A world of difference
Amanda Marcus finds exhibitors of furniture, furnishings and tableware in a positive frame of mind after Hotelympia.
Upbeat was probably the word most widely used to sum up the feeling among suppliers of furniture, furnishings and tableware, who felt that visitors were out with money to spend again after the cautious last quarter of 2001.
Glenn Ewart, national sales manager, hotel and restaurant, for Villeroy & Boch, said that after being hit by the slowdown in trade from top hotel chains after 11 September, business had now bounced back, and the company had experienced its best January ever.
"We've had loads of international visitors at the show, too, and we're now in the opposite mood to the way we were feeling at the end of last year."
The company's new HotWave range of tableware has been particularly popular. "Just about everyone who sees it wants it, especially when they see how affordable it is. People want something different, and this is it."
Ian Southam, head of sales, hotelware division, at the Wedgwood stand, had a similar view: "Visitors are generally looking for new ideas on how to serve food, and people have got money to spend again." Wedgwood's black-and-white tableware design, Metropolis, was just one new concept on show.
New was very much the theme on Walley's stand, which featured about 400 products, from crystal vases to china bowls. Managing director David Baumann collects new designs from around the world. "Whether it's a five-star hotel chain or a one-man baguette bar, everyone wants something different," he said.
Warings reported a keen interest in its lounge furniture in particular, with many visitors interested in new furniture for bars and hotels. "There are lots of projects happening," commented the company's Laura Wilson, "and we've had a real mix of visitors."
Steelite covered demand for both traditional and contemporary designs of tableware. Its new Ambassador range is a classic design, "which customers know will be with us a long time," according to UK sales manager David Southjay, while the Sheer range is a contemporary new style geared towards food presentation. As the name suggests, each piece has a "sheer" face, which creates "theatre on the table top", according to Southjay. For cost-conscious customers, the pieces can stand alone or be integrated into other tableware ranges, too.
Royal Doulton's sales manager for its hotel and airline division, Norris Brookes, felt that visitors to the show were mainly small independent distributors as opposed to the big chains. He added that customers were looking increasingly for lighter-weight products from his company's retail range.
