Our relationship with groups of buyers from Brunei began in 2015. Over the years, we have welcomed many groups travelling to China — furniture sourcing trips, fabric markets, sightseeing around Guangzhou, and dinners at Arabic restaurants in Xiaobei. The value of these trips goes far beyond the furniture purchased.

How the Group Trips Started

Our relationship with groups of buyers from Brunei began in 2015.

Over the years, we have welcomed many groups travelling from Brunei to China, mainly to source furniture and household items for their own residential renovation projects.

Furniture-First Sourcing

Most of the trips were organised around furniture sourcing. Their shopping lists usually included:

  • Sofas
  • Beds
  • Dining tables and chairs
  • Wardrobes
  • Coffee tables and TV cabinets
  • Other furniture for living rooms and bedrooms

Because the clients were purchasing for their own homes, they often had very specific preferences. Different members of the group might have completely different ideas about colours, materials, styles, or sizes. They would take their time comparing different showrooms before deciding what they liked.

More Than Furniture

The trips were not limited to furniture.

After spending time visiting furniture markets and showrooms, we would also arrange visits to several scenic and cultural spots around Guangzhou. For many of the clients, it was their first time visiting the city, so they enjoyed having some time to look around and experience Guangzhou outside of the shopping schedule.

The Fabric Wholesale Markets

One regular stop was Guangzhou's fabric wholesale markets.

Many Brunei clients were particularly interested in choosing fabrics in person. Rather than simply selecting from photographs or online samples, they preferred to see and touch the fabrics themselves before taking them back to Brunei for custom-made clothing.

It was common for them to spend several hours walking through the market, comparing different colours, patterns, textures, and materials. Some would find what they were looking for quickly, while others would go through dozens of options before making a decision.

Dinner Breaks at Xiaobei

After a long day of visiting furniture showrooms and fabric markets, dinner was usually a welcome break.

We often took the groups to Arabic-style restaurants in Xiaobei. The familiar flavours and style of food were especially appreciated after a full day of walking and shopping, and dinner also gave everyone a chance to relax and talk about the day.

Looking back: These repeated visits have become a long-running part of our work with Brunei buyers. The value of these trips was not only in the furniture they purchased, but also in the familiarity and trust that developed through meeting the same market, city, and clients again and again.