46th CIFF Shanghai 2020 Hailed a Success

October 6, 2020  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

The 46^th CIFF Shanghai 2020 represented the entire furniture industry chain: home, outdoor and leisure furniture, home décor and home textiles, office, hotel, and commercial furniture and, thanks to the overlap with the Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair (CIFF/WMF) 2020, machinery for the furniture industry.

Undoubtedly an unusual edition, CIFF Shanghai 2020 maintained safety, thanks to the commitment and strict pandemic prevention protocols adopted, the scrupulous services dedicated to visitors, and the digitization of some exhibitions, integrating offline and online activities. The support received from the entire furniture industry and the further improvement of organizational quality emphasized the‘CIFF Shanghai Connecting the Future’ theme, sending out a positive message that China’s furniture market is recovering and its leading trade fair is returning to normal.

The collaboration between CIFF and Red Star Macalline, undertaken with enthusiasm over the years, is now demonstrating how far-sighted and strategic that choice really was, closing the circle of the industry chain by directly connecting the fair’s exhibition and promotional event with the purely commercial activity of distribution in showrooms. This model, unique for trade fair organizations, has certainly helped the companies involved, especially in these difficult times, promoting the formation of a new development model.

The 46^th CIFF Shanghai 2020 has once again confirmed itself as a place of dialogue and cultural exchange, contributing to the qualitative development of the furniture industry. In this edition of the show, great attention was given to the culture of good design and good living with the intent to represent trends and provide inspiration for the entire industry. 

CIFF has collaborated with the main associations, media, and institutions in the field of design to organize as many as 50 conferences and forums and 10 themed exhibitions.

Among these, two extraordinary design exhibitions stand out: the EAST Design Show, under the theme ‘Return to Zero’, which has hosted more than 50 Asian design brands, academies, design studios, and media, shedding light on important topics, including what is architecture?, what is interior design?, what really is furniture? and what does the home look like today?; and the Design Dream Show, organized by CIFF in collaboration with Red Star Macalline and Innovation Design Alliance, which collaborated with the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Fashion to integrate lifestyle, fashion, food, and tourism into the home environment in an unusual and captivating way.

Design was also the true star among exhibitors in the Design Hall, divided into the Contemporary Design Hall, the Modern Design Hall, where higher-end products were presented, and the Trendy Design Hall, where the accessible luxury of neo-Chinese styles was concentrated.

Featured within the Sofa Flagship and Sofa Premiums, the main brands of upholstered furniture presented the newest trends and most innovative features for a product designed to reflect a lifestyle of increasing quality.

The Office Environment Hall and Outdoor Furniture Hall presented the latest solutions for the home office, smart office, and trendy outdoor environments.

The 47^th CIFF Guangzhou 2021 scheduled for March 18-21, 2021 will feature: home furniture, home décor and home textiles, outdoor furniture and home textiles, and outdoor and leisure furniture; and, from March 28-31, office furniture, hotel furniture, commercial furniture, and furniture for public spaces, as well as furniture machinery, components, and raw materials.

The 48^th CIFF Shanghai, is scheduled to take place Sept. 3-6 2021.