition on 6.September 2018. You can find out more about the event on the webpage: www.interiordesignforum.pl Passion and experience for over 60 years FAKO S.A. a leading manufacturer of jacquard curtains in the yard and ready-made.Thanks to the proven technology and creativity of our employees, our offer enjoys the recognition of customers in Poland as well as in Europe. We guarantee the highest quality of our products.

ozlem

Design Dynamic changes in design trends are visible in our collections prepared for the spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons.

The attractiveness of our curtains is enhanced by very interesting design effects thanks to the possibility of using yarns with different quality and thickness. An experienced team of designers prepares individual design projects according to the clients’ guidelines.

Curtains for everyone We listen to our clients. We make sure our curtains are appreciated by customers who prefer the classic style, characteristic of floral or baroque effects. For those who like minimalism, we have introduced this year to the latest collection, a wide range of modern designs with fashionable wood structure effects and geometric patterns.

Together with our clients, we create the home of their dreams. roletix CURTAIN AND LACE FACTORY „FAKO” Poland, 91-214 Lodz, 25 Kaczencowa STR. tel. +48 42 253 12 00, fax +48 42 253 11 68 www.fako.com.pl

| FOCUS POLAND

Bolesławiec

the capital of Polish ceramics Lower Silesian Bolesławiec is considered to be the heart of Polish ceramics due to its long pottery history and well-known, unique products. Natural stoneware clay, which deposits are located in the basin of Bobr and Kwisa rivers, has been used in pots manufacture by local ceramists since Middle Ages. factory initiated the “Bolesławiec Ceramics Plants” existing till the present day. These factories are one of the biggest producers of manually shaped and hand-decorated tableware ceramics that uses an unique stamping technique at the moment and the dishes manufactured there are one of the most characteristic tableware products in Poland.

The manufacture offers a wide choice of dishes, including breakfast, dinner, coffee or tea sets. It produces both utility utensils, e.g. cups, mugs, tea pots, jugs, plates and side plates, bowls, goblets and salad bowls, as well as interior design elements, e.g. vases, clocks or figural sculptures. Kitchen utensils, for example breadboxes, containers, chopping boards, spoons or bathroom fittings such as basins and toiletries, are made from the stoneware of Bolesławiec. The dishes from Bolesławiec are produced in a traditional way, yet they are also perfect to be used in a modern kitchen – in microwaves, dishwashers or ovens.

The interest taken in the ceramics from Bolesławiec has been rising steadily. The customers are attracted by both characteristic, traditional patterns and colors that resemble folk art, as well as modern design of the contemporary produced dishes. Famous products from Bolesławiec, connecting folklore and modernity, delight the eyes of the handicraft lovers from all over the world.

www.swietoceramiki.pl

Ceramic products started to be manufactured in Bolesławiec as early as the beginning of the 16th century. In 1753, the biggest dish in the world was produced there, the so called “Big Pot” which soon became the symbol of the city – then Prussian Bunzlau. Its name is the reason why stoneware pots are called “the bunclocks” in the region of Silesia.

The ceramics from Bolesławiec have become widely known, mainly because of Zakłady master Johann Gottlieb Altmann, Ceramiczne „BOLESŁAWIEC” who introduced many innovative solutions into the production process in the 19th century. Among other things, he was the first to use feldspar glaze, used to this day, and china clay. An unique stamping technique was implemented at the same time, which has still been used in the contemporary “Boleslawiec Ceramics Plants”.

When after 1945 Bolesławiec became Polish again, a ceramist from Cracow, professor Tadeusz Szafran undertook the task to reactivate the ceramics plants destroyed during the war. A year later, Reinhold & Co. - a pre-war manufacture reopened. After having been transformed many times, the

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Ambiente 2018 9-13 February Frankfurt am Main Hall 6.3 Stand No. E76

Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC” w Bolesławcu Sp. z o.o. tel. +48 75 732 36 51, e-mail: sekretariat@ceramicboleslawiec.com.pl ul. Kościuszki 11, 59-700 Bolesławiec www.ceramicboleslawiec.com.pl

| FOCUS POLAND

Szklanydom.pl

„Rotora’s” second life

Eryka Trzewik-Drost and Jan Drost are a couple of artists and experimentalists whose glass works are admired in museums at home and abroad.

Jan Drost

Description: K. Osika Photos: Szklanydom.pl

The artists were born in Opole area in the 30s and met while studying at glass department of State College of Fine Arts in Wroclaw (current Academy of Fine Arts). Eryka Trzewik-Drost initially worked as a designer in “Bogucice” porcelain plant. Her husband had been working as a designer in “Opta” optical-mechanical plant in Katowice from 1959 and in 1960 he became a designer and a design manager in Ząbkowice Domestic Glass factory.

Six years later, Eryka joined the designers in Ząbkowice where, together with her husband, they started to make their renowned, timeless projects.

The artists experimented with colored and pressed glass which could be found in most Polish houses thanks to a low-cost manufacturing process. During their multi-annual work, pressed glass had undergone a real metamorphosis. The well-known series of vases and plates “Asteroid”, the line of glass dishes “Radiant” made from small, colorful beads, timeless “Rotor” plates with characteristic circles or “Diatret” product line with

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shade trimming on the rims – these are only some of the pieces of their lifetime artistic achievement.

Truly unique artistic glass projects by the Drosts are enjoying a revival at the moment. Dishes that were used for serving a vegetable salad are currently desired by collectors, vintage design lovers and all the people who just love good design. The artists’ works can be enjoyed not only in Polish museums but in the museums of Berlin, Prague and New York, as well as on design exhibitions in Japan, New York or Scandinavia.

Although the Drosts are almost 90 years old, they still create and enjoy an extraordinary vitality. For several years, Jan Drost has been cooperating with Edwanex Glass Factory which has been cultivating the tradition of hand production of decorative and utility glass for several decades. The factory implements both modern projects as well as olddays design which gains a totally new dimension there.

| focus poland

porcelain

Fascinating

Author: Joanna Hornung

Photos: Polish Porcelain Factories “Ćmielów” and “Chodzież” S.A.

Ćmielów and Chodzież brands are well known among all porcelain lovers, yet they are not only associated with elegance and high quality.

That is also a long history of development of small local workshops into an enormous factory, which is currently a leading porcelain manufacturing plant in Europe.

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focus poland |

Ćmielów and Chodzież inc. Polish Porcelain Plants, had been established by merging two companies – Porcelain Factory Ćmielów LLC and Chodzież inc. A rich history and an exceptional design, which characterize both the companies, contributed to establishing a factory that produces truly unique You can find more goods, made with the highest carefulness. Ćmielów and Chodzież put great emphasis information on the craft of hand production, decorating the proon Ćmielów ducts, as well as perfecting the details.

1896. At the moment, the offer Ćmielów and Chodzież inc. – Polish Porcelain and Chodzież inc. of Chodzież includes several dePlants are a part of a Wistil holding which is an owner – Polish Porcelain signs of porcelain crockery sets, of three brands: Ćmielów, Chodzież and Ćmielów made in cooperation with the arDesign Studio. Ćmielów are collections whose dePlants novelties tists from the factory Design Censign refers to traditional patterns of exclusive tableand current tre, that has been operating within ware, used by heads of states worldwide. Chodzież offer on their webpage: the plant from almost the very beand Ćmielów Design Studio are more modern designs. There is one factor that links all these three conwww.porcelana.com.pl ginning of the factory functioning.

The sets that include both classic ceptions though, that is the highest quality of products designs as well as modern and avant-garde ones consist of: Iwona, Kaand a creative attitude towards porcelain based on the melia, Maria Teresa, Venus, Quebec, Akcent and Vega collections. They experience and the potential of the most talented armay be bought as a set or per item. tists from all over the world. Ćmielów Design Studio is the newest PFP company’s brand. It foThe beginnings of Ćmielów manufacture are dated back to 1790 cuses on the modern design and concept of the tableware. The Studio when a potter named Wojtas had opened a small workshop that produprovides the artists and designers from all over the world with an open, ced faience and clay pots. Porcelain production in the manufacture started creative space, where they can create their own collections which may for good almost fifty years later. Some brilliant artists took care of the deeventually be included in the offer of the Polish Porcelain Plants. The Stusigns, among others: Wincenty Potacki and Bogdan Wendorf (the author dio shows how important designers are in the process of industrial proof a well-known project of Kula crockery set). ducts making. The offer of Ćmielów Design Studio includes such collecCurrently, there are several designs of porcelain crockery sets, divitions as: Bent, Craft, System, New Atelier or Cosmopolitan. The System ded into decorative pattern series, which can be found in the Ćmielów set was chosen to represent the company on an international competicatalogue. The Classic series is represented by the sets of Rococo, Boletion Solution that will take place during Ambiente 2018 fair. ro, Berni, Lwów, Pułaski, Feston, Yvonne and Astra. Koneser line incluTop quality, thin-walled Ćmielów and Chodzież inc. porcelain is not des coffee and tea sets– Empire, Pułaski, Kula, Rococo and Goplana. Soonly well known in Poland, but in the whole Europe as well. It has been fia collection is a novelty – it is white porcelain decorated with an elegant used by the representatives of different countries for many years now. relief that connects a classic shape with a modern design. Ćmielów asSome exclusive crockery sets, such as an official tableware used in Belsortment also includes figurines and porcelain haberdashery. vedere that is a part of the Empire collection, are also available in some Chodzież manufacture had started operating in 1852. One of the preshops of the producer. The variety of designs and styles is surely able to sent-day buildings of the plant had then been owned by two merchants: meet the expectations of every single person. Porcelain sets are also an Herman Müller and Ludwik Schnorr. Faience dishes were the first goods infallible idea for a present on many occasions. produced in Chodzież factory. The manufacture of porcelain started in

1/2018 | 27

Violett a

| FOCUS POLAND

Crystal

THE HISTORY OF THE BRAND

author: Joanna Hornung photos: VIOLETTA/MINEX CEI S.A.

Crystal Glass Factory „Violetta” was established in 1864 in Stronie Śląskie and has been manufacturing ornamental, hand-decorated glass and crystal products since then. Located in Ziemia Kłodzka region, on the right bank of Biała Lądecka, at the foot of Sowia Kopa mountain, it continues the old traditions.

The founder of the factory – Franz Losky – came from Szczytna, located in Ziemia Kłodzka region as well. Seitenberg then (Stronie Śląskie), which he had chosen to establish the glass factory had one undeniable advantage: an easy access to quartz stone, which is an essential raw material needed for glass making. Franz Losky bought the land for the construction

of the factory from Marianna Orańska, whose surname was an inspiration for the plant’s first name - Oranienhütte.

The factory had been quite successful and the glass products manufactured there had been extremely popular. A railway line between Kłodzko and Strachocin that was opened in 1897 had a great influence on its development. Oranienhütte produced semi-finished goods at that time, which were then forwarded to small glass-cutting departments and cottage industry workshops scattered in the area.

In the Interwar period, the benefits from running the factory had diminished, and the economic crisis of the 30s had brought some additional problems alongside. After 1945, Oranienhütte, together with the Ziemia Kłodzka region where it was built, were passed into the Polish hands and the factory became a state property. Soon afterwards, there was a decoration department opened on its premises and the whole plant started to be subject to Central Administration of Glass Industry and Glass-ceramics established in Sosnowiec and changed its name into United Glass Factories of Lower Silesia Province – State Glass Crystal Factory in Stronie Śląskie.

Melting and glass forming

28 | 1/2018

FOCUS POLAND |

New departments were opened over the years, own melting process and glass forming were launched. The factory was also equipped in a furnace to produce laboratory glassware. The products started to be exported abroad. The plant extended its area with a semi-manufactures and finished products warehouse. Pressed glass production and crystals painting were initiated. Some of the processes were fully mechanized and automatized.

The name „Violetta” Crystal Glass Factory was first used in 1970. Since then, the plant has been rapidly developing, employing new workers and producing record amounts of glass. The area of the factory has been continually growing. There were a Factory Cultural Centre “Brylant”, four-story production hall, ten-story office block, a water tower, as well as a big factory canteen built. The workers were being educated in a factory vocational school. Kryształ Stronie Śląskie Sports Club and professional fire service were financed with the factory’s money.

In 1990 „Violetta” started producing coated glass and then in 1994

slowly shaped goods which did not require chemical polishing, nor decoration and were exported to some American companies.

The company’s board changed in 1992 and the plant transformed into joint-stock company. From that moment on, the factory started to decline. In 2007 it was only employing 550 workers. Some of the buildings were demolished and the estates were sold. Despite having received the Golden Laurel award, “Violetta” started to face some difficulties with selling its goods. In May 2008, the situation forced the government to cease production and in July a decision about the factory’s closure was made. Three years later, “Violetta” was bought by Minex CEI S.A. which re-launched the production.

Currently, the plant is opened for visitors. A guided tour takes about 90 minutes. The visitors become familiar with subsequent glass production stages: melting, shaping, annealing, intermediate products treatment and hand-decoration. At the end, some finished goods, which can be bought in the factory’s shop are presented.

Glass decoration

1/2018 | 29

| FOCUS POLAND

and

Szklanydom.pl „on each day for everybody” Description: K. Osika Photos: Szklanydom.pl

Szklanydom.pl online shop is the winner of this year’s Polish edition of gia awards (Global Innovation Awards) – a contest that selects the most interesting concepts of interior design shops from all over the world. The winner of the national stage of the contest will represent Poland in the international final which will take place in March 2018 during a ceremonial gala in Chicago which will be a part of International Home + Housewares Show fair.

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„Szklany Dom” company has been selling a genuine hand shaped glass for 17 years. The brand not only creates new trends and designs but it also encourages the customers to create their own, unique projects.

The company has been cooperating with numerous demanding contractors both at home and worldwide, accomplishing specialist individual orders. All their products are manufactured in EDWANEX Glass Factory, which has been a part of glass production industry for over 50 years.

Online shop Szklanydom.pl online shop had been designed in order to enable the user to find a product category that is consistent with his/her interests easily. These are sliders which present the collections and novelty goods among others, as well as clear layout of tiles which lead to specific categories, that make it fast to find anything on the webpage. The webpage of the shop is responsive, which makes it easy to use, both on the computer and other mobile devices. A significant advantage of the shop is its customers orientation.

They can contact the company’s worker through phone helpdesk, online chat or social media channels really fast. The customers are given information on further stages of their purchase path via e-mails. Complaints and returning of the goods are always dealt with to

FOCUS POLAND |

the customers’ advantage. What is more, they are sent a glass surprise gift or a discount coupon together with their purchase. Thanks to these measures, the customers have a feeling of being important for the company, they feel appreciated and closely associated with the brand.

The greatest emphasis in creating the online shop outlook is put on the presentation of the products by means of photos and films by the brand caretakers. To accomplish this, two professionals in the field of arrangement and culinary photography ,who cook on a daily basis, were engaged. Thanks to that, it is possible to show the products and the idea of their future use by the clients. What is more, the graphic part is settled with common stylistics, print and the colors used, as an addition to the photos, films and the graphics within the descriptions of the products, as well as the banners in the shop and within social media.

Advertising and innovation The brand has been present on four social media sites – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google+. It has achieved the greatest success on Facebook, where it forms a community of almost 10,000 engaged fans and on Instagram, where over 1,000 people follow it. The shop also has its advertisements in professional magazines, takes part in various fairs, has its own blog and cooperates with some influencers – among others, with Styloly which is Aleksandra Marzęda- Czerwonka, the author of a blog about fashion, beauty, interior design and wedding inspirations. Szklanydom.pl brand had prepared some personalized gifts for the blogger’s wedding which were thoroughly described on her blog later on and got a lot of attention of her fans which generated a huge customer traffic in the shop. This way of developing the popularity of the shop does not only

result in a bigger number of clients, but also enables them to make purchasing decisions faster.

Despite having a stable market position and having been successful, the owners of the shop do not rest on their laurels and carry on implementing another innovations. They put the emphasis on omnichannel, for instance. The company’s Facebook profile includes a tab, which enables the customers to make a purchase and complete the transaction without leaving the social service. The brand has been operating on allegro. pl as well. What is more, the shop presumes a full personalization of their products – the customer has a chance to get the glass painted in any color from PANTONE template, with a transparent, matte or finishing paint or have the glass engraved. This way, the company is constantly trying to fulfill their motto, which assumes offering the customer products “on each day and for everybody”.

1/2018 | 31

| Retail in the world

London’s Beloved

Borough Taking the step from being successful bankers to the owners of a happening kitchen retailer in a thousandyear-old London food market doesn’t seem like the likeliest of career trajectories, but that’s exactly what Justin Kowbel and David Caldana did. And it’s turned out to be one of their best things ever.

Both Justin and David have always had a love of entertaining and in particular having friends over for dinner. However, it was about seven years ago on a Sunday morning that Justin realized wanting some extra tools for something he’d planned to make, that he couldn’t buy exactly what he needed. It wasn’t that the products weren’t out there—they were— but he couldn’t find the quality and functionality that he wanted in them.

That’s when something in Justin’s mind shifted. Having grown-up in small family retail business in rural Canada, he always knew he wanted to do something in retail. This provided the perfect opportunity to combine the things he was so passionate about: retail and cooking & entertaining. He was also lucky enough to have worked for a few highly successful brands in his banking career that had become friends. They provided an invaluable sounding board to challenge his idea until finally he found himself taking the leap and quitting his job.

He was also very aware it’s all about location, location, location, especially when you’re trying to make a mark in a busy, incredibly populous city like London. So after the idea of creating a cookware store for home chefs had firmly planted itself in Justin’s mind, he knew that the core of

32 | 1/2018

what he wanted to offer was an edited choice of the finest quality cooking products, collated in the perfect spot to attract the ‘right’ customer.

“There’s not a lot of color in our stores because it’s about how things work, not what color they are,” he says. “The discerning at-home chefs want the highest quality, most functional products in order to be the best possible at-home-chefs they could be. Or they want a high quality “value” option. And they certainly don’t want something that looks beautiful but doesn’t perform well.”

When he saw the future home of Borough Kitchen, Justin knew it was ‘the one’. It was a new building with five-meter-high glass windows allowing its surroundings to become a part of the experience, in the middle of Borough Market. This special niche of inner London is ridiculously rich with history, but is as relevant now as it has ever been, because it is London’s oldest food market. It has served the people of Southwark for over 1,000 years and has always been a place where people gathered to discuss food and what they would be making for friends or family.

Securing the dream building for Borough Kitchen took 14 months of negotiating as Borough Market management are so careful about the traders

Retail in the world |

who join the market, ensuring up the market and must share its values.

But Justin won them over, and Borough Kitchen came to fruition in 2013.

David, also working in banking at the time, put his hand up to start working on the weekends at the store, and the rest is history. “The people were so nice!” David says. “We couldn’t get over the fact that it was so much fun. It’s hard work, but we loved it, right from the beginning. So I left my job in banking as well.”

It wasn’t long before the men knew they had a success on their hands, and that they needed more staff to keep up the attention to detail that they required. So David became a co-founder, and the dream continued to expand. In 2014, a Borough Kitchen online store was launched, and in 2015 another brick-and-mortar store opened in Hampstead, with an integrated demonstration kitchen and a product trial area. Four months later, due to popular demand, a cooking school was also opened in Hampstead. Then a year later, a third physical store, also with a cooking school, opened in Chiswick.

The brand’s inspiring yet simple philosophy is carried through in the physical design, such as the floor created from the same materials as classic end-grain chopping boards, and the stripped-back merchandising that allows products to speak for themselves.

This streamlined sophisticated style, worthy of a top French chef’s kitchen, is followed through in the cast iron shelving frames, the French grey-washed plywood cabinets, the marble, walnut and linoleum countertops and the stainless steel surfaces.

And just like the purpose of a master chef, Borough Kitchen has a focus on things that make a difference to a person’s cooking experience, such as the in-store product trialing and the sharing of tips and recipes. “It’s all about the creation of an inviting atmosphere where customers can easily discover products and piece together their perfect kitchen,” says David.

Borough Kitchen has done such a great job of creating this special atmosphere, that it’s not only resulted in a retail store that draws people back again and again to buy products, but has also led to the creation of a loyal community of food lovers intent on doing the best they can in the kitchen. “In-store and online, we share the reasons behind why we love our products. We also provide cooking classes, demonstrations and tutorials that help our customers develop their techniques,” says Justin. “Our team are highly skilled, passionate foodies (many of them trained chefs), who love engaging with our customers.”

How to gain customers by multi-channel shopping experience?

The store also emphasizes the importance of touch—the tactile relationship between a person and the things to which they are attracted.

Products are displayed without packaging so that people can touch them, and are merchandised by function and category rather than brand. The demonstrations are created to educate and inspire: customers test-drive knives on carrots and steaks, pepper mills are filled with peppercorns and coffee grinders with beans.

The duo also keep close to their community by using social media for the publicizing of events, sharing recipe photos, cooking tips and news of new products, and having engaging conversations with food bloggers, brands and their customers. “We work on building relationships with journalists and bloggers in order to be seen as go-to experts for new products and product information,” explains Justin.

Just as they concentrate on their community, Justin and David also know how important their team is to the success of their business. “We hire only the best people who are passionate about cooking and are excellent communicators,” says Justin. Importantly, job seekers must include their own recipe in their applications, because both men know that their team is the face of their business, and that they are integral to holding the community they’ve spent so much energy on creating together.

Becoming one of the five global honorees at the 2017 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) in Chicago was not something that Justin nor David expected, but it’s something that they value as much as the experience they’ve had so far in the retail business.

“It’s such a great feeling to be chosen as one of the top five retailers in the world in Chicago,” says Justin. “We were so flattered, and proud, as we were in there with such an exceptional group of retailers.”

“The submission process makes you really think about what you are doing and what you are not doing as a business. That’s a great thing, as change is essential for growth. We know we have to keep changing to keep up, with technology and with our community. One thing that we have learned throughout this journey is that change is a great thing. It’s all about keeping things fresh.”

Additional information on the gia program is also available online at www.housewares.org/show/gia-retail For more information about the International Home + Housewares Show and to pre-register for the 2018 Show, taking place in Chicago on March 10-13, 2018, please visit www.housewares.org.

26/4/2018 PGE Narodowy Warsaw

Target group: retail chains, shopping centers, online stores.

Retail Marketing Forum is an exhibition and conference event dedicated to marketing and sales in multi-channel retail.

Two zones of lectures and discussion panels: RETAIL and E-COMMERCE.

More information: www.retailmarketingforum.com

1/2018 | 33

| Retail in the world

Soaring to

lofty

Heights

Loft was celebrating more than its gia win in Chicago this year. “2017 marks 30 years since the first Loft store opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, so entering gia became a significant opportunity for us to review everything by going back to the where we started, and in doing so, make a new start on our birthday,” says Mr. Limura, who is in charge of merchandising, business planning and new business development at Loft. “Thanks to gia, we were motivated to explore our global standpoint and our future goals.”

Loft’s first store sold lifestyle accessories in Shibuya’s Seibu department store. Since then, Loft has constantly evolved yet remained true to its core purpose and philosophy of being a ‘container of the times’, adjusting to changes of each period and era, and thus meeting needs of urban people by providing new styles and tools in lifestyle products.

“Being market-oriented, we don’t force the logic of our manufacturers or suppliers on to our consumers. Instead, we collect and select merchandise with a consumers’ logic in mind, and operate our business on behalf of consumers,” says Limura.

In 1996, Loft was incorporated as The Loft Co., and after the company introduced its innovative unit item inventory control system, it increased

34 | 1/2018

the number of stores rapidly. Now Loft has 110 stores in Japan, and to add to the many reasons to celebrate, soon Loft is expected to achieve its mid-term plan of reaching 100 billion yen turnover. “In 1996, Loft began to adopt its multi-store operation strategy, which would essentially serve an increasing number of customers,” explains Limura. “While doing this, we strengthened our merchandising proposal of always offering new, great things, to ensure that our current customers remained loyal and that more people were attracted to Loft.”

But of course, it’s not all about the products. “We strive to present not only unique products, but services that can only be found in Loft,” says Limura, explaining that his team adopts the ‘Loft WAY’ strategy to inspire customers on how to embrace and live the store’s philosophy, and ‘Loft NEXT’ is the idea of change being explored and exploited in the company’s online strategy, through its omni channels providing a fusion of e-commerce.

This focus on taking advantage of new technology has kept Loft at the top of its game. “There have been drastic changes in the Japanese retailing industry during the last decade, such as the entry and immediate expansion of discount stores,” explains Limura. “In the miscellaneous accessory product category (‘zakka’ in Japanese), many companies from different industries such as fashion designers, joined the zakka market and further heated the competition. Alongside this, the rapid growth of e-commerce massively influenced the retailing industry, decreasing sales in traditional stores.”

As these shifts occurred, Loft continually analyzed its inventory data, updated and adopted new IT systems, and unified the management for ordering, buying, logistics and sales with a unit control system. This system identifies items that sell well or poorly, giving management the chance to follow the changing tastes of Loft customers. In addition, the team at Loft organizes and proposes new merchandise groups or lines with new themes on a quarterly basis, while privately developing in-house products in order to maintain a strong point of differentiation.

Loft has also adopted new technologies such as a 3D computer system to develop customized products and services, and a mobile application membership was created in order to analyze sales, shopping behaviors and customer profiles. To complement this, events were launched where

Retail in the world |

SNS (Social Network Site) influencers are invited along, as part of the synergic sales promotional activities, online and in real stores.

Amidst all of these technological developments, Limura and his team are acutely aware that they need to stay in touch with some of the more traditional elements of retailing — such as good old-fashioned service with a smile. “As technology advances, I feel that many channels are becoming more entangled and complicated,” says Limura. “As this happens, the values of consumers tend to be further subdivided. In order to respond to consumers’ intentions, retailers should adapt to technological novelties, but at the same time, this give us all an opportunity to review our history, and traditional things and approaches. This means we can still experience and touch the good analogue elements of retail.”

Taking care of their staff is also a crucial element of the company’s business plan, and they like to give their staff a solid sense of job security. “By sustaining the company’s growth and prosperity, we give our employees good working conditions, thorough training in all departments, and their employment is guaranteed until the age of 65, so that they can enjoy cultural lifestyles,” says Limura.

Loft managers take the look and feel of their stores very seriously, and testimony to this is the fact that by November 2016, there were 260 Visual Merchandising leaders working across the stores. Those leaders work closely with the marketing division of the head office to ensure campaigns and ideas are consistent across Japan. The appearance of the stores and products at Loft is a special element of the business. In

keeping with this, Loft has a range of cleverly themed zones for customers to be inspired by. The spaces were brought to life by the MIKAN architectural firm in Japan, famous for creating amazing modern, light-filled spaces, whether they be houses, nurseries, schools, commercial facilities or an expo pavilion.

For instance, ‘& HOME’ floors in Shibuya Loft store are organized into ‘Eating’ on the 3rd floor and ‘Renovation’ for the 4th floor. To complement the products, towers of carefully chosen books related to the themes are placed on sales floors so that customers can deepen their knowledge of products and their interest. There’s the ‘Cook & Dine’ sales floor where different eating styles are introduced, such as ‘Café Style’ and ‘Bento (lunchbox) Style’. All zones are entertainment spaces, with themes such as ‘cooking’, ‘eating’, ‘tasting’ and ‘learning’ flowing from one to another like the pages in a book or a magazine.

With so many new things going on in such a well-orchestrated manner, it’s no surprise that the gia judges were highly impressed by Loft. The imagination, innovation, technology business acumen that has been funneled into the 30 year-old business speaks for itself.

Additional information on the gia program is also available online at www.housewares.org/show/gia-retail.

For more information about the International Home + Housewares Show and to pre-register for the 2018 Show, taking place in Chicago on March 10-13, 2018, please visit www.housewares.org.

12th INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF GASTRONOMY AND EQUIPMENT FOR HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

parallel with tourism industry event

15. - 18. 2. 2018

Prague Exhibition Grounds Holešovice

www.top-gastro.cz

1/2018 | 35

| INTERNATIONAL FAIRS

International Events 2018 DATe place

name of the fair

06.01-08.01 Munich

Trendset

12.04-15.04 Helsinki

Sisusta

09.01-12.01

Frankfurt am Main

Heimtextil

12.04-14.04 Riga

Fashion &Textile

10.01-11.01

London

THE LONDON TEXTILE FAIR

15.04.-19.04 Guangzhou

Canton Fair Phase One

12.01-15.01

Hannover

Domotex

14.01-16.01

Evenementenhal Gorinchem

TrendZ

17.04-22.04 Milan Salone Internazionale del Mobile

14.01- 18.01 Paris

Tradexpo

15.01-21.01

Cologne

Imm Cologne

17.01-20.01

Sztokholm

FORMEX

19.01-23.01

Paris

Maison&Objet

DATe place

name of the fair

18.04-21.04 Hong Kong

China Sourcing Fair: Home Products

19.04-21.04 Manila

Manila F.A.M.E. International

20.04-22.04 Kielce

HOME & GARDEN Hong Kong Houseware Fair

20.01-22.01 Düsseldorf

Vivanti

20.04-23.04 Hong Kong

21.01-24.01

January Furniture Show

20.04-22.04 Tallin

Interior

23.01-26.01 Essen

IPM Essen

23.04-27.04 Guangzhou

Canton Fair Phase Two

24.01-26.01

Oslo Design Fair

25.04-28.04 Brno

Mobitex

Birmingham Lillestrøm

26.01- 29.01 Athens

Mostra Rota

25.04-29.04 Jakarta

Inacraft

26.01-29.02

HOMI

01.05-05.05 Guangzhou

Canton Fair Phase Three

26.01-30.01 Frankfurt am Main

Christmasworld

02.05-04.05 Cernobbio

Proposte

27.01-30.01

Paperworld

13.05-15.05 London

Pulse London

28.01-01.02 Las Vegas

Las Vegas Market

15.05- 18.05 Świnoujście

Vitrel

28.01-31.01

Intirio

20.05.22.05 New York

Surtex

INTERGIFT

30.05-01.06 Tokio

Interior Lifestyle Tokyo

31.01-03.02 Kiev

ProMaisonUkraine

11.06-13.06 Kielce

Sacroexpo

04.02-08.02 Birmingham

Spring Fair Birmingham

27.06-29.06 New Delhi

Heimtextil India

07.02-10.02 Kiev

Interior Mebel

30.06-03.07 Frankfurt am Main

Tendence

09.02-13.02

Ambiente

02.09-04.09 Cologne

Spoga&Gafa

TOP GASTRO & HOTEL 2018

02.09-06.09 Birmingham

Autumn Fair Birmingham

27.02-03.03 Stuttgart

R+T

01.03 Warsaw

Interior Design Forum home textiles fair

05.09-08.09 Ostroda Poland

MTM International Furniture Fair

03.03-05.03 Leipzig

Cadeaux

06.09 Warsaw

Interior Design Forum home textiles fair

06.03-09.03 Poznan

Home Decor

11.09-13.09

Brussels

MoOD

06.03-09.03 Poznan

Meble Polska

11.09-14.09

Poznan

Sofab

07.03-10.03 Hochiminh

Vietnam Int’l Furniture & Home Accessories Fair

13.09-17.09

Helsinki

Habitare

18.09-21.09

Valencia

Habitat Valencia

07.03-11.03

Seoul

Seoul Living Design Fair

18.09-20.09 Moscow

Heimtextil Russia

08.03-11.03

Bucharest

Ambient

19.09-22.09 London

100 % DESIGN

10.03-13.03 Chicago

International Home & Housewares Show

21.09-24.09

Istanbul

Zuchex

27.09-29.09

Zakopane

Vitrel

12.03-14.03

OMAN

INTERIOR DESIGN

21.03-24.03

Warsaw

EuroGastro

Mediolan Frankfurt am Main Gent (Belgia)

31.01-04.02 Madryt

15.02-18.02

Frankfurt am Main Prague

28.03-31.03 Krasnodar

INDECOR

28.03-31.03 Casablanca

MOROCCO HOME TEX 2018

26.03-29.03 Almaty (Kazachstan) Homedeco Kazakhstan 29.03-01.04 Istanbul

Ideal Home

11.04-15.04

Home Design

Budapest

36 | 1/2018

01.10-04.10

Poznan

Invest Hotel

05.10-07.10

Riga

Baltic Furniture

11.10-15.10

Zagreb

Ambienta

Bangkok International 19.10- 23.10 Bangkok

Gift Fair & Bangkok Inter- national Houseware Fair 07.11-09.11 Krakow

Horeca

riga 2018 Baltic Fashion & Textile More than 9,000 people from 26 countries opt to visit the fair every year.

The International Textile Industry Fair „Baltic Fashion & Textile Riga 2018” – a meeting place for the fashion industry supply and demand in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and other Central and Eastern European countries – to be carried out at Kipsala International Exhibition Centre, Riga, Latvia for the 23rd consecutive year.

See you at the fair from April 12 – 14 2018.

Portal of the interior design industry

Quick access to professional information is the most common reason for right decisions

Visit www.ambiente.info.pl and subscribe a free newsletter

Jubilee of the furniture trade fair in ostróda International Furniture Trade Fair in Ostroda | 45th edition | 5-8 September 2018 The International Furniture Trade Fair, which is organized every year in Ostróda, is one of the most important events in the growth of the Polish furniture industry. This event has a long tradition.

Next year will be a special date for the International Furniture Trade Fair.

In 2018, the Trade Fair will celebrate its 25th anniversary. “The fact that next year’s edition will be our anniversary is a big challenge for us and we bear a great responsibility in making our celebration day a particularly important event for the Polish, European and global furniture industry”, said Piotr Łyżeń, Director of the IFTF Project.

Over the years since it started, the IFTF has been a place that has helped promote and build many of the biggest Polish furniture brands.

For many years, the whole furniture world has been visiting Ostróda in order to negotiate prices and conditions for deliveries for the next year.

“We want to celebrate our jubilee in a special and significant manner. Respecting the history and reputation of our trade fair, we are aware of the changes that are taking place in the industry and we are trying to respond to them. We keep in mind the most important feature of our trade fair, which is its business character”, said Łyżeń. While paying respect to tradition, the Trade Fair Director would like to introduce some changes that will open the trade fair to new exhibitors and new markets. Therefore, on the last day of the fair, the organizers plan to organize the sale of the furniture exhibited at the trade fair.

This action aims at reducing the costs of return transportation and it will allow residents of the region to participate in this significant event.

The International Furniture Trade Fair region, Warmia and Masuria, is a place that is strongly related to the furniture and wood industries. This is where one of the strongest Polish companies in the market sector is based. For the whole region, the furniture industry trade fair is a very important event. The International Furniture Trade Fair in Ostróda owes its international character not only to foreign visitors but also to foreign exhibitors. Due to its location, the trade fair has always been a window into the world for companies from eastern markets.

As a result of actions undertaken, the 44th edition of the trade fair in 2017 was visited by a great number of exhibitors, among others, from Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine. At the same time, the organizers noted a great increase in the number of visitors from the East.

| NEW PRODUCTS

New! product s

MINEX CEI (CRYSTAL GLASS FACTORY VIOLETTA) The latest collection of wine glasses, produced in the Crystal Glass Factory Violetta, that combines elegance and modernity, is made of high quality crystal glass 24 % PbO, it has a remarkable clarity of glass, a unique handmade decorating and a beautiful gloss.

Wrześniak Glassworks Producer of decorative glass – like vases, hurricanes, candleholders and tabletop products – like tumblers, jugs, stemware, bowls.

40 | 1/2018

FROM POLAND

ZPS Karolina Nature inspired.

Our 2018 debut at Ambiente Fair is the nature inspired NATURA Collection. The newcomer

by ZPS Karolina reflects the ambience of lush forests and rich nature straight from an old fairy tale. Designed to enjoy your traditional hearty meals in the middle of woodland fantasy.

NEW PRODUCTS |

New! product s

Rad-pol The collection of decorative, curtain fabrics Ultima from the offer of RAD-POL company includes six traditional as well as modern designs in many color options. Starting from white and slightly neutral to very expressive colors. There is also a fresh pastel green – the color so much liked lately. Width: 141 cm. Composition: cotton and polyester.

FROM POLAND

Cmielow Design Studio SYSTEM - The espresso cup “System” is a new concept in relationship between cup and it’s saucer.

The symmetric linear design with grooves which fit into there negatives, gives firm contact between two porcelain forms. Design offer comfortable handling and secure conditions in walking with the cup of coffee. Design: Marek Cecula 2017

1/2018 | 41

| Interview

Malaysian home textile sector Interview with Mr. Jude Bryan Dass, Trade Commissioner, Matrade Warsaw Malaysia belongs to the new and prospective Far East markets. Please tell us about most important characteristics of the Malaysian home textile/interior design sector.

The Malaysian home textile industry is one that had benefited from the export-oriented industrial transformation in the early 1980s which aimed to push the industry up the value chain from just supplying, to designing and manufacturing to international markets by taking advantage of the latest technology in manufacturing and distribution. To date, Malaysian companies are capable of producing over 70 million meters of polyester and nylon fabrics monthly, and are supplying home textile products such as curtains and linens to global players such as Wal-Mart and J.C. Penny. Malaysia in 2016 had exported USD 3.45 billion worth of textiles, apparels &

tanamera

Claytan

42 | 1/2018

footwear globally with the top five marketing being the United States, Japan, Turkey, the PRC and Singapore. White Horse Ceramic Industries Sdn. Bhd, Malaysian Mosaics Berhad and Ceramica Indah Sdn. Bhd are among the prominent ceramic manufactures in Malaysia. Malaysian ceramic products are exports we received in markets such as Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In the flooring segment, Malaysia’s timber flooring made of heavy wood such as Merbau, Penaga and Chengal are highly sought after and command a premium.

Please tell us what are the most important industry events in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s central location in the mid-point between the two fast growing markets of China and India, coupled with its modern infrastructure as well as excellent transportation networking, positions Malaysia as a strategic location for MICE activities. Over 100 international meetings are conducted annually and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) had ranked Malaysia as the 35th destination globally and 9th destination in Asia Pacific and Middle East for meetings in 2016.

Malaysia is also host to over 100 international and local trade fairs annually among which include Malaysia International Halal Showcase MIHAS, Offshore Technology Conference Asia, SEMICON Southeast Asia, International Gifts, Premium & Stationery Fair, Malaysia International Shoe Festival, APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition, International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition, Conference and Malaysian International Furniture Fair or Malaysia Fashion Week.

The Malaysian Trade Commission (MATRADE) routinely organizes International Sourcing Programmes (INSP) in conjunction with selected trade fairs in Malaysia for keen international buyers. Among the incentives to joining the INSP will include pre-arranged business meeting and accommodation for the duration of the programme.

kioda

You have been in Warsaw since July.

Please tell the Ambiente readers about your aims to promote Malaysia in Poland in the nearest future.

Traditionally, exports of rubber products particularly medical gloves, electrical and electronic products as well as chemical products to Poland have been strong. Malaysian palm oil products as well as lighting fixtures and fittings are also well received in the market. We are keen to also supply homeware products, furniture as well as textiles, apparels and footwear to the Polish market.

We have been observing an increasing demand for Asian cosmetics, including perfumes, natural health and spa products as well as beverages with health and herbal properties, including coffee, tea and flavoured drinks. There is also interest from Malaysian businesses to setup and franchise Korean popular culture themed stores in Poland (company Kioda) and we are looking for suitable partners in the market.

Prospectively speaking, as both the Malaysian and Polish economies further develop, new partnership opportunities will emerge, and among the potential areas would be franchise, ICT, energy and tourism. We always welcome Polish companies to contact us for connection to potential Malaysian business partners.

www.violetta.com.pl

Ambiente stand 6.3D.82