CebuX 2006 sales drop by 25%, lowest in 3 years

This year's Cebu International Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition (CebuX) registered a 25 percent plunge in booking sales performance, the lowest in the last three years.

CebuX organizer, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) blamed the brief proclamation of Executive Order (EO) 1017, declaring the Philippines in the "State of National Emergency" for the weak sales.

The CebuX 2006 only registered US$20 million booking sales, a 25 percent drop from last year's US$27 million, said CFIF president Michael Basubas.

This year's turn out of sales is the lowest in the last three years. In 2003, the show generated US$23 million and US$26 million in 2004.

President Arroyo's 1017 proclamation came two days before the show opened on February 26. Immediately after the announcement some buyers cancelled their trips to Cebu.

"Initially, we were hoping that the proclamation would not greatly affect the show, as in the first day we saw an active buyers' momentum. But, it did. Our sales were down," Basubas said.

There were also fewer buyers who came this year, compared to the past, Basubas added, although exact number of foreign buyers who came this year, still has to be finalized, he said.

"A lot of buyers who were already in Hong Kong did not proceed to Cebu anymore. While there were buyers who were already in Cebu that were recalled by the companies abroad, and left early as scheduled," Basubas said.

During the first day of the show, there were 505 foreign buyers registered from 62 countries. The expectation was to reach 2,000 foreign buyers to visit the show.

This year's exhibition has larger space compared to last year, the exhibition area is 10,200 square meter at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, from last year's 9,200 square meters, with 109 exhibitors from all over the country.

Buyers from the Middle East have topped the ranking of foreign buyers, with US$5.4 million worth of bookings made during the show. It is however, almost 50 percent lower than last year's US$9 million.

This year is not the first time that the CebuX show is being threatened by political or any other crises. Basubas said the fixed holding of the show, which is every February 26 to March 1, has become crucial dates, because the EDSA anniversary falls on February 25.

Although its hard to consider another date for CebuX, CFIF executive director Ruby B. Salutan said it is seriously considered by the CFIF board.

Supposedly, the February 26 to March 1 dates are already fixed for Cebu International Furniture show as it is already included in the Asian circle for Furniture International Shows.

However, Salutan said it could be moved to another date sometime in March, because the show has been through a lot, and always been hit by different crises in the Philippines.