Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Canadian Furniture Show: Style, Innovation Steal the Show
June 3,
2019 by Jane Chero in Business Strategy, Industry 
The 47th edition of the Canadian Furniture Show, at The International Centre near Toronto, wrapped up last week after three days of activities that brought together the major players in the furniture industry. Thousands of visitors, notably retailers and designers, met the hundreds of local and international exhibitors on site to see new products and trends, network and conduct business.
The feedback from exhibitors in terms of results obtained from this year’s show was positive, with many former and new participants already expressing interest in attending next year’s show, being held January 16-18, 2020.
On the heels of last year’s resounding success, a Trend Showcase was again set up to highlight an especially well-designed selection of products. Linda Mazur, of the Linda Mazur Design Group, who specializes in residential design, handpicked the items that were singled out and displayed them in a space composed of nine vibrant showcases, ranging from the boho chic to the contemporary chalet style.
A panel of seasoned interior-design professionals, some of which are members of the Decorators and Design Association – Toronto sector, bestowed awards to exhibitors who excelled in their efforts to create outstanding display booths. Panelists were: Maureen Weigen-Liebovitz, an acclaimed designer who has a life-long passion for colour and textiles; Lindsey Foster von Kalben, a specialist in creating beautiful and functional spaces; Sharon MacIntosh, an accredited decorator who is the principal of her own company; and Lauren Kosowan, a designer known for a style that reflects timelessness, personality and functionality.
Providing the panel with a helping hand in the selection process were: Interior Designer Gail Martiri, Pallavi Ram, a designer and communications director of the DDA, and Fay Splett, editor-in-chief of Ontario Design magazine.
The awards were bestowed in the following eight categories:
- Best overall booth: Style in Form
- Best visual display: Dutailier
- Best use of colour (a tie): Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia and Mlily Canada Inc.
- Best use of space: Amisco
- Best new exhibitor: Almila Mobilya
- Best design: Gest'Art
- Best traffic builder: Mega Groupe Inc.
- Best TIDC showroom: Marcantonio Designs
Next year’s show, , will be held January 16-18, 2020, at the Mississauga International Centre. The date has been moved to earlier in the year — just eight months from the date of this year’s show —
to ensure the Show’s longevity and continued growth.
“We are confident that moving the date of the event to mid-January will have a positive reverberation on the entire industry,” said Tony Melis, the director of the Canadian furniture show. “This decision will allow us to attract new exhibitors, in more product categories related to housing. The change has also attracted considerable interest from international exhibitors, notably from Europe.