…would smell as sweet… that probably doesn’t apply to this handmade suar wood rose but I imagine Shakespeare would have had some fun with the idea.

If you’re in the US and planning to celebrate your 5th wedding anniversary, you might want to consider these unique, realistic and all around lovely wood roses as part of the gift.

Head over to JustPaperRoses.com for more images and details.

Bamboo Furniture Pricing Updated

We’ve just completed a minor update on our bamboo furniture pricing. As always, prices have gone up but it’s not a massive increase in this case. The bamboo furniture will remain a popular product partly as it’s still quite ‘exotic’ overseas and has recently developed a reputation for being a very eco-friendly alternative to solid wood furniture.

Other News Posts Related to “Bamboo Furniture“… going back to October 2006

• http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2008/03/19/bamboo-products-from-bali/
• http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2010/05/31/balinese-bamboo-windchimes-wholesale/
• http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2008/08/03/bemused-bamboozled-problems-with-importing-thatch-into-the-usa/
• http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2007/02/05/bamboo-products-41-new-models-now-online/
• http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2006/10/18/bamboo-furniture-from-bali-preview/

Product Lines Related to Bamboo Furniture in Our Catalogue:

• Balinese Baskets…
• Bamboo & Wood Containers…
• Bamboo Bird Houses…
• Bamboo Products…
• Bamboo Root…
• Bamboo Root Ducks…
• Bamboo Serving Trays…
• Bamboo Totems…
• Bamboo Vases…
• Bamboo Windchimes…
• Ceramic Incense and Spice Dishes…
• Drums, Rainsticks & Didgeridoos…
• Furniture — Bamboo…
• Inlaid Resin Photo Frames…
• Javanese Wood Trays & Coasters…
• Lampshades…
• Natural Flower…
• Pandan Boxes…
• Potpourri…
• Stationery – Organic Material…
• Tiki Bamboo…
• Wall Decorations…
• Woven Placemats…

As always, if there’s a style you have in mind but can’t find in our catalaog, go ahead and send us images and details — if we can’t find it, we can have it made for you.

Enjoy,

Sean

Note: don’t forget, in order to see pricing you must first logon or register for access to pricing.

Steps:

1. Logon or register for access to pricing.
2. Visit our banana leaf furniture : http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Furniture+–+Banana+Leaf
3. Download the updated price sheet here : http://www.indonesiaexport.com/price_sheet.php?category=Furniture+–+Banana+Leaf

You may also want to read back over the original price update post here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/2011/12/12/wholesale-balinese-banana-leaf-furniture-price-update/

Thanks,

Sean

The Indonesia Export Forum is now Open…

We’ll be adding categories, topics, questions and answers as we go. If you have anything you want in particular, post a comment here and we’ll see what we can do.

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/wordpress/forums/

Wholesale Banana Leaf furniture from Bali – Prices Updated.

Prices on Banana Leaf (bananaleaf) furniture have been due a price check since the beginning of this Summer and, sure enough, prices have gone up.

The makers (or weavers, if you prefer) blame the increase on higher fuel and transportation charges on raw materials as well as increases per kilo or cubic meter on the banana leaf itself.

Long story short, you’re looking at a 10-20 percent increase over the old pricing.

For example, BLF-400, a 2-seater Banana Leaf Sofa, used to cost just under US$150.00, now costs US$184.00.

Technical Details on Handmade Balinese Banana Leaf Furniture

Banana Fibers (also known as abaca fibers, abaca-banana fiber, musa textilis) have a high tensile strength and resist rot. Historically they have been used to make rope. They are environment friendly and renewable.

Banana Leaf furniture is hand woven from Banana fibers. The fibers arrive at the factory already treated against parasites and bugs.

The process starts with the building of frame out of wood. At this point in the process, once can select from a variety of wood options but usually banana leaf furniture is woven on top of fairly low quality wood.

We inspect the wood before production on our orders to ensure moisture content is in range (i.e. the wood is dry) and that the wood is free from bark.

The banana fibers are then woven to the furniture frames by hand, treated again to avoid insects and mould and then painted, stained and finished with a clear gloss top coat (you’re welcome to request alternative finishes for your orders).

We’ve uploaded a video to youtube so you can see exactly how this furniture is made – please click here to see the making of banana leaf furniture:

http://youtu.be/XLkXpAhgdl8

Depending on fiber stock and the complexity of an order, a 20’ container load of banana leaf furniture can usually be finished within 5 weeks.

Uses of Banana Leaf Furniture

The range includes mirrors, coffee tables, loungers, dining chairs, sofas – practically speaking any type of furniture can be adapted to be made from Banana Leaf.

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Coconut Wood Bowls

I do like banana leaf furniture in Bali… by which I mean I like it here as product to use here – we have a banana leaf sofa set in the office and one more in the warehouse. We’ve had them for years and they’ve stood the test of time pretty well.

We did see a little unraveling towards the base of one of the armchairs but were able to fix it pretty easily by gluing it back in place.

I’m not completely convinced about the general merits of exporting the banana leaf furniture. It’s inexpensive but bulky which means it takes up a lot of space inside a container. One banana leaf sofa set (2-seater sofa + 2 armchairs + 1 coffee table) can easily take up 3 cubic meters inside a container.

That means, you could quite easily fill a 20’ container with US$4,000 worth of product or less.

That’s a low value 20’ container and I really have no idea on what kind of returns you would be looking at… my guess is that this furniture is best imported either by specialist furniture outlets with the ability to retail sets and pieces at high volume or perhaps as just occasional pieces when your order is ready to go but you still have a few cubes of space of available.

I would also recommend against online only retailing simply because Ebay and price comparison websites routinely show, for example, banana leaf dining chairs at around the US$60.00 mark which is roughly the price we see them at here.

Obviously, we’re not talking about the same quality product but it’s almost impossible to judge that online.

Retail markups at higher class outlets like John Lewis, Ralph Lauren, HayNeedle and their ilk are much healthier.

Visit our banana leaf furniture online by clicking here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Furniture+–+Banana+Leaf

As always, if there’s a style you have in mind but can’t find in our catalaog, go ahead and send us images and details — if we can’t find it, we can have it made for you.

Conclusion & Final Word

Enjoy,

Sean

Note: don’t forget, in order to see pricing you must first logon or register for access to pricing.

The East is East catalogue is now live in time for Christmas…

…and it is bringing you unique, hand made products from Bali and across Asia.

Owner, Teresa Hamilton says,

“After traveling extensively around the world and seeing the range of products on offer, I wanted to find them readily available here when furnishing my home…

…so East is East was born and now we hope our unique, hand made products can help you achieve your dream.”

Whether you are looking for engaging tea light holders to softly glow on a summer’s evening, enchanting tropical fish mobiles for your child’s bedroom or stunning shell curtain tie-backs for your lounge there is something to suit everyone at East is East.

Look out for 2 great offers over the holiday season…

Enter the voucher / discount code LAUNCH11 at checkout for a 10% discount on all purchases. Offer is good until December 16th, 2011.

East is East is now offering free postage for all UK orders over £75… there’s no time limit on this offer.

Contact details for East is East:

East is East
Kitley Lodge
Lewes Road
Laughton,Lewes
East Sussex, BN8 6BQ
Tel: 01323 811078,[9am-6pm]
Email: info@eastiseasthome.co.uk

If you would like to be the first to know about the arrival of new stock, you can follow East to East on Facebook and Twitter:

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-is-East/270497356301840
• http://twitter.com/eastiseasthome

Congratulations and best of luck to Teresa and the whole team at East is East.

Wholesale Coconut Wood Bowls from Bali – Prices Updated.

We have replaced our original maker of coconut wood bowls with a new crafter in Bali. Prices have changed across the board – some pieces are now slightly cheaper than last months but most models are seeing a moderate increase in price (between 5 and 10%). over US$4.00.

Technical Details on Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls

Coconut / palm wood is probably the most widely spread and widely used and renewable wood source in Indonesia (take a look at this post on coconuts for a little more information).

These bowls are hand carved in Bali from locally sourced coconut wood. Production time on a small order (under 50 bowls) can take 4 weeks or more because of drying time.

Production usually begins with wet (high moisture content) wood being turned on a lathe.

Cut bowls are then left out in the sun to dry. As with other wood products, you do have the option and may request kiln drying but please note there will be further charges for this. Quotes from 3^rd party wood kiln suppliers are usually by the cubic meter – we’ll check and confirm before starting production.

When the bowls are dry, they are resanded by hand and stained or clear coated (if requested).

Uses of Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls

Generally, used for decoration only but can also be prepared with a food safe finish for use as dinnerware (for example, salad and serving bowls).

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Coconut Wood Bowls

I find the bowls, overall, to be a little pricey / expensive. That said, they’ve never gone out of fashion.

They seem to appeal to people from just about every sector and background… perhaps as an antidote to the ubiquitous Chinese plastic and Tupperware bowls.

They’re just as perfectly appropriate at a Danish dinner party as a Bali traditional feast. There’s no hint of ‘Asian-ness’. They’re simple, elegant. Everybody understands them.

Retail pricing of an average sized bowl (diameter 12 inches / 30 cm) seems to run around US$40.00 at the higher end catalogs (Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, John Lewis).

That looks fairly low at first but when you realize the bowls stack pretty well, are sturdy / robust in terms of shipping… you’re looking at a very good return per cubic meter if you have a customer base addicted to kitchen and dining and willing to part with the money. This is not for the cheap and cheerful, souvenir crowd.

Visit the wholesale coconut bowls category online by clicking here:

Coconutware…

If there’s a style you like but can’t find in our pages, go ahead and send us images and details — if we can’t find it, we can have it made for you.

You may also find these coconut related categories of interest:

Bamboo Windchimes…

Carved Coconut Shells…

Coconut Bag…

Coconut Utensils…

Natural Palm And Rattan Products…

Painted Coconut Leaf Platters…

Teak Wood Products…

Enjoy,

Sean

Note: don’t forget, in order to see pricing you must first logon or register for access to pricing.

…we are now including set fees on photography:

Pricing is based on one photograph per product, front view or slightly angled front view, plain background where possible.

Photographs will be provided in any file format you choose (including RAW).

Filenames will be connected to your product codes (to make life easy for you in terms of your print or online catalog).

If you’re looking for a more complex, retail style photo set or location shoot, please send us details — if we’re able to help, we’ll confirm back to you quickly with an estimate of charges.

You’re also welcome to request sample photographs from us.

Enjoy,

Sean

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 we’ll be closed for the major Bali holy day of Pagerwesi…

…well, that is to say that officially, we’re closed to observe the Bali holy day of Pagerwesi — in reality, I’m heading off to Bedugul with my wife and daughter for a picnic at the lovely Botanical gardens and maybe lunch by the lake.

However, many of my colleagues at Indonesia Export and our crafters & suppliers will be awake long before dawn to prepare their penjor (elaborately decorated flags… as in the photo on the left) and offerings for a very long, very full and very hot day of prayer and ceremony.

Notes on Pagerwesi

If you’re not familiar with Pagerwesi, you’ll find a lot of info online but here’s a quick summary before you go searching:

Pagerwesi is one of the more important Bali Hindu religions days (one or two wesbites note it as the 3rd most important day after Nyepi and Galungan).

It is said to be more celebrated in the North than in the South (where we’re based) but I have no information as to why that might be so.

Pager  means fence and wesi means metal… this ‘metal fence’  symbolises the strengthening of mental and spiritual defenses against evil.

If you’re in town for Pagerwesi, drop us a line by email, facebook or twitter.

Here are a couple more websites to check out with info on the Pagerwesi celebration (note all links are set to open in a new tab or window):

http://www.somewhereintheworldtoday.com/various-dates-pagerwesi/ (this is where I got the photo)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/28/balinese-hindus-celebrate-pagerwesi.html

Have a lovely day and mind your fence.

Sean

Bali Wood Cat Statues – Siamese Style (opens in new tab or window).

We are updating our Siamese Cat category with new pricing. Prices are going up across the category by an average of 20%. Prices now range from US$1.40 to just over US$4.00.

Technical Details on Bali Siamese Style Wood Cat Statues

All of these statues are made from albesia wood. They are handcarved and handpainted.  Orders of up to 200 pieces will take approximately 3-4 weeks production lead time. Please also add one more week, quality control, labeling and standard packing. Total lead time 4-5 weeks (assuming custom production from scratch).

Production usually runs in 3 distinct stages. One carver works with the albesia wood blocks to carve the basic shapes. These rough cut cat statues are then delivered to another carver who will make sure the cat statues are finely sanded and that the detailing is correct. The unpainted wood carvings are then left to dry in the sun – optionally, you may request kiln drying but please note there will be further charges for this. Quotes from 3^rd party wood kiln suppliers are usually by the cubic meter – we’ll check and confirm before starting production. When the wood is dry, the wooden cat statues are cleaned and then painted with an acrylic / water based paint.

Uses of Siamese Style Bali Wood Cat Statues

These cat statues are usually decoration only – they can be ordered as calendars, money banks, bookends, candleholders and so on. Please note that like most painted wood product lines, the cats are made from albesia wood and therefore tend not to be heavy… they’re not the greatest bookends in the world nor the most stable candleholders.

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Siamese Style Bali Wood Cat Statues

They’re cute and funny and may very well appeal to your cat lover customers and buyers. Albesia wood products tend to be inexpensive. Around the web, you’ll see versions of these cats selling online anywhere from $10.00 to $80.00 depending on the size and style so it looks like you may be able to retail at a steady 4-500% or possibly better. Statues like these are not terribly fragile.

The main focus should be to ensure they’re dry at the point of painting. Meaning, you need a quality control interval before they’re painted. Otherwise, the paint seals in the moisture and then comes back out as black fungus which totally ruins the paint job and makes them impossible to sell.

Visit the category online by clicking here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Siamese+Cats

If there’s a style you like but can’t find in our pages, go ahead and send us images and details — if we can’t find it, we can have it made for you.

Enjoy,

Sean

Don’t forget: in order to see pricing you must first logon or register for access.