Ludhiana furniture makers tide over China threat

After facing stiff competition from their Chinese counterparts, Ludhiana's furniture manufacturers are all set to bounce back, but lack of latest designs and attractive finishing, and government apathy are preventing them from achieving the kind of success they want.

Chinese furniture, which dominated 50 per cent of the furniture market for the past five years, has now become stagnant.

Ludhiana's furniture industry, with 500-odd manufacturing units in and around the city, is the source of livelihood for almost a thousand families here.

The industry, which supplies furniture to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir, etc, comprises very small units and cannot survive the competition without government help and protection.

Style Spa Furniture Ltd Branch Manager Kuldeep Aswal said though Chinese furniture had great design and finishing, its poor quality had reduced its popularity. Besides, the Chinese furniture cannot be repaired.

According to industry sources, this is the best time to take advantage of the situation and reduce Chinese domination.

Ludhiana Furniture Manufacturers Association President Neeraj Chawla said the decrease in the demand for Chinese furniture could prove beneficial for the indigenous industry, provided the industry got government support.

"There is no doubt that the demand for Chinese furniture, after a steep rise, has gone down. We have a lot to learn from the Chinese, be it their government or their industry," Chawla added.

"Problems like lack of infrastructure, creativity and awareness are hampering the growth of the industry. The industry feels neglected by the government. If we get a little support from our government we can virtually wipe out the Chinese products which are quite inferior in quality as compared to our local products," added Chawla.