CV. Matahari Kencana

A furnished future
Get the lowdown on an Indonesian furniture manufacturer's secrets of success

Furniture can be very revealing as it can easily reflect one's preferred way of life as well as their true selves. Choosing the appropriate furniture for the homes is essential for those who appreciate a quality lifestyle. Mrs Theresia Sandra, Managing Director from CV. Matahari Kencana is here to spill the beans on her company's determination to improve her clients' homes, and her never-ending passion for a fine style of living.

CV. Matahari Kencana, one of the leading furniture manufacturers from Indonesia, was founded by Mrs Sandra in 1991. And it has now become a family business, as her husband and sons are all getting involved in the business as well. The company manufactures mainly teak garden furniture, as well as furniture items made of wood and coco-stick. Other than its renowned furniture, CV. Matahari Kencana also manufactures claypots and a wide range of handicrafts, as Ms Sandra explained, "In a nutshell, our company manufactures products for both indoor and outdoor use. For outdoor products, we specialise in very fine-furnished teak furniture which is either capable of being knocked-down or folded. As for indoor products, we specialise in the combination of coco-sticks with wood. The coco-sticks are weaved to create a beautiful pattern and the wood is kiln-dried so the combination provides a rustic elegance"

Currently exporting 100 per cent of its products with an annual capital of US$ 6 million, CV. Matahari Kencana operates smoothly with a well-developed system of functional units: Marketing, Finance, R&D, Quality Control, and Production. Together, all 550 employees from these departments work collaboratively to help maximise the company's profits while providing clients with the best quality products possible.

The products manufactured by CV. Matahari Kencana have gradually evolved over the course of its development. "We have been an innovative manufacturer aiming to find new materials that can be combined with wood. Our goal to be the first to do everything which would indeed empower us and make us stronger than ever," Mrs Sandra said.

Catering to the needs of clients from mainly U.S.A. and Europe, CV. Matahari Kencana likes to distinguish itself from its competitors by providing customers with well-made products at the most reasonable prices possible. How does CV. Matahari Kencana ensure that such goal is achieved and approved by its clients? "Every once in a while our company will send our staff to related professional institutions for the necessary training and skills they need. Then they can perform better in the workplace. Also our in-house quality control department is devoted to ensure all quality maintenance is properly done, " Mrs Sandra pointed out firmly, once again stressing the importance of quality staff to a quality manufacturer.

What gives CV. Matahari Kencana the edge to compete in the present highly competitive arena? "Here at CV. Matahari Kencana, our experienced R&D department serves as a useful tool to help us better understand our market and the products we are manufacturing. We take pride in our ability to satisfy every client's need from OEM to mass orders. At last but not least, the reputation that we have established over the years as a reliable manufacturer and supplier to our clients. This is what we and our customers value more than anything else," said Mrs Sandra.

Adored by clients worldwide, there must be something unique and special about the products manufactured by CV. Matahari Kencana. The company's best-selling products are furniture made of a combination of waterhyacinth and cane or wood. "They were first launched over the internet and has generated many enquiries from our buyers, some of whom we have never even dealt with before. I personally find the results quite encouraging," Mrs Sandra said, illustrating the launching process.

Unlike its restlessly aggressive competitors, CV. Matahari Kencana prefers to focus its resources and capabilities on maintaining the quality of its products by not overly expanding its factory located in Indonesia. "With the high operating standards we already have established, I do not see the need of opening yet another factory or office any time soon. Our existing factory is capable of handling all the orders we pick up, " said Mrs Sandra.