DESPITE the economic slowdown, several construction industry players have remained optimistic as other sectors continue to post gains and end-users remain interested in home improvement.
Representatives of Hardwares Consolidated Inc. (HCI) admitted that the global financial situation has prompted investors and homebuilders to put on hold construction and expansion plans since last year.
However, this did not hinder construction suppliers from promoting their products, such as participating in the recently-concluded 17th Construction Show Cebu (CebuCon) and coming up with inventory sales to perk up the market, said HCI past president Charles Kenneth Co.“Suppliers nowadays are hungry for business. They are coming up with ways to attract the market and achieve good margins,” he told reporters last week.
Other suppliers are tapping the real estate industry that reported a continuous rise in the number of projects, including condominiums, subdivisions and commercial buildings, he added.
Finishing work
He observed that sales of materials needed during the final phase of building construction remain “steady” as there are many structures that are in the process of being completed.
But he said there is a drop in sales of steel since “not many big structures are being started (this year).”
Without giving figures, he said the prices of steel and cement have dropped.
Co is urging homebuilders who have the financial resources to push through with their home improvement plans.
He said that the good number of attendees during the four-day CebuCon at SM City Trade Hall is an indicator that the public is still interested in being updated with what is new concerning building or renovating houses.
In a separate interview during the 17th CebuCon, Worldwide Home Depot owner and president Francisco Ong said the company experienced stable growth in sales as it continues to tap homebuilders, investors and developers.
“Every year, we participate in the CebuCon as a way of telling the public that we are still here to serve them,” he said.
The company has four outlets—Worldwide Home Depot South in N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City; Worldwide Interiors Factory Outlet in Sacris Road, Mandaue City; Worldwide Home Depot Carcar; and The Tile Shop in A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue
City—catering to the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Another exhibitor, GT Stone Works, is planning to penetrate the high-end residential homeowners market, as well as restaurants.
GT Stone Works, a Manila-based company, is involved in the manufacture of wall claddings and concrete stamping system, as well as turf works.
GT Stone Works Cebu showroom manager Ca-therine Lim said the company’s “eco-friendly” products are a better alternative
to natural stone finishes.
GT Works’ sales in Cebu has been growing since it set up a Cebu showroom two years ago, she said.
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