NUREMBURG, Germany – Helmut “Max” Merkel, longtime editor-in-chief of German furniture trade journal MöbelMarkt, died this week after a brief, serious illness. He was 67 years old.
Merkel also was a leading influence for the International Assn. of Furniture Publications. MöbelMarkt is the leading business-to-business publication serving the German furniture industry and, along with Furniture Today, was among IAFP’s founding members.
He is remembered by his colleagues at MöbelMarkt and in the IAFP as an outstanding person, both personally and professionally, who was always willing to share his broad knowledge of the global furniture sector not only with the publication’s readers but also with fellow IAFP members. His familiarity with tradeshows in Asia and Europe was a great resource, especially for journalists new to covering those regions.
In addition, he always was a gracious host to his colleagues at the Cologne Furniture Fair, where he made MöbelMarkt’s pavilion a gathering spot for making contacts with furniture producers from Germany and elsewhere. His associates in IAFP always had a standing invitation for lunch during the show. After hours, he organized memorable dinners for fellow journalists in Cologne and during shows in other parts of the world.
Merkel was born in Baden-Baden in 1953 and joined MöbelMarkt in 1988 after starting his career at the trade press publisher Euwid. Under former editor and publisher Franz Schäfer, he started as deputy editor-in-chief before setting up his own advertising agency in 1992. In 1999, he returned to MöbelMarkt’s publishing group, taking over as editor-in-chief a short time later. His expertise was recognized throughout the international furniture industry, where he was also a speaker at many seminars and congresses, a jury member of design competitions and a consultant.
“We mourn the passing of Max Merkel as a person,” read a statement MöbelMarkt. “And we will sorely miss the expertise of one of the world’s most respected furniture journalists. Max Merkel was valued as a friend and advisor not only by us, but also by many colleagues and business partners around the world beyond his professional involvement.
“Max Merkel had traveling in his blood and was at home at furniture fairs and markets all over the world. Now he has started his last great journey.”
Merkel is survived by his wife.
I'm Powell Slaughter, senior editor at Furniture/Today. I returned to the publication in January 2015 after nine years of writing about furniture retail strategies and best practices at a monthly magazine focusing on home furnishings retail operations. Prior to that, I spent 10 years with F/T covering wood furniture, the last five of those as case goods editor. Upon my return to F/T, I developed coverage of the logistical and service aspects of the furniture industry as well as following the occasional, home office and home entertainment categories. In April 2018 I took over the upholstery category, with responsibility for coverage of the fabric and leather stationary and motion upholstery, recliners and massage chair categories.
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MöbelMarkt's Max Merkel dies at 67 - Furniture Today
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