All about current and future trends in furniture industry at the Riga Furniture and Interior 2024 trade fair!

On 11 October, during the Riga Furniture and Interior 2024 trade fair, which will take place at the Ķīpsala International Expo Centre, Furniture Producers Association in Latvia will host the first ever Latvian industry business conference – "Furniture manufacturing in Latvia and around the world. Today and tomorrow." This event is designed for industry professionals, raw material suppliers and policy makers. It is a platform for discussing and exchange of experience.

“Furniture industry has gone through major transformation in last three years. It was affected by increasing material prices and supply chain disruption, stagnation on European market, and inflation and EURIBOR rate hike led to 40% reduction in orders. Workforce retention and need to adjust to new conditions were the key challenges faced by the industry. Our conference is a place where industry players can exchange opinions and experience, find solutions to various aspects of crisis and ways to adjust to growing pressures of green deal and sustainable business practices,’ Ieva Erele, Executive Director, Furniture Producers in Latvia, underlines when speaking about the importance of the event and encouraging everyone to come to Ķīpsala for the conference.

Conference will provide useful insights for furniture industry business directors, experts, raw material suppliers, partners, policy makers and furniture manufacturers that work on Latvian and export markets. Industry professionals will be updated on most recent changes in European and Latvian legal acts, as well as future industry direction and development potential.

Furniture manufacturing through the turn of the time is the intriguing subject of Juris Griķis opening speech. Founder of several famous brands, such as “Nakts mēbeles”, “Pils matrači” un “Heavens”, will take the stage on 11 October at 11:00.

Flexible business practices
Experts speaking in the morning session of the conference will present current market data, regulatory updates and laws. Dainis Gašpuitis, SEB banka Latvia economist, will present industry outlook and discuss inflation, labour market and export trends. Līga Lūse-Zambare, Head of Information Services Department at Lursoft IT, will talk about current furniture sector developments, whereas Ieva Erele, Executive Director of Furniture Producers Association in Latvia, will focus on hottest news about laws and regulations. First session will close out with a panel discussion on future perspectives between Stella Irbe, Senior Expert, EU Timber Regulation, Control and Monitoring Department, National Forest Service, Ella Ancāne, “Dižozols Plus” sustainability officer, and Artūrs Bukonts, Executive Director, Latvian Forest Industry Federation.

30 years in the industry
How did “Dižozols plus” evolve from manufacturer of bent laminated furniture parts to a partner of global furniture brands? To find out, you will have to come to the second session of the conference, which will start at 13:20 with presentation from co-owner of “Dižozols plus” - Ģirts Plakans. Edgars Treimanis, “Daiļrade koks” manufacturing manager, and Mudīte Maido, “Daiļrade koks” Deputy Director for Manufacturing, will describe how digital transformation will affect furniture production. First part of the conference will conclude with presentation from Uldis Ūsītis, CEO of “ROUG Interiors”, who will focus on custom furniture project management challenges.

Next 20 years
At 14:40 conference will settle into its final session and explore the sustainability and continuity of Latvian furniture manufacturing companies with Līga Lūse-Zambare, Head of Information Services Department at Lursoft IT. Meanwhile, Reinholds Razums, Director, Oaklins Latvia, will paint a picture of the next 20 years and advise on how to structure future development, whether to buy furniture businesses to grow or sell your company to investors.

Riga Furniture and Interior 2024 conference is organised by Association “Latvijas Mēbeles” under social media brand Furniture Producers Association in Latvia. Conference is supported by Forest Development Fund of Ministry of Agriculture.

Register for the conference to expand your knowledge, share experience and find new partners: www.mittoevents.com/latvijas-mebeles/registracija
Conference participant fee is €50.

Conference registration also includes access to the trade fair.

For additional information, please contact Ieva Erele, Executive Director of Furniture Producers Association in Latvia, phone: +371 2659 4141, e-mail: ieva.erele@latvianwood.lv

Largest furniture trade fair in Baltics
The popular international furniture and interior design trade fair Riga Furniture and Interior 2024 will take place on 11–13 October at the Ķīpsala International Expo Centre. Trade fair will focus on new furniture collections, original design items, interior textiles and furniture accessories. More at: www.mebelesundizains.lv

Follow Riga Furniture and Interior 2024 news on:
instagram.com/riga_furniture_interior
facebook.com/RigaFurnitureAndInterior

Opening hours:
11–12 October: 10:00–18:00
13 October: 10:00–17:00

Ticket pre-sales for better prices: www.bt1.lv/mebelesundizains/buytickets.php