Furnish Now 2011 show news - Day 3

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3 M A RC H 2 011

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

1 – 5 March | 9.30 am – 6 pm PWTC & KLCC

What'sN e ws As judges deliberate Editor’s Picks on MIFF prize entries, Furnish Now’s editorial team announces our top picks among Ideation Award finalists.

Page 2 S p e c i a l Re p o r t

In this series instalment, editors of international furniture publications examine MIFF in the context of the global furniture industry.

Page 3 It’s still possible for furniture players to uncover new market niches globally; one export director shares his tips.

Page 4 From cutesy bus-themed beds to elegant rattan chairs, treat yourself to our highlights of MIFF’s eye candy.

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If he looks like a philosopher, it’s because Daniel Korb speaks wisdom into the minds of MIFF attendees about designing great furniture and a great life.

We Are All Designers—Some of Us Are Just Professional

Approaching existence as designers may improve all our lives, architecture occurred in the context including those in the industry of design, but with changing times

By Shantini Harriet Furnish Now writer

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here are speakers and there are philosophers; when you marry the two, you get Swiss architect and furniture designer Daniel Korb.

“We live in a time of knowledge and I fear that we no longer know what it means to exist,” according to Mr. Korb’s paraphrasing of Kierkegaard at his Wednesday seminar at MIFF 2011.

That speaks volumes on Mr. Korb’s approach to life and also his approach to industry.

Through using metaphors and analogies during his presentation, Mr. Korb’s message was clear: “Nothing exists in isolation but everything exists in relation to each other.”

Mr. Korb, whose collaboration with renowned American furniture 1/12/11 6:19:40 PM manufacturer Herman Miller

resulted in the multi award winning desking system, “Sense,” imparted a fundamental message during his seminar: as intuitive designers, we are the architects of our own future.

“We” indeed.

The Korb philosophy is that we do not have to be experts to change the world; we are all designers.

It is by thinking and generating ideas and being inspired by our surroundings, the people in them and their relationship to each other that we will be able to make changes and achieve success, he said .

The message also carries special significance for professional designers.

Since the purpose of design is to add value to any object or product, designers should intuitively dig into their own essence to bring context and purpose to their works to make them relevant, he suggested.

Meanwhile, in the past,

and needs, the understanding of what is important to architecture changed too. There is no right or wrong to what designers and architects do: consider only whether the sum effect mixes its look, feel, touch, et cetera, to make the design or product relevant to its purpose, he suggested.

Designers should reduce

complexity and stick to simplicity, an easier working method that supports them to reap faster rewards, Mr. Korb said. Designers should strive to translate their designs so that they are understood by others and not just the designer, he said. It makes better sense to create something that not only looks good but works well too according to the needs or wants of clients, he said.

“Take care that whatever we do is not wasted; there is no waste in nature”, said Korb, borrowing from the Cradle-to-Cradle concept, which involves a global revolution among designers to copy from nature’s processes in modern industrial design.

He also explored the term “meaningful spaces” by showing how harmonizing the relationship between different objects in a space gives more meaning to architecture.

Doing so connects each object to give a better sense of the space it is within, he said. It is essential for architecture and design to merge so as to connect the vision to reality, and communication is key to bringing both together, he added. It is through design that the industry will see growth, he said.

Furniture designers must be more quality-driven than pricedriven since attention to detail is very important, Mr. Korb said. He explained: “When I first came to Malaysia, I had no idea about the country. But the taxi ride from the airport that first time decided me on my attitude towards Malaysia; the taxi was clean, the driver spoke English and he was proud of his country. It told me that he was educated and that his government made sure that he was. Attention to detail.”

H o tSh o t Feel secure at MIFF? You should.

The security staff has been well trained and well courted.

As Cupid says: happy in love means happy catching criminals.

Or something like that. MIFF attendees are in love too: with furniture. Check out more MIFF furniture lovers on page 8.

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Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

Ideation Award :

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

Editor’s Picks

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aving good design is great, but it may not necessarily translate into fabulous furniture.

Lo and behold, what looked like a fantastic masterpiece on the drawing board may come out looking...hmm...not-so-awesome after all.

That was what Furnish Now learnt during the Ideation Award 2011 process.

Nonetheless, some of the top 11 finalists drew up plans for both attractive and functional pieces. They really called out to us because of their simplicity, convenience, ease of assembly and practical aspects.

Here is our Furnish Now Editor’s Picks:

Origami Coffee Table Designer:

Angie Ng Yong Hui, Industrial Design Student Prototype by: BJ Cabinet Enterprise Sdn. Bhd.

Put three pieces of cleverly designed wood together and what do you get? A nice sturdy table that can also be transformed into a recliner when one side is laid down flat. It’s easy to move around and even easier to be stored away by folding it up and tucking it into a corner.

Pentagons are amazing–more so when you nick the corners that allow them to slot together.

That’s what makes this piece so fascinating—you can arrange five or six pieces together and place a glass on top of it to form a coffee table. Stick another five pieces on and it becomes a bigger table. Remove the glass, rearrange the pentagons and you’ve made yourself a unique shelf or shoe rack.

Muhammad Muizzuddin B. Darus, Industrial Design Student Prototype by: Kinheng Furniture Sdn. Bhd.

Ketupat Sofa Designer:

Abu Bakar Bin Abdul Aziz, Industrial Design Student Prototype by: Lanouva (Sin Lian Lee Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.) This design consists of specially-designed cushion blocks in pretty colours resembling a ketupat—or packed rice dumpling—which can be stacked into a tall tower in a corner when not in use. Place two together and you’ll get a chair. Join that with another four and you get a sofa set. Stack twelve or sixteen together on the floor and voilà, you’ve got a bed!

Samarata Quah Paik Choo Bernadette, Interior Architecture & Design Student Prototype by: Lanouva (Sin Lian Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.)

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Designer:

Unity Stool

Designer:

This smart cushion-cum-mat that is made of recycled aluminium frame with an auto lock mechanism also doubles up as a chair, table or lounge, depending on how you fold it. Totally convenient for chic, urban youngsters with little space to waste because all you need is just one Samarata piece!

Using Innovation to Your Business Advantage e all know it: costs are rising, materials are increasingly scarce and the furniture trade is getting highly competitive. We can’t be lowering product prices so what is the next best option?

According to Dr. Tan Yu Eng, program head, Advanced Processing & Design Programme, Forest Products Division, Forest Research Institute, the answer is one word: Innovation.

“Costs of production are getting higher all the time, so the industry needs strategies to move forward,” Dr. Tan said.

“There are many ways to help add value to your product without spending a lot of money.”

“One example is in marketing and branding. If you are doing your own branding, it will surely cost a lot, but you can always piggyback on others’ promotions to market your product,” he said.

Research and development is important too. He cites

Bunga Raya

one example of using red balau wood for wooden flooring. The end product, a beautiful polished piece, has one problem: excessive drying, which hampers product sales.

By developing a drying process at an ideal temperature, the wood can successfully be moved up the value chain.

“Many manufacturers are unaware that FRIM conducts research and provides assistance to the furniture industry.

My advice is to come through an association as it’s too expensive [for research] to be conducted on an individual basis,” said Dr. Tan. Dr. Tan will be providing a talk titled “Making Innovation Your Business Advantage” on 4 March 2011 at 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Seminar Room, Perhentian Room, Level 3, PWTC. Dr. Tan will highlight different approaches in the development of new products and technology to bring competitive advantages to the furniture sector.

Designer:

Amirul Firdaus Mohd Fauzi, Product Design Student Prototype by: Elk Furniture Sdn. Bhd. It looks like one boxed block—until you start removing the four colourful stools that are slotted into the sides like gigantic buttons. Only then you’ll see it’s really a smart table and chair set that is not only attractive for children but also for youngsters living in rented rooms.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The editorial team has strictly no influence whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, on the final decision of the judges. These picks are based solely on our own opinions.

Don’t miss the Prize Presentation Ceremony on 3 March 2011, at 2.30p.m. at the Pacific Ballroom, Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur!

Visitor Count International

Local

Total

Day 1

2,461

1,849

4,310

Day 2

1,443

1,778

3,221

Total

3,904

3,627

7,531

Speci a l R e po rt : th e M I FF Sto r y

Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

On MIFF and the Market: Observers Speak Out Foreign onlookers put MIFF under the microscope and report their findings in view of the international market

By Mohd Rashdan Furnish Now writer

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o get a broader view of the Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF) in global furniture industry context, it’s important to go beyond talk with the show’s organisers.

What’s needed is a picture brought into focus by dedicated international observers.

Furnish Now caught up with several, including those from international media covering the industry, to address the global outlook for furniture, and where MIFF fits into the picture.

Many comments were positive, but MIFF organisers— quite commendably—also welcomed significant critique of the show in order to demonstrate their dedication to industry development.

Here’s what international industry observers had to say about the furniture industry and MIFF:

Christoph Hampel, Director of EURASIS (Thailand) Co. Ltd. On the Global Outlook: The furniture industry is a “sunrise” business endeavor. It is quite the perfect industry to be involved in and venture into as the world population keeps growing from year to year, especially in countries where there is an abundance of young families buying new homes. They will need various types and shapes of furniture to furnish their houses.

In the long run, the furniture industry will see some sort of consolidation, as manufacturers specialise in niche areas of production. They will probably concentrate on producing certain types of furniture which contribute largely to their bottom line.

There are still a large number of untapped markets, like in central Africa and Asia, due mainly to the longtime misperceptions held by Western furniture importers and exporters. Hence, there is a need to clarify these misperceptions of market non-existence, so as to benefit furniture industrialists on both sides of the globe.

On MIFF 2011: Malaysia’s version of the international furniture fair reflects clear positioning of the exhibition. It has developed a certain target audience where buyers and suppliers do

their annual gathering of some sort. One distinct trait of the MIFF is its consistency in effective procedures and efficient administration.

Other international furniture fairs have their own traits and characteristics too. In simpler words, competition between fairs may be irrelevant, because each has its own advantages and strong selling points.

Tony Neilson, Editor and Publisher of New Zealand’s In-Wood Digital at Neilson Promotions Pty. Ltd. On the Global Outlook: The global market may never have been more challenging, particularly for producers operating on thin margin, and without strong brand, design and sustainability attributes.

There is also the looming spectre of increased pressure at the border as countries question the free flow of international trade – particularly where manufacturers and employment are under immense pressure from imports.

The collateral damage has already been high and furniture producers will doubtless have to get a lot smarter yet if they want to survive.

On MIFF 2011: My initial impression is that MIFF has settled into a “middle-to-low-end” offering and that it has changed little in the past few years. This is a dynamic industry and there are always new manufacturers coming and going, but it is noticeable that several Tony Neilson leading brands are not here this time. On the other hand, international buyer numbers for the early days are good and they come from a very broad spectrum of countries to see what MIFF has to offer.

The most disappointing aspect this year is a very noticeable decline in presentation standards; the majority of exhibitors appear to have ignored the potential pulling power and brand value addition that professional booth design can bring. Putting FSC labels all over the walls and proclaiming various and sometimes questionable “green” attributes is simply not good enough.

Helmut Merkel, Editor-in-Chief (International Department) of Germany’s MobelMarkt On the Global Outlook: The global furniture market is deservingly optimistic as we see new and massive developments being carried out in countries like India, China and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the Eurasian continent.

These developments spell the many needs for Helmut Merkel furniture, be it for the corporate world or the private individuals. Our monthly home furnishing trade journal keeps both furniture importers and exporters abreast with the new creations and improvements on home furniture.

On MIFF 2011: There are visible developments in this year’s MIFF. We see several more companies offering choices in homefurnishing. Evidently, from the exhibitors I have had the opportunity to talk to, even on the first day, there is an increasing interest in the local manufacturers to export Malaysian furniture products.

Germany’s furniture market is markedly different from the ones in other European countries, and from my observation, in yesteryears, not many local companies show enthusiasm to produce furniture according to German’s specifications and standards. To the Germans, MIFF has been conceived as the “rubberwood” exposition, which does not carry the kind of furniture fair relevant to Germany.

More can also be done to promote quality Malaysian furniture products to the locals. From my recent walkabout to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), noticing the many foreign furniture boutiques, it dawned on me that Malaysians are still perceptively much influenced by the notion that high quality furniture could only come from abroad.

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Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

Export Your Name It’s not enough anymore to send Malaysian furniture overseas; you must send a valuable name

By Li Shian Yeo Furnish Now Writer

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ven with various problems faced by Malaysia’s furniture industry such as shortage of labour, increasing manufacturing costs and scarcity of raw material, companies are determined not to give up.

Many are still keeping their heads high, not losing faith in tapping into overseas markets.

The multi-award winning Safari Office System Sdn. Bhd., a big name brand in providing quality and innovative integrated workspace solutions, believes that it takes more

than aesthetically appealing design to succeed in global markets.

David Kiew, Safari’s director of exports, reveals that producing great products has to go hand-in-hand with targeting the right clients.

Over a million pieces of office furnishing products are produced annually, consisting of 1,000 house brands and OEM brand products that are exported to over 58 countries worldwide.

“The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) is a good venue to provide local manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their product identities to potential clients,” he said. “We can’t beat the Chinese [from China] and Indonesian manufacturers to produce lower priced products. But Malaysia can still ‘buy’ international clients’ confidence by showing them we are serious about our industry.”

Furnish Now caught up with Mr. Kiew to find out more about how Malaysian companies can tap into the global marketplace.

Q: What are the challenges faced by Malaysian furniture exporters?

Kiew: The industry is facing a shortage of labour as the government cuts down costs to ‘import’ foreign labour.

And that is really out of our control. So, the best thing for a company like us to sustain ourselves is to make sure we strengthen the other aspects of our operations such as research and development (R&D). Manufacturers in China

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

have no issues with the labour problem, but our moulding capabilities and advanced technologies enable us to complete product developments more rapidly because raising production efficiency is one of the priorities for Safari.

Q: For over 30 years, Safari has been successfully exporting its products overseas. How has Safari’s export strategy evolved over the years?

Kiew: When targeting overseas export markets, one of our main considerations is the source of our raw materials.

Generally, people are more educated now and trends also emphasize the need to contribute back to the environment.

This is important especially if you are eyeing the European market, for instance. Environmentally-friendly products are the way international buyers and end users view your ‘compassion’ towards the earth. Metaphorically speaking, it will never go wrong to follow the direction of the moving train. That explains why Safari’s products are produced from more than 99 percent recycled materials.

Q: How does Safari build its name to attract foreign buyers?

Kiew: Consumers are very lucky today and tend to be spoiled for choice—from food to household furniture and workspace solutions of different brands. Now, whatever we use, the brand is still the most talked about ‘component.’

And Safari also has been emphasizing our brand image in recent years. Awards, for example, are definitely a bonus for any company. We at Safari take the various awards presented to us as recognition of our effort and capability. So, we will continue to strive to improve our products and services.

Visit Safari Office System Sdn Bhd at Booth 2B05, Hall 2B, PWTC.

MIFF Welcomes and Impresses Guests

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ver 50 international and local media representatives, guest speakers and industry leaders were treated to a special night of great food and music at the MIFF 2011 welcome reception on Tuesday.

In his opening speech, Dato’ Tan Chin Huat, managing director and chairman of MIFF Sdn. Bhd., expressed his gratitude for the continuous support shown by the exhibitors.

“The continuous success of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) will not be possible without all your myriad support,” he said.

Wang Zhou, a representative of Furniture & Interior Design Journal also presented Dato’ Tan with a beautiful Chinese painting specially brought in from China. Judges

were presented with tokens of appreciation by the organiser.

At the event, Dato’ Tan took the opportunity to announce MIFF’s contribution of RM30,000 to Star-NIE ‘Step Up’ programs. The amount is enough to provide a Chinese school with a year’s supply of reading material.

Naoko Kan, a writer of Kagu Shimbun, a newspaper of the Japanese furniture industry, said she was impressed by the quality and large number of participants at the exhibition.

“The trend and the products exhibited at MIFF has been a real eye-opener for me because in Japan, furniture fairs are usually presented with simpler designs and are not as diverse as the one here,” she said.

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Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

Time for School, the Bus Is Here!

When Sitting at Your Desk is Only an Option

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ut this is one bus you can fall asleep on.

Put the fun back into bedtime with BJ Cabinet Enterprise Sdn. Bhd.’s latest children’s bedroom collection series, Gordon the School Bus. This five-in-one particle board and MDF bed with gloss finish is just the ticket for space-constrained modern homes. Using as little as 3 x 2 meters of space, Gordon comes with a built-in wardrobe, drawers, and a removable study table with a book rack. Also getting the kids to put the toys away need not become a daily battle with the specially built toy storage compartment. The series comes in blue for boys and pink for girls.

Never thought getting the kids on the bus on time would be this easy, did you?

ometimes looking for the perfect office desk can be such a pain in the... neck!

Working long hours at a desk not only puts a strain on muscles you never knew you had but desk height standards can vary from country to country making it more expensive getting different desks for different markets.

Simplify matters with Jemaramas Jaya Sdn. Bhd.’s Italian design Metzo height adjustable Booth: PWTC, Hall 1, Booth 119 desking range. Adjust your desktop to the Contact: Steven Wong height you want. Tired of sitting down on Tel: +603-3392 1118 Email: steven@thtsofa.com or bj@bjcabinet.com the job? Then stand up instead. This manual, Website: www.bjcabinet.com cranking adjustable desk (to a height of 880 mm) comes complete with Export markets: Europe wire management and hidden tray to keep all those unsightly cables out of sight.

The MFC tabletop that is scratch proof and heat resistant also has the option of desk screens for privacy. It’s made he office can become such a cold place... all business and no play. from coloured or patterned MFC and is fabric upholstered, Half our lives are spent at the workplace and it can make us feel quite dull and listless if left unchecked acrylic or glass. It can be laminated white and used as a after some time. whiteboard. Other optional items include clip-on arms for VS Office Furniture Industries Sdn. Bhd. wants to help create interaction within the office environment through its PC monitors. All materials used are recyclable. new work-and-play concept cluster desking system. Made from chipboard with steel and aluminium partitions, the open concept desking features a discussion booth right smack in the middle for easy interaction among colleagues.

Booth: PWTC, Hall 2B, Booth 2B01 Contact: Choo Swee Lee Or just use it to relax and take a load off after a hard day at the office and catch up on the latest gossip.

Tel: +65-8298 6092 Ideal for space-constrained locations, the concept is fast catching on in smaller-spaced offices that need practical Email: sweelee@versalink.com solutions for departmental management requirements.

Website: www.versalink.com

Go to Work to Play

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Booth: PWTC, Hall 2B, Booth 2B26 Contact: Chear Soon Mun Tel: +603-3122 1334 Email: chear@vsofficefurniture.com Website: www.vsofficefurniture.com Export markets: Middle East and Africa

Gold Never Looked So Good

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hen Kinheng Furniture Sdn. Bhd. goes to the drawing board for inspirational furniture that will please their customers, they go the whole mile.

Its latest Gaudin series, which means “golden” in French, includes a whole range of bedroom, living and dining room furniture that complement each other for a truly themed look, suitable for any modern home.

The classic design with a modern twist is inspired by modern art marked by a big bold gold motif inlaid into each piece for a rich and sophisticated look. Made from a mixture of rubberwood and MDF with wood veneer finish, each piece is carefully scrutinized to ensure quality and excellence.

The bedroom wardrobe is designed with a sliding door instead of the conventional pull-out door and is included with a self-closing mechanism for the forgetful among us. Meanwhile, the living room includes a divider and a coffee table with racks and drawers for functionality.

This is bold living to the max and not for the faint of heart, but don’t worry: who doesn’t like gold?

Booth: PWTC, Hall 4A, Booth 4A22 Contact: Desmond E.H. Lee Tel: +603-6157 1223 Email: marketing@kinhengfurniture.com Website: www.kinhengfurniture.com Export markets: Middle East

Export markets: US, Canada and Middle East

Strength in Beauty

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f you’re looking to add a dash of Asian accent to your space, consider the tear drop-shaped leisure chair from Rinaat Cane Design. Prominently positioned at the front of its booth, this chair is inspired by the Malaysian fruit kana – popularly used for Malaysian snack jeruk (pickled fruit) – and its timeless design and rustic elegance will enhance any space.

The kana chair is among a handful of choice pieces specially brought in for MIFF by the 20-year-old rattan furniture specialist. Small in size but good at what they do, Rinaat has acquired a strong global clientele from world-class hotel and resort projects by customizing outdoor and leisure furniture that draw from the abundant natural resources of Malaysia.

“For our furniture, we use the manau species, a high-quality-grade rattan prized for its strength and density,” explained designer Mazura Zambree. “Strength in beauty underpins our design concept.”

Booth No: 2C21, Hall 2C, PWTC Contact: Mazura Zambree Tel: +605 322 0712 Email: info@rinaatcane.com Website: www.rinaatcane.com Export markets: New Zealand, Middle East, Europe

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Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

Taz-Mania in Malaysia

Bend It Like Mau Sin

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roduct designs that are consistent with current lifestyles have made Taz Corporation a respected name in the office furniture niche, as multiple awards attained over the years in MIFF will testify.

Its latest product, I_tis will generate more Taz-mania (excuse the pun). Think sleek, streamlined silhouettes that can be easily harmonized with any surrounding or function. Castored legs render it seamlessly mobile you can easily reconfigure it, or park it into a corner to make room.

What takes the cake is its ingenious flipping mechanism.

“With just one hand, you can flip the I_tis up or down,” says Rebecca Liew, export manager. “It’s the perfect accessory for the SOHO entrepreneur who demands space without sacrificing adaptability, especially with today’s soaring real estate prices.”

Booth No: 2B50, Hall 2B, PWTC Contact: Mr. Tan Ai Zing, Managing Director Tel: +603 7804 9111 Email: info@tazcorporation.com Website: www.tazcorporation.com Export markets: Singapore, India, Australia

hat’s not to love about bentwood?

A term used to describe furniture made by steaming wood, bending it, and letting it harden into curved shapes and patterns, bentwood appeals to the eye.

Its fluid contours, soft corners and wellformed edges add grace to any interior.

Encompassing high-quality furniture as well as bentwood components such as Windsor chair parts, dining furniture parts, cut-to-size plywood, bed crowns and round cribs, Mau Sin’s products don’t just look good-they’re good for the environment.

Produced primarily from Malaysia-sourced eco-friendly rubber wood, they are developed with an inherent sense of responsibility towards the environment as well as keen design aesthetics.

These stringent efforts enhance the aesthetics and ergonomics of Mau Sin’s products, which reflect in a growing customer niche.

Booth No: 4A01, Hall 4A, PWTC Contact: Ms Subrina Chew Tel: +609 2770701 Email: marketing@mausin.com.my Website: www.mausin.com.my Export markets: Mexico, Asia

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These

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sound night’s sleep can determine the quality of your life, so make sure you choose the right pillow and mattress for your bed.

Enter Technogel, a unique material that merges the 3D deformation of a fluid and the memory shape of a solid. Mattress manufacturer Sweet Dream, in collaboration with Technogel Italia, is showcasing a collection of pillows and mattresses that incorporate this cutting-edge material.

“As the only 3-dimensional material for sleeping, it conforms gently to each individual body’s shape,” explained Chong Li Kean, regional marketing manager. “The slow memory return feature also means it can relieve pressure and improve blood circulation.”

If that’s not enough to impress you, consider this: Technogel’s high thermal conductivity helps to lower skin temperature, benefitting blood circulation and tissues’ oxygenation.

“Initially developed for the medical field, it’s now used in a wide range of applications because of its beneficial properties,” Ms. Chong said.

Booth No: 4B20, Hall 4B, PWTC Contact: Chong Li Kean Tel: +603 8766 8139 Email: chongkl@sweetdream2u.com Website: www.sweetdream.com.my Export markets: Singapore, Japan, Middle East

Noah’s Ark and Nature Ark: Both Fairly Comprehensive

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f Noah’s Ark had the best of every animal in the world to ensure the survival of each species (it did, apparently), then Nature Ark has the best of garden furniture in its domain.

What’s more, the company focuses on the use of recycled natural materials for its products.

“Natural hardwood is hard to come by these days,” said Director Low Y.J. “When old houses are about to be torn down, or iron materials are thrown away, we ask whether we can either have them or buy them.

Then we repaint or have them reworked into beautiful pieces.”

Old wood is actually better than new wood, he added.

“Old wood is naturally dried over time,” he said. “If you’re using new wood, it will go out of shape when they dry over the years, so your furniture will not look nice after a while.”

Nature Ark also specialises in pond landscaping, creating amazing water features for commercial and residential properties. Innovative concepts include the introduction of contemporary designs in outdoor furniture and lifelike fibreglass sculptures for gardens.

Booth: K403A, Hall K4, KLCC Contact: Low Y.J, Director Tel: +603-7845 0368 Email: info@naturedecor.com.my Website: www.naturedecor.com.my Export markets: Australia

Please visit us @ PWTC , Hall 2 , Booth No.211 Malaysia International Furniture Fair 2011

Lot 4090, Kawasan Perindustrian Parit Jamil , 84150 Muar , Johor Darul Takzim , Malaysia .

Tel : + 606 987 2200 Fax : + 606 987 2211 Email : yeuhong@yeuhong.com URL : www.yeuhong.com

YEU HONG FURNITURE INDUSTRIES SDN. BHD. ( 113568-V)

www.yeuhong.com

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Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

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The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

FOOD & BEVERAGE HALL PLAN LEVEL 5 LEVEL 4

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Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) Main Registration Counter – Main Entrance (Level 2) Organiser’s Office – Behind Main Registration Counter (Level 2) Luggage & Travel Information Counter – Main Registration Counter (Level 2) Tourist Information Centre – Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Level 2) Exhibitors Service Counter – Hall 2 Entrance (Level 1) & Hall 3 Sabah Room (Level 3) Available services: PC, Internet, printer, photocopy and fax MIFF Media Centre – World Trade Centre Club (Level 2) Exclusively for media to relax whilst accessing available facilities: PC, Internet, printer, scanner, lockers, and photocopy services

PWTC i) Riverside Restaurant ii) Garden Restaurant iii) Hall 1 Cafe iv) Hall 2 Cafe v) Hall 2B Savoury Counter vi) Hall 3 Savoury Counter

KLCC i) Catering kiosk ii) Park View Deck Cafe iii) Food Court

(Opposite Hall 2A, Level 2) (Hall 4B, Level 4) (Hall 1, Level 1) (Hall 2 Entrance) (Hall 2B Entrance, Level 2) (Linkway from Hall 3 to Hall 2, Level 3) (Exhibition Hall 2 & 4) (Level 2) (Concourse Level)

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Complimentary non-stop shuttle transfer between PWTC and KLCC specially arranged for all MIFF visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 1 through March 5, 2011.

Transfer Points : PWTC – Main Entrance, Level 2 (Bus Bay)

KLCC – Main Entrance, Ground Floor (Jalan Pinang)

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EVENING HOTEL TRANSFER

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Registration Counter – Hall 2 (Ground Floor) Fairground Shuttle Transfer – Main Entrance (Ground Floor) Business Centre – Hall 2 (Level 1) Exhibitors Service Counter – Hall 4 (Ground Floor) Information Counter – Hall 4 (Ground Floor)

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS’ LOUNGE

Complimentary daily evening transfer between PWTC and KLCC to MIFF 2011 Official Hotels, for the convenience of MIFF guests, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 1 through March 5, 2011.

Transfer Points : PWTC – Main Entrance, Level 2 (Bus Bay)

KLCC – Main Entrance, Ground Floor (Jalan Pinang) Transfer from both PWTC & KLCC to: • Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur • The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur • JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur • Vistana Hotel Kuala Lumpur • Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur

International buyers are welcome to enjoy some refreshments in the lounge and use the facilities available there including PC, Internet, photocopy and fax.

Level 3, PWTC

From PWTC only:

From KLCC only:

• Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur • The Impiana KLCC Hotel

• Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur • The Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur

MIFF 2011 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS DATE/TIME THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2011 FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2011 FRIDAY SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2011 5

8am

9am

10am

11am

12pm

INDUSTRY SEMINAR

PALM WOOD - THE GREEN FURNITURE MATERIAL

SPEAKER : DR. JEGATHESWARAN RATNASINGAM SEMINAR ROOM : PERHENTIAN ROOM , LEVEL 3, PWTC

INDUSTRY SEMINAR MAKING INNOVATION YOUR BUSINESS ADVANTAGE SPEAKER : DR. TAN YU ENG SEMINAR ROOM : PERHENTIAN ROOM , LEVEL 3, PWTC

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN RUSSIA SPEAKER : MR ARA TOROSYAN CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON TRADE & ECONOMICS SEMINAR ROOM : BILIK PERHENTIAN, LEVEL 3, PWTC

1pm

2pm

3pm

4pm

PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY

PACIFIC BALLROOM, SERI PACIFIC HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR

INDUSTRY SEMINAR FURNITURE TESTING & CERTIFICATION - THE ENTRANCE CARD TO EUROPEAN MARKET SPEAKER : THILO LEHMANN SEMINAR ROOM : PERHENTIAN ROOM , LEVEL 3, PWTC

5pm

6pm

7pm

08

Po l a ro i d s

Day 3 | 3 March 2011 PWTC & KLCC

The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

Who’s in love with furniture? These MIFF 2011 attendees are…

Felicia Yeo Sok Ye n, project executive, Hume Furniture Industries Sdn. Bhd.

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a rke tin g C h ew, m e n tw o o d S ubr in a a u S in B M , ve ti u e xe c .

S dn . B h d I n d u s tr y

n Mala ysia , CEO, n a u H Ka m Cheah .

Council r e b T im

Registration staff.

Lim Ee Lo e, a tra nslat or working at MIFF.

an om Sud itors fr s vi l a n tio Interna

The ladies of Euro C hairs—wh apparently o have been pricked by love’s tho rn: jealou sy.

in (right), who Siti (left) and Er ng itors for providi receive great su great security.

MIFF Sdn Bhd (Co. No.: 408079-X) 99-1, Villa Shoplex Pudu Impian III, Jalan Pudu Ulu, Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ar a (wh n dom o r e c ’ d ra g u y o n th eive a do er tal his ce kf ll ze n ro s urn itu phon e es). re t ha n

Tel : +603-9282 2888 Fax: +603-9286 1551 Email: info@miff.com.my Website: www.miff.com.my

MIFF Sdn Bhd disclaims any liability for errors or omissions and responsibility for the reliability or legality of the materials provided on this publication.

Published by: The official sho w news of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor & Publisher : Project Manager : Designers : Writers :

Matt Young Hannah Nguyen Winson Chua, Gan Wei Kiat Shantini Harriet, Alexandra Wong, Chan Li Jin, Li Shian Yeo, Mohd Rashdan

A talk on “Ergonomic Requirements in Seated Workstation” by Malaysia’s leading Ergonomist; Dr Jalaluddin Dahalan We are pleased to invite you to attend an Ergonomic office chair talk at MIFF 2011. Dr Jalaluddin Dahalan, Malaysia’s leading Ergonomist will deliver a lecture on “Ergonomic Requirement in Seated Workstation” that covers: • Ergonomics and seated workstation • Understanding the interaction between chair, user, tasks, workstation setup and working environment • Overcoming health effects of prolonged sitting through chair with ergonomic features Venue: Hall 2B. Booth no.2B22, PWTC Date: March 3rd (Thursday) Time: 2 sessions, 11am and 3pm

Jo ann e Furn it Te o o f th e ur e M Ta iw a n an A ss o c ia tio n. ufa ctur e rs’

See Us @ OASIS FURNITURE INDUSTRIES SDN. BHD 1 – 5 March @ PWTC HALL 2B : Booth No2B22

Media MICE Pte. Ltd. Phone: +60 16 778 9871 Fax: +60 7224 6404 E-mail: enquiry@mediamice.com Web: www.mediamice.com