Concrete Furniture Market Expanding Rapidly

By now the booming market for concrete countertops is well known. Architects and designers are well versed in concretes ability to contribute to the cool, natural look that is in such demand.


What is not as well known is the growing popularity of concrete furniture pieces some of North America’s most creative craftsmen are creating.

“People want to have something they can show off, not something that mimics what their friends or neighbors have,” according to Terry Stogner, owner and founder of Concrete Interiors in Alamo, California. In addition, concrete can be designed in options, straight, curved, or freeform; a variety of edge treatments are possible; surface treatments such as textures and inlays can be used; and the concrete can be tailored to compliment glass, metal, or wood. “And if you break outside the standard mold with concrete, the cost does not go up dramatically,” he said.

Beau Hibdon of Elements of Time in Redmond, Oregon, got his start in furniture when customers he was building a patio for asked him to build the furniture to go with it. “I started using different materials over boards and pieces of plywood. I’d use stains and stamps. When I started showing what I could do, people didn’t believe it.”

Today, the gallery he owns with partner Dave Anderson boasts beautiful furniture that lures customer after customer. Hibdon says requests for furniture are common these days. In fact, three “high-end” stores are interested in their work.

Cheng Design in Berkeley, CaliforniaCheng Design in Berkeley, California, is known internationally for its innovative design work in kitchens, bathrooms, and custom homes. The use of concrete is abundant. “I have an art background and I was always trying to be inventive,” said Futung Cheng, whose mother was a color artist at the Walt Disney Studios. Three of his brothers are professional artists. Cheng was immediately drawn to the virtues of concrete. “It is easily sculpted, it takes any guise, and it mimics whatever ask it to be,” he said.

Cheng design has introduced a new Geocrete Pangea Series Workstation, a module that plugs into a new or existing kitchen. The Workstations are designed around specific functions like pastry making, brass or stainless trivets to be designed near a cook top, fitted cutting boards or chopping blocks and integral fruit bowls.

As each day passes more and more owners, designers, and builders realize the possibilities of concrete for custom furniture pieces — this market is poised to continue growing and become more creative.
Beau Hibdon of Elements of Time in Redmond, Oregon, got his start in furniture when customers he was building a patio for asked him to build the furniture to go with it. “I started using different materials over boards and pieces of plywood. I’d use stains and stamps. When I started showing what I could do, people didn’t believe it.”

Today, the gallery he owns with partner Dave Anderson boasts beautiful furniture that lures customer after customer. Hibdon says requests for furniture are common these days. In fact, three “high-end” stores are interested in their work.

Cheng Design in Berkeley, CaliforniaCheng Design in Berkeley, California, is known internationally for its innovative design work in kitchens, bathrooms, and custom homes. The use of concrete is abundant. “I have an art background and I was always trying to be inventive,” said Futung Cheng, whose mother was a color artist at the Walt Disney Studios. Three of his brothers are professional artists. Cheng was immediately drawn to the virtues of concrete. “It is easily sculpted, it takes any guise, and it mimics whatever ask it to be,” he said.

Cheng design has introduced a new Geocrete Pangea Series Workstation, a module that plugs into a new or existing kitchen. The Workstations are designed around specific functions like pastry making, brass or stainless trivets to be designed near a cook top, fitted cutting boards or chopping blocks and integral fruit bowls.

As each day passes more and more owners, designers, and builders realize the possibilities of concrete for custom furniture pieces — this market is poised to continue growing and become more creative.

source :http://www.concretedecor.net

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Promote Fair Trade in Jepara

In this article at will submit several
solicitude about the shaky economics stanchion jepara. at the time of
happen booming furniture jepara pasca pillage, exactly inscribe solicitude
that in a moment many warehouses enclosing and sold, because, there is no again
done. there also exporter that return to be broker, entrepreneur that return to be
worker and worker not again has livelihood. Also, dealer car
met with the towing vehicle to bad debts.

that solicitude is at least is provided 3 factors whom i look at of vital importance.

1. Rivalry inclination existence indisposed between entrepreneurs jepara so that theymutual slash prices.
2. Trade link very long from producers to consumer so that value the competitive be low
3. And does not awake to its quality of the product so that damage to the image of Jepara Jepara in the International market.

Quit of true not it this article analysis now jepara face problem very serious. although data
trade at resort a kind of industrial official, trade and cooperation not show that problem but condition rill economy clear society shows that thing. whoever will feel
beat economics jepara more weaker, especially sector .

In this time worker jepara really difficulty to sell the product, because rivalry is increased local also temporary excelsior demand usually low after jepara not again is soloist at this country. also market access inexistence to all little producers and the weak position bargains producers to consumer in 'international trade transaction. Condition worsened with the problem of raw materials Indutri Jepara, teak wood which is more slender and the trends in consumer attitudes in the global market. Now people in developed countries tend to buy only products that are friends with the environment. While the issue of forest pillage so great. All forests in Jepara be exhausted. this is very oppose against environment - friendly product, therefore reforestation and critical tune that and be done to be strategic step that has dimension very vast. not just for basic commodity supplying, but also to restore image of jepara.
Product Quality also be one of the important problem for jepara. because for product same china and thailand use engine, predominantly for product garden furniture. This choice menbuat their product has power bargain higher because price can lower because be done efficiency towards production cost.

Fair Trade

As a trade concept, fair trade aim to increase position bargains producers to consumer. therefore principle. principal fair trade how near producers to consumer. to; brace position bargains little producers, they are at organize in business activity with. they are then pushed to do to export self, to avoid comission agent unnecessary and make more trade link length.
with this principle is producers supposed will get. price tender better and price fairer belongs. payment in advance gift as wanted to build long-range work connection. this manner efficientest to mem bypass speculator and mediator unnecessary.

Principle other fair trade this proper wage. condition. environment that well and basic commodity guarantee existence doesn't botch environment. beside that credible colleague institution existence at consumer eye. one of [the] important indicator that must be held by executants fair trade transparent attitude that concerns price and mark up that worn for every product by colleague organization because that must be understood by organization the involvement colleague in fair trade not as tool to look for profit. because profit clean be got must be returned to producers in the form of deviden and gift by producers and colleague is used for effort development.

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