Delegation of Manufacturers from Up-And-Coming Vietnamese Market to Exhibit at Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Show Nov. 21-23

Furniture World Magazine

Vietnam wants to export $1 billion of furniture in 2005, and the producers of the upcoming Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market are helping manufacturers from the tiny Asian country get a head start. Karel Exposition Management (KEM), the U.S.'s largest producer of regional furniture & accessory markets, will be showcasing several manufacturers from Vietnam in a special pavilion at the upcoming 17th Long Beach Furniture & Accessory Market, scheduled from Nov. 21 to 23, 2004. "Furniture exports from Vietnam have been growing in leaps and bounds for the past few years and we want to provide Vietnamese companies with opportunities to tap into the U.S. market," said Larry Karel, president of KEM. In addition, a networking meeting will be scheduled to introduce Vietnamese manufacturers to the Home Furnishing Representatives Guild of Southern California to explore various ways for Vietnamese companies to market and distribute their products in the U.S. Vietnam expects to export about $750 million worth of furniture this year, a 50% increase over 2002, according to a recent article in Furniture Today, a furniture trade publication. One group finding Vietnam attractive these days are Chinese manufacturers, who are shifting some production to the country because of the U.S. antidumping duties now imposed on wood bedroom furniture made in China, the article stated. With no tariffs, many Vietnamese furniture plants are running at capacity and looking to expand. The Long Beach Furniture and Accessory Market is expected to be the largest ever in the 15-year history of the west coast show. With more than 1,200 exhibit spaces already filled in the main hall of the Long Beach Convention Center -- 300 more than KEM's Spring 2004 show -- the company has opened up the outer lobby to accommodate more booths for the market. "This is by far the largest turnout of exhibitors we've had in Long Beach," said Larry Karel. "The rapid growth of the region and steady economic conditions in the furniture industry are big factors in the turnout." Based in Aventura, Fla., Karel Exposition Management produces furniture and accessory markets in Orlando, Fla.; Edison, N. J.; Fitchburg, Mass.; and Long Beach. For more information, call (305) 792-9990 or visit www.kemexpo.com.