Future Plans
The Kudos Global design competition is just one of the initiatives the company will launch this year as part of its significant plans for growth. Not only will the company extend its reach into the residential sector in 2013 with the launch of Kudos Home but it is building on its reputation for after-service and is extending its offer to the hospitality sector.
“We have nine guys dedicated to the operational side on the road every day, delivering, fixing and servicing and we are adding four more in the next few months,” Lacey says.
Kudos Global can also now claim to be a true manufacturer having purchased the Philippines factory that produces its products, which says Lacey, will give the company greater flexibility when it comes to supplying the region and expanding into new territories.
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“The furniture is all still made by hand though, which is something most people don’t realise about our product,” he says. “Once we have the aluminium frame made, it goes to the weavers in the factory who do everything by hand; a daybed, for instance, can take two days to make, it’s still very much a cottage industry.”
The biggest change at Kudos Global this year, however, will be the introduction of its Cebu concept for the hospitality sector, which will offer hoteliers a buy-back deal similar to those offered by the car industry.
“Basically, once the furniture that is ordered needs to be replaced, we will take it back and give clients a discount on any new furniture when they upgrade within a three-year cycle,” says Lacey.
“Plus we will guarantee to service the furniture for the customer, and again at the end of the three years, guarantee to buy it back at 10% of the value it was purchased for.”
The concept goes one step further, however, with RF, a new furniture division, which will revamp the furniture bought-back from hoteliers to sell on to three- or four-star hotels or home owners looking for affordable pieces.
“The refurbished concept will also be very eco-friendly,” Lacey adds.
Another spin-off of the concept will be Kudos Global rental, where refurbished pieces will be held for film and TV shoots as well as events and parties. “We had a lot of requests for this in the past so are now offering the service,” Lacey says.
How to enter
- Create your design: Lacey says it can be as simple as a hand-sketched drawing or a full rendering.
- Email your entries to: daybedcomp@itp.com by Thursday 25 July 2013.
- An expert judging panel of hoteliers and designers will shortlist the entries leaving just three finalists.
- The three shortlisted designs will be voted upon at the Hotelier Middle East Awards at the JW Marriott Marquis. Dubai on October 30 and the winner announced.
- Visit www.hoteliermiddleeast/awards/competition for more information.
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