In the Chinese furniture industry, four major production bases have long been recognized: Xianghe in Hebei, Shunde in Guangdong, Wuhou in Sichuan, and Likou in Jiangsu. Once a top player, Likou now ranks fourth. Within Likou International Furniture City, there are 5,000 companies with annual outputs exceeding 10 million yuan, yet fewer than 100 of them possess original design capabilities.
As part of the third Suzhou Chuangbo Expo, the China Furniture Original Design Competition was recently launched. This event aims to address a pressing issue: why does Chinese furniture consistently lack original design? Through the competition and exhibition of award-winning works, it highlights the potential of original design to break through the development bottleneck of the furniture industry.
How can a large furniture country become a powerful one? The China Furniture Original Design Competition is organized by the third Suzhou Chuangbo Expo committee, hosted by the Suzhou Cultural and Creative Industries Federation, and executed by its Home Furnishing Branch. This branch directly faces Likou International Furniture City.
Likou Furniture City is a product of China's rapid furniture industry growth over the past two decades and serves as a microcosm of this development. In the 1970s, through the production and sale of sofas and metal furniture, Likou became a hub for furniture production and trade. By 1992, it had built a 6,000 square meter furniture trading market, known as Likou Furniture City. The slogan “Likou Furniture City, the No.1 Furniture City†gained popularity. Within a few years, it evolved into the largest furniture distribution center and consumer market in East China. In 1998, it was officially approved as Jiangsu Provincial Likou International Furniture City.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the total investment in Likou International Furniture City has reached 5 billion yuan, with nearly 1.5 million square meters of construction area. It features 55 trading halls along both sides of Xiangcheng Avenue, hosting nearly 6,000 businesses from across the country, with annual sales reaching 20 billion yuan. As Likou expanded, so did China’s position as the world’s largest furniture exporter and home to the most furniture manufacturing enterprises. However, an embarrassing issue emerged: a lack of originality and widespread copying.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that entering the furniture city today, you’ll find following trends, copying, and small-scale production have become the norm. Many products look similar, leading to homogenous competition driven by price wars. Disputes and irregularities persist because of the lack of originality,†said an unnamed brand furniture manufacturer in distress.
To many foreign consumers, Chinese furniture is synonymous with “cheap goods.†Despite high quantities, China hasn’t achieved qualitative improvement. In 2011, China ranked first globally in the output of 220 industrial products, but most were low-end. The label of “low-tech content and low added value†still clings to China’s manufacturing sector. Added value is key to industry development, and original design plays a crucial role in enhancing it.
Original design must start with changing perceptions. In Likou International Furniture City, about 5,000 companies generate over 10 million yuan annually, but less than 100 have original design capabilities. Some entrepreneurs understand the importance of original design, but they believe companies can still get orders without it. However, the reality is not optimistic.
Many cities have developed their own furniture industries, each focusing on different areas such as office furniture, soft furniture, and low-end household furniture. Traditional showroom models are being challenged by online sales. With the post-70s and post-80s generations becoming the main consumers, they value functionality, comfort, fashion, and personalization. These preferences challenge the traditional business model of Likou Furniture City.
Some companies in Likou have successfully introduced original designs and reaped the benefits. For example, Huahong Mahogany Furniture Co., Ltd. transformed its traditional mahogany furniture into original designs, increasing its annual output from 100 million to 200 million yuan. Suzhou Junnuo Home Furnishing Co., Ltd. invested heavily in building an original design team, achieving multiple technical patents. MiBiao Furniture Co., Ltd. collaborates with design talents from art colleges, becoming a “dark horse†in the industry.
Building a creative design platform for the furniture city is urgent. The third Suzhou Chuangbo Expo aims to highlight the power of original design. The China Furniture Original Design Competition aligns with the expo’s theme. The Suzhou furniture industry faces a development bottleneck, and transformation is necessary. The activities launched at this time aim to guide enterprises toward innovation.
A healthy market needs constant innovation. Innovation drives economic upgrading, and it relies on market players. However, Chinese enterprises lack R&D personnel and investment. According to statistics, R&D investment accounts for less than 1% of sales revenue, far below the 2.5%–4% in developed countries. This lack of investment leads to widespread copying.
Wenchuanglian Home Branch hopes the government will support the industry by building a creative design center and a comprehensive service platform for home design copyright. As the birthplace of Ming-style furniture, Suzhou has a rich heritage and strong economy. It should create a platform for creative talents, design companies, and furniture manufacturers to connect and innovate.
Professor Qin Huaiyu, deputy director of the Industrial Design Department at Suzhou Arts and Crafts Academy, advocates for a comprehensive service platform for home design copyright. He believes that investing in innovative design and improving self-creation ability will help produce more copyrighted home products, enhancing the copyright status of Likou home products. To achieve this, cultivating copyright talents and establishing R&D teams is essential.
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