Thomas Russell — Furniture Today,
GUANGZHOU, China — A slew of highly traditional upholstery and case goods competed with their


contemporary counterparts at the 19th China International Furniture Fair here last month.

Both genres appeared to strike a chord with Chinese and international buyers, who came out in force to shop the event.

The show ran March 18-21 at the 2.6 million-square-foot Chinese Export Commodities Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Roughly half of the floor space was devoted to furniture while the rest was for home decor and housewares. Nearly 400 furniture exhibitors showed, most of which were from China.

Show organizers said attendance at this year’s event had topped 53,000 by the second day, with nearly 72% of them from China. Official results for all four days were not available at press time.

Last year, the show drew 115,089 visitors, 77% of whom were from China.

Many exhibitors catered to the domestic market with traditional and cottage style furniture popular in China. However, a number of manufacturers also actively pursued export markets, including Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Korea and Japan.

One busy exporter is Baifuhao Furniture of Zhejiang, which sells traditional style dining and occasional furniture made with fancy-face veneers and rubberwood solids. Exports account for about 95% of revenues, with much of its sales to the United States, Canada, the Middle East and South Asia.

Hong Kong-based Gainwell Industrial Ltd. showed a variety of mostly traditional and cottage style occasional, dining and bedroom furniture items, some of which had trendy finishes and mixed- media elements such as metal and glass. Much of its business is export, with the U.S. representing about 20% of total sales, according to company sales associate Jimmy He.

French and other European styles figured into products at occasional and accent furniture maker Fujian Minhou Minxing Wea Ving Co. The pieces, some of which had iron bases, or a two-tone effect with cherry tops and antique white legs, appeal largely to U.S. and Canadian mass merchants and home furnishings specialty chains, which together account for about 80% of sales, said company representative Sharon Zheng.

Accents and occasional pieces also were seen at Shilian Arts and Crafts Furniture of Dongguan. Most of its products, which included wine cabinets, vanity sinks, pedestals, fireplaces and cocktail tables, had highly traditional resin appliqués, a design that appeals mostly to the Middle East, its largest export market, said company associate Cindy Yu.

While traditional and cottage style case goods were abundant, there was also plenty of fabric and leather upholstery at the show.

Traditional upholstery pieces were prevalent at such manufacturers as Clearwise Co., Monarchy Furniture Mfg., and Hong Kong Meijiaju Furniture. Some offered matching cocktail and end tables.

In some cases, however, the highly traditional frames were given a contemporary touch with flashy, bright fabrics.

Foshan-based Shunde Empire Europe Furniture displayed highly carved traditional English and French traditional style upholstery frames covered in rich gold- and-red fabrics and silver-and-gold leaf accents.

Its line of case goods also had highly traditional frames with reeded posts and acanthus leaf carvings. Shunde updated the pieces with silver finishes or silver leaf on the legs of cocktail and dining tables.

The company exports about 50% of its line. It doesn’t sell to U.S. customers currently, but hopes to in the future.

Contemporary frames and case goods also were a huge part of the show’s draw, occupying about half the space in the hall devoted to furniture. Companies such as Kuka Technics, Kinwai, Kinetic, OGA Rome, Lixing Industrial Co. and One Home showed a mix of clean-lined leather and fabric sofas, as well as bedroom, dining room and occasional items.

One Home touted its ability to offer 10 custom finishes and 31 fabrics on its upholstery and other living room furniture, including home entertainment walls and cocktail tables. Exports account for 60% of sales, although none to the United States currently.

Earthy and aqua tones were popular on contemporary style upholstered beds at Peking Home Feeling Furniture of Beijing. However, it too is a custom shop, offering some 24 fabric options on its beds.

Kinetic’s mix included contemporary sofas and sectionals in white, light creamy and very light yellow and green tones. Its beds, some of which were upholstered platform models, had similar color patterns.

Manufacturers said they saw buyers from U.S. sources including Klaussner, Broyhill and La-Z-Boy, and retailers Value City and City Furniture.

Keith Koenig, president of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based City Furniture, said he also attended a show in Dongguan, China, held earlier in the week. It was his first time at both shows, he said.

“I thought both shows were excellent,” Koenig said. “I found several resources we should do a lot of business with — companies that aren’t well represented and that don’t show in the U.S., but that have a lot to offer.”

He said he made some commitments, including one to Kuka, a leather source he said also has fabulous dining chairs and barstools as well as small ottomans.