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Tag: commune

  • Commune to start retailing premium Samsung TVs

    Commune to start retailing premium Samsung TVs

    Singapore furniture retailer Commune has become the first non-electronics authorized retailer for selected premium Samsung TVs.

    The exclusive partnership is a first-of-its-kind for both Samsung and Commune. It is unusual for an upmarket interiors store to stock TVs – in this case, Samsung products that double as wall-mounted artworks when not screening video content.

    “Commune is honored to collaborate with Samsung, whose design-centric lifestyle TVs complement our modern contemporary furniture collections and home interiors,” said Commune Lifestyle COO & CMO Gan Shee Wen. “Like Samsung TVs, our furniture encapsulates quiet modernity, unifying function and effortless form with intelligent craftsmanship.”

    Consumers now have the opportunity to visit Commune stores in Singapore and see for themselves how the high tech premium Samsung TVs can seamlessly blend with modern furniture.

    “We are delighted to partner Commune to bring Samsung’s premium lifestyle TVs, The Frame and The Serif, to their stores,” said Samsung Electronics Singapore director, consumer electronics business Steven Koh. “Where design meets technology, this collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing consumers with enhanced sophistication and harmonious balance between form and function.”

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  • China to have 100 Commune store

    China to have 100 Commune store

    Singapore furniture designer/manufacturer/retailer Koda’s in-house brand Commune plans to open more than 100 outlets in China by 2020.

    Commune’s sales from the market hit nearly S$7 million (US$5.3 million) last year, accounting for 64 per cent of its total revenue. This helped push half-year profit for Koda.

    For its next stage of growth, Commune will partner with International Enterprise (IE) Singapore to adopt an omnichannel strategy for China.

    Within its three years in the market, Commune has opened more than 42 stores across tier-one and -two cities using a dealership model.

    “With the support of IE Singapore, we intend to increase sales and knowledge of our customers through digital marketing and analytics, while ensuring a seamless shopping experience online,” says Commune sales and marketing director Gan Shee Wen.

    Already the company is equipping its stores in China with VR capabilities so in-house designers can turn customers’ floor plans into a VR environment and so provide recommendations on design concepts.

    Its co-operation with IE Singapore involves building a long-term e-commerce strategy and a seamless online and offline brand.

    Commune plans to subsequently implement its omnichannel strategy in Singapore and other markets. IE Singapore is also working with Commune to expand to Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand by connecting it to mall owners and dealers.

    Spring Singapore has also been supporting Commune in the development of its VR software, customer-service training and mobile training platforms.

    Meanwhile, Koda’s net profit was up 26.2 per cent to US$2.4 million for its half-year to the end of December.

    Commune’s higher profit margins lifted the group’s gross profit margin to 34.7 per cent for the half from 29.1 per cent.

    Overall revenue for the period declined by 4.2 per cent to $24.2 million because of delays in shipments to key export markets in the second quarter. Revenue contributions from Commune in the second quarter partly offset the decline to take total revenue for the quarter to $11.9 million, a difference of 11.8 per cent compared to the same period a year
    earlier. Most of the delayed shipments were cleared in January.

    Koda turned in a net profit of $1 million in the second quarter, down from $1.05 million for the same quarter in 2017.

  • Koda is off to a flying start

    Koda is off to a flying start

    Expansion in China of its in-house brand Commune has kickstarted the latest fiscal year for Singapore furniture group Koda.

    With seven more Commune stores on the mainland, coupled with rising exports, Koda’s first-quarter net profit jumped 64 per cent to US$1.4 million while revenue rose 4.5 per cent to $12.3 million.

    This, coupled with lower production costs, improved economies of scale and more efficient supply chain, lifted the group’s gross profit margin by 6.1 points to 34.5 per cent.

    At the end of the quarter on September 30, Commune had 50 outlets across Singapore, China, Malaysia and Australia, and says it is on track to setting up 100 outlets in China by 2020. Over the next 12 months, Commune will be rolled out in fresh markets within Asia.

    In China, Commune is seen as being different, even avant-garde, says Commune CEO Joshua Koh. “Commune’s growing appeal among younger home-owners gives us confidence to roll out more stores in China and elsewhere in Asia.”

    Founded in Singapore in 1972, Koda is an original design manufacturer that has production and sourcing bases in China and Vietnam, plus a specialist manufacturing plant in Malaysia. Established in 2011, Commune Lifestyle is a wholly owned subsidiary managed by the third generation of the founding Koh family.