Friday, October 28th, 2011

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE SM MEGAMALL TRADE HALLS THIS NOVEMBER for the 37th Philippine Furniture and Furnishings Show (PFFS).

Considered as one of the oldest and most important consumer furniture and furnishings exhibition in the Philippines, the 37th Edition of the PFFS is expected to draw record exhibitors and crowds during its run.

“The 37th PFFS will run for ten days, from November 25 to December 4,” says Salvio Valenzuela, the National Executive Director of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Inc., adding that PIFS’s run will in fact cover two shopping weekends. “The venue will of course be Megatrade Hall 1 of SM Megamall—the most visited exhibition hall in Metro Manila.”

According to Mr. Valenzuela, the 37th edition of the PFFS is especially timely for consumers who are looking for Philippine made items of high quality, craftsmanship and design. “It will be a shopping paradise for consumers as it will be conducted several weeks before Christmas,” he shares, noting that it will provide ample time for holiday shopping.

Exhibitors can likewise count not only on brisk sales, but visibility as well as both local and foreign furniture and décor buyers are expected to visit the exhibition to see the latest in what the country’s furniture makers have to offer for 2012.

“To prod both buyers and consumers to take a more serious look on what the 37th PFFS has to offer, the CFIP will be overseeing activities that will let the said parties know more about what will transpire in the event,” says Mr. Valenzuela, adding that the Chamber is now busy conducting an advertising and information drive targeted to over 20,000 interior designers, architects, building contractors, condominium owners and the like.

“It’s one of the oldest and most prestigious furniture and furnishings exhibit in the country and in the region,” says Mr. Valenzuela, “all Filipinos interested in how far we have gone in promoting what’s best in Philippine design should take the time to visit this annual celebration of design and excellence.”

For inquiries regarding participation and space reservations, interested parties can call 6312834 or 6329007 and look for Sherly Puno or Jemma Medel Protacio.

Monday, July 18th, 2011

The RAI was first launched in 2008 but as part of AT Kearney’s 10-year anniversary of the larger GRDI research, it has pulled out seven key lessons learned during a decade of looking at international retail expansion.

“Western retailers have not yet grasped the level of growth and are still underestimating the magnitude of the [international] opportunity,” says Shabat, of the extent to which the retail landscape in developing markets has changed since 2001.

The population in the 30 developing countries surveyed has grown from 5 billion to 5.8 billion over a decade and there has been a 92% increase in per capita spending on retail, and a 225% increase in retail space.

AT Kearney’s seven takeaways from the past decade include two of particular relevance for apparel retailers: taking a portfolio approach to expansion; and recognising just how discerning consumers in developing markets are. The seven lessons are:

1. Market selection is both art and science: Market analysis alone is not enough to decide where to expand. Brand fit and probability of success. Ecommerce is becoming a common practice to test new markets, along with trialling alternate store models and service delivery options
2. Global expansion is a portfolio game: Leading global retailers take a portfolio approach to expansion, allocating resources based on varying risk and performance profile. Maintaining a presence in both mature and developing markets ensures balance
3. Consumers in developing markets are discerning: Consumers in emerging markets expect high-quality products and this should not be underestimated. Meeting consumer needs such as offering store credit, or understanding how unique shopping behaviours are evolving, is crucial
4. Local competition is often stronger than it appears: Domestic retailers are savvy in local consumer taste and legislation, they are also adept at learning quickly from international competitors and adapting operations accordingly
5. The rules are different for global and national organisations: Clear guidelines on key decisions around pricing, assortment, sourcing, formats, layout and promotions are necessary to operate in the global marketplace, whether these decisions are made at a central, regional or local level
6. Local talent is crucial: Recruiting nationals must be a priority. The quicker you can get local talent running your business (and embracing your philosophy) the better
7. Global expansion requires a long-term view: Global retail expansion is not for the impatient. Breaking even can take between three and seven years

Source: AT Kearney (NB. Scores are rounded)

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

In the ASEAN furniture circuit, the Manila Now Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) stands as one of the must-see furniture shows of the region.

As one of the Asia’s design centres, the country has long been considered the ‘Milan of Asia’ for the quality, creativity and diversity of its furnishings that have been sought by buyers of furniture and connoisseurs of excellent design.

This year Manila Now PIFS is again at the forefront of design as it renews its aggressive desire to be leader of the furniture design industry of Asia.

Re-scheduled to a more convenient date, the event will run from March 3 to 6, 2011.  The change in date makes it convenient for furniture buyers to make the Philippines one of their first stops in the ASEAN furniture circuit this coming year.

Manila Now PIFS 2011 will be held at one of the biggest exhibition venues in the Philippines – the SMX Convention Centre.  The 46,647m2 exposition hall ensures more space for bigger exhibition booths, as well as enough room for visitors and guests to enjoy one of the biggest furniture and design expositions in Asia.

Source: Furniture and Bedding (FB), Issue – Jan/Feb 2011

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

A. Latest EU economic forecast for 2011-2012

The EU economy is set to further consolidate its gradual recovery, with prospects for 2011 looking slightly better than projected in the autumn. GDP is projected to grow by around 1¾% this year and by close to 2% in 2012. This outlook is supported by better prospects for the global economy and overall upbeat EU business sentiment. Inflation, however, is rising faster, while unemployment is coming down more slowly. The trend in inflation reflects the increase in commodity prices, one of the most important new challenges that have emerged since the autumn. Fiscal consolidation is meanwhile progressing, with the public deficit set to decline to about 3¾% of GDP by 2012. Economic prospects continue to vary considerably for individual EU Member States, however.

(The full-report is available on request, or may be directly downloaded at)

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/european_economy/2011/pdf/ee-2011-1_en.pdf

B. €78 billion financial assistance package for Portugal

The total amount  will be divided equally (EUR 26 billion each) among the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, the European Financial Stability Facility, and the IMF. The Portuguese authorities will undertake to encourage private investors to maintain their overall exposures on a voluntary basis.

C. FAQ on the permanent crisis mechanism (European Stability Mechanism)

A decision has been adopted to amend the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order for a permanent mechanism to be established, the European Stability Mechanism, to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area. ESM will replace the European Financial Stability Facility and the European Financial Stability Mechanism after June 2013. Private sector involvement will be decided on a case-by-case basis, fully in line with usual IMF practices, for debts issued from mid-2013 onwards.

 

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

As part of the Green Furniture Program, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, in partnership with the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP), held its 2^nd Seminar entitled “Advance Finishing Techniques” on March 24 at the PDDCP Training Center in Pasay City.  Both organizations have continuously fostered collaborative training programs to upgrade the capabilities of the furniture industry by providing updated technology-based programs, trends and information adherent to the “green production standards”.

The whole-day seminar focused specifically on different advance finishing technologies using eco-products to improve product quality and appearance.

Three (3) Product Specialists were invited for comprehensive lectures and discussions for this forum.  Noriel Santos of Chemrez Technologies presented “Outdoor Durable Coatings for Outdoor Furniture” where he tackled the powder coating processes, principles, risks and impacts assessment.  Joy Pagbuhat of Republic Powdercoat Corporation, on the other hand, presented the “Wood Finish Alternative – the Dekofusion Technology”.  Dekofusion, according to Pagbuhat, is the system of applying wood effect on metals and is one of the applicators of powder coating.  Finally, Franz Karl Lingad of Woodcare Tech Philippines, Inc. presented on “Wet Finish for Outdoor & Indoor Furniture”.  Lingad believed that it is still very much possible to provide a high quality finish for outdoor applications, using the right materials and adhering to the proper parameters of these materials.

During the workshop, several video streaming were presented to fully understand the discussed concepts on the actual processes.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) supported the seminar along with Republic Powdercoat Corporation, Woodcare Tech Marketing Phils. Inc. and Chemrez Technologies, Inc.

 

Monday, May 16th, 2011

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III recently declared last February a moratorium on the cutting and the harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests, and created the anti-legal logging task force.

In the EO 23, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is prohibited from issuing logging contracts/agreements in all natural and residual forests, such as Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMA), Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements (SIFMA), Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and other agreements/contracts with logging components in natural and residual forests.

The DENR is likewise prohibited from issuing/renewing tree cutting permits in all natural and residual forests nationwide, except for clearing of road right of way by the DPWH, site preparations for tree plantations, silvicultural treatment and similar activities, provided that all logs derived from the said cutting permits shall be turned over to the DENR for proper disposal.

On the other hand, tree cutting associated with cultural practices pursuant to the Indigenous People’s Right Act (IPRA Law) may be allowed only subject to strict compliance with existing guidelines of the DENR.

Furthermore, a 10 million budget was allocated for the Task Force to take the lead in the anti-illegal logging campaign and ensure the implementation of EO 23.

Stakeholders, including wood producers, conducted series of meetings lead by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) with its member partners, Pampanga chapter and Philexport lead by Trustee Myrna Bituin, on the effects of EO 23 to the industry.  During the dialogue with Sec. Ramon Paje, CFIP raised the following stands:

 

1. Immediate formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations to avoid disruption in the supply chain due to misinterpretations on EO 23 in the local government level and with involvement of the private sector.  Immediate resolution/review of DENR of not more than 30 days on the compliance of all existing permit holders under IFMA, CIFMA and CBFMA so as to avoid the disruption in the supply chain.
2. De-regulation of utilization and transportation of timber from plantations/production forests (e.g. Gmelina and Plantation mahogany)
3. Exclusion of minor forest products such as rattan, buri, vines, etc from the moratorium.
4. Deregulation of imports (DAO 99-46) and review of duties and taxes on imported timber and timber products.
5. Support the tree-planting, reforestation and certification system.

 

Response of Sec. Paje were as follows:

 

1. There is no need for IRR since there is already the task force.  DENR shall guide companies to bury mature plantations.
2. Deregulation of the plantation is okay.  However, implementation should be followed by a very good registration of the plantation.

 

Impose log ban only on natural forests. Harvesting what you have planted is a right.  But if it is not you who planted, it becomes a privilege.  Only the privilege can be taken away by the government.

 

Tip: 1.5 million harvestable trees in Tanay (mahogany).  If it is properly identified and located, there is no need for permits.

 

1. Minor forest products are really excluded in the E.O. DENR to issue clarification through a memo form.
2. Sec. Paje to help in the scrapping of the import permits.  Private sector to help DENR by giving alternatives to the latter in the monitoring of the transactions (entry and the volume, type of species and the danger of phytosanitary) – get figures from the tariff commission.
3. Action plan: 150 million trees to be replanted in 150,000 hectares of area a year.

 

The outputs of this dialogue were as follows:

 

1. To address the lumber requirement concern of the industry, Asst. Dir. Andin suggested possible Business Matching.  CFIP will submit average lumber requirement of the industry.

1. CFIP to provide requirements of the industry in terms of:

Species, Volume

1. 150 million trees to be replanted in 150,000 hectares of area a year.
2. To enforce the moratorium and lead the government’s anti—illegal logging campaign, EO 23 provides for the creation of Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (Task Force).
   1. The Task Force is composed of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or his duly authorized representative as Chairman and the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Secretary of the Department of the National Defense (DND), the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or their respective authorized representatives, as members.

 

The following officials are the designated representatives to the Task Force:

 

The Undersecretary for Field Operations                                                  –  DENR

The Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Strategic Concerns              –  DND

The Undersecretary for Peace and Order                                                  –  DILG

The Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, J7                       –  AFP

The Directorate for Police Community Relations                                    –  PNP

 

1. 1. DENR Secretary shall designate an Executive Director who shall handle the day-to-day operation of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.  The Executive Director, who will also act as the Secretariat of the Task Force, shall be assisted by two (2) officers, not lower than Major, and three (3) enlisted men from the AFP, to be detailed by the AFP Chief of Staff and two (2) officers, not lower than Chief Inspector and three (3) policemen, to be detailed by the PMP Chief.
   2. To effectively implement EO 23, there is a need to create the Regional Task Force (RTF) in all administrative regions except the National Capital Region (NCR) which shall be directly handled by the Task Force.

 

The RTF is composed of:

 

DENR Regional Executive Director       –  Chairperson

DILG Regional Director                           –  Vice Chairperson

PNP Regional Director                            –  Member

Brigade Commander(s)                         –  Member

 

Areas such as IFMA, SIFMA and CBFMA shall immediately implement massive forest protection activities nationwide through the following:

1. Conduct periodic aerial surveillance;
2. Acquire, through NAMRIA, aerial photos, particularly of ctritical areas and hotspots identified by the DENR;
3. Hire about one thousand (1,000) temporary Bantay Gubats/Forest Guards, primarily from the labor displaced by the implementation of EO 23, as an emergency employment program of the DENR;
4. Consultations/trainings with LGUs and civil society groups on development of social fences around natural and residual forests, nationwide;

1. EO 23 is confined only in the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural forests and does not include non-timber species such as rattan, “aroroy” and similar plants.
2. Meeting of DENR with PAGCOR:

There will be Php100 million support from the PAGCOR to convert all the confiscated logs to school chairs in support of TESDA to produce the chairs (11,000 cubic meters of logs is available to the industry, 11M boardfeet of Lawaan logs in Butuan)

A showroom, 2,700 square meters at the Forbes Park 13 – 12A along McKinley road owned by DENR, was offered.  A tripartite agreement between CFIP, UAP and DENR was suggested.

 

CFIP is expected to represent the industry in the upcoming series of meetings with the government to resolve issues regarding the executive order.

 

 

Monday, May 16th, 2011

The CFIP Secretariat conducted a strategic planning workshop early this year with the objective of restructuring the functions to further address the needs of the members.

On the new structure, functions were streamlined and were divided into three (3) major departments – Marketing, Finance and Administration and Membership.

Under the Marketing, functions such as maximizing and building company awareness through CFIP website, industry newsletter and information, as well as organizing trade events for the local and international market will be handled by this department.

Under the Finance and Administration, Finance functions such as book keeping, cashiering, updating of records, purchasing and payroll and Administrative functions such as attendance, employee evaluation and compensation will be handled by this department.

Under the Membership, maintenance and recruitment of new members, associate members and partners, as well as, organizing seminars and business matching will be handled by this department.

In the teambuilding activities, trust, leadership, teamwork, patience and perseverance were the key principles illustrated.  Trust is the fundamental value for an effective team while leadership and teamwork works hand-in-hand in achieving its goals.  Patience and perseverance, on the other hand, fuels the team to work even better.  These principles are the main ingredients mentioned to successfully plan the Chamber’s activities.

These carefully planned activities are tailored fit to meet the needs of the furniture industry.  The challenge now is for the Secretariat to implement whatever improvements should be made, with the hope of serving the industry especially in these challenging times.

 

Monday, May 9th, 2011

The Furniture Industry enjoyed a night of fellowship with partners and colleagues in a European way.

Inspired by the award-winning musical show Moulin Rouge, Carpenter’s Club in Moulin Rouge orchestrated an entertainment full of comedy, song, dance and theatre at Club Mwah!  Just like a cabaret popular in European countries, members and partners in the industry enjoyed the company of each other in their best dance outfit while amused by extravagant numbers.  Carpenter’s Club in Moulin Rouge is a fund raising activity for the upcoming developmental programs by CFIP for the members that are already in the pipeline.

More than the intricate interiors of the venue, guests enjoyed the pleasure of spectacular performances, sumptuous snacks and fun-filled event.

To put an “icing” on the event, special awards were given by selected judges.  Maila Vazquez of Philippine Wood Producers Association won the Early Bird Award.  Elvin and Roxanne Aquino of Unicreative bagged the Couple of the Night while Lourdes “Baby” Ragas of Asia Embroidery and Jose Uychingco of Luzon Rattan Industries were hailed as the female and male Star of the Night, respectively.

 

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Off to a good start, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) has officially launched the Green Furniture Program last 11^th of January 2011 through an intensive seminar held at the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard.

Green Furniture Program offers a wholistic approach to sustainable design through information dissemination, procurement of raw materials, chemical application design process and the granting of Green Seal.

CFIP, in partnership with the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) and the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), invited the furniture and furnishings manufacturers to take part in sustaining the environment by having conscious effort in choosing eco-friendly materials incorporated in a sustainable design.  According to PCEPSDI, there are different set of standards and metrics to qualify products as truly “green”.  It is authentic green furniture if the raw materials employed are sustainable, naturally preserved, utilized non-toxic chemicals, minimum to zero wastages, and, of course, with the principle of Reuse, Recycle and Reduce.  These claims are validated by the PCEPSDI, under Green Choice program, for the product to have the Green Choice seal – Philippines’ eco-label.

Designer Mr. Val Padilla, whose designs are internationally sought after, is known to have the ability to make ordinary furniture look stylish and priceless.  He encouraged the designers and manufacturers to use unconventional yet sustainable materials such as buri, old rattan, scrap wood and leather, as well as recycled materials.  Now that our country is into environment-awareness, creativity is critical in conceptualizing marketable furniture.

Furthermore, Arch. Felino Palafox, Jr., a distinguished architect and urban planner, also shared his professional philosophies in environmental protection.  He strongly believes in conserving natural resources such as energy, water and materials and utilization of eco-friendly materials in his construction.  His masterpieces include high-rise buildings that encourage walking and biking with plenty of greens infused.  Palafox stresses, we are responsible for the next generation’s future home and it is our responsibility to minimize the negative impact of modernization.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Last December 22, 2010, Philippine International Trading Center (PITC) and Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the Common Bonded Warehouse (CBW) Project at the NDC Building, PITC.

CBW is a common warehouse, certified by the government and guaranteed by a bonding agency, where taxable and dutiable goods may be stored, with payment of the tax or duty deferred until the goods are removed.

CBW, in coordination with the PITC, is one of the latest services offered by CFIP to the furniture and furnishings industry.

For further inquiries, please call 631-2834 loc. 12-13 (Marketing Department) and we will be happy to assist you.