San Francisco Furniture Market Changes Market Dates Wednesday-Saturday Schedule Commences in January 2005

Furniture World Magazine

The SF Mart, SF Concourse, and SF Design Center announced a new Wednesday-Saturday schedule for all future Markets beginning in January 2005. The Summer Market 2004 dates will fall on the typical Friday-Monday schedule as previously scheduled conventions in San Francisco preclude any change. Summer Market 2004 will be held Friday-Monday, July 16-19. SF Furniture Market experimented with the day change during January's Winter Market to avoid overlap with the Super Bowl, and response from exhibitors and buyers was so positive, the management decided to make the change permanent. The Mart conducted an e-mail buyer survey in February asking for preferences on the days of the week to shop. Fifty-seven percent of buyers responded that they prefer a schedule that includes at least Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Additionally, the SF Concourse exhibitors overwhelming requested that management change the days as soon as it was feasible. In addition to reviewing the survey results, the Mart based its decision to change the dates on feedback from its Board of Governors and Retail Advisory Board, the Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA), and a few buying groups, as well as on traffic patterns from the January Market. "The data from our buyer survey and the traffic patterns from Winter Market confirms the general feedback that we're receiving," says Roseann Carini, SF Mart general manager. "With the majority of buyers and our boards supporting the day change, it is the right thing to do." The new dates give buyers the choice of mid-week or weekend shopping. Buyers who fly can still take advantage of a Saturday night stay and enjoy weekend in San Francisco or fly home in time to get back to their stores or their families. Hotel accommodations for attendees have been secured for the new dates. Summer Market 2004: Friday-Monday, July 16-19 Winter Market 2005: Wednesday-Saturday, January 19-22 Summer Market 2005: Wednesday-Saturday, July 20-23 Winter Market 2006: Wednesday-Saturday, January 18-21 Summer Market 2006: Wednesday-Saturday, July 19-22 Winter Market 2007: Wednesday-Saturday, January 17-20 Summer Market 2007: Wednesday-Saturday, July 18-21 Winter Market 2008: Wednesday-Saturday, January 16-19 Summer Market 2008: Wednesday-Saturday, July 16-19 Winter Market 2009: Wednesday-Saturday, January 14-17 Summer Market 2009: Wednesday-Saturday, July 15-18 For more information on the SF Furniture Market, visit www.sfmart.com or call 415-552-2311.