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Thursday, March 24, 2005
19 percent more buyers at Cebu X
DESPITE the bombings in Manila a few days before the event, the Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition or Cebu X 2005 still saw buyer numbers go up 19 percent from last year’s buyer count.
Cebu X 2005 chairman Michael Basubas said sales also increased by four percent to $27.4 million from the $26.4 generated in last year’s show.
He said the number of buyers increased to 1,627 from 1,363 last year. A total of 68 countries, which include the United States, China, Hong Kong, Spain, Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, Australia, Italy, Taiwan, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, were represented.
The US still topped the buyers’ attendance list, accounting for 16 percent of total buyers. China and Hong Kong followed, accounting for five percent of the buyers during the four-day event held from Feb. 26 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
There were also buyers from Spain, Saudi Arabia, France and Japan.
Buyers from the Middle East made the largest purchases, accounting for 32 percent of the total sales.
The North America and Europe regions came in second and third place at 22 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Asia ranked fourth at nine percent. South America and Africa followed with five percent each.
In terms of country performance, the US, which is the Philippines’ largest export market for furniture, still registered the highest sales booking at 19 percent or $5.16 million. Saudi Arabia followed at $4.8 million or 18 percent.
Hot Spot
Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) consultant Sabine Schacknat said the show’s new feature this year, the Design Hot Spot, also caught the attention of the visitors.
The Hot Spot housed 10 companies that have made a name in the Philippine furniture and furnishings industry as leaders in creative designs.
“This will already be a regular feature of the Cebu X,” she said. (JBN)
(March 24, 2005 issue)
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