50 Ukrainian companies that manufacture furniture and household goods will present their products at the High Point Market in the USA

10.18.2022

On October 22-26, 2022, 50 Ukrainian companies that manufacture furniture and home goods will present their products at the world's largest consumer market - "High Point Market" in the USA.
Ukrainian business will meet with clients as part of a cross-sectoral initiative that will unite the furniture and creative sectors and open access to the US market. Participation in the exhibition is supported by the USAID Program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine". Organizers of the initiative: Public union "EF Cluster", "Group of companies "Tradex", LLC and the State Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development
High Point Market - the world's largest exhibition of furniture, home goods and gifts, which for more than 120 years, twice a year, opens its doors to B2B buyers in the city of High Point, North Carolina, USA and welcomes visitors in 180 pavilions, located on 1.1 million square meters of the total area of exhibition halls.
During the 5 days of the Ukrainian collective pavilion "UKRAINE PAVILION", 20 manufacturers of furniture and household goods, design and interior items will present physical samples of their products. Also, at least 30 companies will present their products in a virtual format, through an interactive online catalog, which will be one of the main tools for conducting negotiations with customers.
The Ukrainian Collective Pavilion will be presented for the first time in a unique interactive and inclusive format that combines offline and online participation formats for two sectors of the economy. This will strengthen the presence and ability of micro, small and medium-sized businesses to enter the US market.
The pavilion with a total area of 111.5 square meters. m will consist of 3 exhibition thematic areas:
"Ukraine Design Zone", where products for the home, design and interior will be exhibited;
"Contract Products Zone" - an information stand with offers for the production of custom-made furniture and home interior items;
"Personal Stands Zone", where physical samples of furniture and other products of own design of the participating companies will be presented.
On September 28, 2022, the deadline for accepting applications for an open competition for participation in the project, which was conducted by a team of organizers led by an American consultant, ended. As a result, companies that manufacture furniture, home textiles, wall decor, and lamps were selected. Also, the participation of a number of well-known industrial designers producing various interior items and gifts has been confirmed. The main criteria for the selection of participants were: export capacity, availability of a product for the US market and/or willingness to adapt the product according to export market standards, availability of resources for export organization and a trained, motivated team.
The Ukrainian and American sides are working side by side in the project to establish the processes of building successful sales. Therefore, we are already informing B2B customers in the target market about the participation of Ukraine, and the main American industry magazine "Furniture Today" publishes announcements and invitations to the Ukraine Pavilion every week. This season, Ukraine will be represented alongside the national stands of such authoritative countries in the world furniture industry as Italy, Turkey, China, Korea, Vietnam and Poland. In terms of the number of companies participating in the stand of this exhibition season, Ukraine is breaking records.
This season, in order to prepare for the exhibition and increase the success of the project, the organizers engaged an expert in the sale of furniture and home goods in the USA, Mr. Michael Waggoner, who has more than 50 years of experience in successful sales of furniture in the USA and specializes in consulting from the entry of foreign companies into the US market. As part of further work on entering the market, the consultant will support Ukrainian companies in the preparation and coordination of their first orders for 1-2 months, help in the formation of price offers and product logistics.
These measures are aimed at expanding the export potential of Ukrainian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises of the furniture sector and the sector of home design and interior goods to the US market. This, in turn, will help increase sales, establish long-term market relationships, strengthen the business's ability to continue or restore the volume of export production, preserve existing and create new jobs, and develop its business.
The USAID program "Competitive Economy of Ukraine" supports startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to increase their competitiveness in the domestic market of Ukraine and in international markets, helps in the development of a simplified and transparent business climate, and also provides Ukrainian companies with opportunities to take advantage of international trade.

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