Indonesia Export News & Updates » Product Feature

Bamboo Furniture

Sean — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:33:22 +0000

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.

Product Lines Related to Bamboo Furniture in Our Catalogue:

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.

Banana Leaf Furniture — Prices Re-Uploaded

Sean — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:27:36 +0000

We updated our “banana leaf furniture” pricing a couple of days ago but have now re-uploaded the entire category… if you were working on an order please download the latest price sheet.

Steps:

Logon or register for access to pricing.
Visit our banana leaf furniture : http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Furniture+–+Banana+Leaf
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

Wholesale Balinese Banana Leaf Furniture – Price Update

Sean — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:28:09 +0000

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

Banana Leaf Furniture Reviewed by Sean Hynes on Dec 12
A nice product made in an interesting way but not a ‘get rich quick’ import.
A little too bulky to be hugely profitable but potentially a useful, inexpensive addition to your container if you have empty space or you are a high volume furniture retailer. Rating: 3.5

Enjoy,

Sean

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

Wholesale Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls – Price Update

Sean — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:35:36 +0000

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.

Wholesale Bali Wood Siamese Style Cat Statues — Price Update

Sean — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:56:02 +0000

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.

Wholesale Palm Pots & Vases from Bali — Price Update

Sean — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:48:35 +0000

Bali Palm vases, pots and occasional furniture.

We’re announcing a price increase across the range of our Palm Pots and Vases category. Prices are increasing by roughly 5-10% across the board. Prices now range from approximately US$21.00 all the way up to around US$250.00.

Technical Details on Bali Palm Pots and Vases

These vases and pots are made from the Asian Palmyra (Borassus flabellifer) which can be found in Bali, throughout Indonesia and across Asia.

Each vase is hollowed, sanded repeatedly then hand finished until completely smooth or carved and detailed with designs of your choice.

Even a small order of Palm Vases can take up to a month production and finishing time. Vases are cut and carved while still very wet (meaning high moisture content) and thus one of the biggest issues can be drying time especially during the Bali rainy season. To improve drying time, many of the big vases are completely hollowed and the base is replaced with plywood.

Uses of Bali Palm Pots and Vases

These vases are not water tight so if you’re planning to use them as planters for fresh flower arrangements, you’ll need a liner. We’ve seen them poolside and in hotel lobbies as decoration. Around the home with dried flowers. They’ve been refitted as occasional furniture — shelves, tables with glass and so on. My guess is that they’re best as interior pieces (the waxy gloss quickly fades outside) and as they trap water without actually holding it, they’re probably not quite durable enough to withstand 4 seasons for more than a few years. In Winter, you’d have to watch them contract and run the risk of cracks.

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Bali Palm Pots and Vases

We believe palm pots and vases represent a fairly good value investment and are a worthwhile import as part of a wider range of products.

We’ve seen relatively common pots online retailing for US$1,000 or more — representing 700% on cost.

Of course, we can’t tell from other people’s catalogs if they’re actually selling at those prices but if you have a nice showroom with expensive furniture on display, a matched pair of these pots will look great.

Most likely, retailers will enjoy closer to 500% on the smaller and mid-sized planter style vases.

Shipping wise, these pots and vases take up plenty of room — they’re bulky and thus expensive to ship. On the other hand, they’re robust rather than fragile and that’s a relief. Even if they do get scratched or damaged, most likely the problem is recoverable.

Perhaps they’re best at the very end of a container — if you have a few cubic meters of free space, these would make very good, quick and easy additions to your shipment.

Visit our category online by clicking here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Palm+Tree

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

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

Bali Handcarved Albesia Wood Fancy Products — Price Update

Sean — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:31:44 +0000

We have just updated our prices on the Bali Rococo product line…

…and as I come to type those words, I realise I screwed up when I named this line Bali Rococo…

…and how did I screw up, precisely?

A number of ways, really but here are the two glaring errors:

Firstly, rococo is an 18th century French style. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings.

It’s the kind of flowery, ornate style I think of every time I watch the Three Musketeers (usually the Tom & Jerry version).

My mistake: not only does Rococo not really describe our product line but it’s French and historical… it has nothing to do with Bali. I would have been better off calling the line Handcarved Albesia Wood Decor or Handmade Ornate Carved Decor… something straightforward.

In fact, if you have any ideas, email us and if we use your name for the category, we’ll produce any two pieces you like at no charge to go in your next shipment.

Secondly, when I laid out the category, it ended up with the first page showing only the corbels and shelves… you’d think that’s all there was but if you keep flicking through the pages, you find not just more items but two other whole types of item:

Page One: Corbels & Shelves — http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?category=Bali+Rococo

Page Two: mostly Shelves but a few decorative Medallions at the bottom of the page — http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?pageNum_rs_prod_thumbs=1&totalRows_rs_prod_thumbs=60&category=Bali+Rococo

Page Three: more Medallions and Mirrors from half way down the page — http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?pageNum_rs_prod_thumbs=2&totalRows_rs_prod_thumbs=60&category=Bali+Rococo

Page Four: last page — all mirrors — http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame.php?pageNum_rs_prod_thumbs=3&totalRows_rs_prod_thumbs=60&category=Bali+Rococo

Ah well. You live. You don’t always learn.

Prices are up to date as of today.

Please take a moment to look back through the category — we’re sure you’ll like the products.

Enjoy,

Sean

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

Wholesale Silver Jewelry Prices Go Up

Sean — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:27:21 +0000

We have no choice but to raise prices across the board on our wholesale silver jewelry.

If any of you have been following silver pricing over the past year, you’ll have found that silver, like gold has risen steadily in value — I guess the precious metals are a safe bet during times of economic instability.

Long story short, silver itself has doubled in value (or more) since this time last year — head over to kitco.com for the silver history charts if you need more details.

We’re not doubling prices but it’s a fairly steep increase all the same — as much as 20% on certain items.

Like everyone, we’re doing our best to keep prices down.

To see all of our wholesale silver jewelry, click here:

And here are the categories:

Usually, at this point, I say, “Enjoy” but it doesn’t seem right today.

Regards,

Sean

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

Stone Washbasins – Prices Cut… chiselled down… no, hammered.

Sean — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:06:36 +0000

We’ve managed to dramatically reduce pricing on most of our natural stone, marble and granite washbasins.

For one or two pieces, prices are basically unchanged but the average reduction across the line works out to be a very healthy 33% saving on last months list pricing with some pieces going down by nearly 60%.

I don’t often use exclamation marks but… HOLY COW! SIXTY PERCENT!!

We’re happy.

See the new pricing by clicking the image above or following this link:

Bali and Java Stone Washbasins Wholesale Promotion

You may also want to take a quick look at our July Promotion page:

Indonesia Export – July Promotion

Enjoy,

Sean

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

Wholesale Prices Cut – Indonesia Export Sale begins July 10th

Sean — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:23:47 +0000

We’ve reached that time of year again when orders start to pick up for Autumn and Christmas sales.

This year, we’re kicking off the season a little differently — we have a promotion and a promise:

The Promotion… July 10th to August 10th

For the next month, we’re lowering wholesale pricing on the following product lines:

Balinese Umbrellas & Umbrella Stands

So far this year, Balinese Umbrellas have been one of our most requested and ordered product lines — we’re now offering them at nearly 20% lower than list price based on orders of 10 pieces per color / motif.

We’re also offering the handcarved Stone Umbrella Stands with similar savings. So, if you had any plan to buy these from us this year, now is the time to order.

******

Bamboo & Wood Containers & Offering Baskets

Surprisingly popular — meaning, we were surprised — these traditional food and offering baskets have been brought back up to date with new colors, motifs and styles.

The Covered Baskets have been reduced by around 20% from list and we’ve gone even further with the Offering Baskets, now reduced by 30% from list.

******

Here are those links again:

Or you can see all the sale items by going here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/frame_search.php?search=july+promotion&=Search

******

The Stock Catalogue — Sale

600 products now on sale — 15 categories including Abstract Carvings, Buddha Reliefs, Drums, Rainsticks & Didgeridoos, Handbags, Javanese Style Wooden Decor, Mosaic Bowls & Pots, Tiki Figures and more.

Go directly to the Sale items by clicking here:

http://www.indonesiaexport.com/iex-stock/prices-drop.php?n=20&orderby=price&orderway=asc

******

Notes & Terms

Prices go back to normal on August 11th.
No further discounts are available on these items — you’re welcome to ask but the answer will be ‘no’.
Promotion prices do not include packing material or any freight related costs.
Promotional prices are only available for customers ordering US$2,000 or more.
If the rupiah exchange rate changes dramatically between now and August 10th, we may have to change pricing to reflect the new rate — ongoing orders should not be affected.

******

The Price Promise…

We promise that if you can find one of our products (same material, workmanship, quality, size, etc.) cheaper from one of our competitors, we’ll do everything possible to match or better that price.

Likewise, if there’s a product you want and it’s not already in our catalogue, you can send us all the details and we’ll do everything we can to match or beat that price.

If you have any questions, drop us a line.

Regards,

Sean

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

Indonesia Export News & Updates » Product Feature

Bamboo Furniture

Bamboo Furniture Pricing Updated

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

Product Lines Related to Bamboo Furniture in Our Catalogue:

Banana Leaf Furniture — Prices Re-Uploaded

Wholesale Balinese Banana Leaf Furniture – Price Update

Wholesale Banana Leaf furniture from Bali – Prices Updated.

Technical Details on Handmade Balinese Banana Leaf Furniture

Uses of Banana Leaf Furniture

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Coconut Wood Bowls

Conclusion & Final Word

Wholesale Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls – Price Update

Wholesale Coconut Wood Bowls from Bali – Prices Updated.

Technical Details on Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls

Uses of Balinese Coconut Wood Bowls

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Coconut Wood Bowls

Wholesale Bali Wood Siamese Style Cat Statues — Price Update

Technical Details on Bali Siamese Style Wood Cat Statues

Uses of Siamese Style Bali Wood Cat Statues

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Siamese Style Bali Wood Cat Statues

Wholesale Palm Pots & Vases from Bali — Price Update

Technical Details on Bali Palm Pots and Vases

Uses of Bali Palm Pots and Vases

Importing, Wholesaling and Retailing Bali Palm Pots and Vases

Bali Handcarved Albesia Wood Fancy Products — Price Update

Wholesale Silver Jewelry Prices Go Up

Stone Washbasins – Prices Cut… chiselled down… no, hammered.

Wholesale Prices Cut – Indonesia Export Sale begins July 10th

The Promotion… July 10th to August 10th

Balinese Umbrellas & Umbrella Stands

Bamboo & Wood Containers & Offering Baskets

Here are those links again:

The Stock Catalogue — Sale

Notes & Terms

The Price Promise…