16th Furniture Business Forum St. Petersburg Highlights Industry Trends, Innovation, and Strategic Insights
The 16th edition of the Furniture Business Forum took place at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, bringing together over 70 representatives from across Russia and Belarus. The two-day forum served as a critical platform for discussing key challenges, technological advancements, and strategic innovations shaping the future of the Russian furniture industry.
The forum opened with welcoming addresses by Vladimir Katenev, President, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dmitry Nikitin, CEO, VO RESTEC, Alexander Shestakov, CEO, First Furniture Factory, their opening highlighted the role of the forum as a cornerstone for collaboration, development, and growth in the furniture sector.
Market Analysis and Business Strategy:
In his keynote, Sergey Khitrov, Head of the RBC Analytical Group, acknowledged the market slowdown caused by high key interest rates and economic uncertainty. He emphasized:
- A shift towards online sales, particularly among younger consumers
- The decline of traditional retail outlets
- The need for adaptation in marketing and distribution strategies
Maxim Aleksandrov, Head of Marketing Analytics at First Furniture Factory, stressed the importance of:
- Transformable furniture
- B2B segment expansion
- Quality-focused domestic production to replace imports
Veronika Gromova from OOO KBER “Bank of Kazan” elaborated on financial tools available to businesses navigating sanctions and interest rate pressures.
Roman Zakharov, Founder of Strategy Corporation, spoke about:
- Aligning long-term strategic goals
- Defining internal roles clearly to prevent conflicts
- Using marketing as a market-building strategy, not just a sales tactic
Production and Materials Trends
In the production-focused segment, Timur Irtuganov, CEO of the Association of Furniture and Woodworking Enterprises of Russia, reflected on:
- A post-2022 production decline
- Ongoing price increases for raw materials
- Moderate future recovery driven by value-based production
Mikhail Tarasenko, CEO of Profi, discussed supply chain realities, particularly around equipment, adhesives, and components, while Natalia Zhuravleva, Marketing and PR Director of Extravert, introduced their enhanced production complex.
In a specialized session titled “Aluminum in Furniture: Trends, Technologies, Prospects”, experts explored:
- The growing role of aluminum fittings
- Advantages of industrial design
- Integrated production technologies enhancing competitiveness
Marketing, Advertising, and Sales Innovations
Day two featured a high-impact section on Marketing, Advertising, and Sales, showcasing real-world strategies and success stories:
- Olga Ryabinina, MediaWood PR Agency, emphasized multi-channel branding, audience analysis, and pricing transparency
- Yuri Arkhipenkov, Founder of VKvadrat, advocated for building personal brands via social media
- Damir Kushaliev, Marketing Director of Kubatura.ru, shared insights on niche marketplace operations
- Alexey Lopukhin, Furniture.Investments.Retail, underlined the value of process optimization and franchise support
- Galina Gorish, Interior Furniture Company, encouraged designer partnerships and sales tool utilization
Irina Fantaz, business trainer at Furniture. Investments, Retail, demonstrated how structured communication and AI-assisted call analysis can boost sales by up to 80% in two months.
Maxim Kryukov, Co-owner of Stylint, echoed the effectiveness of monitoring sales stages and deploying AI-driven insights to increase conversion rates.
National and Regional Participation:
The forum saw enthusiastic participation from across key Russian regions including Vologda, Kaliningrad, Sverdlovsk, and Moscow as well as representatives from the Republic of Belarus, reinforcing its status as a national hub for innovation and networking in the furniture industry.
Conclusion:
The 16th Furniture Business Forum not only spotlighted current challenges and market dynamics but also highlighted strategic approaches and technological transformation as essential levers for sustained growth. As industry leaders continue to embrace digitalization, innovation, and collaborative models, forums like this are shaping the future of furniture manufacturing in Russia and beyond.