Foshan, China's furniture capital in the southern province of Guangdong, is winning overseas customers with smart technology and distinctive original designs, leveraging the city's industrial chain integrating production and sales.
In Longjiang Township of the city, home to more than 2,000 branded furniture manufacturers and over 5,000 new material suppliers for the sector, overseas commodity buyers are increasingly turning to Chinese smart furniture, noting that the products bring a sense of technology into everyday living.
"The blend of electronic with the furniture is something that I'm looking for, like the moving chairs, the recliners, electronic recliners, sofas -- these are something which are unique," said a Bangladeshi buyer.
For others, the draw of the city is high volume for good value.
"We are in the process of buying the flooring, the timber flooring from China, so we buy lots of building materials," said an Australian buyer.
Many furniture designers in Foshan have also introduced original furniture series that blend Chinese and Western cultural elements, incorporating rich cultural meaning into exquisite Chinese craftsmanship. These products have become favorites among some segments of the overseas market.
"Arabs are actually very keen on buying original products, and the furniture here is very popular with them," said a buyer from the Middle East.
"Original products are particularly popular, and sales growth in overseas markets has been especially strong -- not only among international buyers, but also through cross-border e-commerce. Our original products account for about 35 percent of total furniture exports and represent an increase of 15 percent year on year," said Tan Guangyong, executive chairman of the Shunde Furniture Association in Foshan.
The city's furniture exports totaled 11.77 billion yuan (about 1.75 billion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, according to Foshan Customs.
Foshan's furniture draws overseas buyers with smart technology, original designs
