Stakes high for upcoming Asian shows
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, February 20, 2005
High Point — Thousands of furniture buyers from around the world will visit trade shows in Southeast Asia in the coming weeks to scout the region's latest offerings.
The stakes are high for furniture makers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand as they compete for market share — not only in the United States but in other regions — with juggernaut China, which continues to boost capacity.
One of many companies feeling the heat from China is Philippines-based Creative Furnishings International, said company representative Marlon Murillo. "We have had a mighty challenging time this year," he said in a late December e-mail. "Not even the Middle East was able to fully come up to expectations."
The Middle East remains a core market for his and other Asian furniture producers. But CFI has been developing more designs tailored to the U.S. market in hopes of improving its prospects here, Murillo said.
Among the U.S. buyers bound for Asia is Jake Jabs, president and CEO of Englewood, Colo.-based Top 100 store American Furniture Warehouse. He will visit shows in Singapore and Malaysia.
In Singapore, he'll shop for accent and occasional goods made mostly in Indonesia. In addition to solid mahogany pieces, he'll look for products sporting wicker and similar materials.
In Malaysia, Jabs will have his eyes peeled for casual dining, a strong category for that country. He noted the wide use of rubberwood, which finishes well in some of the popular black and brown finishes.
China's growing clout in the U.S. market is well known. In the first six months of 2004, the latest period available, China's furniture exports to this country shot up 45% to $4.5 billion, according to Furniture/Today's numbers.
In the same period, Philippine shipments here rose a paltry 1% to $96 million, and Indonesia remained flat at $274.8 million. Malaysia and Thailand fared better, with the former posting an 18% increase to $284.1 million and Thailand's furniture exports to the United States rising 24% to $202.4 million.
Here are snapshots of the upcoming shows.
Cebu International Furniture & Furnishings Exhibition
The Feb. 26–March 1 show in the southern Philippine city of Cebu expects to feature just over 100 exhibitors in about 80,000 square feet of space.
Products include living, dining and bedroom furniture, outdoor/garden furniture, occasional and accents. Many have strong handcrafted design elements making use of local materials such as abaca, wicker and rattan.
This gives the show a highly contemporary flair, although there are plenty of traditional and transitional products.
Last year, about 19% of the 1,370 buyers came from Canada and the United States.
Philippine International Furniture Show
Held Feb. 28–March 3 in Manila, PIFS also has a strong design element, with indigenous materials incorporated into furniture made in smaller factories. Some 122 mostly Philippines-based manufacturers will show in about 69,000 square feet, in categories ranging from bedroom and dining room to upholstery, occasional and home accents.
The theme of this year's event, Designs of Manila, targets international buyers looking for customized products with strong design and mixed-media elements.
Last year, the event drew 333 U.S. buyers.
International Furniture Fair Singapore
The March 1–5 show is this round's largest in number of exhibitors, with 452 expected in about 550,000 square feet spread over six halls, with over 33 countries participating. China and Hong Kong will have 90 exhibitors; Singapore and Indonesia will have 72 each. Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam also expect strong showings, and 17 U.S. companies are expected to exhibit.
IFFS offers a strong mix of bedroom, dining room, occasional and leather and fabric upholstery, in materials including teak, other Asian hardwoods and mixed media.
Malaysian International Furniture Fair
Set for March 1–5 in Kuala Lumpur, the lineup includes over 300 exhibitors in 630,000 square feet over 12 halls.
Like IFFS, there's a strong international element, with exhibitors from 14 countries in and outside Asia. The mix ranges from bedroom and dining room furniture to upholstery and home office. Dining and bedroom have been traditional strong points, particularly among Chinese and Malaysian exhibitors.
As with IFFS, many exhibitors have large-scale manufacturing capacity geared to produce for the U.S. market. Of the estimated 6,600 international visitors at MIFF in 2004, 7% were from the United States.
Malaysian Furniture Export Exhibition, or MAFEX
Held March 3–7 at a different venue in Kuala Lumpur, the show is smaller in scale than MIFF, with about 130 exhibitors in 380,000 square feet.
MAFEX has grown from 73,000 square feet and 3,400 overseas visitors in 1999 to last year's 250,000 square feet and 6,150 overseas visitors from 116 countries, with 526 of those from the United States and Canada. Europe and the Middle East sent 1,280 and 505 buyers, respectively.
Products range from bedroom and dining room to occasional, upholstery, office and outdoor furniture.
Thailand International Furniture Fair
Set for March 4–8 in northern Bangkok, this show expects 229 exhibitors showing bedroom, dining room, upholstery, bathroom and outdoor furniture, in leather and metal as well as rattan and other woven material.
Most exhibitors are from Thailand, but manufacturers from other Asian nations also will show.
Last year, there were about 2,770 overseas visitors, mostly from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of Asia. Nearly 13% were from North America, second only to Japan's 13.6%.
-
Stakes high for upcoming Asian shows
Feb 20, 2005
Specialty retailer LoveSac introduces new store design
Kincaid Furniture honors Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter for Habitat work
Belfort Furniture, Lawrance Furniture are NHFA Retailers of Year
Omnia Furniture ends relationship with Kathy Ireland Worldwide
Singapore furniture show expecting increased turnout
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
