Lofty Design Expo introduces US buyers to capabilities of Turkish furniture producers

Event showcases a wide mix of upholstery and case goods mostly from Turkey but also from Brazil and China

MIAMI — The recently concluded Lofty Design Expo held here last week offered retailers and designers a window into the world of Turkish furniture manufacturing that many were experiencing for the first time.

The Feb. 27-March 1 show featured about 100 exhibitors, about 70 of which were from Turkey and the balance from Brazil along with one manufacturer from China.

Collectively, these companies showed a wide mix of stationary and motion upholstery along with bedroom, dining and occasional furniture. Another advantage offered by the companies showing from Turkey and Brazil is the absence of tariffs applied to furniture and other products coming out of those countries.

The exhibitors included some 19 Turkish furniture producers showing in a booth sponsored by TAFEX, the Miami-based Turkish American Furniture Exports organization, which also makes sure the products of those and other Turkish manufacturers are compliant with U.S. regulatory and quality standards.

“This is our second edition of the show actually,” said TAFEX U.S. Director Ali Cengiz Gultekin in reference to the debut show last year, which will continue to be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. “The last show was an introduction to the market and it is getting bigger and bigger. We are helping Turkish companies grow their business in the U.S. market.”

TAFEX today has some 3,500 member companies with a monthly production capacity of 200,000 units of all types of furniture including for residential, contract and hospitality markets.

Lofty organizers said the show drew buyers from both the residential and contract/hospitality side of the business, creating contacts between manufacturers and those making buying decisions.

In addition to a broad product mix, the show also introduced buyers to the capabilities of the Turkish furniture manufacturers, particularly in the production and use of mixed-media elements such as metal, glass and foam, to name a few.

“What we would like to emphasize is that Turkey is an untapped source of furniture and all of the raw materials that are required to make furniture. So Turkey is a self-reliant country,” said Elif Cohn, an independent sales professional representing Turkish manufacturers, who also noted that these materials include native wood species such as walnut, beech, pine, chestnut and oak. “All of these are locally available. Turkey is also the second largest manufacturer of MDF with China being No. 1. Being right after China is quite impressive.”

She also noted that manufacturers are able to adapt to the styles, scale and other specifications of the U.S. market, in essence creating a custom product built exclusively for customers.

In addition to the vertically integrated and customer-centric manufacturing capabilities of Turkish manufacturers, she added that container costs of $2,500 spot rate for a 40-foot container also are extremely competitive as are transit times of 21-28 days to the East Coast of the U.S.

Overall, she said that the show was pleased with overall traffic and response to the product lines on display.

“It has been very busy; the foot traffic has been great,” Cohn said. “And more importantly than the volume, the quality of the buyers was very, very satisfactory. We got buyers from some of the largest retailers in this country. We walked around with them and we saw their surprise. …. When it comes to furniture, it is untapped.”

And to further benefit customers in the U.S., TAFEX also is looking to develop a warehouse in North Carolina to offer inventory and quick-ship capabilities to the marketplace. In addition, it is planning a trade mission later this year that will allow U.S. buyers including wholesalers and retailers to see the capabilities of some Turkish furniture production facilities in person.

“We want to promote this opportunity and get the word out there to as many American companies as possible,” Cohn said. “We are excited to bring these two countries together and begin building a bridge between the two.”