Furniture-exporting firm opens shop here

THE top quality and artistic pieces of furniture with the feel of royalty are what Betis Crafts Inc. promises to offer to its prospective market as the world-class artisan supplier of furniture opened a showroom on Ruby cor. Turquiose streets in Davao City on January 12, 2013.

Betis Crafts has expanded its operation in Mindanao as it strengthens its presence in the local market. Ninety-five percent of its products are exported to international markets, such as USA, Middle East, and United Kingdom.

Leslie Mendiola, associate marketing manager of Betis Crafts, said that by opening a showroom in Davao City, more Filipinos will be able to experience their locally-produced but export-quality products.

Established in 1972 in Pampanga as a family business, the furniture shop has truly earned its name as a high-end producer of artistically made pieces of furniture with a variety of concepts from classic European to contemporary designs.

It's only in the mid 1980's that they started to ship out to USA and then Europe.

She said they have seen the potential of the city, considering the upsurge in real estate industry powered by the developments of hotels and condominiums - high-rise infrastructures at that - here in the fast-growing metropolis.

"Davao has a huge cultural diversity that's why we became very interested. When we come, we're surprised to see how big and developed Davao is," she said.

Betis' Crafts makes different wood arts such as arm chairs, beds, benches, tables, case goods, lounge chairs, mirror frames, and sofas.

Meanwhile, on the manufacturing side, Myrna Bituin, marketing director of Betis Crafts, also boasted that well-trained carvers who are locals of Pampanga themselves are the ones who delicately carve each of the elegant piece.

"Wood carving is what we are famous. Maraming wood carvers sa amin (There are a lot of wood carvers back in our town). Most of them have small factories in their garage where father is a carver and a son is carver also," she said.

The company has also been sourcing out pieces of wood to be carved later on as astonishing furniture from plantations like Gemilina, since early 1990.

"The farmer can benefit immensely if we continue to use plantation species instead of cutting our natural forests," she said, adding that trees from natural forests must be preserved.

Betis Crafts is not just a furniture shop; it has a name in this industry - a big name at that. Others even look them up.

Why? For those who watched any documentary films about the rich history of Malacanang Palace, Betis's creations are all what anyone can see at the background. Yes, they produce all the furniture pieces and wall carvings at the residence of the most powerful person in the country - the Philippine president, Bituin humbly shared.

The company is also supplying furniture for the queen and king of Saudi Arabia, one thing that Bituin takes great pride of while bannering the craftsmanship of the skillful Filipino carvers.

"Our competitive egde is our ability to do high-end quality furniture that can compete internationally," she said.

Setting up a showroom here, she said they wanted to build a "network" with the hotels and condominiums, letting them know that a local supplier can produce them with export-quality furniture and that they don't need to import from other countries.

"Hindi alam ng mga builders that there are companies who can produce their requirements, some are even imported from Malaysia and China, but I believe it is important for us Filipinos to work within ourselves," she said.

Davao is a strategic location for Betis' Crafts showroom, as the city a gateway to other key cities across Mindanao.

"When you are in Davao, you are not only in Davao, meron from Cagayan de Oro City, from Cotabato, and from other cities in Mindanao," she said.