The upcoming Global Home Textiles™ show planned for May 8 to 10 in Orlando, Florida is an exciting event designed to bring together major overseas manufacturers with key U.S. buyers and decision makers. Global Home Textiles is the only venue of its kind specifically designed to facilitate the global sourcing process.

Global Home Textiles will allow more than 3,000 U.S. home fashions buyers to connect with a large pool of potential suppliers from around the world," explains Penny Sikalis, vice president for George Little Management, which is producing the show. "Because the U.S. home textiles industry has shifted to a global sourcing model, we are positioning Global Home Textiles to meet the needs of this new and rapidly changing market.

"Our targeted efforts to build a marketplace that will fulfill the goals of both vendors and attendees are clearly coming together, resulting in a must-attend event for all players in the global home textiles business," Sikalis adds. "We are creating a vital market resource."

A crucial benefit to both exhibitors and visitors to Global Home Textiles is an extensive conference program, encompassing a full range of educational programming and special events.

The Global Home Textiles conference program will focus on the evolving nature of the international home textiles business. More than 15 industry professionals will present 11 sessions over the course of three days, providing invaluable information and expert advice for offshore manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, product development teams, agents, and service providers with a current or future business interest in the home textiles arena. All seminars will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, West Building.

A full-day, pre-show conference is scheduled for May 7, 2007, one day prior to the opening of the show. This pre-show event specifically targets offshore manufacturers, exhibitors and anyone interested in exporting home textiles to the U.S. The cost for all four sessions is $150 in advance or $200 on site; individual session tickets cost $50 in advance or $60 on site.

The pre-show conference will begin with an overview seminar, "The State of the U.S. Home Textiles Market 2007," presented by Jennifer Marks, editor-in-chief, Home Textiles Today, and Dr. Michael Andrews, chief economist, PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions. Marks will focus on varied channels of distribution, key business trends, industry leaders and their strategies, as well as sales growth and business trends within all related product categories. Andrews will present the current economic state of the industry along with a history of imports and exports, as well as emerging opportunities based on PIERS data of U.S. waterborne trade.

The second seminar will be "Successfully Doing Business with U.S. Companies," presented by Robert Leo, partner, Meeks & Sheppard, and Phil Hobson, president, Phoenix International Business Logistics. Topics will include quotas; U.S. Customs requirements, including packaging, labeling and shipping; buyer expectations; options and methods of payment; and a segment on INCOTERMs and how to correctly use them on your contract in order to avoid confusion.

A third seminar planned is "Overcoming Cross Cultural Challenges," presented by Madeleine Lynn, cross-cultural consultant, writer and editor. This seminar will help individuals learn how to conduct business successfully with U.S. companies and to educate exporters on proper business etiquette for the U.S. market.

The fourth and final seminar of the pre-show conference will be "Understanding Channels of Distribution," a panel discussion moderated by Joe McVoy, president, Profitable Marketing Systems. Experts in global procurement and sourcing from key U.S. retail stores will present an insider's perspective on how to establish relationships and benefit from the various distribution channels, including the growing online channel. Panelists will explain the supply chain management process in the U.S.

The other six segments of the conference program will be held during the Global Home Textiles show on May 8 and 9, and will be targeted to importers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, product development teams, agents and anyone interested in sourcing or importing home textiles into the U.S. Tickets for the full conference program cost $350 in advance or $450 on site and include a show badge. Ticket prices for individual sessions are listed below.

The opening luncheon on Tuesday, May 8 will address "The Future of the U.S. Home Textiles Industry," presented by keynote speaker Warren Shoulberg, editor-in-chief, HFN. The presentation will address how consumers will buy home textiles in the future, as well as major modifications in sources of supply, channels of distribution, branding and merchandising. Individual session cost, including lunch, is $100 in advance or $125 on site.

The second seminar on May 8 will be "Introduction to Importing," presented by Robert Leo, partner, Meeks & Sheppard and Isabelle Vermeersch, president, Centipid LLC. This session will provide the latest information on government regulations, quotas, free trade agreements, rules of origin, and other important compliance issues specifically affecting the home textiles industry. Session cost is $75 in advance or $85 on site.

Five seminars are planned for Wednesday, May 9, including a kickoff breakfast "The Impact of Demographic Trends on Consumer Spending," presented by R. Mark Castle, vice president, Smith Barney and Michael Scotto, managing director, Legg Mason. This session will address the shifting habits of America's Baby Boomers and how this aging demographic will impact consumer spending over the coming decades. Session cost, including continental breakfast, is $75 in advance or $85 on site.

The second seminar will be "Selecting Overseas Suppliers," presented by attorney Michael Levine and attorney Marian Ladner, both of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., and Peter Relovsky of Coface. This session will address the key steps to take when selecting factories, confirming payment terms, qualifying and monitoring suppliers overseas, best practices when working with agencies and how to minimize risk. Session cost is $75 in advance or $85 on site.

The third seminar will be "Global Home Textiles Focus On: China," presented by the China Chamber of Commerce for Textiles. This session will provide an in-depth overview of China's home textiles industry and the opportunities for sourcing, including what products are made where, how to select reputable factories, and typical manufacturing capabilities such as product development, order sizes, services, delivery, compliance and more. Session cost is $50 in advance or $60 on site.

The fourth seminar will be "India: Sourcing Opportunities & Challenges," presented by Arun Roongta, publisher and editor, Home Fashion India Magazine. This session will present an overview of the latest in technological advancements by Indian manufacturers and investments being made by the Indian government. Session cost is $50 in advance or $60 on site.

The final seminar on May 9 will be "Buying Duty-Free Home Textiles from Egypt," presented by Dr. Ashraf El Rabiey, minister plenipotentiary and head of the Egyptian Economic & Commercial Office; Eng. Abo El-Sebaa, president of the Egyptian Home Textiles Export Council, and Tamer Ali, second commercial secretary of the Egyptian Economic & Commercial Office. This session will address how U.S.-based companies can benefit from doing business with Egyptian home textiles producers, including a discussion of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) and the eligibility criteria for custom- and duty-free status. Senior representatives from leading Egyptian companies will be present to answer questions. Session cost is $50 in advance or $60 on site.

The Global Home Textiles conference program is co-sponsored by HFN, and produced by NEXCO.

To register for the pre-show conference program on May 7, please click here.

To register for the in-show conference program on May 8 to 9, please click here.