September issue of Maison & Objet digital only

The September edition of the Paris furnishing show Maison & Objet will not be held in the usual format. Instead, a "digital fair" will be held from 4 to 18 September, in particular via the online platform MOM (Maison & Objet and More).

Paris Design Week, for its part, will take place from 3 to 12 September 2020 in the participating showrooms spread throughout the city.

Maison & Objet will also be held again as usual in January 2021. The Work! and Projects sections, originally planned for September, will be part of the January event.

EMV: More revenue, fewer shareholders

Purchasing joint venture Europa Möbel-Verbund (EMV) recorded a 2.8% increase in its centrally managed revenue for 2019, up to EUR 1.29 billion. Distributable profit of EUR 16.2 million was up 5.4% versus the previous year, and the company now has 492 shareholders. This number has been decreasing, as at the end of 2018 EMV had 511 SME furniture retailers as its alliance members. Full-range merchant Segmüller joined the alliance in January 2020.

Salone del Mobile postponed to 2021

There will be no Milan furniture fair in 2020, as the organiser of the Salone Internationale del Mobile, originally moved back to June, has now cancelled the event. The next Salone will be held April 13 – 18, 2021.

Metin Yilmaz (3K) passed away

The industry is mourning the death of a great entrepreneur and visionary: in May 2020, Metin Yilmaz, founder of the Istanbul carpet export company 3K, died at the age of 60.

Domotex 2021: New key theme, special exhibitions in all product segments

Domotex has presented its new key theme: "Cover New Ground!" is intended to motivate people to think beyond previous strategies, visions and experiences when designing and applying floor coverings and to dare to change their perspectives.

In addition to a slightly modified hall layout, Domotex 2021 will for the first time offer its exhibitors and visitors its own special exhibitions and business hubs in all product areas.

Abdi Roubeni deceased

Abdi Roubeni, a formative personality of the rug industry, died on 16 May 2020 at the age of 87. Roubeni was born in Mashhad (Iran) in 1932 and came to Hamburg in 1958, where he started working in the carpet trade. In 1962 he founded the wholesale company Roubeni + Co., which supplied the German department store chain Karstadt, among others. In 2001 Roubeni founded the wholesale company Tepp Team together with the brothers Djavad and Djavid Mohammadi, until he retired in 2016.

PAD Home Design Concept: sales training for brick-and-mortar retailers

PAD Home Desing Concept is investing in its own expert in visual marketing: Gala Albaum from Düsseldorf is to carry out intensive sales training sessions at the POS, in close cooperation with the PAD sales team. In this way, PAD aims to help brick-and-mortar retailers to use their strengths to their advantage, according to sales manager Boris Antochin and PAD owner Michael Rossmann.

Thibault Van Renne: new showroom in Knokke-Heist

The new Belgian flagship showroom of carpet designer Thibault Van Renne will open on 22 May. It is located in the northern Belgian luxury seaside resort Knokke-Heist, right on Albert Square, the "place to see and be seen". The showroom was designed by Dieter Van der Velpen Architects; Van Renne will be showing his current collections here and regularly hold events. Due to the Corona pandemic, the grand opening party is postponed to 2021.

Domotex Turkey in Gaziantep cancelled

Originally scheduled for July 13 – 16, 2020, flooring trade show Domotex Turkey is the latest to fall, being cancelled due to the corona pandemic. The organiser reported that this decision was made in close consultation with exhibitors and the event’s supporting organisations. It will thus be until 2021 when the next Domotex Turkey is held.

Corona in India: producers are taking orders again

India is the most productive and populous country of origin for handmade carpets, and of course Corona has a strong impact on people and the economy there too. While initially the urban areas were mainly affected, in June the number of infections also rose sharply in rural areas – since the Indian government lifted the strict lockdown and more migrant workers returned from the cities to their home villages. Converted railway wagons were taken to the affected areas for medical care, also to the "carpet belt" around Bhadohi.

According to the "Economic Times India" of 14 June, producers in the weaving regions are once again accepting new carpet orders. Currently, the Carpet Export Promotion Council is preparing a virtual carpet fair, which is to take place from 21 to 25 August. This was reported by the Indian daily newspaper "Patrika" on 21 June.