Cebu show called better than expected
By Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, April 21, 2003
Cebu City, Philippines — Pre-war apprehensions put a damper on buying at the Far East series of furniture fairs, but considering how bad things could have gone, organizers are relieved.
With decidedly more sober expectations, exhibitors here were pleased with the results of the Cebu International Furniture & Furnishings Exhibition, according to organizers.
Running from late February into early March, Cebu "turned out to be better than hoped for," according to Jay Y. Yuvallos, chairman of the show. Buyer attendance was about flat at 1,227.
According to Yuvallos, the show generated $23.1 million in sales, a 15% drop from 2002's $27.3 million. Sales per region had the Middle East topping the list at $8 million, Europe second with $5 million and North America third at $4 million. Asia wrote orders for $2 million and Australia for $1 million.
Exhibitor expectations were "not high because of the threat of war," said Love Joy Malicay, external affairs officer for the show. "But given the circumstances, the results were better than expected."
Some companies were still optimistic because three weeks before the show, buyers — most of them from the United States — had already arrived in Cebu, Malicay said.
"War or no war, that has always been the practice of regular buyers," she said. "They do the rounds before the show starts, with some staying until the second day of the show."
More than 800 buyers came from outside the Philippines, including about 200 from Asia, 187 from North America, 179 from Europe and 114 from the Middle East. More than 370 Philippine buyers attended this southern show, which traditionally has aimed much of its new goods at the American market.
The biggest constituency of buyers were wholesalers (37%), while retailers made up nearly a fourth of the total. Other furniture manufacturers numbered about 140.
This show, which attracted 150 exhibitors, was the 14th edition. In addition to the booths at the fair proper, held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and International Convention Center, another 250 factory showrooms are located throughout Cebu and Mandaue City, or within 30 minutes by car from the show venue.
The show, organized by the Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation, emphasizes wood, rattan, stone, metal, mixed media and plastics, an emerging material here.
