Palestinian furniture...a local industry facing the cost of raw materials and competition from imported ones

Hebron - Ofoq News - The home and office furnishings and furniture industry is one of the industrial sectors directly related to the lives of citizens and the needs of companies and offices, while this industry arose and developed in Palestine in response to the market’s need, until it now includes a wide base of craftsmen, professionals, carpenters, upholsterers, tailors, and engineers.

The expert in the furniture sector in Palestine, Rami Idris, says that the sector represents one of the basic sectors in the local economy, due to its connection to the needs of every home, office and company, noting that the development of the profession has contributed to providing a large portion of the market’s needs locally, and dispensing with a percentage of imported products.

Idris adds that the Palestinian market includes various industries, including home and office furniture, sofas, bedrooms, etc., in addition to a wide network of professionals related to this industry, stressing that the development of the sector came largely in response to the needs of the local market.

Imported competes with local

However, according to Idris, this industry faces competition from imported ready-made products, which entered the Palestinian market during the past years at low prices, which put pressure on the local product.

He points out that the comparison between the local and imported products should not be based on price alone, explaining that there are differences in the level of quality, durability and shelf life of the product.

He says that some of the imported products entering the market do not necessarily meet the needs of the Palestinian consumer in terms of quality, while the local industry has accumulated experience in manufacturing furniture that is characterized by durability and longevity, whether in sofas, bedrooms, or office furniture.

He adds that part of the problem is that the consumer views price as a basic criterion when purchasing, at a time when the differences in quality and shelf life of the product may be greater than the difference in price.

Why is the local product more expensive?

The Palestinian producer also faces a frequent question from the consumer: Why do the prices of locally manufactured furniture appear to be higher than some imported products?

Idris links this mainly to the high cost of production, explaining that the bulk of the raw materials used in the furniture industry comes from abroad.

He points out that wood and materials used in manufacturing sofas, bedrooms, offices, and other production requirements depend to a large extent on imports, which raises the cost of the final product.

According to Idris, the cost is not limited to raw materials, as the manufacture of high-quality furniture requires labor and experienced professionals, whether carpenters, upholsterers or others, which is also reflected in the cost of the product.

He emphasizes that producing a piece of furniture with a high level of quality requires skill and experience, and not every carpenter or upholsterer is necessarily capable of producing furniture with the same level of quality and finishing.

Quality is not just a matter of appearance

Idris believes that the discussion about the local product should not be limited to the price, but rather should include the quality of the materials used and their impact on the health of the consumer and the lifespan of the product.

He points out the importance of choosing good sponges, fabrics, and appropriate materials in the manufacture of sofas, mattresses, and furnishings, warning that using low-quality materials may lead to problems for the consumer, such as discomfort, back pain, or some types of allergies, depending on the nature of the materials used.

He emphasizes that the quality of furniture is not related to the external appearance alone, but rather to the materials involved in its manufacture, the method of manufacturing it, and its ability to last and be used for a long time.

Absence of specifications and standards

But one of the most prominent challenges posed by Idris relates to control over the furniture industry and the materials used in it.

He says that, in the current reality, the furniture sector is not subject to a clear and effective system of specifications and standards for these products, expressing his hope that there will be a greater role for standards and standards bodies, not only in monitoring locally manufactured products, but also in imported products.

It is considered that the presence of clear and unified specifications can achieve greater protection for the consumer, and at the same time provide fairer competition between the local and imported products, so that competition is not based only on price, but also on quality and specifications.

Product protection starts with the consumer

Between the high cost of raw materials, the cost of specialized labor, and price competition with imported products, the Palestinian furniture industry appears to be facing a difficult equation: How do it maintain quality and compete on price in a market that relies for a large part of its production inputs on imports?

Idris believes that part of the answer begins with consumer awareness, calling on citizens not to take price as the sole criterion when purchasing furniture and furnishings, and to also consider the quality of materials, manufacturing, and the shelf life of the product.

On the other hand, his speech places another responsibility on the official authorities, which is to develop the system of specifications, standards, and control of products, both local and imported, in a way that ensures that the consumer knows what he is buying, and gives the Palestinian producer an opportunity to compete on the basis of quality and specifications, and not price alone.