IN THIS
ISSUE
- SFIC’s Design
Initiatives take Centre Stage through the FLIP! Challenge
and Furniture Design Award 2006
- Furniture Design Forum 2006
- Furniture Industry Gets Ready
for IFFS/AFS 2006
- Battle of the Brands
- Insight of USA Furniture Industry
Market
- Four Ways to Improve your Life,
Love and Living
- New Programmes in Customer Service
by Furniture Learning Institute
- SFIC's Members Received Accolades
- Come Fly with SFIC
- Calendar of Events
- New Zero GST Warehouse Scheme
to Facilitate Businesses by Improving Cash Flow and Reducing
Administration Cost
SFIC’s
Design Initiatives take Centre Stage through the
FLIP! Challenge and Furniture Design Award 2006
 |
The month of October kick
starts a series of design initiatives for SFIC such
as the 2nd FLIP! Challenge Finalists’ Showcase
& Designers’ Cocktail Networking Night and
preliminary and semi-finals judging of Furniture Design
Award (FDA) 2006. |
“Think out the box”,
“Innovate within constraints” and “alternative
perspectives” are some of the key phrases that participants
of the 2nd FLIP! Challenge drew their inspiration from.
This competition aims to encourage local arts and design
students to perceive and fashion furniture from a novel
and unconventional perspective.
This year, the design challenge
was to innovate within the constraints of a wooden chair
and recreate or transform it into a work of art while retaining
its primary function as a seat for a particular genre of
people such as children, the elderly, politicians or even
movie stars.
The competition received a total
of 54 entries, a 50 per cent increase as compared to the
inaugural event. In fact, Mr George Chew, President of Sitra
Holdings (International) Pte Ltd and sponsor of the wooden
chairs was so impressed by the creativity of the students
that the company has decided to commercialise two of the
designs: the Gold Award (Wing Chair) and the Bronze Award
(MOOO).
Graced by Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman
of DesignSingapore Council, the award presentation cum networking
cocktail party at the Singapore History Museum was very
well attended.
The top works of the 15 design
talents were showcased from 16 – 30 November at the
Singapore History Museum. The showcase was held in conjunction
with the inaugural Singapore Design Festival by DesignSingapore
Council, Ministry of Information, Communications and the
Arts. The chairs will next be exhibited at the design-led
International Furniture Fair Singapore 2006/23rd ASEAN Furniture
Show from 1 – 5 March 2006 at the Singapore Expo.
The SFIC would like to extend
its appreciation to all the sponsors for the event - Sitra
Holdings (International) Pte Ltd, International Furniture
Fair Singapore Pte Ltd and Trans-Link Exhibition Fowarding
Pte Ltd.
THE WINNERS
| |
|
|
Gold Award
Wing Chair
Designed By - Qi Shizhi &
He Yigfang
Inspiration Design School |
Silver Award
Nature Chair
Designed by - Francis Allan Barretto Sy, Zhang Chen,
Marcella Wang Siu Siu &
Wang Ching Wah
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts |
Bronze Award
MOOO
Designed by - Cherrie Chua &
Regine Tan
Inspiration Design School |
| |
|
|
Merit Award
Modus Operandi
Designed By - Alvin Chee
Ming Wei &
Wong Shao Hui
Nanyang Polytechnic |
Merit Award
Liquid Chair
Designed By - Alvin Quek,
Oi Way Lee &
Fang Yang Jun
Raffles Design Insipration |
Merit Award
Y Chair
Designed By - Wilson Fu Weisheng, Lim Chee Wee
& Zhuo Jinhai
Singapore Polytechnic |
| |
|
| Cert of Recognition
Strip Tease
Designed By - Karina Aryanti Tjandra, Jane Cheah Eng
Ping & Pung Wei Chien
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
|
Cert of Recognition
Reminiscence De Stiji
Designed By - Wang Weixian, Kelvin Soh Han Tiong &
Kevin Chong Weizhe
Singapore POlytechnic |
 |
A total of 303 entries
were received from the Students and Young Designers
Categories for Furniture Design Award 2006.
Based on the theme ‘FLY’, participants
were given free play as well as greater breadth of
space and freedom to exercise their creativity.
“We want to encourage and create an environment
where excellent designs are valued and creative talents
recognized. We want them to fly and venture into the
unknown. Unless you shake off all preconceptions and
flag your wings, you will never know how high
you can fly” said Mr Simon Ong, Chairman of
SFIC’s Design Development Committee.
The preliminary and semi-final judging for the Students
and Young Designers Categories was held in October
2005. 12 finalists (seven from the Students Category
and five from the Young Designers Category) have since
been selected to produce prototypes to vie for the
top spot in the respective categories at the grand
finals in February 2006.
The preliminary judging for the Open Category of
FDA 2006 will be held in mid January 2006. Six entries
will be short-listed for judging at
the grand finals. |
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Furniture
Design Forum 2006
 |
“Good design has a lot to do with
problem-solving. First, identify the problem, then plot
the route of action. It also needs to incorporate aesthetic
and cultural relevance” said Voon Wong. |
Wong is a London-based designer,
who has been collaborating with his Malaysian partner, Benson
Saw since 2001, to develop designs for manufacturers and
clients such as Fontana Arte, Porro and Kirin. Wong and
Saw also boast their own designer range of tableware and
accessories. The duo’s range of furniture, lighting
and tableware has been exhibited in London, Cologne, Milan
and Singapore. In 2002, they were awarded the OXO lighting
prize for their ELma vases. Their LOOP lamp was also short-listed
for the prestigious Compasso d’Oro 2004.
Wong will be joining a panel
of internationally-acclaimed designers at the Furniture
Design Forum 2006. He will speak on ”Reference &
Development” in which he will share his experience
as a designer and draw references from his numerous works
and developing projects with Saw.
Wong will also give an insight
to how he draws ideas and inspiration from the surrounding
environment and the process through which the initial concepts
are translated into developing projects and eventually finished
products for the mass market. He will also speak about how
learning from ideas around us can lead to original thought.
Maintaining one’s originality and unique identity
is very crucial and relevance to designers and Singapore
as a design hub.
The Furniture Design Forum 2006
is running for the fourth year in conjunction with the annual
International Furniture Fair Singapore 2006/ 23rd ASEAN
Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2006) on 2 March 2006 at the Singapore
Expo.
Be ready to register for this
enriching forum that aims to empower the furniture industry
to better leverage design as a strategic business tool in
the world furniture market! For full details and registration
fees, kindly contact Joyce Lee at 6568 3251 or Zhang Zhijia
6568 3250, email sfic@singaporefurniture.com
or visit SFIC’s website at: www.singaporefurniture.com.
SINGAPORE'S INAUGURAL
DESIGN INDUSTRY SURVEYS SHOW STRONG ATTITUDE AND INTERESTS
TOWARDS DESIGN
Two recent surveys commissioned
by the DesignSingapore Council of the Ministry of Information,
Communications and the Arts (MICA) reveal that while Singapore
has only a moderate level of awareness of design, the attitude
and interest towards design are high. The surveys are the
first of its kind to analyse the Singapore design sector
and to measure the level of public awareness of design.
The design industry survey shows that companies in the design
cluster have a positive sentiment of business prospects
going forward. Both design service providers, whose core
business is the provision of design services, and Design
Service Clients, which are companies that have design as
a component of their business, forecast an average growth
of slightly more than 20% over the next three years.
Dr Milton Tan, Director of DesignSingapore
Council said, "The recent surveys show that Singapore
has tremendous potential for design development and promotion.
Businesses are optimistic and public awareness of design
is growing. It is important for companies to understand
the benefits of design and the necessity it has become to
business. Going forward, companies need to be even more
aware of how design is not merely a necessity for survival,
but can help to give them the competitive edge to become
global market leaders."
Most of the Design Service Clients
polled responded positively. About 80% of them reported
seeing better sales through design and 60% managed to grow
the overall size of the market because of new customers
or because existing customers were purchasing more. Only
16% of respondents reported seeing no impact from the use
of better design in their products and service. The positive
experience of companies hence validates the value of design.
The preliminary findings, which
come on the back of the recently concluded design festival,
augur well for the development of the design industry in
Singapore.
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Furniture
Industry Gets Ready for IFFS/AFS 2006
 |
With a strong line-up of
debutantes and loyal repeat exhibitors, the International
Furniture Fair Singapore 2006, held in conjunction with
the 23rd ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2006), has the
furniture industry buzzing with anticipation, as the
world’s major furniture industry players get ready
for this annual iconic show. |
To be held from 1 - 5 March 2006, IFFS/AFS
2006 is set to occupy 60,000 sqm of gross space at the Singapore
Expo, making it arguably the largest annual trade show in
Singapore, and a premier export platform for the furniture
industry of the world.
Organised by the International Furniture Fair
Singapore Pte Ltd, about 480 exhibitors from some 30 countries
will proudly display more than 32,000 furniture and furnishings
products to international visitors from all over the world.
China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam,
the Philippines, the United States, Turkey, and Malaysia
are among the top exhibiting countries, occupying a combined
gross space exceeding 40,000 sqm. Indeed, the IFFS/AFS has
the largest collection of quality Indonesian, Vietnamese,
Taiwanese, Filipino, and Chinese furniture, outside of these
respective countries. Other prominent players from Australia,
New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Myanmar, Japan, Belgium,
France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, The Netherlands,
Thailand, and United Kingdom will spice up the show’s
variety and vibrancy. Also expected to join the excitement
are exhibitors from other European and Scandinavian countries.
 |
The unparalleled offerings
at IFFS/AFS 2006 include the art nouveau, antique reproduction,baroque,
modern, neo-classical, contemporary, European, oriental,
renaissance, retro, rustic, Scandinavian and zen furniture
classes. Buyers can also browse through the wide selections
from the ever-popular Soft Furnishings and Home Accessories
section of the show. |
The IFFS/AFS is also well-known for its distinctive
focus on furniture design, reflected through its array of
design-related features and activities. These features and
activities include the Furniture Design Award 2006, Design
Gallery, International Furniture Design Forum and the FLIP!
Challenge.
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Battle
of the Brands
| As Shakespeare’s
Juliet once lamented, “What’s in a name?”
Indeed, what is in a name, or a brand name for that
matter? Singapore is fast evolving into a sophisticated
society, but are our mindsets still the same? Do we
still hold the misconception that foreign brands are
superior to local brands? In the furniture industry,
Singapore brands are making their presence known and
consumers are taking notice. Throughout the years, the
standard of design and quality of local furniture has
improved, but will quality still reign in the consumers’
minds, or is it the mark of a posh European brand that
matters? And how do local furniture brands stay competitive
in a market where European brands are believed to be
of higher refinement? We speak to the experts from the
Singapore furniture industry to find out. |
BIRTH OF A BRAND
Giving your furniture company a brand name is similar to
naming your child. The brand name is carried throughout
the company’s lifespan and bears the trademark of
the company and the company’s beliefs. The process
of choosing the brand name differs from company to company.
| Air Division’s Mr Nathan
Yong commented that they were so named as they wanted
a name that is intangible.
“Our label is not just about furniture, it is
a lifestyle. Air Division also evokes a sense of freedom
and we want this attitude to be portrayed in our products.” |
|
Mr Yong started his company
because he felt that there was a shortage of good designs
at affordable prices.
As for Lorenzo, according to
Mr James Goh, Deputy Managing Director of Uhin Holdings,
the name was picked because it sounded Italian and their
aim was to be a trendsetter with their unique designs. Lorenzo
was launched in 1989 during the period when the property
market boomed.
Air Division’s Mr Nathan
Yong commented that they were so named as they wanted a
name that is intangible. “Our label is not just about
furniture, it is a lifestyle. Air Division also evokes a
sense of freedom and we want this attitude to be portrayed
in our products.”
A brand is not limited to a name,
a symbol can also incorporate all the brand’s values.
For HTL International Holdings Ltd, they choose a threewinged
symbol to encompass their core values - integrity, partnership
and passion for growth.
Mr Tay Kheng Hee, Director of
Corporate Services, HTL commented,
“Our brand is not about our name. It is about our
corporate culture and core values which are perceived by
our partners. It is about the quality of products and services,
financial performance, customer loyalty, satisfaction and
overall esteem towards the brand. Managing a brand for success
has everything to do with understanding who you are, and
not apologising for it and not trying to be something you
are not.
To Mr Tay, it is important that
every brand has a “clear positioning”.
A brand is more than just a
name, it is about passion. Mr Lim Pok Chin, Managing Director
of Hawaii Furnishing named his brand based on his passion.
His company was named after his favourite television show,
Hawaii Five-O, a popular programme aired in the 1970s. The
reason why he started his business was because of his love
for furniture and interior design.
BRAND POWER
It is one thing to start a brand, but maintaining it and
keeping it at the top of customers’ minds is another
matter. Having to compete with both local and foreign brands,
it is a constant uphill battle for local furniture brands
to make their mark. So what is their secret weapon in this
battle of the brands?
“At Lorenzo, we do things
differently,” quipped Mr James Goh, “We
have new programmes and designs. We are consistent in bringing
our brand to another level. The most important thing is
perseverance.”
He further stated that a brand
name is only a perception by consumers. If local manufacturers
could come up with quality designs, there is no way that
local furniture can be inferior when compared to overseas
brands. In fact, many consumers we interviewed were not
even aware that Lorenzo is a Singapore brand, thus putting
it on par with European furniture brands.
 |
HTL International Holdings
Ltd, being a B2B brand, also stresses on the quality
of their furniture. Mr Tay of HTL said,”It
is important for the manufacturer to understand the
value of their products in order to build a strong reputation
that would in turn lead to better relationships with
their business partners and consumers.” |
Mr Yong of Air Division emphasised
on service. He stressed that other than having good furniture
designs, quality service counted for 50 per cent of the
success. He commented that Singapore furniture brands could
stay competitive if they have good products and even better
customer service. Good shop presentation is also a plus
point.
According to Mr Lim of Hawaii
Furnishing, “Today’s
consumers are looking for quality service and value-for-money
products. Furniture companies must have a strong brand and
provide quality service. It must be a complete unit. There
must be a strong corporate identity. Public research is
important in order to know what the customer wants.”
So, what exactly does the typical
customer want? Mrs Pamela Lim, 32, a newlywed said that
what is vital for her when purchasing furniture is the “quality
and price”, and she had no qualms of buying furniture
from local brands as long as they fit her needs.
However, another consumer we
interviewed, Mrs Charlotte Lee, 28, prefers to invest in
Italian brands. She quipped,
“Brands matter and so does the pricing. I want my
furniture to last long, and therefore I believe in investing
in good reputable brands.” However,
she does agree that some local brands do deliver quality
products at affordable prices.
Local furniture brands will still
have to fight stereotypical views of consumers who view
European furniture brands as superior. However, if they
continue to build a strong brand name, remain faithful to
their brand promises and continually improve their service,
local furniture brands will sooner or later be associated
with quality. And that is half the battle won.
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Insight
of USA Furniture Industry Market
 |
A business mission to the
United States (US) to learn more about the furniture
industry was jointly organised by SPRING Singapore and
the Singapore Furniture Industries Council in October.
JTC was also invited to participate in the expedition. |
Besides aiming to attract foreign
companies to anchor their operations in Singapore, the other
objectives of the visit were to obtain a point of reference
and learn from the experience of a foreign model for the
upcoming International Furniture Centre (IFC). The mission
also aims to gain a better understanding of the US furniture
market pertaining to retail, distribution and merchandising
concepts.
The 10-day trip was jointly led
by Mr Chow Tat Kong, Group Director, Enterprise Development
Group of SPRING Singapore and Mr Andrew Ng, 1st Vice President
of SFIC. The delegation which comprised 12 representatives
from SFIC, SPRING Singapore and JTC visited furniture malls,
showrooms, warehousing and distribution facilities as well
as relevant trade agencies in High Point, Chicago and Los
Angeles.
The following key observations
and learning points were garnered from the mission:
1) There are opportunities for
Singapore to serve small and medium-sized US retailers as
they do not have access to contacts of Asian factories.
The Americans are uncertain about the quality of the furniture
products delivered by the manufacturers. The US retailers
require the option of mixing and matching small quantities
of different furniture products in a container. As such,
the service provider must ensure consistent and reliable
delivery of the furniture .
2) Singapore can potentially
be the regional distribution centre for the US. Singapore,
equipped with comprehensive air, sea and IT infrastructures,
is also strategically located in Asia as an effective regional
distribution hub for companies in the US.
3) It is crucial for Singapore
to create awareness among the US companies and government
officials to differentiate ourselves from China. It is key
that the Americans understand that Singapore is an independent
republic and not a part of mainland China. The best method
will be through aggressive branding and production of well-quality
and reliablefurniture products for Singapore and local furniture
companies based in the US.
4) Factors that contribute to
the success of the High Point Market and Las Vegas World
Market Centre include location, space availability, exhibiting
of wide variety and styles of furniture products as well
as the availability of supporting industries at close proximity,
eg. photography studios, catalogue printers and publishing
facilities.
MARKET OVERVIEW
The US market consists of 291 million inhabitants with a
per capita income of US$37,610. This makes the US the largest
market in the world .
The US imports its furniture
products mainly from China (42.3% of its total imports and
this percentage is increasing), Canada (20% of its total
imports) and Italy (7% of its total imports). The growing
presence of Chinese furniture in the US market, especially
in the wooden bedroom segment, resulted in increasing difficulties
faced by US manufacturers and ongoing factory closures.
More than 30 bedroom furniture
manufacturers and five labour unions from 18 different US
states filed the largest anti-dumping case with the Department
of Commerce in October 2003, accusing Chinese furniture
manufacturers of selling products and especially wooden
bedroom furniture at “below-market costs”.
The total number of employees
in the furniture market in 2003 was about 573,000. The figure
has been declining as increasingly more furniture companies
have relocated their manufacturing facilities to Asia, especially
China. More furniture companies are also sourcing for affordable
furniture products, especially case goods, from countries
like China to complement their existing product offerings.
Centres of furniture production
in the US are located mainly in North Carolina and West
Michigan. North Carolina boasts the International Home Furnishing
Market, which is held in High Point in April and October.
It is visited by more than 82,000 professionals in the industry
who come from more than 110 countries all over the world.
To date, the US furniture industry
is both the world’s largest producer and importer
of furniture products. With a market size of US$68 billion,
it is also the largest market in the world, accounting for
almost one-third of the total world furniture consumption.
US Furniture and Home
Accents Industry Performance in 2005
American
furniture export rose 6% (inched up to US$947.7 million)
in the first half of 2005. It reflected a slower growth
rate as compared to the same period in 2004.The US
export figure is less than one-tenth of its imports.
More than half the export total went to Canada, which
took 16% more US-made furniture and parts than in
the first half of 2004 . The top 10 categories of
furniture shipped north expanded with most of them
by double digits. The biggest increases however were
in components categories such as seat parts (21%)
and metal furniture and parts (22%).
Right: US furniture exports
by
major destination countries,
Jan - Jun 2005 (US$m) |
|
A
further breakdown of US furniture exports by product category,
Jan – Jun 2005
The US furniture
imports increased by 11% in the first half of 2005
with total import valued at US$10.2 billion, nearly
triple the 3.9% increase in retail furniture sales
during the same period last year. Furniture imports
from China for the first six months of 2005 was valued
at US$5.1 billion, a 13% increase over the US$4.5
billion of Chinese furniture imported during the same
period in 2004. The 2004 figure represented a 45%
expansion over that of 2003.
Right: US
furniture imports by
major destination countries,
Jan - Jun 2005 (US$m) |
|
A
further breakdown of US furniture imports by product category,
Jan – Jun 2005
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Four
Ways to Improve Your Life, Love and Living
The former President of Compaq once said,
“Never underestimate a hungry, purposeful and committed
company!”
While I’ve been quoting him for years,
I never thought to add to his statement until recently.
“Never underestimate anyone, any team or any organisation
that is hungry, purposeful, committed AND focused.”
First off, if you are hungry, that is, you
have a need or desire burning in your belly, you will do
almost anything to satisfy that hunger. Many former executives
and entrepreneurs who have lost their positions came up
to me after presentation and asked me what they can do to
turn their lives around and regain their former stature.
I’m convinced it would be easier for them now than
the first time; they being in possession of their wisdom,
knowledge and skills set; but most are missing their former
hunger for success. They are comfortable with life, their
home, cars, credit cards and don’t like the idea of
putting it all at risk again.
The problem is, for many who have made it
and lost it, the core hunger might still be there but in
a different form. They may not need to provide for a family
like in the old days, but they maybe hungry to make a difference
or spend time with family. As we grow, so do our hungers.
Sales people who are not hungry will rarely
excel. Political leaders who no longer feel that inner,
animal-liked drive will rarely accomplish anything special.
Achievement is the parlance of the hungry.
Passion and values tie with “Hunger”.
If you have no passion, it’s going to be hard to be
hungry. Have you explored the options for your life and
career with a counsellor or a focus group? Have you been
tested for talents and strengths? It’s easier to maintain
hunger if it’s in line with your passion.
Values are core beliefs that set up or reinforce
hunger. You can be passionate about travel but rarely does
it pay well. Your values may help you understand your passions
and can make you practical and honest as well as passionate.
Purpose is another motivator. If you have
a purpose, that is, a goal or aim to strive for, you will
most certainly work harder and longer to achieve success.
If there were no goals in a football game, there would be
little point in playing. I’m amazed at how many people
STILL do not have written plans and goals in life, cheating
them of that “purpose”. Committed. Are you?
What are you willing to give up to get what you really want
in life?
TONS of people tell me they want this or
that ... but then they don’t do it because they are
not willing to pay the price. Commitment means the price
is always affordable. The hours it takes, the sweat, the
anguish, angst, embarrassment, stress and family sacrifice
are all worth it. If you are unwilling to pay the price,
don’t frustrate yourself by going after the goal in
the first place.
Finally, FOCUSED is critical today. Are you
focused on your business, goal or dream? Life has some amazing
ways of getting us to blur our focus by putting momentary,
often low priority projects in direct path to our achieving
success. With focus, a laser can project a small spot on
the moon from Earth. Without focus, it can’t burn
a hole in tissue paper.
A FEW POINTS FOR YOU TO PONDER:
1) What makes you happy, TODAY? (hint, it’s
usually what you would NOT give up no matter what)
2) For purpose, write out 10 major goals
in life and make sure you make them something you ardently
desire, willing to commit to complete. Be VERY specific
about your goals (include colour and time of day to be achieved)
and they must be measurable.
3) What are you willing to give up to achieve
your goals and is that a realistic expectation? Who supports
you as you do this? Who will fight you tooth and nail? Who’ll
laugh at you and what will be your reaction? What are you
willing to learn? How many hours a week are you willing
to devote to this passion, this purpose and how many hours
of sleep are you willing to give up?
4) How will you maintain your focus? Do you
have a coach, commitment partner or spouse to help? What
systems do you have in place to keep that focus? What software
will help you? Do you have a location that helps you maintain
your focus? Making a success of ourselves or of ANYTHING
is neither easy nor a surety. If, however, we live life
as hungry, purposeful, committed and focused, we can achieve
almost anything we set our sights on.
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New
programmes in Customer Service By Furniture Learning Institute
 |
In November 2005, the Furniture
Learning Institute (FLI) begun its customer service
training initiative under the Singapore Workforce Skills
Qualifications (WSQ) system developed by the Singapore
Workforce Development Agency (WDA). A pioneer batch
of 11 workers attended the “Maintain Personal
Presentation” course conducted by Nanyang Polytechnic. |
FLI has selected another two customer service
modules from WDA’s suite of WSQ training modules for
the retail sector. Both “Handle Merchandise Display”
and “Sell Products and Services” will be rolled
out by February 2006.
“This latest addition of three new
courses by the FLI is a response to the government’s
call to urge Singapore to join in the national movement
“Go The Extra Mile for Service” (GEMS) to raise
service levels and develop a culture of service excellence,”
said Mr Neo Sia Meng, Chairman of the FLI.
This new WSQ initiative was drawn up by WDA
through close consultation with a varied composition of
retail industry professionals, furniture industry inclusive.
During the focus group discussions, three key challenges
by the retail industry were highlighted – higher consumer
expectations, intensifying competition and the need to improve
the operational efficiency of the furniture retail sector.
Training under WSQ is thus aimed at helping industry players
meet these challenges.
WDA’s system of training under WSQ
makes it easier for the furniture industry to embark on
such service training because:
• FLI could tap on an existing national
training framework to select the relevant courses that best
meet the business strategy of industry players while being
assured of the training quality, as the framework has been
benchmarked against world standards and endorsed by the
retail industry;
• It could customise the training into
bitesized modules to best meet players’ operations
needs; and
• SMEs receive attractive funding support
from WDA through the Skills Development Fund and the Skills
Redevelopment Programme.
To find out more about the courses offered
by the FLL, please contact Ms Cindy Chua @ 6568 3202 or
email cindy@singaporefurniture.com
Mr Eric Teo @ 6568 3221 or email eric@singaporefurniture.com
| |
SFIC
MEMBER |
NON-MEMBER |
| COURSE
DETAILS |
40
years &
above (A levels
& below) |
Others |
40
years & above (A levels
& below) |
Others |
| Maintain Personal Presentation
(15 hours)
|
| Course Fee |
$300.00 |
$330.00 |
| Net training investment |
$1.07 |
$7.50 |
$31.07 |
$105.00 |
| Sell Products
& Services (33 hours)
|
| Course Fee |
$630.00 |
$660.00 |
| Net training investment |
-$27.64 |
$19.50 |
$2.36 |
$165.00 |
|
Handle Merchandise Display
(23 hours) |
| Course Fee |
$450.00 |
$480.00 |
| Net training investment |
-$8.36 |
$1.50 |
$21.64 |
$135.00 |
Fees are inclusive of 5 % GST.
* Net training investment is inclusive of SDF and SRP funding
(the latter is calculated based on hourly basic salary of
$5 per trainee-hour)
Note: SFIC members whose participation are below 40 years
or above A levels are eligible for the SFIC MAS Funding.
In order to enjoy the SDF and SRP funding, participants
need to fulfill the following requirements:
1. Training must be sponsored by companies which are registered
or incorporated in Singapore
2. Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents
(PR) of Singapore
3. Attain at least 75% attendance
4. Undertake all assessments in the course
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SFIC’s
Members Received Accolades
 |
SINGAPORE PROMISING
BRAND AWARD 2005
For the third consecutive time, Hawaii Furnishing
had won ASME and Lian He Zao Bao’s Singapore
Promising Brand Award for being one of the most recognized
brands (Scanteak) in Singapore. |
THE ENTERPRISE
50 AWARDS 2005
Sitra Holdings is being awarded The Enterprise 50
Awards 2005 for the second time running and had moved
from the previous 27th position to the current 9th
position. Even though this is the first time Uhin
Holdings received The Enterprise 50 Awards 2005, we
are sure we will be hearing more good news of them
receiving awards in the near future. Uhin Holdings
had also been a recipient of Singapore Promising Brand
award since 2003. |
|
AIR DIVISION SELECTED TO EXHIBIT IN
20/20
Air Division Pte Ltd has been selected to exhibit in 20/20,
a design exhibition presented by SingaporeDesign Council.
This exhibition showcases 20 of Singapore's finest talents
across different media and discipline that capture this
emerging design culture. The creators share the newest expressions
of their influences, inspirations and visions of the everevolving
creative landscape.
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Come
Fly With SFIC
SFIC celebrated the 24th Annual
Dinner & Dance on 2 September 2005 in style as we brought
our members and associates “Around the World”.
While SFIC’s staff were donned in SIA uniform, many
guests gamely turned up in various international costumes
such as the Korean Hanbok, Chinese QiPao, Vietnamese Ao
Dai, and Indian Saree.
Besides catching up with one
another on the latest industry “happenings”
and gossips, guests had
lots of fun with the predinner entertainment as they tried
their gambling luck at the “Mobile Jackpot”,
posed for free glamour shoots and create their own wax hand
souvenir.
Many of our guests also walked
away with attractive prizes such as massage chair, holiday
package and shopping vouchers, courtesy of the sponsors
for the Dinner and Dance.
IN APPRECIATION
The annual event would not have been a success without the
strong support from our members, business associates and
the generosity of our sponsors. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank the following sponsors:
Uhin Holding Pte Ltd
Pico Art International Pte Ltd
UOB Bank
Cellini Design Center Pte Ltd
Singapore Furniture Association
Orient Explorer(s) Pte Ltd
Gecko Graphix International Pte Ltd
Xirlynx Innovations
Showcraft Concepts
Singex Venues Pte Ltd
Trans-Link Exhibition Fowarding Pte Ltd
Mondi Lifestyle Pte Ltd
Zen Tradition Living Pte Ltd
Star Furniture Industries Pte Ltd
Foreword Communications
Focus5.Net Pte Ltd
Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd
StarHub Ltd
Telimax Technology (S) Pte Ltd
Triad Communications Pte Ltd
Raffles City Convention Centre (Swissotel)
Permanent Personel Services Pte Ltd
Jann Trading
DGM Solutions
Tangram Design
Izess Pte Ltd
Ambrosia Communications Pte Ltd
Mailist Marketing Associates
Suntec Singapore
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
Amara Singapore
Media Planning Services
Studio2000 Pte Ltd
Patrick's Studio
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Calendar
of Events
| January
2006 |
| 05/01 - 09/01 |
International Paris Furniture Exhibition
Paris, France |
| 14/01 - 17/01 |
Canadian Home Furnishings Market
Toronto, Canada |
| 16/01 - 22/01 |
IMM International Furniture Fair
Cologne, Germany |
| 22/01 - 25/01 |
The Furniture Show
Birmingham, UK |
| 26/01 - 30/01 |
Planete Meuble Paris
Las Vegas, USA |
| 27/01 - 31/01 |
Maison & Objet
Paris, France |
| 30/01 - 03/02 |
Las Vegas Furniture Winter Market
Las Vegas, USA |
| February
2006 |
| 08/02 - 10/02 |
Australian International Furniture Fair 2006
Sydney, Australia |
| 16/02 - 20/02 |
IndiaWood 2006
Bangalore, India |
| 26/02 - 01/03 |
CEBUX X 2006
Cebu City, Philippines |
| 28/02 - 03/03 |
Philippines Int’l Furniture Show 2006
Manila, Philippines |
| March 2006 |
| 01/03 - 05/03 |
International Furniture Fair Singapore 2006
Singapore Furniture Industries Council |
| 03/03 - 06/03 |
Furnicraft Indonesia 2006
Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 06/03 - 11/03 |
Export Furniture Exhibition 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 07/03 - 11/03 |
Malaysia International Furniture Fair 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 08/03 - 10/03 |
Interior Design Asia/ Thailand International Furniture
Fair 2006
Bangkok, Thailand |
| 15/03 - 18/03 |
Taipei International Furniture Show
Taipei, Taiwan |
| 17/03 - 21/03 |
14th International Famous Furniture Fair (Dongguan)
2006
Dongguan, China |
| 18/03 - 21/03 |
China International Furniture Fair 2006
Guangzhou, China |
| 19/03 - 22/03 |
Shenzhen International Furniture Expo 2006
Shenzhen, China |
| 27/03 - 30/03 |
China International Furniture Fair
2006 (Office Furniture)/Home Textile
China 2006
Guangzhou, China |
| April 2006 |
| 05/04 - 10/04 |
Salone Internazionale del Mobile
Milano, Italy |
| 24/04 - 29/04 |
Madrid International Furniture Exhibition
Madrid, Spain |
| 27/04 - 03/05 |
International Home Furnishings Market
High Point, USA |
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New
Zero GST Warehouse Scheme to Facilitate Businesses by Improving
Cash Flow and Reducing Administration Cost
Come 1 January 2006,
all importers with good inventory control systems can benefit
from a new scheme where they do not have to immediately
pay GST on their imports. Known as the Zero GST Warehouse
Scheme by Singapore Customs (SC), GST will be payable only
for the goods which the importers later release to the local
market.
The Zero GST Scheme expands on
the current Bonded Warehouse Scheme (BWS). It will give
a boost to Singapore’s logistics sector by improving
companies’ cash flow and reducing their warehouse-related
compliance costs.
Currently, only imports where
at least 80% will be re-exported can be brought into bonded
warehouses to enjoy GST suspension. Under the Zero GST Scheme,
the 80% export requirement will be lifted for qualifying
operators.
For qualifying operators with
multiple warehouses, there will also be greater flexibility
in the storage and movement of their goods between pre-approved
warehouses.
There will be three licence
types under the Zero GST Scheme – Type I, Type II
and Type III, to cater to companies with different needs
and different levels of internal controls.
- All existing BWS operators
will automatically qualify for the Type I licence. They
must reexport 80% of their imports, and report each transaction.
- Type II licensees are allowed
to operate from only one location and need to report their
activity to SC once a month. They must have a computerized
inventory system with the information required by SC.
- Type III licensees give the
most flexibility to companies. They can operate from multiple
locations, but must have a centralized warehouse management
system with upto-date stock records and robust track-andtrace
capability on their goods. These companies will need to
report their stocks only when requested by SC.
More operating details of the
Zero GST Scheme can be found in: http://www.customs.gov.sg/traders/licensingschemes/ZeroGSTWarehousingScheme
IS THIS SCHEME MEANT
FOR YOU?
The Zero GST Warehouse Scheme aims to strengthen Singapore’s
status as a logistics and distribution hub in the region.
You can tap on this scheme to reduce business costs if you
belong to any of the four categories of traders listed below:
(a) you trade in imported commodities
which are sold many times (within the warehouse premises)
before these commodities are released for regional/international
and/or local distribution. In this case, a zero-GST warehouse
affords the advantage of disregarding the multiple supplies
for GST purposes;
(b) you use Singapore as a regional/international
distribution hub (import goods into Singapore and then re-export
them). In this case, the zero-GST warehouse serves as your
“FTZ”. Goods which are eventually re-exported
will not attract GST. Goods are subject to GST only upon
release into the local market;
(c) you import goods for local
distribution and you wish to defer the GST on your imported
goods until they are released locally; or
(d) you operate a service warehouse
and you have customers belonging to the categories mentioned
in (a), (b) or (c) above.
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DISCLAIMER
Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information
on this newsletter, SFIC accepts no liability for damages
caused by misinterpretation of information, expressed or
implied, within this newsletter. No part of this newsletter
may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without prior
permission in writing from SFIC.
