Tags: Furniture
By Anna Valmero
LEGAZPI, ALBAY - Bicolano designer Joseph Napa uses the abaca plant, a natural fiber known for its strength, in making stylish and exotic furniture.
“Mr. Napa started Deco Du’ Monde (Deco of the World) some fifteen years ago in his attempt to reintroduce abaca not only as a natural fiber but as an eco-friendly material for furniture and home decors,” says Jaymar Menguilla, the company’s sales manager.
Home to different types of natural fibers, Menguilla says the Philippines is well-positioned to fashion this fiber into one-of-a-kind home accents that both beautiful and elegant and more eco-friendly than those made of synthetic materials such as plastic or metal.
The emerging trend for exotic and eco-friendly furniture was the greatest selling point of the business with sales going as high as 200,000 pesos per month over the last two years.
The recession, however, halved their monthly sales but Menguilla says the company is optimistic it will begin picking up this month all the way to the Christmas season.
The company’s first products included tall and hanging lamps as well as abaca rugs made of abaca fibers meshed together.
Since 2005, when it established in Tiendesitas, Napa’s company has expanded its collection to include abaca balls for wall décor, vases, bread holders and others to cater to customer demand.
To start the company, Napa invested at least a million pesos that went into training housewives in Legazpi City in harvesting, treatment and weaving of abaca into fine furniture.
To date, the company employs 15 housewives and out-of-school youths. The business helps local housewives to earn extra income.
The company supplies its products Kultura branches in malls nationwide as well as Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel in the US.
Locally, it also supplies its products to tourist spots including Misibis Bay Resort in Albay and those in Matabungkay and Punta Fuego in Batangas, and Tagaytay in Cavite.
Abaca rugs are one of the most expensive items designed by the company, sold 200 pesos per square feet. A three-seater dinner table with chairs starts at 34,000 pesos per set while lamps cost from 800 to 2,800 pesos.
This holiday season, Menguilla is expecting brisk sales from returning overseas Filipino workers or OFWs. As a tip, he says those who buy in bulk in their Tiendesitas store can get up to 10 percent in discount than buying in malls.
“We maintain the price similar to the pricing of stores carrying our products. Of course, Filipinos always love to haggle so the wise buyers often come to us directly to afford discounts,” he says.
Get more information Deco Du’ Monde
Related Stories:
Davao furniture designer believes in the value of product innovation
Nueva Ecija furniture business provides livelihood for Dumagat tribe
Taytay couple express love for the arts in furniture designs
Beauty and Hygiene Child Health and Growth Clothing Consumer Electronics Consumer Goods and Concerns Family Family Health Concerns Fashion Footwear Furniture Games and Hobbies Health issues Home Appliances Household Care and Cleanliness Household Products Internet Mobile Lifestyle Parenting Personal Finance Pets Physical Wellness Religion Spa and Massage Special Occasions Spiritual Wellness Technology Industry Toys
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
