Another factor is the aging of the population. Big ticket items are usually purchased at an early stage in the life cycle, and replacement and improvement purchases are made at a later stage. Donna Messer reinforces Stefan's analysis. More than 500 of the 850 exhibitors will be housed in the many halls of The International Centre, including an expanded Canadian Collection and Showcase Canada. This is concurrent with the Toronto Summer Home Furnishings Market centered as well at TTIC where the 75 permanent showrooms of Canada's Furniture Mart are also located, and other factory showrooms situated nearby.
Important considerations are price points and quality.
Increasing interest holds out the potential to substantially increase sales into the U.S. and Asian countries. Over 22,000 visitors from Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia were attracted to the Show last year and officials are preparing to welcome a much larger contingent in August 1996. Furniture stores are coming into a new era, they are creating a total package, bringing it all together to enhance their floor vignettes and up their sales a little bit more. In the north they are not so keen on outdoorsy stuff, they have it all around them. In Toronto, Victoriana and florals are favorites.