CFIF aims to educate local players on market demands

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) organizes a series of seminars on Philippine retail product development and product adaptation of export items into local scale, preference and taste to suit local retail businesses in the country and to fully equip industry players in penetrating the domestic market trade.

CFIF office manager Cheryl Judilla said in an interview with The FREEMAN that it is high time to educate local players with market demands, trends and adjustments to maximize the potential of the domestic trade.

While the global market is still managing to recover from financial crunch, she added that the booming domestic market is fueled by the growth in the real estate, construction industry, property development and commercial establishment.

To take advantage of such opportunity, she said that local manufacturers should tailor fit their products in accordance to the required scale, style and price for the domestic clientele.

She further noted that although the demand for export and domestic markets may vary in volume, design and cost, products intended for the latter are ensured to have similar world-class quality with the former.

She also expressed optimism that there is no need to import furniture and furnishing products since the local industry has the capacity to supply the increasing demand of the domestic market.

CFIF initiated a series of seminars to be conducted from May 8 to 10 from 1 to 5 PM at the Department of Science and Industry Conference Room in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

The organization has invited international lifestyle designer and industry expert PJ Arañador as the resource speaker.

Judilla cited this is also in preparation for the first ever furniture exhibition dubbed “Tubod” that will be held together with the Visayas PhilConstruct Show slated on June 6 to 8, 2013 at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

Tubod, as the first and only furniture trade for trade particularly designed for the domestic market, is projected to cater to the value of the domestic furniture and furnishings market estimated at US$647 million.

She added that CFIF expects at least 20 to 25 participants to attend each seminar.

The first seminar on May 8 is entitled “Philippine Retail Product Development: Techniques on Resizing and Rescaling.”

It will tackle on specifications in product translations, adaptations and modifications of international product standards into Philippine preferences and tastes.

The second seminar, on the other hand, that will focus on “Philippine Retail Pricing and Costing” is scheduled on May 9.

It will discuss topics on basic and advance export pricing and costing which will be modified to Philippine retail points of production, selling and marketing to ensure profitable local sales from various Filipino market segments.

It will also include an overview on effective branding entry points to sustain a retail business on a long term.

Meanwhile, the third seminar dubbed as “Windows to Creative Visual Merchandising” will be conducted on May 10 together with a full workshop.

Topics to be discussed during the session will include effective techniques to visual presentation as a tool to sell with the highest profits, understanding of visual communications in retail with practical applications for middle to executive management highlighting the relevance of design-led store display and lay-out and emphasis on the importance of image building and trends in display to generate the influx of income to the retail business.

It will also have lectures on understanding and use of colors, shapes, texture, compositions and lighting to provide higher perceived value to the products.

Investment cost for an individual participant is priced at P1,100 for each seminar with 10 percent discount for Tubod Show exhibitors./JOB (FREEMAN)