Furniture production is increasing in Georgia. According to "Galt & Taggart" data, in 2017-21, the share of local production in the furniture sector increased from 22.1% to 27.0%. In recent years, the increase in the production of furniture in the country has also been confirmed by local manufacturers.
Zuka Badridze, the general director of the Georgian furniture manufacturing company Homemade, explained to BMG that, due to the increased demand from both Georgian and foreign customers, the company has increased its production by 20% in the last year, and in the five-year period, the increase is 60%.
"In recent years, we have significantly increased production. 14 years ago, when we started operating in the market, we only produced outdoor furniture, and now we can buy everything that is needed for both home and hotel, for example, soft furniture, kitchen, accessories, and others. In addition, it is possible to order furniture of desired size, shape, or color from us. All this is convenient for the user, which indicates the increase in demand from their side. The increased demand determines the growth of our production. In 2022, we increased the production of products by about 20% and this dynamic will continue this year as well", - states Zuka Badridze.
Another Georgian furniture company, which increased production last year, is Shnoa. As its founder Givi Nioradze explained to BMG, the main reason for the increase in production in 2022 was the complication and increase in the price of furniture exports from China, which made the Georgian market more competitive and increased the demand for local production.
"2021 was a rather a big failure year, 2020 was not good either. And in 2022, everything changed for the better and we increased the production of products to 30%. which is due to both internal and external factors. Importing products from China has become more expensive, I mean the increase in the price of transportation. That is why, due to the price, certain products can no longer be brought to us, and local producers have become more competitive", Givi Nioradze says.
Another factor, by which the founder of the Shno company explains the increase in demand for locally produced furniture, is the Russian-Ukrainian war and the mass influx of migrants into the country. As Givi Nioradze notes, in 2022, the share of migrants in "Shno" furniture sales will increase to 10%. "Migrants who came to Georgia, be they Russians, Ukrainians or Belarusians, actively engaged in local business, opened hotels and restaurants, where, of course, they also need furniture. The demand for our products from their side is quite high", - said the founder of "Shno", Givi Nioradze.
