WORLD’S BEST FURNITURE COMPANIES
Top companies and exceptional individuals of the international furniture and interiors trade and industry were recognised at the International Furniture Leadership Awards 2020/2021 (FLA International) and International Interior Design Awards 2020/2021 (IDA International) joint award presentation ceremony. The event was held on 29 April 2021 via Zoom.
In addition to award winners, the international judging panel as well as the programs’ global partners, the ceremony was attended by heads of Apex regional and national associations around the world.
Amongst the award winners are some of the most successful and most outstanding players in their respective markets today.
2021 WINNERS
AWARD SECRETARIAT REPORT
At the start of the current 2021 edition, the two programs together received over 60 international nominations from over two dozen countries. However as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, almost half withdrew with many quoting the disruption caused by the pandemic. A couple were stumbled by the demanding evaluation questionnaire and failed to submit in time.
At the end of the assessment exercise, the international judging panel arrived at the final number of 14 companies/organisations and four individuals qualifying for the awards. Together they collected a total of 22 awards. These outstanding companies and individuals come from retail, wholesale, manufacturing, interior design, interior fit-out and trade associations. They represent 16 countries covering Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and North America.
WINNERS BRIEF
COMPANY AWARDS
1. AA Corporation, Vietnam
Established in 1993 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, AA Corporation is a well-known brand in the global interior fit-out business with a strong presence in the hospitality sector.
The company currently has 13 subsidiaries operating in 7 countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Japan, USA, Singapore, Thailand) and exports to 40 countries worldwide. It boasts one-stop manufacturing facilities totalling 500,000 sqm.
AA Corporation was awarded the FLA International’s Brand Excellence Award, Product Excellence Award, as well as Outstanding Company Award of IDA International.
2. Akase Co., Ltd, Japan
Established in 1961 in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, Akase Co., Ltd. Celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
With MASTERWAL as its major brand, the company provides furniture and interior decoration products and services which enrich and delight customers’ lifestyle under the management vision, “We will do our utmost to improve life and culture so as to become a company that contributes to society.”
The company current manufactures a huge portfolio of products including TV stands, sofa, beds, dining tables and many more.
Akase won the FLA international Outstanding Company Award
3. Deesawat Industries Co., Ltd, Thailand
One of Thailand’s most well recognised designer and manufacturer of outdoor furniture, Deesawat is famous for its use of teak in its production and also building furniture for the hospitality and projects sectors.
The company won the very prestigious Thailand Prime Minister’s Export Award under the category of Design Excellence in 2011. In addition, it has also won the G-Mark Award and SME Thailand Inno Awards 2015 that prove its quality and uniqueness. The company also received the distinguished Thailand Trust Mark, which signifies that DEESAWAT shines, not only for its excellent quality, but also for its artful design.
A former winner of FLA Asia, Deesawat Industries won the FLA International Outstanding Company Award
4. Federmobili, Italy
Federmobili is Italian Federation of Furniture Retailers. It represents and defends the interests of more than 16.000 Italian companies in the distribution of furniture with more than 18.000 points of sale throughout the country. The association is composed by about two hundred fifty direct members, and four thousand and five hundred other through fifty local Professional Unions.
The association represents the interests of the distribution, Federmobili promotes the development of the retailers, helping to strengthen the spirit of association of the category and the interchange of relations between the various actors in the supply chain.
Federmobili is winner of the FLA International Outstanding Company Award
5. Gagu Guide, South Korea
Korea’s no 1 furniture trade magazine, Gagu Guide serves the entire Korean market covering the manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, retail and design sectors. Strong not only in bringing the domestic industry and market together, the publication also links Korea with the global markets.
In addition to publishing, the magazine organises a national furniture design competition annually.
Gagu Guide was been awarded the FLA international Outstanding Company Award.
6. High Point Market Authority, USA
USA is the world’s largest furniture market and High Point is known as the centre of the US furniture trade and industry. The city is the nerve centre of US furniture.
The High Point Market Authority is the official sponsor and organizer of the biannual High Point Market, the event where the latest home furnishings styles, trends, and products are introduced.
As the Market’s presenters, the authority oversees the marketing and operations functions, unifying the trade show to keep this vital economic driver moving forward.
High Point Market Authority received the FLA international Outstanding Company Award.
7. IQI Concept Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
IQI Concept is a leading full service interior design and renovation company in Malaysia. The company specialises in residential and commercial projects
Amongst the many prestigious project they have taken on is Coway’s first-ever customer experience center in the world located in Kuala Lumpur which was completed recently.
IQI Concept won the IDA International Outstanding Company Award.
8. JCS Design Project Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
An award winning company, JSC Design Project was established since 2003 boasting more than 18 years of business experience.
The company is recognised as a leading design and build one-stop service provider in Malaysia with its own in-house designer team, provides in-house site supervision as well as its own factory production.
JCS Design Project was awarded the IDA International Outstanding Company Award.
9. Matthew Lim Associates, Malaysia
Matthew Lim Associates is a top design house specialising in bespoke luxury residences and hospitality projects. The company’s philosophy is “Every Design tells a story”.
The company has undertaken many prestigious residential and commercial projects.
Matthew Lim Associates received the IDA International Outstanding Company Award.
10. Picket & Rail Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore
Singapore’s leading retailer of premium solid wood furniture, Picket & Rail offers their customers high quality products with a focus on unique, highly functional designs. The company is also exclusive franchisee of several top furniture and deco brands such as Kuka Home, Norya, A&B Home and so on.
The company also has a division that caters to the Interior Design and Interior Fit-out business.
Picket & Rail Holdings received the Outstanding Company Award for both FLA International and IDA International.
11. Royaloak Incorporation Pvt Ltd, India
The sole winner from India is Royalaok Incorporation Co., Ltd.
Royaloak Furniture is India’s leading Furniture brand. It has more than 100+ stores across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kerala, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities of India. The company has online sales, wholesale distribution, franchising, retail and other verticals in furniture.
Royaloak Incorporation Co., Ltd received the FLA International Brand Excellence Award.
12. Samin Furniture, Iran
Samin Furniture is Iran’s leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of classic furniture.
Taking great pride, its products are artistic and handmade using high quality raw materials. They are designed ergonomically according to the needs of the customers and the dimensions of the residential units.
Samin Furniture won the FLA International Product Excellence Award
13. Seki Furniture Co., Ltd, Japan
Seki Furniture is Japan’s leading furniture wholesaler that distributes products to approximately 3,600 furniture stores nationwide. ○ The company aims to be a company that can provide not only furniture, but also all of the clothing, food, and shelter necessary for daily life.
Seki furniture won the FLA International Outstanding Company Award
14. PT Home Center Indonesia (INFORMA), Indonesia
With a vision to be the most preferred lifestyle furnishing store in Indonesia, INFORMA provides a wide range of quality furnishings for home, office and businesses in affordable and competitive prices covering from low to high-end markets with excellent value services, sustainable improvement, and comfortable shopping environment both through their omni-channel platform and off-line stores with professional staff.
Although only 17 years old, the company has grown rapidly to become Indonesia’s largest retailer of furniture and furnishing products with more than 100 stores across the country.
PT Home Center Indonesia (INFORMA) won FLA International Outstanding Company Award and Brand Excellence Award.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
1. Ali Ansar Ghumman, CFO, Trendline Furnishers (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan
Ali Ansar Ghumman joined the family business in 2006 with a degree in Commerce. With a strong desire to contribute to the national industry, he was appointed chairman of All Pakistan Furniture Manufacturers Association in 2013 at the age of 32. At 35, he was appointed president of the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce due to his active contribution. He is the EC member of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
Ghumman received the FLA International Outstanding Young Leader Award.
2. Arie Wissmann, CEO, Wissmann Holdings, Israel
Arie Wissmann is the CEO of Wissmann Group, the largest furniture company in Israel. The company is involved in both the wholesale and retail businesses. As CEO, in addition to strategic planning and regular operations, Wissmann travels the world to source the best furniture for his customers. The company will celebrate their 90 years in business next year.
Arie Wissmann won the FLA International Outstanding Leader Award
3. Shermaine Ong, Group Executive Director Singapore Furniture Industries Council, Singapore
Shermaine Ong joined Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) in 1989 and has served the council faithfully for 32 years.
Currently as the Group Executive Director of the SFIC, Ong leads the SFIC Secretariat and has both strategic and operational responsibilities to grow and transform SFIC members and the Singapore furniture industry.
Ong was appointed to the Board of the SFIC Institute in 2011. This institute is the training and skills development arm of SFIC to help upskill, reskill industry workforce and job creation.
Shermaine Ong is recipient of the FLA International Outstanding Woman Leader Award.
GLOBAL CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD
4. Meutia Kumala, Managing Director, PT Home Center Indonesia (INFORMA)
In a span of merely 17 years, PT Home Center Indonesia (commonly known as Informa, its retail brand) has grown to become the largest and most successful furniture and interiors retailer in Indonesia. The company boasts a multi-brand strategy to serve the different tiers of the market. It also has an omni-channel concept that combines online and offline shopping experiences.
Today the company’s products are not only available through their 100 stores located in 45 cities across the country, but customers can also obtain Informa products online through company owned platform and other marketplaces.
In addition to the company winning both the Outstanding Company Award and Brand Excellence Award under FLA International, Meutia Kumala received the Global CEO of the Year award, the program’s highest accolade.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Held annually to celebrate excellence, International Furniture Leadership Awards (FLA International) and International Interior Design Awards (IDA International) honour organisations that are well-run as well as individuals that display remarkable leadership. In addition to enhancing the brand value of awardees, the program sets benchmarks, identify and build role models for the sector, galvanises furniture companies to move forward and scale greater heights.
Together the two programs are open to furniture retailers, manufacturers, traders, material and machinery suppliers, industry associations, fair organisers as well as other service providers worldwide. Past awardees include some of the largest-, best managed- and fastest growing companies in the different countries around the world.
International Furniture Leadership Awards (FLA International) and International Interior Design Awards (IDA International) are organised by FurnitureAndFurnishing.com, Asia’s leading business-to-business furniture import-export media. The programs are endorsed by International Alliance of Furnishing Publications, an association of 18 top furniture trade publications around the world. They are supported by CIFF Guangzhou, the world’s largest furniture and interiors trade fair.
To access the 2021 Awards Commemorative Book, please visit: http://furnitureleadership.com/ebook/
To access the 2021 Awards Video Presentation, please visit: https://youtu.be/_1N-TD3NeY0
To access the 2021 Award Ceremony Photos, please click: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5i2tp0nwhxkpgvq/AABLAnkz0KgaaTK8p1UGu375a?dl=0
For more information, please visit: www.FurnitureLeadership.com; www.IDExcellence.com or write to fla@apsmediagroup.com
Nomination for the 2022 Edition will open on 1 July 2021
