PENANG-based furniture exporter Creative Furnishing Sdn Bhd is set to sign several joint-venture arrangements with its suppliers in the region.

Its managing director Stanley T.C Chew said the tie-ups are expected to be firmed up by early 2011 and that the move was to ensure that better quality control is maintained for its products.

"We want to continue keeping our export-quality furniture items at factory-direct prices," Chew told Business Times.

Creative Furnishing, which has been in business for more than three decades, is one of Malaysia's furniture export pioneers, with a manufacturing facility in Vietnam.

Its products – ranging from bedroom, dining to outdoor furniture and other collectible furnishing items are shipped to various countries. Europe accounts for a 70 per cent share of the company's exports.

Its headquarters in Penang island boasts a 12,000 sq ft show house for its full range of knock-down furniture items.

A retail shop lot serviced by the company is located at Island Plaza on the island.

"Besides retailing locally while dealing with furniture importers and wholesalers, we also work with property developers, architects and interior designers both in Penang and as far as Singapore, who source furniture for residential and commercial property developments," Chew said.

Mindful of the lean spell being currently experienced by furniture-makers, owing to the strong ringgit against the US dollar and euro, Creative Furnishing is now looking to build up its local business by tapping into more property development projects.

"The property industry is very vibrant at the moment and we see no reason why our Western-inspired and contemporary products cannot be sourced locally for these projects," he said.

SOURCE: Business Times