Furniture show set on SMX

By Jan Milo Severo, Contributor

02/23/2010

Almost the entire SMX Convention Center (or a combined area totaling 14,000-sq.m.) is set to welcome more than 10,000 visitors for this year’s Manila Now 2010. The biggest furniture show in the country will house more than 100 certified furniture exporters thoroughly screened and selected for this exhibit, which will be held from March 3 to 7.

At a press conference in Pasay, Josefina Cancio, president of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), said hundreds of buyers from Europe, North America, Middle East and other Asian countries have already pre-registered to witness the local furniture industry’s latest offerings, adding, “The number of buyers we get every year only shows the trust they have in the design and quality of furniture that our industry produces. They know they can find pieces here that will do well in their stores and homes.”

Local and foreign visitors will see the latest collections covering a wide-array of furniture pieces — from furniture and furnishings to lighting and decor accessories. This year’s Manila Now will also be held in conjunction with two other shows – the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers’ New Essentialism and the Hotel Show Philippines — an international exhibit of products, services and technologies relevant to the hospitality industry. Both shows are on its first-time run and are touted to expand the show’s profile to maximize the buying experience of visitors.

Unlike other furniture shows in other countries, Manila Now is constantly innovating because foreigners always want something new. “Because the technology is moving fast, our market also needs to move fast. We have continuously come up with new materials. And the new materials that’s in the show last year, we would not sell it this year,” Eduardo Zuluaga, chairman, Manila Now 2010, said.

Zuluaga, however, admitted that foreign buyers will only look at the products with a small chance of buying. He also said that almost 60 percent of their furniture is sold to the Americans, but it will decrease because of the financial problems the US is facing now. The second lenient market is the Middle East, but they are now facing Chapter 11. “The foreigners are coming, whether they are going to buy is another (matter), but the local market, which is very resilient and very strong, is going to buy,” says Zuluaga. “The color of their money is irrelevant, the objective is to survive.”

According to Zuluaga, the local market will save them as the tourism sector is doing very well under Secretary Ace Durano. “In fact, kulang tayo sa hotel. That’s why they’re building more hotels and condo hotels. The hotels and condotels have volumes. If there are 200 rooms, that’s 200 beds, 400 bedside tables, 200 sofa, ‘yung mga ganun ba. This year, we’re going to survive because of our local market.”

This year, organizers have extended the show’s run from its usual four-day run to five days, giving visitors more time to explore the exhibition. CFIP has also arranged for a special Buyer’s Night to be held after show hours at the same venue. “Most of our buyers are flying in from across the world for this trade show. This is our way of showing our appreciation,” Cancio added. The Buyer’s Night will be held on the third night of the exhibit and is open to both local and foreign visitors.

Manila Now 2010 will be held from March 3 to 7 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. It will be open to trade buyers for its entire five-day run and will welcome the general public on its last two days. For more information about the show, please contact the event manager at (632) 750-8588 or log-in to www.manilanow.ph .

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