spotlight 21
Thumbs Up for Malaysian Suppliers and Products Meanwhile, Mr. Yoan Wong, owner of Sen Furniture Ltd. (United Kingdom), is full of praises for Malaysian manufacturers. “Around the world, there is a demand for all kinds of Malaysian products. In the Western world, it’s a known fact that Malaysian products are usually more reliable. Particularly, the most important thing between a buyer and a supplier is communication. Malaysians speak many languages, which makes it easier to communicate. And communication facilitates understanding, which makes buyers more at ease, while saving time and money. Essentially, this means business is carried out efficiently – because when buying is simple, it gives you more time to sell,” he explained. Mr. Wong said that his company does sell European furniture, which they source from Poland. And even though Polish furniture is good, the choices are restricted. “In Asia, there’s a lot more to choose from,” he said.
Playground A Source of New Ideas and Designs Danny Bec, director of Western Office Furniture (Australia), was delighted to see new designs and ideas in MIFF: “We come to Malaysia looking for new ideas and inspiration, like the way furniture is manufactured. The fair has a great atmosphere and people are nice. We chat with manufacturers and find new and interesting products as well, like the swiveling bar stool that can be moved from side to side in different ways when you are sitting on it, which can prevent back pain.”
“Around the world,
there is a demand for all kinds of Malaysian products. In the Western world, it’s a known fact that Malaysian products are usually more reliable.” – Mr. Yoan Wong, Sen Furniture Ltd.
Mr. Wong also stated that his company is not a typical buyer as they also partner with factories for expansion. “For example, there are buyers in the UK that we could introduce to Malaysian factories. We can act as a spokesperson. It is very important that the manufacturer and seller communicate and know each other well, because feedback from the seller is needed before a product can be developed further.” Prabhat Rai from online retailer PnN Homewares (United Kingdom) echoed Mr. Wong’s views on buying furniture in Malaysia: “Buying in Malaysia has been a fantastic experience. Everybody speaks English, which is great. We didn’t encounter any problems or challenges in Malaysia.”
According to him, if buyers are willing to pay the right price, they will get good quality products. “As retailer of office furniture, we are here to meet the manufacturers so we can buy directly from them instead of the middleman. Doing so will make our prices more competitive.” Mr. Bec also expressed his hope that the exhibited furniture could be separated into home or office furniture to make the show floor easier for visitors to navigate.
AUGUST 2018