Furniture and antique fair 2005 slated to capture local market

A furniture export manufacturer and antique furniture retailer are joining hands together, to capture the vibrant furniture and home furnishing market in Cebu, initiating a 19-day exhibit at Ayala Center Cebu from August 13 to 31, 2005.

The retail arm of furniture exporter BrickStone International Inc., the Signature Furniture Collection, and Treveños Art and Antiques will be showcasing their top furniture collection to the Cebuano market, and visiting travelers taking advantage of Cebu's position as the center for furniture manufacturing in the Philippines.

This exhibit dubbed "Furniture and Antique Fair 2005" offers wide choices of furniture pieces from export quality to antique collections that would make a one-stop venue for customers in their furniture and home furnishing requirements.

BrickStone International Inc. president and chief executive officer (CEO) Marlene Villanueva said the opening of this exhibit would allow the local market to avail of the export quality furniture products, which are usually sold to exclusive customers abroad.

"This is my way of opening my export quality products of furniture to the local market. Cebuanos should be given a chance to own the world-sought furniture products made in Cebu," Villanueva said.

On the other hand, Treveños Arts and Antiques proprietress Nene Treveño said holding an exhibit in a good consumer traffic area such as the mall, would allow retailers to capture potential customers, not only Cebuanos, but including tourists, out-of-towners, among others.

Treveño said tourists specifically are now learning to buy Filipino-made paintings, Filipino-made antiques and other collection pieces as one of their "bring home" or Pasalubong items.

"This is a good mix of showcase, because our different sets of furniture products would allow customers to choose from imported home furniture products, antique furniture items, and export quality furniture," Treveño said.

In order to stimulate easy buying environment, the fair is offering a zero-interest installment payment scheme in partnership with Equitable Bank, it offers from three, six, nine, and 12 months to pay strategy.

Villanueva's export quality furniture such as the bedroom set is pegged at an average of P50,000 to P75,000, priced lower than the actual export rate.

On the other hand, Treveño who has been holding furniture and home furniture exhibits in the different malls in Cebu, said the position of Cebu as the center for furniture and home furnishing in the country has made furniture retail business in Cebu more thriving.

She said bulks of her clients are now interior designers from all-over-the country, emphasizing that Manila interior designers are now mostly sourcing their furniture and home furnishing requirements from Cebu.

"Holding a mall exhibit is very expensive and time demanding, but return of investment (ROI) and strong market exposure is assured," Treveño said.