Exhibitors at the ongoing Furnex Expo 2014 at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall said that locally manufactured, custom-designed furniture was proving to be a great hit with customers.

“Furniture in modern designs has given momentum to the domestic furniture market, which is largely dominated by imported products,” said Krishna Lal Pradhan, president of the Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA). “Until a few years ago, imported furniture used to account for 85 percent of the furniture market. Now domestic furniture commands 40 percent of the total furniture sales in the country.”

According to the association, the domestic furniture market is estimated to be worth Rs 25 billion annually and growing at the rate of 10 percent.

“People are spending more and more money on interior decor these days, and they want to furnish their homes with durable and comfortable furniture as per the space available. This is the major reason behind the surge in the domestic furniture business,” said Ashok Shah, managing director of Muskan Interior.

Heera Maharjan, owner of Best Interior Furniture, said that modern and affordable beds, wardrobes and dining tables costing Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 were the most popular products at the expo.

Similarly, the most talked about product at the fair is a round bed costing Rs 60,000. “The round bed design is new in Nepal, and it has gained popularity in the market,” said Maharjan. “We have received around eight orders from customers at the expo so far.”

The furniture exhibition has been organized by the NFFA in association with Shaan Furniture. It aims to provide a single platform for buyers and sellers of furniture and furnishing products.

There are 66 big and small stalls showcasing a wide range of interior decor products and furniture and furnishing related products. Besides, the expo has various stalls offering information about interior design and its utility, banking and finance, paints, flooring and carpeting, among others.

Exhibitors have announced various discount schemes in a bid to attract customers. Index Furniture offers a 20 percent discount on its sofa and coffee table set and a 10 percent discount on home decorative items. Similarly, Shaan Furniture and SB Furniture have also offered discounts on selected items.

According to the organisers, around 25,000 people have visited the expo in the last three days. “We have expected 150,000 visitors this year and have estimated

business transactions of more than Rs 100 million during the expo,” said Pradhan. The expo will run till Saturday.