China International Furniture Exhibition, 12-15 September

Asia’s landmark event for the furniture industry is getting ready for business in autumn, when it will open its doors from 12-15 September in Shanghai.As the first significant international event after the summer break in Europe, Furniture China returns with 1, 600 exhibitors on 220, 000 sq.m. exhibition space.Featuring Asia’s best designs and quality products, the show is expected to draw over 70, 000 visitors, including 12, 000 international buyers. In an attempt to balance growth, available exhibition space and visitors’ convenience, the organisers have appointed two venues to take pressure from the overbooked Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

The lack of exhibition space will be relieved in 2008 with two additional exhibition halls scheduled to be finished at SNIEC, adding 23, 000 sq.m. of floor space.Three more halls, with a floor space of 35, 000 sq.m. will be completed in 2009 and another set of three in 2010.It is expected that the 17th China International Furniture Expo in 2011 will become a show of about 350, 000 sq.m., then being the world’s second largest furniture show.

Despite the show’s name, Furniture China’s exhibitors are increasingly international, with many companies from Southeast Asia taking part, shifting the focus from “China-made” towards “Asia-made”.Exhibitors from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia have confirmed their participation.Support from Western countries is also growing, with Italian, French and American companies targeting the domestic high-end market, as well as international buyers from China’s neighbouring countries.

A survey revealed that most visitors are visiting Furniture China because of its broad range of exhibits and the high quality of exhibitors, the majority considering Furniture China as a “must-visit” event.When comparing Furniture China to other exhibitions in China, visitors highlighted the quality of exhibitors’ and products’, the venue’s excellent connection to the airport and public transportation and the services offered by the organiser.