September 5, 2024 – During a media briefing at the Haworth showroom in Jing An Kerry Centre, Shanghai, Franco Bianchi, Haworth President and CEO, Henning Figge, President of Haworth International, and Praveen Rawal, Vice President Sales Haworth APAC, shared insights on how the company has navigated market cycles and achieved growth.
The Chinese market has undergone transformative changes, with local enterprises rapidly emerging and expanding not only within the domestic market but also internationally. Haworth has been deeply rooted in the Chinese market for close to 30 years, with a manufacturing plant in Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone and showrooms in four major cities. Through
the establishment of its own factory and the expansion into urban centres, Haworth has demonstrated its commitment to actively integrating into China’s economic growth.
Leveraging over 75 years of international experience, the company tailors solutions for Chinese clients: Haworth has recognised the growing importance of office space in attracting and retaining talent and has customised solutions accordingly.
To better meet the rising demand in the Chinese market and reduce delivery times, Haworth is undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of the production facility at its Waigaoqiao factory. The primary objective is to enable local manufacturing, bolster competitive edge for product and facilitate a more rapid and tailored response to the unique requirements of local clientele.
Workplace design is evolving to boost productivity and support agile work models, with a focus on spaces that consider employee location preference and prioritize inclusivity and supportive environments to enhance teamwork and innovation. Haworth, with its dealership network in key Chinese cities, provides collaborative furniture and flexible solutions, working with local architects and designers to create innovative, culturally rich office spaces that reflect unique corporate values and management styles.
In line with the company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, Haworth has established a detailed sustainability plan. This includes expanding the solar panels on the Shanghai factory roof, which has increased onsite solar power generation capacity by over 10%. This move is expected to raise the proportion of renewable energy consumption to over 40% and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 80 tonnes. The Pudong factory has achieved the Four-Star Pilot Enterprise certification and has maintained zero landfill waste since 2012. The introduction of a 'Second Life Programme' further underscores Haworth's commitment to the circular economy, extending the life cycle of products through refurbishment and reducing environmental impact.
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Haworth believes great spaces empower people to thrive and work their best. As a leading global furniture maker, the company partners with customers, dealers and influencers to create spaces that result in effective people and efficient real estate. Haworth’s customer-first approach comes from an entrepreneurial spirit, design-forward thinking and multicultural perspectives. Founded in 1948, Haworth is a privately-owned company operating in more than 150 countries through a global network of 400 dealers and 8,000 employees. Headquartered in Holland, Michigan, U.S.A., the company has sales of $2.57 billion USD.