FB Summer 2012

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Following the success of the 2012 exhibition, the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) and the co-located Decoration + Design exhibition will return to the Sydney Exhibition Centre from 6 to 8 February 2013.

Together, AIFF and Decoration + Design is the first event in the 2013 Asia Pacific calendar of furniture and furnishing trade fairs, and expects to attract more than 6000 Australian and international buyers.

Top designers on show at AIFF 2013

The fair will showcase some of the top names and most exciting brands in the furniture and furnishings industries. From cutting-edge designs, to leaders in sustainable manufacturing, to hand-crafted collections, the range of work on display will provide industry visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to view the latest trends in furniture design from Australia and around the world. Visitors can expect to view the very

latest collections and a range of furniture pieces from chairs, to bedding, flooring and lighting.

An exciting new addition to the fair for 2013 is Still Made Here, an attraction that will feature local manufacturers and highlight both the quality and diversity of Australian-made furniture.

A key feature of AIFF 2013 is The Edge, a design and innovation showcase, which features Australia’s hottest upcoming design talent competing for awards in Student, Commercial, Concept and Green categories.

One of the most exciting events of the fair is Colour: Texture: Form: (formerly known as Design Futures), a curated installation exploring a unique vision of the future of design. This year, Scott Lewis, in collaboration with Surface by Belinda Christie and Adele Townshend Design, presents Living Surrounds – a curatorial blend of design, art and experiential culture. 2

FB | AIFF

Living Surrounds will include work by acclaimed Australian designers Ross Didier, Ash Allen and Anthony Dann. Presented in one visually spectacular installation, the exhibition as a whole explores some of the latest trends in design, revealing a new era of experimentation.

Influenced by global concerns such as advances in technology, financial recession, corporate influence and an awareness of the need for sustainability, design today as presented by Lewis returns to a focus on the unique, and to an appreciation of the value of craft.

The Hotel + Hospitality Furnishings area will also return to the 2013 fair, and continues to attract strong support from suppliers keen to explore the non-retail market. Exhibitors catering to Australian hotels, motels, clubs and restaurants will point to the latest trends in this sector.

Decoration + Design 2013 will host exhibitors specialising across a range of areas in interior design.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view the latest trends across wallpaper, decorative accessories, fabrics, furniture, homewares, lights and lamps, soft furnishings and wall art.

A continued highlight of the fair experience is the International Industry Seminar Series, which provides invaluable industry insight into trends, and features both local and international experts. Headlining the series are internationally-renowned UK designer and ‘style-spotter extraordinaire’, Abigail Ahern, and American designer, writer and colour specialist, Mark Woodman. Local speakers include Greg Natale of Greg Natale Design, Amanda Talbot, author of RETHINK: The Way You Live, and Melissa Wittig, a health focused interior design professional and owner of Healthy Interiors.

Free workshops will also be available throughout the fair with trainer Mark Davis of Davis Consulting Group. Topics will include social media, creating customer loyalty by delivering a unique retail experience, effective sales techniques, marketing and creating a multi-million dollar brand online and offline. Workshop places can be booked online when registering to visit.

Featured exhibitorsNew exhibitors for 2013 include a range of European, classic Australian, and Indian designs. Eudor’s collection of modern, elegant European design will be a highlight, along with traditional French

country designs by Compagnons, which offers a large range of furniture in classic, wrought-iron ware and handicraft lines.

Those with an eye for style will not want to miss the Designer Boys: Gavin Atkins and Warren Sonin, well known for their appearance on Channel Nine’s The Block. Gavin and Warren will unveil their latest Designer Boys Art Collection of more than 120 decorative artworks with more than 90% of the art personally designed by the dynamic duo. The Boy’s premium furnishing and styling work is ideal for hotels and commercial establishments.

Aussie Melamine will showcase its latest melamine range for the office, home and bedroom. Daybeds and other outdoor styles will be a highlight of Big Garden Furniture while VIVIN will feature its extensive range of imported Indian furniture. Indus Valley also offers a range of exotic furniture from Indian antiques, homewares, and a range of furniture styles, as well as carefully crafted woodwork. Indus Valley can also provide designers to consult on interior decoration work for offices, homes and hotels.

Visitors looking for more than furniture will not be disappointed. Decorative homewares accent and complement a variety of decors. Exhibitor Emac and Lawton hand select homewares from across the world that combine creative and contemporary design with old world craftsmanship.

Established brands such as Cromwell (Australia) and HorganS, will also exhibit. Both are well-known to the industry, and focus on the import and wholesale of furniture, lighting, homewares and interior accessories. Crowley and Grouch import from Europe, and specialise in vintage and antique homewares, textiles and furniture.

One of the rising stars of the soft furnishings industry is Sydney-based Armadillo&Co founded by Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst three years ago. Fried and Pottharst design and create exquisite rugs, table tops and entrance mats with their signature combination of ethics and aesthetics.

Working with artisans from India, each piece created by Armadillo&Co embraces Fair Trade practices. Each is crafted

from sustainable natural fibres including pure wool, jute, cotton and hemp, and all purchases benefit local schools in the weavers’ villages.

Also inspired by tradition, Sydney-based exhibitor Water Tiger was founded out of an appreciation for Asian artefacts. The label provides a fusion of ancient and modern designed and crafted pieces and can also provide an avenue for direct manufacture with Asian artisans in creating furniture, soft furnishing and homewares.

New designers with the fair this year include Colonial Franz, Thea and Sami, Potala Designs and I and B Perryman Oriental Carpets. FB

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summer 2012 | fb magazine 3

Important news – please read….it is to your advantage!We have made the momentous decision to no longer produce a hard-copy version of FB Magazine for the foreseeable future.

FB Magazine will now be an online-only publication for a couple of reasons. One, and I’m sure you understand this all too well, is the furniture and bedding industries are doing it really tough in the current economic climate. This, in turn, has a major impact on FB Magazine as advertising budgets are being cut back across the board. Without advertising support, we cannot viably continue to produce, print and post a hard-copy publication since, as we no longer charge a subscription fee, we are solely reliant on advertising revenue.

The second reason, though to be honest a lesser one, is that going by the feedback we are getting from readers, more and more are accessing our website to register and download, or read, the magazine online. This shows us that the popularity of the printed hard-copy product is beginning to wane, which is true for other magazines and newspapers around the world.

However, we will continue to keep you up-to-date and informed about what’s happening in your industry on an even more regular basis. This is because being online means we don’t need to stick to a fixed schedule so we can send the magazine out more often and your news will be more recent.

Advertising opportunities will also be available at a lower cost than a printed edition yet still reach our entire database – and, on a more regular basis, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419

PO BOX 800, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia 3106Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087Email: [email protected]: www.elitepublishing.com.au

PUBLISHERVicky CammiadeEmail: [email protected]

GROUP MANAGING EDITORJennifer CurtisEmail: [email protected]

SALES MANAGERAshley CooperEmail: [email protected]

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD(established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or me-chanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

FB | INDUSTRY NEWS

One bricks and mortar retailer is delivering an Australian first – web-based capabilities in-store for the ultimate in shopping convenience.

Bedshed COO Gavin Culmsee said: “Bedshed’s Joondalup store is now showcasing best practice ecommerce and we’ve delivered this technology to customers before any other retailer,” he said. “We’re capitalising on the power of the Internet in-store to offer customers a new level of freedom, knowledge and convenience,” said Mr Culmsee.

A large screen at the store entrance displays national and local marketing content and senses and reacts as customers approach.

“They can review promotional content, search the online product gallery, add items to their wish list and have a custom PDF brochure created and emailed to them directly from the screen. Accessing the emailed content via their smartphone whilst in-store makes the shopping trip faster and easier.

The interactive kiosk’s Mattress Assist functionality lets customers browse by brand, mattress size, the room the bed is for, and the reason for the new purchase such as partner disturbance or improvement in health and wellbeing.

“It’s the ultimate in convenience for the truly time-poor. Customers are served faster and also have the option of pressing the screen’s help button for immediate and discreet assistance.

Behind the scenes, the two in-store touch screen kiosks allow for a combination of national and local area marketing content. It gives the local franchisee the freedom to promote, for example, excess stock or highlight a particular accessory.

“They can even translate content into another language to meet their community’s demographic,” said Mr Culmsee. FB

A technological first in Australian retailingUPFRONT

Jennifer Curtis Ashley Cooper Vicky Cammiade

Jennifer Curtis - EditorPh: 03 9890 0815; Fax: 03 9890 0087 or

Email: [email protected]

4 fb magazine | summer 2012

FB | NEWS

The online household furniture industry has thrived over the past five years.

Industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 12.1% over the five years through 2012-13, to reach $303.7 million.

According to IbisWorld industry analyst, Aries Nuguid, the industry has grown rapidly from its small base as Australians have shifted to online shopping, supported by an accelerated number of internet connections.

The greater traffic through online stores has boosted industry sales. The industry attracts value-driven customers due to lower prices and convenient product comparison. Online household furniture sellers are able to offer low prices due to having little need to maintain a large floor space to display their products.

Profitability has increased over the past five years as operators have benefited from economies of scale and invested in labour saving equipment. Industry revenue is expected to grow strongly in 2012-13 as players continue to enter the industry and consumers become more accustomed to online purchases.

The online household furniture industry is characterised by a large number of small operators, each carving out its own share

of the market. For instance, some pure play operators focus on supplying the replica designer furniture market, while others focus on providing lower priced furniture products.

The two largest players in the industry in 2012-13 are expected to be Milan Direct and Harvey Norman.

The industry's market share concentration is relatively low due to the recent entrance of a large number of players. For instance, many traditional retailers have only launched e-commerce websites in the past year or so.

“Although these companies have established networks due to their distribution of retail outlets, their online capacity will take some time to ramp up,” said Nuguid.

On the other hand, pure play retailers are gaining larger market shares more quickly due to their instant online retail operations.

The industry will welcome even more customers onto its online stores over the next five years. The formation of more households, more entrants, and customers shifting online will support the quick growth. However, profitability is expected to diminish. The entry of new players is expected to increase competition, which will encourage price drops that will cut into profit margins.

For more information, visit IbisWorld’s Online Household Furniture Sales report in Australia industry page. Source: Inside Retail FB

Snooze recently unveiled its new mobile and tablet compatible website – the first of its kind in the Australian bedding market.

The new mobile-friendly website promises to give customers the best possible user experience while browsing on devices such as iPhones, Galaxy SIII and iPads.

The launch comes in response to recent insight from Snooze’s website analytics that identified a trend towards shoppers using mobile devices to research products and compare prices.

Snooze Managing Director, Simon Beaty, commented: “In the past year, mobile traffic on the Snooze

website has increased by more than 400%. Such a significant increase in mobile website usage is impossible to ignore as a retailer.”

Snooze’s solution was to develop a platform that targeted the growing tablet audience while simplifying the consumer’s online experience.Mr Beaty continued: “Technology is rapidly changing purchasing behaviour and the way shoppers interact with retailers. As a result – and as a commitment to our customers – it was important that Snooze invested in developing a tailored retail solution to suit both online and in store”. FB

Online furniture flourishes

Snooze launches mobile website

Crowson Fabrics (Australia) Pty Ltd recently changed its name to The Textile Company Pty Ltd.

Crowson Fabrics Australia was established in 1997 as a subsidiary of Crowson Fabrics UK and has traded very successfully over the past 15 years.

With the changing dynamics of the market three years ago, the company

started distributing additional brands including Waverly, Philip Jeffries, Camengo, Clarence House, Trend and Charterhouse.

While Crowson and Monkwell remain very important to The Textile Company the new name better reflects the diverse portfolio of brands the company distributes. FB

Name change for Crowson

UniCased® XT Edge ComfortCare® Latex DuraFlex® Base LiftRight® Handles StayTight® Foundation Cover

SRx Titanium® Support

The most supportive mattress for all you do in bed.

With trusted support and amazing comfort, the new generation Sealy Posturepedic is designed for an even better night’s sleep. Plus innovative features are designed

to be functional and attractive.

It’s no wonder that Sealy is Australia’s Number 1 mattress choice* – over 7 times more people would choose Sealy than any other mattress.

Choosing Sealy is easy!

*Source: Quantum Research Bedding Tracking Report, October 2012

Australia’s No.1 Mattress Choice

6 fb magazine | summer 2012

Three RMIT University students have won awards from textiles and homewares firm Linen House, which has been working with the University for nine years. The awards could help see their bed linen designs go into production.

The Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design) students worked on a commercial brief from the company which paid homage to the recent Napoleon: Revolution to Empire exhibition at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria.

Emma Lynas, Lecturer in Textile Design, said the students’ enthusiastic research and interpretation of the “quietly grand” theme resulted in a diverse mix of classic and contemporary stories for bed linen.

“First and second prize winners, Alana Costanzo and Liz Workman referenced traditional motifs and trailing repeat systems to create a more classic, feminine story for the brand,” Ms Lynas said.

Sarah Hearne received the highly commended award after drawing inspiration from Napoleon’s iconic hat that symbolised the man and the era.

Ms Lynas said Ms Hearne cleverly worked the motif into geometric patterns incorporating the colours of

the French revolution. Linen House designers,

Emily Treganowan and Liz McCracken, mentored the emerging designers and said that the winning designs were of an exceptionally high standard that offered very commercial outcomes.

Ms Treganowan said Alana Costanzo’s work was beautiful, very sophisticated, delicate and professional.

“I would expect this standard from an accomplished textile designer,” she said.

Liz McCracken said Sarah Hearne’s designs showed a very commercial outcome that could easily be translated into a Linen House design. FB

The Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA)’s new fair feature, Design Life is expected to take the traditional trade show experience to a new level of sophistication and engagement.

Design Life offers selected exhibitors the means to experience a totally new and unique way to showcase and

market their high end, quality products, in an environment that reflects the originality and inspiration behind their products.

“Design Life is unlike anything else available to wholesalers and retailers in the Australian market. It is a dramatic and stylish exhibition which will inspire retailers to think differently

about their stores and offer a raft of merchandising ideas,” said international trade fair specialist, Nigel Carrier, who has been commissioned to do the job.

Against an imposing, dramatic and stylish black and white canvas, the custom stands will stand out and entice retailers to explore, whilst professionally styled,

themed ‘trend’ areas, will offer tangible, practical ideas which can easily translate to retail stores, helping store owners to stay ahead of the curve and create a point of difference.

Design Life will take place alongside the Home and Giving Fair at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park on from 23 to 26 February 2013. FB

RMIT in bed with Linen House

A retail experience filled with ideas and inspiration

FB | NEWS

Left: Sarah Heare's artwork. Above: Alana Costanzo’s award winning design. Below: Liz Workman’s artwork.

Have you heard of Tessa? What about Moran? Did you know that Lee Kidman’s family has been involved with the timber and furniture trade for five generations? How about when the name Berkowitz was associated with manufacturing as well as retailing? Did you know Clayton Furniture started in 1935 making incubators, ice cream cabinets and kitchen tables? Do you remember when every kitchen in Australia had a Formica topped table made by Eagle Remac?

The history of Australian furniture manufacturing in the 20th and 21st centuries is fascinating ... and in danger of disappearing. Currently there is no historical record of the lifetime achievements and accomplishments of the well known identities and brand names of the Australian furniture manufacturers, who have been household names in the domestic and commercial furniture manufacturing industry in Australia throughout countless generations. We are gearing up to publish a coffee table book: ICONS – A HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS, that will record and preserve these Aussie ICONS – their influences, their backgrounds, their histories. We will also include a comprehensive visual reference using old photographs, line drawings, old family records – anything and everything that will tell their stories.

Their legacy will live onThe research, sourcing and compiling of all the information will take a great deal of time – so, this is where you come in. We need the help of everyone in the furniture industry to locate, contact and source the people, their families and friends, historical data, photos – in fact, records of any sort that will help express the lives and achievements of the well known identities and brands of Australia’s furniture history. ICONS will be edited by Jennifer Curtis, who is well known to the industry through her long association with the furniture publishing business, and published in Australia by Cameo Publishing Pty Ltd under the direction of Vicky Cammiade. With their passion and enthusiasm for the furniture industry as a whole this project promises to be an inspiration to all those concerned with furniture making both now and in the future.

We need your help!

If you can help in any way, please contact:Jennifer Curtis 03 9938 7011 or [email protected] Cooper 03 9938 7052 or [email protected] Cammiade 03 9938 7017 or [email protected]

8 fb magazine | summer 2012

Award-winning designer, retailer and manufacturer, King Furniture opened a new showroom in Canberra in December, designed by one of Australia's leading interior designers.

Renowned for innovative retail design, David Hicks has created a bespoke showroom that showcases the company's extensive range of quality sofas as

well as other furniture. "We wanted to reflect the

design, craftsmanship and beauty of King Furniture's collections in the creation of the new showroom in Canberra. It was our aim to bring in the individualism and unique sensibility that King Furniture is known for, and to portray comfort, quality and excellence," said David Hicks. FB

KS Textiles, a major distributor of mattress fabrics, celebrated the opening of its new showroom in Brunswick, Victoria in November.

The timing of the showroom coincided with the company’s collaboration with Deslee Clama in an exciting new partnership.

“KST is a major stockist of mattress ticking fabrics and having Deslee Clama

on board has expanded our product offering to further cement our one stop shop for all our customers fabric requirements,” said Lucy Ferretti, KST General Manager. “We are excited about the future and all the innovative products that are in the pipeline, and judging by the reaction of some our customers on the night, this collaboration will be a successful one.” FB

King opens in Canberra

KS in new collaboration

FB | NEWS

David Hicks

The Australian Made Campaign today welcomed the Federal Court’s decision to order Gold Coast retailer, UNJ Millenium Pty Ltd, to pay $55,000 in penalties after admitting it made false or misleading claims that sheepskin and wool bedding products were made in Australia, and contained 100% sheep wool or 100% alpaca wool.

Australian Made applauded the action taken by the ACCC which led to the

court case and subsequent finding against UNJ Millenium.

“We condemn the use of country of origin claims intended to mislead and confuse consumers, particularly when those claims are falsely made using the Australian Made logo,” Australian Made Chief Executive, Ian Harrison said.

“Australia has a very strong nation brand, which gives local businesses a competitive advantage in the marketplace. It is crucial that this is maintained.” FB

When it comes to inspecting steel storage racking there has been some ambiguities in meeting the Australian Standard AS4084.

In the past this has left many companies risking worker safety and not inspecting racking systems regularly or to recommended standards.

The release of revised Standard AS4084-2012 in February 2012 has gone a long way in attempting to remove any grey areas in the ‘to inspect’ or ‘not to inspect' camps and has roused debate on the potential hazards in the warehousing environment.

Among other revisions, the standard more closely defines that load charts must be displayed, specifies a traffic light reporting system must be incorporated into reporting, and says that inspections must be carried out at least every 12 months.

Previously existing wiggle room in interpretation of the standard has been eliminated.

The risks of failure to meet the new revised standard AS4084-2012 can be as inconsequential as stock loss and business shutdowns or as major as staff death and potential company litigation. FB

Australian Made applauds ACCC action on misleading claims

Racking guidelines updated

PAB12007_FB_58x260.pdf 1 17/08/12 3:34 PM

Protect-A-Bed’s mattress encasings and protectors, quilt protectors, pillow protectors, bed linen, infant mattress protector range and Allergy Relief fabric treatment spray have all been approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice Program.

The range was reviewed by an expert panel including specialists in allergy and respiratory medicine and was found to be a better choice for the seven million Australians with allergies and the more than two million suffering from asthma.

Adam Trumble from the National Asthma Council Australia said: “The Protect-A-Bed range has the potential to improve the health and quality of life for those suffering from asthma and allergies. The protectors create a barrier and reduce exposure to dust mites and mould, which are common allergy and asthma triggers.“

Protect-A-Bed co-founder and Managing Director, David Kaplan

said the company was delighted to be recognised for the role it plays in asthma and allergy care and urged people with asthma and allergies to look at their bed hygiene to see if improvements could help to lessen their symptoms and improve their control. He also recommends that retailers cater for this important growing market sector.

“We spend a third of our life in bed so doing something as simple as creating a healthier sleeping environment could really make a difference to the health and well being of families,” he said

The Sensitive Choice Program was developed to help those suffering from asthma and allergies make informed choices about the products and services they and their families use. Approved products are recognized using the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly symbol and may be better choices for people with asthma and allergies. FB

Protect-A-Bed range approved by Sensitive Choice

BEDS | FB

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FB | BEDS

Bed manufacturer Sealy is Australia’s most recognised and preferred bedding brand according to research conducted by Quantum Market Research*.

In its latest (October 2012*) consumer research report of the bedding category and its brands, the Sealy Posturepedic brand leads the market in both un-prompted and prompted brand awareness, strongly reinforcing its position as market leader.

The research findings showed:

• first mentioned brand: when asked which bedding brand they could recall first, 28% mentioned Sealy, while the next most frequently first mentioned brand was 4%;

• unprompted awareness: 35% of consumers recalled Sealy or Sealy Posturepedic as a bedding brand. The next most mentioned brand had 12% recall. This means that Sealy is by far the best-known brand in the category;

• preference: 42% of respondents said they would choose a Sealy if they were buying a bed. The next most

preferred brand attracted 5% of consumers.

“Consumers are attracted to brands they know and trust,” said Britta Gehrmann, Sealy Marketing Manager. “Bedding is a case in point. A mattress lasts for around 10 years and when it is time to replace it shoppers will have to make a decision on which bed is best for them from a bewildering array of options.

“At that point a strong brand can make a real

difference, making the selling process easier for both the sales associate and the consumer.”

The Quantum research complements the findings of Sealy’s recent Sleep Census, an in-depth study into the sleep wellness of Australians. Conducted in April 2012, the census sought views of more 13,000 Australian, revealing among other things that Sealy owners are more likely to sleep for longer at

night compared to non-Sealy owners.

Sealy’s latest television campaign ‘Sealy Posturepedic Apartment’, alongside its national testimonial campaigns and increasing presence in social media is helping to further reinforce Sealy as a preferred and trusted bedding brand in Australia.

*Source: Quantum Market Research, Sealy Tracking Study, October 2012 FB

Aussies reckon a good night's sleep is key to a healthy life but are worried they are not getting enough slumber, a new survey shows.

The survey of more than 1500 Australians for life insurer AIA found the most important driver of healthy living was sufficient sleep.

But on average Australians were getting 1.7 hours less sleep a night than they desired, the 2012 AIA Australia Healthy Living Index Monitor found.

The index surveyed 1162 Australian adults' eating and sleeping habits, exercise, medical check-up frequency, and 12 drivers of healthy living. It found Aussies were getting on average 6.6 hours of sleep a night, below the 8.3 hours they wanted.

Sufficient sleep and a healthy diet were considered to be the two most important drivers of healthy living, with 64% and 61% of participants respectively nominating these areas.

A happy frame of mind and good family relationships were also deemed important, according to 59% and 57% of respondents.

People were also preoccupied with their weight, with 78% of women and 64% of men reporting a desire to drop a few kilos. Two in five Australians had tried a diet at some point but most lasted less than three months.

Forty-three per cent of people said their spouse

or partner was a positive influence on healthy living habits, while for 16% their partner was a negative influence.

Seventy-per cent of people had a medical check-up in the past year, the survey found.

AIA Australia's general manager for life insurance Damien Mu said the survey aimed to give an overall picture of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Source: www.skynews.com.au FB

Australians want more sleep to be healthy

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First Mentioned Unprompted Awareness Preference

Sealy

Next Brand

Study reinforces position as market leader

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] credit: ‘Our’ Chair by Lanzavecchia + Wai Design Studio/Photo © Davide Farabegoli

Co-locating shows: Organiser: A subsidiary of: Supported by: Endorsed by: Official publication:Held in:

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Sedes Regia Stilium Starbay Cilicon Faytory Bounce Innovations Jarrod Lim Design Nathan Yong Design Bertil Stam

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12 fb magazine | summer 2012

FB | BUSINESS

Shoppers are becoming increasingly comfortable interacting with retailers across multiple channels, creating pressure for retailers to offer seamless integration across multiple touch points and giving rise to the notion of omni-channel retailing.

This channel integration presents challenges for retailers, but also provides unique opportunities to create deeper engagement and more meaningful experiences for shoppers.

In response to this changing retail environment, Monash University’s Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS) recently conducted research investigating omni-channel preferences, cross-channel shopping behaviour and the

shopping experience of the consumer.

The research showed the three most important things shoppers required from an omni-channel retailer were the ability to return products purchased online through a physical store, being able to check in-store stock levels through a website and consistent promotions and sales online and in-store.

Research Fellow Jason Pallant from the ACRS said a key focus of the research was cross-channel shopping behaviour in light of concerns among the industry about ‘showrooming’.

“We know consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable shopping online, and this has made some retailers concerned

about shoppers coming in to store to try products but then going online to purchase. However, our research showed that this is not necessarily occurring as much as feared,” Mr Pallant said.

"Only 4% of shoppers did their research in a physical store before buying online, and higher prices in store or products not being in stock were the primary reasons these shoppers chose to purchase online instead of at the store.”

By contrast, 24% of consumers researched online before purchasing in-store, while 52% researched and purchased in-store only.

The survey also looked at the consumer’s overall shopping experience.

On average, respondents conducted four stages of research before making their purchase, of which 70% experienced one or more barriers, such as products being out of stock, unhelpful staff members, and technological failures including websites crashing, to their shopping journey.

“Shoppers who experienced multiple barriers were over a third less likely to eventually make a purchase,” Mr Pallant said.

“Becoming a successful omni-channel retailer requires the removal of these barriers through seamless integration of the various channels and this integration can often require a shift in organisational processes or structures.”FB

Having regularly updated content on your site is essential: it gives users a reason to return to your site, and search engines a reason to index your content more frequently. Here we list ten simple tips for keeping your content current.• Post news bulletins on

your website on a regular basis, or feature a 'what's new' area that frequent users can automatically check.

• Put a date on each piece of content to show how current it is, and indicate how often new information will be added (eg, in a monthly bulletin).

• Refresh your design (even just slightly) once every

six months so the website reflects that your business is moving forward.

• Feature feedback from users and customers – or create a discussion forum – so that regular comments appear on your site.

• Check and update your links every few months. Dead links frustrate the user. A link checker and orphan page tracker may well be included in your web design package.

• Update your old articles. The advantage of the web is that you can keep old articles archived online, but making them constantly accessible means it's advisable to keep them up-to-date, as they reflect on

the whole site.• Run regular competitions

or special offers – this will attract users back to your home page.

• Add new technology – but only if it will really make your site a better one. You might want to add videos, sound files, forms, etc, to enhance the user's experience of your site.

• Monitor your competitors’ sites regularly, and surf widely. If someone else is doing something interesting, see if you can emulate them.

• Create a timetable for making changes to your site (including regular updates, design updates, technology reviews and

complete overhauls). Devise a long-term strategy for maintaining a website to keep it vibrant and alive.

Matt Pearce is a freelance technology writer. Comments on this article may be directed to [email protected]. FB

Challenges and opportunities of omni-channel retailing

Keeping your website currentBY MATT PEARCE

summer 2012 | fb magazine 13

Tel : +603 2176 8788 Fax : +603 2164 8786 Email : info@mi�.com.my

14 fb magazine | summer 2012

FB | INTERNATIONAL

Pre-registration is now open for the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2013/30th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2013), The Décor Show 2013 and The Hospitality Show 2013.

Industry professionals can register at www.iffs.com.sg for complimentary access to the trilogy of design-led shows, where the latest in quality furniture and furnishings will be presented under one roof.

The International Furniture Fair Singapore, held in conjunction with the ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS), The Décor Show and The Hospitality Show, is regarded by industry experts as a premier sourcing platform and design-led exhibition. With nearly three decades of experience since its inaugural

event in 1981, IFFS/AFS remains a distinctive channel for regional and international companies to penetrate the global market.

Co-locating with the shows is the Hospitality.Design.Furniture (HDF) Luxurious Projects Asia. In this second edition, the HDF conference will focus on luxury projects from the region, and will also see the launch of a new awards segment to recognise the best architectural and design firms in the industry.

Following a successful 2012 edition that welcomed 23,552 trade visitors comprising 118 overseas buying delegations, over 512 exhibiting companies from 26 countries, and more than 150 conference delegates, IFFS 2013 expects to usher significantly more quality

industry professionals to the trilogy of shows, slated to be held from 9 to 12 March 2013 at the Singapore Expo.

To date, 85% of available exhibiting space for IFFS 2013 has already been sold. Clement Ng, Chief Operating Officer for IFFS, commented: “We’re looking forward to another strong showing at IFFS 2013. Our exhibitors say that this platform is consistently one of the most important for their businesses because of its prominent focus on design, and the high quality of exhibits on display yearly. Buyers come from all over the region for these reasons too, to ensure that they get the best in design and quality from the top suppliers in the industry.”

Luxurious Projects Asia, Summit & Awards 2013The HDF conference and awards show will be held on 11 March 2013 at Max Atria, Singapore Expo. More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the one-day Luxurious Projects Asia Summit and key speakers have already been confirmed. They include Milou Ket from Milou Ket Styling and Design, Frank Santagata from Marina Bay Sands, Gordon Gill from Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Kratsen Vollmer

from Frost and Partners and Jan Zastera from Preciosa Lighting.

These professionals will be joined by other trade experts in sharing their knowledge, views, and outlook of the hospitality, design, and furniture industries, with luxury projects across Asia serving as an anchoring theme.

The inaugural HDF Awards will be held during a luncheon, where awards for five categories will be presented to the winning companies. FB

Trilogy of design-led shows

summer 2012 | fb magazine 15

Exhibitors are already raring to go for the next edition of the Malaysian International Trade Fair (MIFF) with 80% of the exhibition space already booked out.

MIFF 2013 is set from March 5 to 9, 2013, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the host city of the annual trade show since its inception in 1995. The five day fair will cover 75,000 m2 of display halls at the downtown Putra World Trade Centre and nearby Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The strong response from exhibitors comes on the heels of the resounding success of MIFF 2012 in raking in record sales of US$830 million despite the uncertain global economic outlook.

“MIFF remains outstanding as one-stop source centre for furniture buyers and importers from all over the world. It has proven itself over and

over again as the place that offers more value and wide selection with top quality,” said MIFF Chairman Dato’ Tan Chin Huat.

“In fact, 40% of the space for 2013 was locked in by exhibitors by the last day of MIFF 2012. I am delighted at the continued confidence and staunch support that further bolsters MIFF’s standing as a global top 10 and number one furniture fair in Southeast Asia.”

Overall, Tan expects to maintain a steady turnout of 500 Malaysian and international exhibitors and 20,000 trade visitors including 7,000 international buyers from 140 countries.

“These have been our numbers in the last few years, we are very comfortable with it given a show of our size and capacity. The bigger challenge, as always, is providing buyers with more

variety and new products to get them to increase orders,” he said.

Trends at MIFF indicate that exhibitors, the majority comprising Malaysian manufacturers, are hiring local and foreign designers to unveil new innovative products every year in the form of new collections or to enhance their existing ranges. Rubberwood furniture, office and home furniture are top sellers at MIFF. Fair organisers are seeking to draw more industry names from Asean countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar to exhibit in 2013 to offer buyers even more choices and to boost intra-trade in Southeast Asia.

Tan said the biggest group of international buyers at MIFF currently was from Asean countries followed by strong growing numbers from Japan and South Korea. FB

Registration for the upcoming 2013 Las Vegas Winter Market, held January 28 – February 1, is now open online at lasvegasmarket.com. The official Las Vegas Market website offers its attendees tremendous values on a variety of room options at more than 20 Las Vegas hotels.

Las Vegas Market features a comprehensive array of home furnishings,

home décor and gift resources – delivering a total marketplace for retailers and interior designers. This international marketplace offers the full range of cross-category lifestyle merchandise—in all price points—with many new lines set to debut at Las Vegas Market.

Attendees can also take advantage of a dynamic line-up of complimentary educational programs and

networking events during market week. The upcoming Winter Market also coincides with a leading floorcoverings and design trade show, Surfaces Expo.

Coinciding with the Winter Las Vegas Market, a first-of-its-kind Gift + Home CEO Summit, with keynote addresses, panel discussions and other topical presentations, will debut January 31 to February 1, 2013, in Las Vegas.

Co-produced by International Market Centers (IMC) and Eller Enterprises, executive-directed content will address effects of the China economy and Euro crisis, preparing a company for sale/exit strategies, building corporate culture, global economy, estate planning and wealth management and other topical issues impacting the U.S. gift and home marketplace. FB

Exhibitors raring to go

Las Vegas Market

16 fb magazine | summer 2012

FB | INTERNATIONAL

As one of the biggest international furniture exhibitions in the world, Furniture China has already become a must-attend exhibition for the world furniture industry.

Despite the weak economy around the world, Furniture China 2012 was successfully concluded in Shanghai on 15 September, 2012.

Besides the key Chinese furniture enterprises, there were around 190 overseas companies participating as exhibitors, including nine pavilions: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, Indonesian, the Philippines, Malaysian and Singaporean.

The exhibition lasted five days and attracted 71,980 visitors, including 52,287 local visitors and 19,693 from overseas. In addition, these international visitors were from 140 countries and regions, consisting of 44.29% Asian (including the Middle East), 26.41% European, 10.59% North American, 9.36% Oceanic, 5.81% Latin American, 3.54% African.

Two pre-eminently important conferences: World Furniture Summit 2012 and World Healthy Sleep Industry Conference 2012 also received much recognition and favourable comments. FB

Due to the continued expansion of Interior Lifestyle China, the 2013 show will now be held from 25 to 27 September 2013 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China.

Interior Lifestyle China is the China international trade fair for household products and accessories and is the only trade fair serving middle and high-end household products in China.

The current 2012 show is the largest ever with 248 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, including five pavilions supported by the Association of German Trade Fair Industry; the Federal

Ministry of Economics and Technology, Germany; Promos – Milan Chamber of Commerce from Italy; the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; the Taiwan Design Center and Ubifrance.

The local interior design industry has been boosted this year by a large increase in the number of new commercial real estate projects. Also having a huge influence on the domestic market are the shifts in consumer attitudes and demographic structure caused by consumers born post 1980-1990s, who have increased spending power. FB

Furniture China 2012 New date and venue

A cornucopia of ideas across all the different segments for furniture buyers from all over the world to pick and choose from – that's the imm cologne.

Some of the more than 1,000 exhibitors are already speaking very openly about their expectations of the international furniture and interior design event in January 2013, as well as about the new products they will be showing there for the first time.

Koelnmesse is looking forward to a very successful imm cologne 2013: a total of 1,050 exhibitors from more than 50 countries have confirmed their attendance, 625 of them

from abroad. Together with the international kitchen event LivingKitchen, the trade fair will be filling 280,000 m2 of gross floor space.

As always, the successful furniture and interior design fair will of course more than justify its position as a showcase for new products. From the pure design segment to the staging of unusual interiors in pure village or the lavish booths in sleep, smart, comfort or prime, many manufacturers see the imm cologne as the most important trade fair platform of all and an indispensable start to the business year 2013.

In addition, the developments from the

exhibiting companies underscore many important trends such as sustainability, distinctive design and functionality. Upholstered furniture, for instance, is becoming a little less colourful but all the more comfortable. Otherwise, furniture is becoming more curvaceous, and the picture is often dominated by new interpretations of established classics.

imm cologne/LivingKitchen will be held from 14 to 20 January 2013, Cologne, Germany. FB

A cornucopia of ideas

JANUARY 20139-12 Heimtextil Frankfurt 2013 International Trade Fair for

textiles Frankfurt, Germany http://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

8-22 Maison & Objet 2013 The International Homestyle

Exhibition Paris, France www.maison-objet.com

14-20 imm cologne Cologne, Germany www.imm-cologne.com/en

18-22 Meuble Paris 2013 Paris Furniture Fair Paris, France www.meuble-paris.net

18-22 NOW! 2013 Design à vivre Paris, France www.nowdesignavivre.com

20-23 Interiors Birmingham 2013 Birmingham, UK www.interiorsuk.com

28 Jan-1 Feb LVM Las Vegas Market 2013 Las Vegas, USA www.lasvegasmarket.com

FEBRUARY 20135-9 Stockholm Furniture Fair 2013 Stockholm, Sweden www.stockholmfurniturefair.se

6-8 AIFF 2013 Australian International Furniture

Fair Sydney, Australia www.aiff.net.au

MARCH 20135-9 MIFF Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.miff.com.my/2013

6-10 EFE 2013 Export furniture exhibition Serdang, Malaysia www..efe.my/2013

9-12 IFFS/ASEAN Furniture Show co-located with The Decor Show

2013 and Hospitality Show 2013 Singapore www.iffs.com.sg

11-14 IFFINA 2013. International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia www.iffina-indonesia.com/2013/

11-14 VIFA 2013 Vietnam International Furniture &

Home Accessories Fair Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam www.vifafair.com

13-17 TIFF 2013 Thailand International Furniture Fair Bangkok, Thailand www.thailandfurniturefair.com

2013 ExHIBITIONS

For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual websites. This information has been supplied to us by the show organisers and no responsibility can be taken for its accuracy. Please note dates may change. Organisers are welcome to supply dates for inclusion in this column. For further details or more up-to-date information, contact the trade consuls or trade commission of the country in question.

Exhibition organiser UBM* is launching its first ever furniture and interiors show in Southeast Asia in September next year.

The Southeast Asia Furniture and Interiors Import-Export Exhibition (SEAFIE) will be held in Kuala Lumpur, at the Putra World Trade Centre from 13 to 16 September, 2013.

SEAFIE will complement the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF), held in March every year, and other UBM industry shows, notably

Furniture China, Index Fairs in India and UK Interiors.

This exciting new show will cover gross exhibition space of 45,000 m2 and feature the international mid to high end brands of home and office furniture, interior design products and soft furnishings. SEAFIE is targeted to draw 300 international exhibitors and 20,000 buyers from all over the world.

The four-day fair will be organised by the same professional team behind MIFF, which has 19 years of

proven track record and in-depth market knowledge.

“The timing is ideal for the launch of SEAFIE in light of the changing market environment. Based on in-depth market research by UBM, September is a key second buying season for furniture and interiors buyers worldwide these days,” said MIFF Chairman Datuk Dr Tan Chin Huat.

Another booster for SEAFIE is the expanding Southeast Asian market itself because of its 600 million population and growing middle class customers. While furniture and fittings exports from Southeast Asia have been on an uptrend, imports too have increased significantly due to growing purchasing power and demand for branded high quality lifestyle products.

“SEAFIE will be a fantastic opportunity to tap into this market for manufacturers, designers and distributors of mid- to high-end furniture brands focusing on design and interior furnishings,” Tan added.

“We are also targeting 20,000 buyers from all over the world. There will be lots of trendy purchases and exciting deals for contract buyers, proper developers, project managers and interior decorators.”

Kuala Lumpur’s strategic location in the heart of Southeast Asia and excellent air and sea links will make SEAFIE a leading platform for import and export to and from Asean.

*UBM is Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia where it manages over 150 industry shows. FB

Southeast Asia furniture and interiors

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This is the new Las Vegas Market — join us.

Winter 2013 brings you a more inspired buying experience fi lled with:

� More new lines to make your store stand out

� More introductions to excite your customers

� More emerging trends to freshen your o  erings

� More exciting home furnishings, accessories and décor resources than ever!

To learn more and register: www.LasVegasMarket.com

MOREON EVERY LEVEL

Las Vegas Market January 28–February 1, 2013

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