Furniture makers eye over 20% sales growth this year
‘To boost sales growth, more industry players will participate in exhibitions for the international market, including the Imm Cologne furniture fair in Cologne, Germany.’
Daily Tribune‘To boost sales growth, more industry players will participate in exhibitions for the international market, including the Imm Cologne furniture fair in Cologne, Germany.’
Furniture makers in the country are eyeing a 15 to 20 percent growth in sales this year as they continue innovating to serve demand in the overseas markets and to remain competitive.
"I am very hopeful (about growth) because buyers are coming in again, they come to visit (the country)," said Myrna Bituin, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. trustee for the furniture sector.
Bituin said the United States, the country's largest buyer, has been working with Philippine manufacturers on product development.
"…Because product development is very important because you need new products to sustain and they are now starting to come and start product development," she said.
She added other existing markets are the United Kingdom and Arabian countries, including Dubai.
Bituin said designers are catching up with new trends while entrepreneurs need to be updated like colors for furniture finishing.
"So being an exporter is a continuing education for you on the market that you want to touch," she said, adding that the needs of buyers vary. "There are buyers that are there for the new look but they will always look at the past."
To boost sales growth, Bituin said more industry players will participate in exhibitions for the international market, including the Imm Cologne furniture fair in Cologne, Germany.
"(This) is good, which means buyers are coming back," she said in a mix of English and Filipino. "Your presence in the market is important so you can have regular buyers and you can look for new buyers (in the exhibitions)."
