Comfort & Style
Amberely Furniture offers a service that matches the quality of its products.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Your choice of furniture and interior accessories is what makes a house a home. However small or grand the actual house may be, it’s the finishing touches that show the personality and style of the owners.
On Samui, the choice of available furniture has always been somewhat limited. However, over the last couple of years, more outlets offering a wider selection of furniture items and styles have begun to appear around the island.
Most western-owned, or -managed, furniture stores tend to aim at the high-end home owners. But at Amberely Furniture the concept is to provide items styled and designed to suit western tastes and expectations, at very reasonable prices. The furniture offered could be described as being made from appropriate, local tropical materials with a contemporary design twist. And the result of this is a selection of quality furniture pieces that have a very natural feel, and that would sit comfortably in any style of home.
Jeanette Morton is behind this venture which opened in August 2007. She explains that when she and her husband bought their home on Samui seven years ago there was very little choice when it came to buying the furniture they wanted. So, having moved here full-time, and when looking for a business of some description, furniture sales stood out as an obvious choice.
During that seven-year period Jeanette recognised that the growth in western home-ownership has been considerable. And, despite the increase in furniture outlets, there was still room for a company that could offer good quality, stylishly designed furniture at affordable prices.
Retail is nothing new to Jeanette; in fact, she has over 25 years’ experience in the retail industry in the UK. So, that background, combined with a good eye for stylish furniture pieces, is the perfect recipe for a successful business here on the island.
The concept at Amberely Furniture is to offer an honest approach in terms of pricing and service. For instance, some other outlets price furniture in such a way as to allow room for bargaining by the customer; others do not have prices visibly displayed so that customers have to ask the price and enter into that bargaining stage; and some price every individual piece separately, even if it’s part of a set. At Amberely Furniture the approach is a little more straightforward. Every item is clearly priced and every item is offered at the price at which it is to be sold. By pricing things appropriately in the first place there’s no need for bargaining.
If you see a table and six chairs, or a three-piece suite, then they’ll be priced as a set; if you require additional chairs then the price for these can be always be added on afterwards. The aim of this direct pricing practice is to eliminate any confusion over what the price is, and what’s included in that price. It’s a very western approach to retail.
When you enter the showroom in Bo Phut, on the ring-road directly opposite the Samui Palm Beach Resort, you’ll be welcomed and acknowledged by Jeanette or another smiling staff member and then left to browse through the items on show at your own leisure. This way you can see the prices and not feel pressured by someone standing on your shoulder.
The majority of the products displayed are sourced from Chiang Mai and the blend of natural, traditionally used materials, designed with more modern tastes in mind, is perfect for the tropical island lifestyle of Samui.
When choosing your furniture, comfort, quality, style and budget are usually the key factors and Amberely Furniture aims to satisfy all of these requirements with the added bonus of a trustworthy and reliable service.
Jeanette is happy that there is more competition on the island in this specific market. Choice is very important and, by offering very competitively priced, good quality furniture with customer satisfaction being of paramount importance, she believes Amberely Furniture is well positioned to take a share of this growing market.
So, what exactly can you buy at Amberely Furniture? Well, the answer is pretty much anything and, despite the extensive list of items on show in the two-storey show room, it doesn’t end there. On display are tables, chairs, beds, cabinets, ornaments, lamps, artwork and soft furnishings; including cushions, curtains and bedding. But, as Jeanette has built up an excellent relationship with her suppliers, the list of available items is almost endless. For example, you may see a three-piece suite in a particular design that you really like, but you would prefer it in a different colour or with different patterned cushions. This is usually no problem as the items displayed are merely there to give you a taste of the materials and styles available. If you ask for something specific then Jeanette will do everything she can to ensure you get exactly what you want. Catalogues are also available with further examples of what you can buy.
In addition to selling you the furniture there is a delivery option (here and abroad) and after-sales care. Jeanette also provides three complete furniture packages aimed at three budget ranges. So, depending on your circumstances, you can find a suitable and comprehensive furniture package that’s appropriate for your Samui home.
Amberely Furniture has been well thought out and Jeanette’s retail experience in the UK is evident in the way in which the products are displayed and marketed, and in the style of customer service you can expect to receive. Products that are made from local, natural materials will always sell well on a tropical island like Samui. When you add the fact that those items are well made and affordably priced then, all-in-all, the future looks very comfortable for Amberely Furniture and its satisfied customers.
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