N.Z. furniture sold in Aust.

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34152, 13 May 1976, Page 11

N.Z. furniture sold in Aust.

Zealand Press Assoctalicn~Copyright) SYDNEY. Thirty New Zealand firms which exhibited furniture at a trade fair in Melbourne have reported confirmed sales of $135,000. plus projected Australian business for the next 12 months of 52.9 m.

A told 38 New Zealand firms exhibited on the official New Jeaiand stand at the Australian furniture fa-hion fair, hut eight have n ' indicated their figures to trade commissioners. The commissioners said that all the firms were happy with the fair, and 12 of them which had not prev ou'!> exported to Austra-

lia had now appointed distributors there, and three others were about to appoint ; agents. As a result of the fair. New Zealand furniture can be bought in Melbourne, Sydnej, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide. Hobart, Launceston. Newcastle, Canberra, Albany, Ballarat, Bendigo, •an- Mice Snrings. One dealer from Alice Spi,,,gs surprised the New Zealand stand by walking in land buying, within minutes, i a batch of desks each costing 5220. I New Zealand sold nearly |s3m worth of furniture to [Australia last year, a big inicrease on previous sales. I Trade commissioners said I that because of tight retail i and economic conditions .during the summer, the rise ■would not be as spectacular (this year, but should still be ■ useful and retail sales were I picking up in March and April. i While the fair was aimed Imainly at the trade, there I was keen interest on the |two public days, and people seemed to be impressed with [the quality of the New Zea-, ’ land items, trade commisIsioners said. j Most of the exhibitors! !indicated they would return! for another similar fair, per-1 haps in Sydney. Many are (exporting for the first time,! [and are using the Australian) Jmarket to gain experience! before seeking markets further afield. A wide range of furniture from New Zealand was on display, including desks, stages, dance floors, fireplaces, suites, wardrobes, kitsets, wall units, diningsuites, kitchens, and outdoor items. Metric information.—Despite a reduction in Government finance for publicity ' and information, the Metric • Advisory Board would keep [ industry and the community > supplied with essential int formation, said the board ; chairman (Mr lan D. Stevenson) yesterday.—(F.O.O.R.)