Malaysia's Slumberland eyes India, Middle East

KUALA LUMPUR: Bedding manufacturer Slumberland Sdn Bhd plans to penetrate the Indian and Middle East markets this year to broaden its export base, its
general manager Woo Kam Fook said on Thursday.

He said currently, the company exports to 10 Asia-Pacific countries including Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Woo said India and Middle East were booming and they offered vast opportunities for Slumberland's products.

"We are working towards realising the plan (to penetrate India and Middle East) when the opportunities exist," Woo told reporters after launching the bio-ceramic bed here.

Woo said sales were expected to increase by 20 per cent, driven by the new bed.

"The new bed will be available in the market this month and retail at  between RM1,920 and RM5,000 per unit," he said.

He said the bedding market in Malaysia was now worth over RM100 million, and Slumberland controlled about 60 per cent of the premium segment.

"The premium bedding market is on uptrend due to raising income level and stable higher-end property purchases," he said.

Woo said Slumberland aimed to sell some 2,000 pieces of the queen-sized bio-ceramic beds this year, mainly targeted at the educated and urban professionals aged above 30.

Slumberland has five manufacturing plants including one each in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia and two in China.

Woo said the plant in Bangi was currently running at maximum capacity of 120,000 pieces of beds yearly. "About 60 per cent of the beds produced at the plant are sold locally and the rest exported," he said.