I've lost track of how many Heimtextil fairs I've attended, but I can safely say it's more than most people and I can just as safely say I always come back being better informed about the general condition of the home textiles industry. This year was true to form. Some ongoing observations were apparent, as always; others were new takes on old issues. In no particular order: 1. The U.S. Dollar Rules. The surprising strength of the American currency was good news for U.S. buyers looking to spend their money wisely. Versus the Euro, the dollar was nearly 20% more valuable than a year ago, hitting the levels of exchange when the Euro was first created more than a decade ago. Indications are the slide isn't over. So, it was a buyer's market for Americans even though purchases from EU countries are minimal. But this helps many buying deals from Asia, too.
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