Tile maker Feruni Ceramiche Sdn Bhd will be spreading its wings to East Malaysia with the launch of its new concept store in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah today.
The concept store, according to Feruni Ceramiche managing director C.C. Ngei, is the first of its kind in the city. Spanning a massive 15,000sq ft, the four-storey building is bound to be the largest tile showroom in the region.
“We believe Kota Kinabalu will see a boom over the next five years. There is quite a lot of new development going on now and it is also high-time for existing buildings to be refurbished.
“No other tiler has gone into that market in a big way. Most of them are multi-brand dealers. But we need to keep leading the market. If we don’t go into Kota Kinabalu, we won’t be able to transform the market there,” he said.
The outlet in Kota Kinabalu will be the company’s eighth retail store. While it integrates similar elements from the other Feruni retail stores, the new one features a stunning full-glass façade, which Ngei said resembles many concept stores in the US that enables consumers to see into the store.
“This is, by far, the best store we have built. It is like an upgrade version of our current showrooms. We have put in a lot of thought into its design and everything we do is keeping in line with building a lifestyle concept in the tiling industry because the industry has been very conventional and we want to change that,” said Ngei.
Here, Feruni’s latest and signature tile collections will be showcased through various creative applications such as in bedrooms, bathrooms, lofts and even commercial spaces.
Ngei explained that the concept store’s layout was designed as a customer-oriented space with meeting and discussion facilities.
The store will also carry its signature Mix & Match corner that allows customers to play around with sample tiles and 3D renderings to help them visualise their selection of tiles in a chosen layout.
Feruni is known for its I-Shape series where tiles come in various geometrical shapes and sizes, as well as its designer collection.
The company has invested some RM2.5mil into the new showroom, which Ngei acknowledged was unheard of in that market.
“People think we are crazy for putting in so much of money into a new a concept for that market. But I think it will make an impact on the market.
“The opening of our first retail store in East Malaysia is a milestone for us. And it is in line with our expansion plans for this year. The new Feruni retail store further strengthens and supports our growing network of clients within the region,” said Ngei.
Ngei is also looking at a Feruni outlet in Malacca over the next few months, noting that there is potential in the southern state as the company currently does not have any presence there.
The company has grown much over the last five years and Ngei is passionate about innovating Feruni’s products to keep growing.
Feruni’s effort and growth was rewarded at last year’s Star Business Awards. The company was named the “Malaysian Business of the Year”. The company also took home platinum awards in the “Best in Marketing”, “Best Brand” and “Best Employer” categories and one gold award in the “Best in CSR” category.
However, Ngei acknowledges that the tiling industry will be affected this year as the property market is expected to see a softening in demand.
“We cannot control the market, but we can continue to provide what the market needs and that is what makes us different.
“The cake may shrink, but we can continue to capture a slice of that cake. There are still opportunities that we can take advantage of during this soft market to strengthen our position for when the market goes back on an uptrend,” he said.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
