More than 90 pieces of locally made furniture will be loaded into a shipping container next week as Bendigo’s own Jimmy Possum prepares to take on international markets.
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Owners Margot and Alan Spalding and the executive team will present the Jimmy Possum designs at the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2015 next month.
Industry insiders consider the fair the leading platform of choice for furniture and lifestyle sourcing with thousands of people attending the annual event.
While the Jimmy Possum team has attended national and international decor fairs in the past, this will be the first time the brand will present to international buyers for the overseas market.
“It is exciting for the brand, that after 20 years we are launching into the export arena,” says incoming CEO Boris Bielert.
“While we have had success in recent years with people from overseas buying through our online stores this is our first real push into new overseas markets.”
Bielert has recently been named as head of Jimmy Possum, as co-managing director Margot Spalding opted to step aside and focus more on design.
Among the goods to be shipped are buffets, soft furnishing, dining settings, occasional chairs and artworks. The team has the items under wraps at the Jimmy Possum manufacturing site in Bendigo East.
“We have deliberately chosen to showcase particular palettes. Our ranges include more neutral colour schemes, greens and blues, and the brighter pinks and purples,” Bielert says. The items will also showcase various styles, fabric designs and timbers used in manufacturing.
“Obviously, we don’t know how well received our furniture will be - as it will take some time to flow through to buyers and consumers and back to us. It takes courage to put ourselves out there and compete on the international stage. If we do well, then that is good news not just for us but for Bendigo, as we are a regional manufacturer.”
IFFS will be held in Singapore from March 13-16 and is supported by the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council. About 60,000sqm of space will be filled with furniture items from 100 countries.
Jimmy Possum is one of four Australian companies exhibiting in Singapore and joins newcomers from Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Peru in taking the plunge to penetrate the Asian or global market. This year, organisers have reported a 20 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors from Europe, with collections on display from businesses from countries such as Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
“It’s important for us to have the executive team there as they represent the design, manufacturing and retail side of the business,” Bielert says. “We will be able to answer questions from buyers and make decisions in a matter of minutes, which is important when you attend events such as this. People will want information in a timely manner and we will be ready to showcase what we have.”
