Despite the tough economic climate, IFFS/AFS 2016 has attracted many first time exhibitors, making up 30 percent of total participants.  These debutants come from 23 different countries: Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, the UAE and countries from South East Asia, standing testament to the effectiveness and confidence that the industry has in IFFS/AFS 2016.

Boasting an expansive range of furniture along with the right mix of exhibitors and buyers, IFFS/AFS provides excellent opportunities for good returns on investment. It is also an effective a business platform for exhibitors and buyers to make contacts and link-up with like-minded companies to venture into the global market.

To provide visitors with even greater choice and value during these less than rosy economic conditions, the new Best Buy Corner located in Hall 8 will showcase quality furniture pieces from 25 exhibitors at an attractive pricing that is exclusive to IFFS/AFS 2016.

IFFS/AFS also sets itself apart from other shows in Asia with its strong design focus. Here are some of the design initiatives featured at the fair this year:

• Over 30 of the best works from the annual Furniture Design Award (FDA) 2016 and 5th FL!P Challenge, both organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council, will be showcased at the Fair.
  

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• FDA is a prestigious regional furniture design award that aims to uncover budding design talents and is a reputable showcase for the unique works of Asia’s most creative minds.
  

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• FL!P Challenge is an innovative design competition that encourages local arts and design students to think out of the box and fashion furniture from a novel and unconventional perspective.
  

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• In 2014, PLATFORM, another unique design initiative by SFIC, was launched at IFFS/AFS. Through PLATFORM, promising, young furniture designers are provided exhibition space at a subsidised rate. PLATFORM aims to be an avenue to help these budding talents launch their new prototypes in the international market, kick-start their design careers and form fruitful partnerships with leading manufacturers that visit the IFFS/AFS.

PLATFORM 2016 looks set to be even bigger and better, occupying 800 sqm (7,200 sq. ft.) of floor space. This year, SFIC also introduced the “On a Greener PLATFORM” movement to encourage the young designers participating in PLATFORM to create furniture pieces using sustainable or alternative materials and methods.
PLATFORM 2016 will also feature a new area where the best products from past and present participants, selected by a group of renowned design experts, will be highlighted. In addition, scaled models of the creations by some of the young designers who had participated in a SFIC-organised workshop with international design laboratory, Magis in Milan, Italy, will be on display.

Due to the efforts of the organisers, many leading industry players will also be launching new-to-market product collections and designs at IFFS/AFS 2016.
For more information on the show visit http://www.iffs.com.sg/