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Singapore luxury furniture market battles new challenges

Local retailers weigh in on the state of the industry since the Covid boom years

    • Grafunkt's Joo Chiat store will feature new brands such as Marset, Varier and Kryptonite.
    • A sketch of Grafunkt's new store.
    • Space Furniture houses more than 20 brands in it 40,000 sq ft showroom.
    • A Varier Ekstrem ergonomic chair at Grafunkt.
    • The in-store experience is still necessary for shoppers, says Derek Lim of SPACE.
    • XTRA celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.
    • The classic Wishbone chair from Carl Hansen & Son costs almost S$1000.
    • Customers are drawn to the vintage Scandinavian furniture at Noden.
    • W. Atelier retails classic pieces such as Le Corbusier's LC4 chaise lounge.
    • Grafunkt's Joo Chiat store will feature new brands such as Marset, Varier and Kryptonite. PHOTO: GRAFUNKT
    • A sketch of Grafunkt's new store. PHOTO: GRAFUNKT
    • Space Furniture houses more than 20 brands in it 40,000 sq ft showroom. SPACE FURNITURE
    • A Varier Ekstrem ergonomic chair at Grafunkt. PHOTO: GRAFUNKT
    • The in-store experience is still necessary for shoppers, says Derek Lim of SPACE. PHOTO: SPACE FURNITURE
    • XTRA celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. PHOTO: XTRA
    • The classic Wishbone chair from Carl Hansen & Son costs almost S$1000. PHOTO: XTRA
    • Customers are drawn to the vintage Scandinavian furniture at Noden. PHOTO: NODEN
    • W. Atelier retails classic pieces such as Le Corbusier's LC4 chaise lounge. PHOTO: W.ATELIER

    Luo Jingmei

    Published Thu, Aug 1, 2024 · 06:00 PM

    AFTER 15 years of being housed in shopping malls, local furniture retailer Grafunkt’s new home will be in a quartet of Art Deco shophouses, far away from town in Joo Chiat. It will join the many independent boutiques and chic cafes that made the quaint enclave a favourite hangout destination post-Covid. 

    The new location that opens in August will enable Grafunkt to become more than just a place to buy furniture, says Jefery Kurniadidjaja, who co-founded the store with local furniture designer Nathan Yong in 2009. “We will be building a community of like-minded partners to join us on our new chapter, with the likes of an interior design firm, lifestyle and home accessories section, cafe, wine retailer and plant nursery.” Workshops and events will also help anchor it as a “design destination”. 

    Defining furniture retail 

    This move reflects the ongoing challenges faced by the local furniture industry to attract buyers, namely, parallel importers, high rental costs, and choosing the right locations and brands. Grafunkt started in Park Mall, later moving to Millenia Walk, where it also opened mono-stores for Ligne Roset and CondeHouse. Its last location was at Funan.

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