Chinese furniture makers extend overseas reach with smart offerings 【Voice_over】 Chinese furniture manufacturers are taking ergonomic design to the next level with new “smart” office furniture. At one furniture enterprise in east China’s Anji County, massage chairs and height-adjustable desks are amongst the best sellers for international clients. 【Sound_bite】 Zhang Meiying, Deputy general manager, furniture manufacturer: “The desk allows people to alternate between sitting and standing, which is particularly popular among young employees. It also has memory function. Each person can set their own preferred height. When we have all the materials on hand, we can churn them out quickly, usually within 3 to 5 days.” 【Voice_over】 To further extend their international reach, many furniture manufacturers are livestreaming their sales on cross-border e-commerce platforms. Enterprises say it can contribute significantly to overall sales. 【Sound_bite】 Wang Lujiang, General manager, cross-border e-commerce department, furniture manufacturer: “One of our top sellers is the cross-legged chair. It has a wide seat, allowing people to sit cross-legged when they’re worn out from work. Initially, we expected 200 orders every day, but thanks to a viral video, we now see over 3,000 orders daily. To date, we’ve sold close to half a million.” 【Voice_over】 Data shows China exported around 17 billion U.S. dollars-worth of furniture and related products in Q1, up 23.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
