Contact: Maridith Geuder
A Nov. 10 conference at Mississippi State will address the global and competitive environments for furniture producers.
Titled "Competitive Strategies for the Furniture Industry: Emerging Issues in a Global Environment," the 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. gathering will be held at the university's Hassell Franklin Center. The program will feature industry and trade leaders discussing a variety of topics and conclude with a panel discussion.
Joe Carroll, publisher of Furniture magazine, will be the keynote speaker. Others making presentations include Russ Batson, vice president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association.; Judy Dunaway, president of Airline Manufacturing; Jeff Holmes, president of J. Holmes, LLC; and Bill Morris, founder and partner of Small World Marketing.
Ivan Cutler, a well-known furniture industry analyst and marketing communications specialist, will moderate the concluding panel discussion.
MSU President Charles Lee and Hassell H. Franklin also will make remarks. Franklin, an MSU alumnus whose major gift made possible the facility that now bears his name, is chief executive officer and president of the Chickasaw County-based Franklin Corp., a leading manufacturer of upholstered furniture.
"The furniture industries in Mississippi and throughout the South have experienced extreme global pressures," said Liam Leightley, MSU forest products department head. "This conference will provide an assessment of the current competitive situation in the furniture industry, and recommend strategies and action steps toward improving the environment for regional furniture producers."
Leightley said imports from the People's Republic of China are of considerable concern for furniture manufacturers. Chinese producers currently are shipping a container of furniture to the U.S. at prices 20 to 30 percent lower than the same furniture produced domestically, he explained.
"The Chinese export dilemma is just one of the issues to be addressed, with others including manufacturing and cost reduction methodologies to marketing and retailing," Leightley said.
In addition to MSU's Institute of Furniture Manufacturing and Management, the conference is being sponsored by the Mississippi Development Authority, Community Development Foundation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Mississippi World Trade Center.
Though designed for members of the furniture manufacturing industry, the conference is open to all interested persons. An $85 registration fee will be required of all wishing to participate in the entire conference program.
For more information or to register for the conference, contact Amy Garrard at (662) 325-8453 or Amy Garrard.