The furniture industry moves billions of euros each year, both in domestic manufacturing and in imported furniture from Asia. The Asian continent has become one of the benchmarks in furniture production and export. Sector fairs are an excellent opportunity to discover innovations and anticipate the season with furniture manufactured in China.The most important furniture and decoration sector fairs held in Asia are Furniture China in Shanghai, and the China International Furniture Fair in Guangzhou. They stand out for their enormous size and the large number of exhibitors participating in them. Both gather the majority of furniture manufacturers from China and contribute to defining global interior design trends.Furniture manufactured in China follows interior design trends offering a much lower production cost
2017 Furniture and Decoration Innovations
Wood remains the protagonist, especially in natural tones and with decorations that evoke nature. Darker shades of wood and pronounced veins are gaining ground, especially walnut, which fills every space in the home.The industrial style trend continues to be very present, with cement, rust, and marble as protagonists. The latter is seen again in tables, combined with metal structures, which also extend to chairs and decorative objects.As for colors, interior design trends for 2017 continue to bet on grays combined with yellow and orange, from the most vibrant to the most discreet tones. Quartz pink is also making its way, appearing on furniture, walls, and accessories in combination with burgundy tones. Blues continue to have a strong presence, both pastels and intense, like Klein blue. And, of course, we will see furniture in greenery green, chosen by Pantone as the color of 2017.Regarding furniture design, aerial shelves that combine to form geometric patterns in bedrooms and living rooms gain prominence. Colorful drawers continue to be present in living room furniture, as well as geometric patterns, especially diamonds and black and white squares.Metals in all their varieties (gold, copper, bronze, brass) remain present in accessories alongside glass and large mirrors. And, as a novelty, cork, which was already seen last season and is now making its way among the most used materials.
How to Import or Manufacture Furniture in Asia at Low Cost
Importing or manufacturing furniture in Asia is a good business idea, especially if you already have a distribution channel, as it is the best way to reduce costs.To locate the right supplier, the first thing to do is to define the style and type of furniture you want to import, as you will encounter a large number of manufacturers with very diverse styles.Once you have clear which items you want to import, it is necessary to ensure that your supplier complies with European regulations and standards. This affects upholstery, for which the use of certain chemicals is limited and fire safety is controlled. Among other things, fabric dyes must be free of formaldehydes and glyphosates, according to safety standards EN 1021-1, EN 1021-2, EN 597-1, EN 597-2, and EN 14533.The third point to consider is the minimum order. Generally, suppliers quote the price for a full container. If the order does not reach the supplier’s minimum production, the option of going to a wholesaler is not viable, as there is a risk that they will not have stock and there are no guarantees that they will comply with current regulations.The next issue is the cost of tariffs and taxes, which vary depending on the type of furniture you are going to import. For example, wooden-framed beds in the European Union have a 0% tariff. In Spain, a 21% VAT must be paid.Finally, it is advisable to carry out quality control during manufacturing and during packaging and loading. A piece of furniture with a dent is impossible to sell, so taking care of the packaging is essential to prevent damage during transportation.
