– Vietnamese made handicraft furniture exports to
Russia are growing, as bamboo and rattan furniture become increasingly popular with Russian home decorators.
Vietnam’s furniture exports broke into the Russian market in the mid-1990s, when the bamboo and rattan style became a favourite among Russian artists and politicians. Vietnamese furniture has expanded its market share in the country over the past few years partly thanks to competitive pricing.
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Director of Phamico home decor company, Pham Quang Hung, said his enterprise began trading in Russia three years ago.
“I passed through Chuong My, Ha Tay northern Province during a visit back to Vietnam and saw local craftsmen making some attractive-looking rattan furniture,” said Hung.
“I began by exporting a pilot batch of 39 sets of tables and chairs.” “They sold quite well so I continued ordering furniture from Chuong My craftsmen and registered a trademark under The World of Rattan and Bamboo in Russia.” However, gaining a firm toehold in the Russian market wasn’t easy for the product.
Phamico’s initial furniture exports were in the imitation-antique style that is popular in Vietnam, but this style wasn’t popular in Russia.
The dark colour of the furniture needed to change, as Russians preferred brighter colours to Vietnamese home decorators.
Additionally, Vietnam’s workshops usually produced sets of furniture while Russian people preferred to buy tables and chairs separately.
Pham Quang Hung said the backwards business methods of most Vietnamese workshops also limited the expansion of their products in foreign markets.
“The time-limit for delivery of goods was frequently extended against the set period,” said Hung said, “while meeting deadlines is important in Russia as the market depends on seasons.” In the winter, sales are slow and it’s impossible for sellers to promote their products at outdoor fairs.
Russian people enjoy shopping during the summer and while they are on holiday, so if furniture arrives in the country in the autumn, it’s too late for good sales.
Hung said that once he understood Russians’ tastes in furniture he could order the skilled craftsmen of Ha Tay northern province to make chairs and tables according to his preferred designs, although some craftsmen had difficulty in correctly estimating the size of tables and chairs suitable for foreigners.
Phamico Company selected workers from Vietnam to put together furniture parts in Russia, where the products were also re-painted and could be installed in the homes of customers.
According to Hung, at present, Vietnamese bamboo and rattan home furniture in Russia hasn’t yet met severe competition, although furniture made in China, Japan and Indonesia is also exported to Russia.
With their furniture catalogue now including bamboo and rattan beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs, shelves, racks and baskets, Phamico has begun receiving more contracts for making furniture. More and more Russian customers have ordered from the company to decorate kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms with bamboo and rattan furniture, said Hung.
(VNA)
