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When Courts took over the Huggins retail chain
in Guyana in November 1993 to sell furniture and
electricals on hire purchase, many thought it could
never make it pay in a small, far from rich
country. However, the British furniture company,
established in 1850, was confident it would work,
just as its first Caribbean store in Kingston,
Jamaica had done in 1959 and a further 130 have
since around the world. Courts knew its biggest
problem would not be getting people to make their
payments but finding furniture for them to buy.
As the eight newly liveried yellow stores traded
at levels rising to 800 per cent of Huggins, Courts
buyers scoured the country for affordable
furniture. The search revealed there was little
available that met Courts’ quality and price
requirements. The only two major factories
manufactured exclusively for export and the
remaining workshops made individual pieces in small
quantities. It became clear that, if Courts was to
have a commercial future in Guyana and supply the
mass market with locally made furniture, it would
have to help the furniture industry in a quite
fundamental way.
Thus, four months after Courts’ arrival in
Guyana on February 11, 1994, the Furniture
Investment for National Development (FIND)
programme was launched. FIND provides training in
all aspects of furniture manufacturing from
forestry to finishing. It aims to provide a better
all round product for local customers at a lower
cost while also benefiting everyone in the supply
chain.
Courts brought in expert volunteer advisers from
the British and Canadian Executive Service Overseas
agencies, who conducted seminars and worked with
local manufacturers. Derek Crump formerly of the
London College of Furniture, who went for BESO,
trained workers in efficient methods, including the
use of jigs, so that a design can be copied and
output increased.
Courts gave workshops guaranteed orders, to
allow them to borrow money from banks to expand
their operations. Over half its purchases come from
firms with fewer than 20 employees.
Much of Guyana’s furniture is made from solid
wood and sold ready assembled. Cheaper
alternatives, like chipboards used in European flat
pack furniture, do not withstand the humidity.
Courts is trying to introduce new materials such a
fibreboard (MDF) which has the properties of solid
wood at a lower. It is keen to replace the timber
used, save waste and not use hardwoods from the
virgin forest. To this end, FIND provided a
scholarship for a student to study a certificate in
forestry, to help furniture makers acquire suitable
timber.
FIND arranged for woodwork students to have work
placements in the furniture industry. It organised
work with manufacturers for school drop-outs,
street children and truants, Courts paying 50 per
cent of their wages. The 50 furniture makers in the
FIND programme are expected to double employment in
the coming year, to about 750 people.
Manufacturers have loudly praised the FIND
initiative and are keen to take part. They have
developed new furniture lines and customers have
recognised the improved quality. Christmas is a
particularly busy time when shopping in Guyana goes
‘way out of the window’.
A Manufacturer of the Year award has been
introduced by Courts to recognise success and
reward improvement. Design competitions have been
held to encourage new talent. Rewards have also
come in export orders from other Courts companies
in the Caribbean.
Courts says it has a long-term commitment to
Guyana and will continue to help the furniture
industry develop. Canadian executive Service
Overseas is now applying the FIND blueprint to
three further trades: jewellery, handicrafts and
agro-industry.
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