“The interest towards homes isn’t a bubble. Home furnishing has become a business line for even those that never covered it before”, said Maria Porro, 39 years old and president of Salone del Mobile di Milano, and manager in the family company Porro. Interest that will be shown in full during the 61st edition of Salone del Mobile, from April 18th to 23rd at Fieramilano Rho. The city will also host in the same days the Fuorisalone (17-23) and other aligned initiatives as part of Milano Design Week.
2,000 exhibitors
After 4 years, Salone del Mobile is back to its pre-pandemic splendor. It’s taking place in April in its usual place. The event will be inaugurated by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. More than 2,000 exhibitors will be present, while more visitors are expected to come compared to the previous year, mostly from abroad and especially from USA and China, right after Italy.
The segment’s numbers
Federlegno Arredo has published data for the segment in 2022. Revenue reached 56.5 billion euro, up 12.6% compared to 2021. Export grew 13.3% and equals 21 billion, or 37% of total turnover. The chain is comprised of 68,000 companies and employs about 298,000 people, “managing to maintain and even increase employment levels”, says the association’s research center, according to e-duesse.it. The president of the association, Feltri, forecasts a 5% growth for the furnishing section and a “healthy decrease” of 3% for wood during 2023.
“It’s not a bubble”
Maria Porro trusts that this edition, finally free of restrictions, will be one of comeback, with more visitors coming to the event. In order to increase the number of exhibitors as well (especially SMBs left out). Salone del Mobile will also have to confirm the growing interest towards home furnishing, which blew up during the pandemic period. “The interest towards home furnishing isn’t a bubble”, confirms Maria Porro to 7 (Corriere della Sera). The entrepreneur also highlights the increased number of social media accounts dedicated to interior design, and how this segment “has become a business line even for those that never worked on it before. But we must be careful about designwashing”, she warns. Porro indicated that the outdoor section has a strongly growing trend. “The interior design segment is everywhere, even outside. It was the greatest lesson the pandemic taught us”, concluded the Como-based entrepreneur.
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