Day
5
5 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 Cockroach-free furniture? Indoor waterfalls? Rocking chairs that double as jukeboxes? Our exhibitors take whimsical genius to new levels at MIFF 2011.
Page 2 We brace ourselves as we ask the final jury—YOU—how we’ve performed sofa…oops, we mean so far.
Page 3
While we were at it printing Furnish Now, we should have printed T-shirts for you too: “I Survived MIFF 2011!” Oh well, maybe next year. We know you did your furniture trading best though— here’s how you looked doing it.
Page 4
Extend Your Branches; Leave Old Thinking Behind By Shantini Harriet Furnish Now writer
G
o now, and grow. You’ve heard the wisdom of top international designers, the media and industry experts at MIFF 2011, and it’s time to put it to good use.
Where to start? Well, you’re exporting to the world; be global thinkers. Taking the Japanese buyers delegation as an example, MIFF Chairman Dato’ Dr. Tan Chin Huat reflected on his proposition to SH Group to explore Malaysian manufacturers for new products
Speci a lTh a n ks
T
hank you, thank you, thank...ok, you too.
We loved your willingness to talk to Furnish Now and pose for crazy shots. It’s payback time and we know it, so here’s a shot of our editorial team in between interviews. We want to thank MIFF Sdn. Bhd. for being such a gracious host who welcomed honest, creative reporting on the industry. Thanks to photographers Yap, Jeffrey, Kelly and Jackie for making shots really come alive. And thanks to exhibitors and buyers for being great sports through it all. Feel free to send us any comment about our reporting and writing to enquiry@mediamice.com. We’ll be sure to address them. Thanks again, and keep on furnishing!
for the Japanese market two years ago, which proved beneficial for both sides. “So we do our job, we do our marketing,” Dato’ Tan said. “We try to gather as many relevant buyers for the exhibitors so that they have a set of available buyers. I am very pleased that SH Group, especially the chairman, Mr. Kawasaki Atsumasa, was very open to accept my idea and he made a try two years ago. Now,
he does not buy any Japanese products—only Malaysian, which are more contemporary, even recycled.” But it’s not all about developing outward-oriented thinking; inward realizations are equally important. Like, hmm, the Ideation Award really is something special to get involved with. The response was good this year in terms of award involvement—with more than 20 companies showing support, helping to translate entries into actual prototypes. This shows that there is a shift growing among manufacturers in terms of design and creativity. But more shifts in marketing tactics need to happen too. Although buyers want to see new products that are innovative and well-designed—like those involved in ‘going green’—buyers won’t notice unless spectacular booths draw them there. First impressions make lasting impressions, and at MIFF, contact usually starts at the booth. Remember that for next year. Adieu MIFF 2011. Over and out.