CEBU, Philippines - While market recovery was expected in 2010, the Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition (CebuNEXT) 2010 is attracting a growing number of registered buyers from all over the world.

Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) reported yesterday that nearly 400 international and local buyers have so far registered to the show.

CebuNEXT is set on March 5 to 8 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casinos.

CFIF noted that buyer interest in the show grew amid reports that recovery for major economies is just around the corner.

Registration for buyers, which can be done online on www.cebunext.com, started slow in September, but gained speed starting December 2009.

Apart from buyers who registered, the CFIF is building up a database of local and foreign buyers. At present, the database has around 22,000 entries from about 13,000 in August 2009.

CEBUNEXT officials said those who will exhibit during the four-day show will have access to the database and will be the focus of registered buyers.

CFIF and CEBUNEXT officials expect the number of registered buyers to go up shortly before the show, while some registering on opening day itself.

At present, about 60 percent of the space allotted for CEBUNEXT is already occupied. The show’s organizer hopes to hit its target this year, even though the export furniture sector had been hit hard by the global financial slowdown.

Aside from its ability to attract foreign and local buyers, CEBUNEXT has become more attractive due to discounted exhibition fees. This year’s exhibition fee is 23 percent lower than last year’s.

The international furniture and furnishings show in Cebu is a major event in the furniture industry in the Philippines and attracts hundreds of local and foreign buyers. It serves as the showcase of creativity and fine craftsmanship of Filipino designers and furniture makers.

CFIF renamed the show after 21 years to symbolize change in the industry and its target markets. 

Earlier, CFIF president Angela Paulin said that while the export market for furniture have showed signs of recovery in the last quarter of 2009, industry players here are still fearful to expect full swing rebound in 2010.

Record from the National Statistics Office indicating the performance from the Port of Cebu revealed that Cebu furniture exports contributed only US$12.5 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared to $31.8 million in the same period of 2008.

However, the industry have seen a single digit growth, in the last few months last year, as bulk orders specifically from big retail chains in the United States have improved.

“Our decision to reinvent the Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition to CEBUNEXT from CebuX is another strategy to grab bigger international attention. Market trends are moving toward sustainability, earth-friendly products and processes—and CEBUNEXT will show that Philippine furniture and furnishings designers and manufacturers lead in innovation and creativity to come up with green products,” Paulin said. — Ehda M. Dagooc

The Freeman