KOZHIKODE: One can barely spot an eatery in the small town of Kuttikattur on the Medical College-Peruvayal Road, which is widely known for furniture business. The place has around 39 furniture shops - small and big retail and wholesale outlets in the one-km stretch.
The traders here say that recently some hotels were turned into furniture shops as the business is more viable than hotel business. Kuttikattur has emerged into the furniture hub of Kerala, despite the coming up of imported furniture and opening up of shops in various locations.
There is a general saying that you will get quality furniture as well as low quality materials from Kuttikattur at affordable rates. The reasonable price range is the main attraction of the furniture trade here and this draws customers from various places of the district and from Malappuram, Thrissur, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasargod districts.
Moreover, the wholesale merchants here have customers from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram districts and from outside the state such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
M M Salih, president of Furniture Manufacturers and Merchants Association (FuMMA), says, Kuttikattur has long years of history in furniture trade and the exact year is unknown. “The customer-friendly atmosphere here and the selection of all kinds of furniture with exquisite craftsmanship and elegant designs make Kuttikattur famous in the business,” he says.
Any kind of furniture required for your household needs -family cot, sofa, dining table, chair, office table and cupboard - are available here at moderate prices. The price range of a quality family cot starts from `7,000 to a few lakhs, while in the case of a dining table it ranges from `6,500 and above. Besides, you will get a double-bed cot at a price of `3,000. The price varies according to the quality of the wood. Most of the items are being manufactured in teak, rosewood, irul and acacia wood. However, there are materials made in imported Malaysian wood, steel and fibre also.
“The traders here take only a small margin as profit as they have enough business every day. In other areas, the business is very low compared to this place and the traders there levy a huge margin to run their daily business. Hence, the rate here is comparatively lower than anywhere”, says Saidu, another merchant.
Sirajudheen, director of Subaida Timber and Furniture, one of the oldest furniture firms in Kuttikattur, also says that reasonable price for the products is the main attraction here. “With the interior designing boom, customers are keen on selecting quality products. At Kuttikattur, a customer can buy everything he wants from one shop itself. He will not have to go to another shop for any other furniture”, he says.
However, only a few firms manufacture furniture here. The traders bring furniture from various places such as Thrissur, Nilambur, Edakkara and Feroke. In contrast, customers from Thrissur and Malappuram buy these products from here.
“Earlier, it was very difficult to close the shops at night as there would be customers in queue to buy furniture. Right now, the situation has changed a lot, but still the traders here get a good business as the past glory of the place still draws customers from various places,” adds M M Salih.
Salih points out that earlier the district had only a few furniture shops, but now big shops have been opened in Narikkuni, Balussery, Koduvally and Thamarassery areas and this has affected the business here a little as once there used to be a good number of customers from these places.