Singapore luxury furniture market battles new challenges

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.