Hello ramis_rpk-ga:
Nearly all the leads I found on freelance sales reps comes from
services that charge a finder's fee, or a subscription fee, to their
data base of sales reps.
I did find some agents/reps who have their contact info on the Net (at
no charge), and I have made note of them.
INDEPENDENT SALES REPS:
Independent Furnishings Sales Reps -- International:
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association (INHFRA):
http://www.ihfra.org/
The organization runs job ads for furnishing sales reps from all over
the world at its "Opportunity News Center":
http://www.ihfra.org/default.aspx?Page=1c6c605f-4f7b-42ff-b9b4-f109536b75f5
and it also faxes job opportunities to members and offers a job
"placement" service for reps.
For more information, see this page:
http://www.ihfra.org/default.aspx?Page=4a1d9aa1-c210-4b76-8c49-f3809621b135
Contact INHFRA:
For Buyer and/or Exhibitor Registration questions and concerns contact
the IHFC® Registration Department:
registration@ihfc.com
Other contact info:
E-mail: ihfra@aol.com
P.O. Box 670
High Point, NC 27261
Phone: 336-889-3920
Furniture World Online Magazine:
http://www.furninfo.com
For $60 you can place ads for 6 months, advertising for reps around the world:
http://www.furninfo.com/homeclassified.html
You can also read through the site's extensive message board. As you
scroll through, you'll see numerous messages regarding sales reps:
http://www.furninfo.com/messagecenter/tradepost2.html
Contact Info: russ@furninfo.com
The Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA):
http://www.cpsa.com/AgentExchange/Gui/Html/AgentExchange_Nov02.asp
"CPSA is offering a classified advertising broadcast service to
companies seeking to interest independent sales agents in carrying
their products/services. Advertise your line broadcast for $150. For
more information contact the Sales Resource Centre at 1-888-267-2772
ext. 261."
Here's an Helsinki agency, "AgentProf," that matches suppliers with
independent sales reps (including the furnishings business):
http://www.agentprof.com/eng/esittely.htm
As I understand it, this agency's can help you locates independent
sales reps in all of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and the EU.
Contact:
Email tuomas.viljakainen@agentprof.com
U.K. agency, M-SMC:
http://www.m-smc.co.uk/ag_register/ar_info.htm
will help you find independent sales agents in that country who
specialize in furninishings.
"The M-SMC AGENTS REGISTER is the only register specifically targeted
to all those trades that may exhibit at the International Spring Fair
in the N.E.C., plus Garden Centre, Soft Furnishings, DIY & Hardware."
Their contact info:
http://www.m-smc.co.uk/address.htm
Another U.K. agency, Sales Agents at agentBase:
http://www.sales-agents.com/
will match you with sales reps throughout the U.K. Its "International
Services - will enable you to build a sales agent network spanning
Europe & America."
Contact them:
Tel: +44 (0) 1926 864200
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 864222
UK Freephone: 0800 018 3034
Email: enquiries@agentbase.co.uk
Independent Furnishings Sales Reps -- USA:
Free Info on sales reps: The following sites -- two of which are very
extensive -- provide FREE contact info on independent reps throughout
the U.S.:
The INHFRA is also currently setting up Web sites for members. From
the organization's Web site I was able to link to some chapter sites
and found listings for quite a number of independent reps in the U.S.:
The Tri-State (PA, NJ, DE) site:
http://www.tri-statehfa.org/default.aspx?Page=e9790377-495d-40ab-9017-6b98bb9a85e6
lists, by my rough estimate, about 60-70 freelance sales reps. They
are listed by last name, with complete contact info. Just keep
clicking away. Many of these reps also have links posted to their Web
sites.
Virginia & Carolinas reps:
http://www.vchfra.org/default.aspx?Page=75967c1d-6a7a-4bf5-9c6e-a83be284260d
I estimate about 80 sales reps are listed there.
By joining INHFRA you can also get access to the organization's other sites:
http://www.ihfra.org/default.aspx?Page=32be9077-53ad-4529-97bc-ba608917d159
I also found:
An independent furniture sales rep in Florida:
http://www.flrep.com/Career%20Profile.htm
(His contact info is front & center at the site.)
JG Associates:
http://biznet.maximizer.com/jgassociates/index.html
has links to a few independent furnishings reps across the U.S.
An independent furnishings sales agent in Hawaii:
http://putterfurniture.com/company.html
Fee-Based Sales Rep Associations -- U.S.A.:
RepLocate.com is a nationwide U.S. directory that matches
opportunities with sales reps.
http://www.replocate.com/directory/01Who.htm
"RepLocate allows businesses to: Find sales representation to expand
their product marketing and increase sales. . . ."
The cost is $65 a month to post ads at the site for freelance sales
reps, according to specific categories.
This page details their services and charges:
http://www.replocate.com/directory/02rates.htm
Contact RepLocate:
http://www.replocate.com/directory/04contact.htm
E-mail: information@replocate.com
Phone: 503 816-8690
Fax: 503 213-7427
Note: Business hours 8am - 6pm, Pacific Time, Monday - Friday
General Correspondence:
RepLocate Inc.
2020C SW 8th Ave, PMB #312
West Linn, OR 97068
RepHunter is a job matchmaker service:
http://www.rephunter.net/
"Nation-wide exposure to over 5,000 independent reps actively seeking
lines. Pro-actively contact up to 900 reps in your industry."
For an idea of how their service works, go to this page:
http://www.rephunter.net/manufacturers/maninfo.asp
For an idea of subscription costs (they have various plans), see:
http://www.rephunter.net/manufacturers/registerman.asp
Contact Info:
RepHunter.net
Direct Access Marketing Group, Inc.
1220 Honeysuckle Lane
Hastings, MN 55033
651-480-3313
E-mail: info@rephunter.net
HOME FURNISHINGS BUYERS (And you don't have to pay for *most* of this
information!)
Anna Campion (U.K.)
"For supplier enquiries then please contact us by email on
purchasing@annacampion.com"
At this page for WHO? Agencies Offered:
http://www.web10162.vs.netbenefit.co.uk/who/agency_offered.htm
See furnishings buyers:
"FALCON SOURCINGS
21 Aranmanaipudhur 1st St
Dharapuram Rd
Tirupur
India 641 604
Tel 91 421 713390
Fax 91 421 715187
E-mail: fst@md3.vsnl.net.in
Buying agency for garments & home furnishings."
And
"LATHA FASHIONS
101/2 Druva Nilaya
B Narayanapura
Dooravaninagar Post
Bangalore
India 560 016
Tel 91 80 8513417
Fax 91 80 8513417
Email: latha101@satyam.net.in
Buying agents for UK & French Buyers of garments plus cotton & silk
home furnishings & handcrafts."
India Mart has a list of 77 home furnishings buyers in India (contact
info is by each buyer's name):
http://dir.indiamart.com/indianimporters/te_misc.html
This site, Trade India, actually lists buyers from all over the world,
including Canada, the U.K., Australia, Estonia, Brazil, and South
Africa (contact info is by each buyer's name):
http://
www.trade-india.com/dyn/gdh/international_buyers/Textiles_and_Leather_Products/Home_Textiles/Home_Furnishings/
(That above URL is very long; make sure all of it has been copied and
pasted into the toolbar!)
Also at Trade India:
http://trade.indiamart.com/offer/handicrafts-gifts/home-furnishings/buy.html
There are listings from buyers from all over the world, including the U.S.
The following five retailers came up when searching for "home
furnishings buyers." (I can't *promise* you they are looking to buy,
but they are worth trying):
Ivy House Furniture:
http://www.ivyfurniture.co.uk
Contact:
All Enquires - Call: 01759 301222 or
Email: enquiries@ivyfurniture.co.uk
The Cotswold Company UK
http://www.cotswoldco.com
Contact form:
http://www.cotswoldco.com/contact_us.php
Your Price Furniture Company UK:
http://www.yourpricefurniture.co.uk
Contact:
Tel: 01663 749049
Choice Online Shopping/ Catalogue:
http://www.choice.co.uk/
Click "Home & Garden," which includes furnishings.
E-mail Choice: enquiry@choice.co.uk.
And:
Furnitureland South:
http://www.furniturelandsouth.com
Contact:
Furnitureland South
PO Box 1550
5635 Riverdale Dr.
Jamestown, NC 27282
Phone: 336.841.4328
E-mail form:
http://www.furniturelandsouth.com/request_more_info.php
At B2B Premier Marketplace:
http://www.ecplaza.net/ecdirectory/
At search box at top, type in "furnishings" and click "importers" and
"all countries."
Some of the companies I found:
S&G Trade Mart (U.S.)
http://my.ecplaza.net/sgtm/
S&G Trade Mart
5401 Longworth Drive
Galloway, Ohio
United States 43119
Tel : 1-888-764-3010
Fax : 1-419-710-4561
Contact: Mr. Stephen Stinemetze
SAEIL TRADING CO., LTD.
http://my.ecplaza.net/saeil/
2407, Ra-dong, Chungang Trading Complex,
1258, Guro-dong
Guro-ku, Seoul
Korea (South) 152-721
Tel : 82-2-689-6208
Fax : 82-2-689-6213
Homepage : http://www.medmore.com
Contact: Mr. Ki-Bong Lee, Manager, sales dep.
Go back to the main page and try searching under "Wholesaler/Retailer." I found:
MODERN LACE HOUSE
http://my.ecplaza.net/modernlace/
MODERN HOUSE, B-192, NARAINA INDUSTRIAL AREA , PHASE-1
, NEW DELHI
India 110028
Tel : 91-11-2579-5204
Fax : 91-11-514-1069
Contact :
Mr. PRASHANT ASTIR
PARTNER, SALES
Broadspan, an online shopping service located in New Jersey, buys furnishings:
http://www.broadspancommerce.com/about/index.html
http://www.broadspancommerce.com/partners/index.html
Contact info:
http://www.broadspancommerce.com/contact/index.html
Furniture Find:
http://www.furniturefind.com
To inquire if they'd like to consider purchasing your products, go to
this page to fill out a form:
http://www.furniturefind.com/findanswers/contactus/contactus.asp?strContact=manufact
Also check out their affiliate program:
http://www.furniturefind.com/furniture/info.asp?strInfo=ffrrp
Handicraft Exchange (You must register at this site, but it's free):
http://www.handicraftexchange.com/home/
Click "Buyers" at left. In box that comes up click "furniture" or
"home furnishings" to bring up lists of buyers.
Via the aforementioned Furniture World Online Magazine (which also
allows you to advertise for sales reps):
http://www.furninfo.com
I found these resources at:
http://www.furninfo.com/homeassociations.html
Including:
Furniture First (located in Harrisburg, PA):
http://www.furniturefirst.com/
"is a national cooperative organization serving the retail home
furnishings industry... Our aim is to continually improve member'
profitability through volume purchasing, innovative operations, and
marketing."
At "How Do I Join?"
http://www.furniturefirst.com/membership/join.html
You'll see staggering membership fees. But the page also notes that by
buying the "Supplier Program" membership costs you nothing, and that
you'll likely receive rebate checks.
I can't quite fathom all their programs, so do contact them to discuss
these programs.
Their contact form is at:
http://www.furniturefirst.com/contact.html
Or e-mail: info@furniturefirst.com
Phone: 800-411-3477.
See:
http://www.furninfo.com/furniturefirst/index.html
for more information about Furniture First.
Go4 France Business:
At this page for Furniture, Interior Decoration & Furnishings:
http://go4francebusiness.com/search/browsemembers.asp?cid=1112801280&objtype=ID
click "Furniture" and other applicable categories to bring up buyers
and their contact info.
Germany Business Hub -- German Buyers:
At this page for Furniture, Interior Decoration & Furnishings:
http://germanybusinesshub.com/search/browsemembers.asp?cid=1112801280&objtype=ID
click "Furniture" and other applicable categories to bring up buyers
and their contact info.
Spain Trade Net:
At this page for Furniture, Interior Decoration & Furnishings:
http://spaintradenet.com/search/browsemembers.asp?cid=1112801280&objtype=ID
click "Furniture" and other applicable categories to bring up buyers
and their contact info.
Italy Business Net:
At this page for Furniture, Interior Decoration & Furnishings:
http://italybusinessnet.com/search/browsemembers.asp?cid=1112801280&objtype=ID
click "Furniture" and other applicable categories to bring up buyers
and their contact info.
Australia Trade Now:
At this page for Furniture, Interior Decoration & Furnishings:
http://australiatradenow.com/search/browsemembers.asp?cid=1112801280&objtype=ID
click "Furniture" and other applicable categories to bring up buyers
and their contact info.
Here's Danske Mobler's directory of furniture and furnishings stores
in New Zealand:
http://www.danske.co.nz/stockists.htm
Contact info is listed.
Membership Fee-Based Resources For Buyers:
Orbidex:
http://www.orbidex.com/sellers.stm
Allows you to sell your furnishings products to buyers on their online
marketplace. (I'm not sure if you have to pay a subscription or member
fee, or if they take a commission from any sales you make.)
Contact:
"contact Orbidex merchant services toll free at 1-877-ORBIDEX, email:
help@orbidex.com"
Buyers' Directory:
http://www.eximinfo.net
Click on LHome Furnishing Buyers" to bring up:
http://www.eximinfo.net/search.php?k=G00101007
That will bring up 83 results for importers from North America to Europe to Africa.
Their prices are very reasonable. At:
http://www.eximinfo.net/search.php?k=G00101007
I clicked on page 2, then clicked on "Directory of 370 North American
Importers of Home Furnishings," bringing up:
http://www.eximinfo.net/details.php?code=R-464&k=G00101007&page=1
For $30, you'll get 370 U.S. buyers of a very wide array of home furnishings.
Also of interest:
You may also be interested in checking out the Home Furnishings
International Association:
http://www.hfia.com/bulletin_board.asp
And
The International Home Furnishings Center holds a huge international
expo where buyers and sellers meet:
http://www.ihfc.com/
Search Strings:
"freelance furnishings sales reps"
" 'independent sales representatives' AND furnishings"
" 'international independent sales representatives' AND furnishings"
"independent sales representatives" AND furnishings AND (name of country)"
" 'independent sales agents' AND furnishings" (searched with that
string at search engines for various countries).
" "I'm an independent sales representative [or agent]' AND country"
"independent sales representative [or agent]"
" 'home furnishings buyers' AND country"
"buyers AND 'home furnishings' "
"buyers AND 'home furnishings' AND international"
" 'buyers of home furnishings' AND international"
"buyers of home furnishings"
"furnishings buyers"
"buyers AND furnishings AND EU"
"buyers AND furnishings AND Europe"
"buyers AND furnishings AND [name of country]"
I hope my research is of help to you. Please post a "Request For
Clarification" if you need help navigating any of the above links, or
if you need me to clarify any of the information I've given you, prior
to rating my answer.
Regards,
nancylynn-ga |