AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR
The 2008 Australian International Furniture Fair is an Unprecedented Success
Once again, despite a challenging retail environment The Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) continued to deliver measurable results to the vast majority of exhibitors at this year's Fair.
Certainly the growth in visitor numbers of 4.5% from last year is a big plus along with the increase in the range on products on show. The show was definitely the "best" to date as far as overall quality of displays. Other important statistics to note are:
- 83% of visitors claimed to have direct authority to purchase or influence the decision to purchase
- 72% of visitors discovered new products and suppliers
- 66% of visitors expected to purchase products from exhibitors after the show
The show therefore provides both manufacturers and suppliers with direct access to furniture/furnishings buyers. Also of interest was the positive response from most of the exhibitors in Hotel & Hospitality which is an obvious growth area in the show. This sector saw a 2% growth in visitors.
The, AIFF and Decoration+Design 2008 continues to deliver positive results for the vast majority of exhibitors. The growth in the number of exhibitors in Decoration+Design reflects a trend for both manufacturers and suppliers to find new markets outside of the traditional furniture retail market. This trend will continue with the ongoing rationalisation of the furniture retail market. Shows like AIFF and Decoration+Design provide immediate market access to thousands of furniture/furnishings buyers for new suppliers as well as opening up new industry sectors to long stand companies providing a useful risk management strategy.
FEATURE AREAS
The Edge
Divided into Student, Concept, and Commercial categories, The Edge featured designs
from forty talented designers. Three Awards for Excellence in Design were presented.
Entries were judged by a panel including Sally Carson, State Sales Manager of Space
Furniture; Arne Christiansen, Director of Woodmark, Sally Dominguez, Designer and Inventor
of the Water Hog and Stephanie Powell, Senior Stylist of Home Beautiful Magazine. Products
were assessed on innovation, material choice, considering application, origin, durability
and life cycle, quality of standard abd finish, commercial viability and originality or wow
factor.
2008 Award Winners:
Commercial Award: Ross MacKay – THE CROCUS Lamp
Concept Award: Matthew Harding – POISE Chair
Student Award: Brad Stebbing – MELEE Light of Man
Sustainable Style
Sustainable Style was held as part of Decoration + Design Sydney. This new and exciting
feature area showcased a selection of Australian designers unleashing their creative flair in
open spaces. Creating an eco-friendly living space, six designers used a minimum of 75%
sustainable products in their presentation.
Designers Included:
− Neil Mackenzie & Heidi Pronk - Mackenzie Pronk Architects, in collaboration with Chris Arkins - Steensen Varming (Australia)
− Jaci Foti-Lowe - Hub Furniture Lighting Living, Melbourne & Sydney
− Jan O’connor & Tone Wheeler - Environa Studio
− Hannah Tribe - Tribe Studio
− Marcus Trimble - Super Colossal
− Arthur Koutoulas - Arthur Koutoulas Design Consultant
Hospitaity + Resort Living
This new feature showcased 6 room settings with the latest hospitality & resort furniture.
Showcasing designs from leading suppliers of this new and competitive market including:
− Atama Furniture
− Contract Casual
− JBR Floorcoverings & Fitout
− Plantation Homewares
− Scoop Furniture
− Singways Furniture