LESS EXPENSIVE FURNITURE NOW OKAY TO JAPANESE

ECONOMIC RECESSION IN JAPAN HAS MADE THE PRICE, RATHER THAN THE QUALITY, OF FURNITURE AND HOME PRODUCTS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. EXPORTERS OF HOME COMPONENTS AND FURNITURE WARES TO JAPAN, SAID HIROYUKI MORIYA, AN IMPORT PRODUCTS SPECIALIST WITH THE JAPAN EXTERNAL TRADE ORGANIZATION (JETRO), IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GLOBALFAX ON JULY 10.

MR. MORIYA, AN EXPERT ON JAPAN’S FURNITURE INDUSTRY, IS IN THE U.S.  JULY 9-16 TO VISIT FURNITURE AND WOOD PRODUCTS COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EXPORT TO JAPAN.  HE WILL PURCHASE SAMPLES OF SUITABLE PRODUCTS, AND BRING THEM BACK TO JAPAN FOR DISPLAY AT MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

IN THE PAST, SAID MR. MORIYA, THE U.S. HAS EXPORTED ONLY HIGH-QUALITY FURNITURE TO JAPAN.  SINCE THE RECESSION, HE SAID, CUSTOMERS HAVE BEGUN TO NEED LESS EXPENSIVE FURNITURE, AND DON’T CARE ABOUT QUALITY AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.  “THEY KNOW THAT IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO MAKE EVERY INCH OF THE PRODUCTS TOP-QUALITY,” HE ADDED.

MR. MORIYA’S VISIT IS PART OF JETRO’S IMPORT PRODUCT SPECIALIST PROGRAM, IN WHICH VETERAN EXPERTS FROM JAPAN’S PRIVATE SECTOR ARE SENT TO THE U.S. ON THREE TO SIX WEEK MISSIONS TO LOOK FOR NEW PRODUCTS WHICH MIGHT APPEAL TO JAPANESE CONSUMERS.  CONSULTATION AND EXHIBIT REPRESENTATION SERVICES, AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDING AND SHIPPING CHARGES WITHIN JAPAN, ARE COVERED BY JETRO.

A SPECIALIST IN BUILDING MATERIALS, TAMOTSU YAMANI, WILL VISIT THE U.S. FROM JULY 17-20, AND A VISIT LATER THIS YEAR FOCUSING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS IS BEING PLANNED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JETRO AND ITS PROGRAMS, CALL (404) 681-0600; FAX (404) 681-0713.