Mejore ‘pushing major comeback’ in furniture retail

ON the heels of outfitting the country’s most prominent hospitality and commercial establishments, the furniture company Mejore pivots back to an expertise that started when the company was founded by Jose Ong in 1983, which is woodworking.

At the time, the company was primarily supplying raw materials to the wood industry until it ventured into furniture manufacturing. “It’s a hundred-percent family-owned business. They were involved in the lumber trade and, naturally, the company evolved into furniture retail. Nathalie Ong [Jose’s daughter-in-law] started the business by catering to the export market and, at the same time, to homemakers by opening up a showroom along C-5,” says Mejore Marketing Consultant Mard Tecson.

The showroom closed down some time in the late 1990s, but the brand’s subsequent hiatus allowed for more time to hone its craft. “We closed the retail operations but we did contract services to Seda Hotel, the Henan properties in Boracay, and Lynd, Amanpulo, among others. Now we’re pushing a major comeback in retail,” he adds.

Mejore became a staple in the residential areas in the Makati Central Business District during its early years of operation. This became a decisive factor in the company now setting up a showroom in Filipino Building along Dela Rosa Street. “When we were trying to decide where to relocate, it was a natural choice to have it [in Makati] because most of our clients reside in the villages around the area, and also we want to cater to the booming Bonifacio Global City and Makati [residential] developments. We also are updating our line to have more condominium friendly items instead of our usually large furniture pieces,” says Tecson.

Now on its 35th year, the brand is in the initial stages of diversifying its furniture line, starting with the Nathalie collection that was named after its visionary founder. Earth tones underscore the selections that feature a mix of wood, metal and locally sourced materials, such as rattan, raffia and abaca. The overarching design theme taps into silhouettes that abstract and highlight forms via simple, clean lines.

“We thought of having a new collection to modernize the brand. Our designs are transitional; the traditional quality is still there but with a modern feel. This makes our pieces more polished and functional,” says Tecson. He adds, however, that while the aesthetics may have evolved, the company’s heritage of creating quality and luxurious pieces remains part of each item in the collection.

For one, there’s the Leonor Daybed, which draws elements from traditional Filipino woven design patterns and classic pieces. One simple pull can transform the bed into a comfortable sofa. There’s also the Valeria Sofa Bed, which emphasizes classic simplicity while still enjoying a playful combination of different weaving textures. A simple mechanism allows it to quickly adapt between lounging and sleeping, allowing for more space versatility.

With a rich walnut veneer and champagne gold finishes, the Delaunay Shelving System has a unique system the allows you to customize your piece to fit any space and any function, be it as a wardrobe, wall divider, or TV cabinet. Using a unique modular system, the Jean Paul Side Tables come in different pieces that can be arranged in different combinations to fulfill different functions.

Modular, reconfigurable furniture is steadily gaining traction in the market.

Apart from reduction in cost and flexibility in design, modularity offers other benefits, such as augmentation and space-saving functionality. Dynamic silhouettes, on the other hand, are showcased by way of the black and gold finishes that tailor the Charles Coffee Table and the Marcel Side Table. The former features an adaptable and contemporary style that features a playful aspect. The interchangeable wood veneer panels can be rearranged to fit any space and aesthetic. The Marcel, meanwhile, serves to complement it with its similar rich champagne gold finish and interchangeable panels. Despite its size, the piece displays an equal blend of comfort and simplicity.

“What’s unique about Mejore is that these are finds you won’t see even in big department stores. These are highly customizable pieces,” says Tecson.

The Theodore and Louis tables are designed for masculine spaces. A dramatic blend of glass, metal and wood veneer, the Theodore is a modern six-seater dining table. The Louis is a more intricate, rounded version of its brother that features a similar blend in fabrication.

Tecson adds that, while the furniture export has experienced a slowdown in the last couple of years, the local furniture market is getting stronger due to an increase in demand for quality home items.

Concluding, he says: “Where we want to go as a brand is that we want to keep the heritage and the quality of our furniture because these are investment pieces. I know a lot of friends who still has Mejore for their dining tables and sofas. At the same time, we intend to have our own unique set of designs that are not necessarily in the market yet.” ■