Manila Now allocates P23 million for 2009

The annual furniture and furnishings export show, Manila Now, has earmarked P23 million budget for next year’s exhibit.

Manila Now, held every fifth to the eighth day of March, has always showcase Filipino ingenuity and craftsmanship in the yearly premier export and exhibition show in the country.

Manila Now chair Eduardo Zuluaga said next year's allocated budget for the international furniture show reached P23 million of which 52 percent will go to exhibit operations, 25 percent is allotted for campaign maneuvers and strategies and 10 to 20 percent will serve as buffer for deficits.

Since the organizers have discovered a greater advantage for them to tap the international market through "mailers", P2 million of the total investment is set aside for mailing the Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) magazine, which consists of a photo collage of Pinoy products at the exhibits, to potential buyers worldwide.

The 2009 show will be held in SMX Convention Center in Pasay, Manila, beside SM Mall of Asia.

This year, event organizer Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Inc. and the event management company Global-Link Business Communications (Phil.), Inc., are starting to look for local and foreign buyers as well as eye for possible exhibitors.

In the latest survey, a total of 728 booths coming from 111 companies participated in the furniture show, with 4, 433 visitors, this year. Foreign buyers from around 90 countries reached 1,134 to haul out decorative accessories, home, garden, hotel and office furniture.

A huge chunk of local traders has remained solid believers of the country's product quality and craftsmanship, design, innovation and quality of materials used. Rattan remains the number one material of interest among buyers that occupies 25.51 percent of the total share withstanding wood, metal, bamboo, and claystone among others. A greater number of the buyers are from the retail industry including department store, boutiques and specialty shop owners. 

Come March 2009, 43 companies, 511 booths, already confirmed their participation in the said event.