Sourcing on Tap at Global Home Textiles

Orlando, Fla. — The debut of the new Global Home Textiles Show takes place here May 8-10 at the Orlando Convention Center, with organizer George Little Management expecting some 3,000 visitors to attend.

Global Home Textiles will feature approximately 350 companies from 20 countries, including more than 100 manufacturers from China, 60 from India, and 20 from Egypt. Thirty U.S.-based companies are expected to exhibit. Additional exhibitors hail from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Korea, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

Mesh Gelman, vp of global sourcing for U.S. supplier Extreme Linen, will be among those walking the show. Gelman said that although he is happy with the company's current resources, he considers those factories that make the business investment to come this country to be forward-thinking.

"A lot of factories expect the business to come to them," Gelman said. "When I see a guy who makes the effort to come all the way over here, schleps his goods, makes a presentation — that tells me something about the culture of his company."

Global Home Textiles will run in tandem with The Gourmet Housewares Show, also produced and managed by GLM, as well as The National Hardware Show, produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions, a sister division of HTT's parent company, Reed Business Information.

"Aligning Global Connections with the Gourmet Housewares Show and the National Hardware Show will create a comprehensive market for home-focused industries," said Penny Sikalis, vp and group show manager. "Benefits include market synergy, exposure to a broad audience, increased buyer efficiencies, cross-market opportunities and an expansion of business potential for everyone involved in the home markets."