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| Asian Sources Gift & Home Products, Manila |
Gifts and Home Products - April 1999
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IFFS/AFS '99 was held from March 4 to 8
at the new Singapore Expo in Changi, near the island state's international
airport. The fair took up almost 30,000 square meters of space and featured more than 460 exhibitors from 22 countries, with 70 percent of exhibitors coming from ASEAN and Asia. They included Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Other exhibitors were furniture manufacturers from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, the UK and the US. Approximately 16,000 trade visitors from 90 countries attended the fair. |
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"Despite the current economic climate, the enthusiastic support of furniture manufacturers reflects the recognition of this fair as an effective platform for doing business," said Mr Bert Choong, president of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), "not only for Asian companies, but also for those from other parts of the world." Asian participation increased by 38 percent against last year. South Korea alone posted an increase of 212 percent in representation, from eight companies in 1998 to 25 companies. Thailand, Mainland China and Taiwan have increased by 53 percent, 37 percent and 20 percent, respectively. New Fair Venue For the first time IFFS/AFS '99, in its 11th year, is being staged at the new Singapore Expo in Changi, Singapore Expo is only 10 minutes from the city center and is said to be one of the best exhibition centers in Asia. It boasts of state of the art technology and is column free. Mr Bert Choong, President of SFIC, said it as an honor for the fair to be the first at the new center. "This world-class mega exhibition center is ideally suited for a world-class event such as IFFS/AFS, which hosts international representatives from all over the world." Singapore Expo has a convention center and six exhibition halls with 60,000 square meters of space. All the halls are on ground level under the same roof, making it convenient for visitors to view products and for exhibitors to move their exhibits. Product Review Wood-wicker furniture - Unicane Furniture Pte Ltd Cane and wicker furniture maker Unicane Furniture Pte Ltd has released the Calista Living Suite composed of wood-wicker furniture in candy brown washed colors and Oriental fabric accents. The WA 066 is an armchair that measures 98(W) by 84(D) by 88(H) cm, while model WL 066 is a loveseat 154 by 84 by 88cm. Coffee table model WCT 166 measures 110 by 63 by 45cm and a sidetable (model WST 266) is 72 by 63 by 57cm. The minimum order requirement is 100 pieces or $10,000 to $15,000 worth in a 40-foot container. Payment is by an L/C and delivery is after 45 days of confirmation. Designs are created by Carsten Ovesen of Denmark and include living, dining, bedroom, garden and occasional furniture. The firm targets the United States, Japan and mainland China through midrange to high-end chain stores, design houses, interior design groups and specialty galleries. The company was established in 1978 and has a 7-hectare factory. RTA furniture - Koda Woodcraft Pte Ltd Koda Woodcraft Pte Ltd's line of ready-to-assemble wooden and rattan furniture include the eco-friendly Madrid collection, home/office tables and chairs, birch dining sets and pinewood beds. Units in the Madrid collection are made of recycled pinewood. Each is kiln-dried to reduce moisture. Natural weathering of cracks and texture is done to enhance the wood. Metal fixtures and fittings are hand-forged and aged using traditional methods. The minimum order is a 40-foot container. Delivery is within 60 days of receipt of an L/C. FOB prices depend on the product. The firm, established in 1972, also produces dining tables and chairs, lounge chairs and occasional tables. It has a 1.5-hectare factory and a monthly capacity of $1.7 million worth. Environment-friendly system furniture - Haller (Far East) Pte Ltd Sophisticated system furniture from Haller Far East feature partition panels and German-imported modular kitchen cabinets in different designs, colors and finishes. The latest is the Wellmann collection, which is made of environment-friendly materials. Units in this collection are space-saving, have acrylic-edged worktops and feature multiple color combinations. The system also comes with individual units for glass doors, stainless steel fronts and drawer packs. The partition panel system, which is patented in the United States, is easy to assemble, move and rewire. Accessories, storage and desk systems come in simple ergonomic designs. The minimum quantity required is a containerload. Delivery is within 28 days of confirmation of order, and TT or L/C are accepted. Target markets are Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Middle East. The company was established in 1980 and has a factory measuring 1,400 square meters. A/V furniture with rotating TV platform - Cellini Design Center A specialist in audio-visual furniture, Cellini Design Center has released the Armadio AMP 20, an A/V cabinet system with a TV platform that rotates 360 degrees as well as specially designed holders for miniature speakers. The unit is made of die-cast metal and features handmade handles and Y-shaped legs made of polished aluminum alloy. Price ranges from $60 to $1,500. The minimum order required depends on the product and preferred payment is by an L/C. Delivery is within 30 to 60 days. Target markets are Australia, China, Europe, the Middle East and United States. The firm also produces dining, sofa and bedroom sets, bar counters and stools, display and amplifier cabinets, coffee and side tables as well as kitchen cabinets. The company has a 5,000-square-meter factory and was established in 1980. Office furniture with quality approval - C. S. Seating C.S. Seating & Contract Pte Ltd's office furniture, accessories, computer desks, chairs and panels have passed the local standards board. Chair models CS 208, 238, 248 and 2578 come in low, medium and high settings. These use injection-molded flame-resistant lumbar support foam. The units have armrests made of PU and polished black aluminum cantilevers. Upholstery can be leather or fabric. Buyers' requirements and specifications are accepted. Payment is by an L/C and delivery is within 30 to 60 days. Established in 1980, the company has a 220-square-meter factory. Modular boardroom table Nobel Design House has released a 200-meter meeting/boardroom table with a modular structure. Available in two sizes, the unit is made of solid wood veneer with vacuum posts. There is no minimum order requirement and delivery is within seven days. Preferred payment is by an L/C. The company is engaged in custom furniture manufacturing, interior design and renovations. A pioneer in the concept of design and contracts, it has subsidiary branches which handle projects for hotel, office and commercial establishment needs. The firm was established in 1981 and has a 1-hectare factory. |
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| First
published Gifts & Home Products Asian Sources Media Group, April 1999 © Nisar Keshvani |
 © Nisar Husain Keshvani | All Rights Reserved 1993 - 2007 | Copyright |