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ISSUE: May/June 2009

International Furniture Fair Singapore: Winning Formula

Formula Visitors to the International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show 2009 – held from March 9 – 12 – were optimistic of opportunities amid the current economic climate. Many of them expressed confidence that the situation would eventually turn around and were going about their usual buying routes. Furniture & Furnishings Export, International catches up with some of them.

“I’m from the UK, looking for living room furniture. We’ve sourced from China before and they have improved on quality over the years. This current situation we’re in has affected everyone, us included. Business is down 20 percent. The way to get beat the recession is to offer real value. Value, mind you, not price. Reason I say that is because if you go cheaper, someone else will go cheapest. In the end, everyone loses. Especially in times like this, people want quality. They are afraid of losing their jobs, so if they have to make a purchase you can be sure they will keep their eyes peeled to find something that will last a long time.”

STUART PILLING

Director,
Winchester Furniture UK, Accrington, UK

“I am a distributor in Australia. Orders are still coming in but terms have changed. My customers, who are mostly retailers and chain-stores, are now asking for smaller quantities and lower prices. They are still expecting value for money, so thankfully they are not asking for impossible rock bottom prices.”

GARY LAWTON

Chief Executive Officer
United Design International, Dubai, UAE

“The furniture market in Portugal is going slowly at the moment. I don’t think the situation in Portugal is precipitated by the US credit crunch. People are just cautious, that’s all. The money to buy is still there but people are just afraid to spend.”

ALEXANDRE MARQUES

Owner
A Caetano Marques, Portugal

“Our office is based in Australia but we operate from Indonesia as well. The Australian market is doing okay but it definitely could do a lot better. Since this is a global downturn, I think that there is not much the furniture and timber industries can really do but wait and ride out the storm. The furniture trade is the similar everywhere – as long as you offer consumers value-for-money, you will find ready and willing customers.”

DON CAMERON

Marketing (Australia)
JSA CV Java Source Asia
Australia

“We are a multi-outlet retailer in the Netherlands. Times are not so good but it is affecting everyone, not just the furniture industry, so I guess it will not be a fundamental problem. To drum up sales, we are increasing spending on advertising as well as revising prices downwards. We have had to look for different, more cost-effective types of furniture to fit the changing market demands.”

RENE J VAN DER WEIJDEN

Director
Holland, the Netherlands

“My company is based in South Africa and we specialise in home furniture and furnishings. The economic slump has affected the furniture trade in South Africa massively. Our business has fallen by about 30 percent, people are short on money and as a result, afraid to spend. We are sourcing for an affordable, well-made range of products to entice price and quality conscious consumers back home.”

EBRAHIM HASSAM

Director
International Collection, South Africa

Current issue:
March/April 2010

To Gather Again In March
Every March, the international furniture community gears itself up for a jam-packed calendar. Starting with MIFF in Kuala Lumpur and to finish with the CIFF-Office Show at the end of March, buyers and suppliers gather in Asia for the latest products and designs the region has to offer. This is in the form of more than a dozen exhibitions running back-to-back.

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