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It's Quality Over Quantity

Published 16th April 2015
It wasn’t the best of years for most businesses, but there was still plenty to smile
about as Malaysia’s largest trade exhibition concluded last month on a high.
Posed with uncertain economic conditions, the surging US dollar and slump in oil prices
for the past year, visitorship were recorded at 18,000. Most regions maintained a
steady turn-up to the show with the exception of Europe and Africa with significant
declines from Russia, Ukraine and the Ebola-stricken West African states. Despite that,
MIFF 2015 defied the odds and took encouragement from yet another solid show which
recorded their second highest ever sales of US$865 million - a reminder of why MIFF
is the most sought-after furniture sourcing destination of the region. Quality over
quantity indeed!
Was it really a concern when visitorship plunged? As long as the serious buyers were
still coming, apparently not. Mr Tey, managing director of Home Best was adamant that
it is the quality of buyers that matters. “Our sales was better than 2014, we sold a
lot to buyers from US and smaller countries of Africa and South America. We have already
booked our space for MIFF 2016.”
It shows the strength in demand of Malaysian furniture, and the strong appeal MIFF has in
attracting exhibitors worldwide with 508 companies coming in from 15 countries and regions
- MIFF’s highest ever.
Overseas exhibitors were buoyant with the results especially in tough times like these.
A delighted Shunde Furniture Association from China, which brought over 20
exhibitors to MIFF for the first time and sealed 50% of deals on the opening day of
the show, announced “all of them received great response and they definitely will
come back again next year.”
The exhibition has appealed to lots of newcomers too. MIFF welcomed over a hundred new
debutants this year which added more dynamism and variety to the delight of visiting buyers.
“This is our first time exhibiting in MIFF at MECC and the response has been very good.”
A grinning Eric Lee of Deep Living Sdn Bhd said. "MIFF is the most established Malaysian
furniture export organiser with more than 20 years of history, so obviously this was our
first choice for us to get into the export market. There were a lot of foreign buyers and
enquiries.”
With barely a month gone since 2015's edition wrapped-up, already there's an upbeat atmosphere
with half of furniture manufacturers already confirming their participation next March, assuring
another smashing episode in the making.