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Photos: Kundur Sathya Narayanan

Craftsmanship on show: Units in Chevoor offer a good range of furniture at reasonable cost. –

Changing lifestyle, disposable incomes and increasing migration to cities have spurred the demand for furniture shops just as for restaurants, garment stores and malls. Though no one changes furniture like they do clothes, the spurt in the number of furniture shops is clearly an indication that there is enough demand in the market.

Even though urban areas have plenty of furniture shops, we often fail to get the pieces of furniture that fit our taste and pockets. Here Chevoor stands out with its grand designs and lesser price.

‘Furniture,’ the very mention of the word usually brings to mind images of wooden sofas, chairs, tables and beds. But Chevoor conjures up a different image for furniture. They come in sleek designs, bright colours, are maintenance-free, and can be conveniently dismantled and packed in boxes and re-assembled.

The furniture business of Chevoor is more than 100 years old. Almost all houses here own a manufacturing unit and a showroom. They buy timber on auction, bring it to their manufacturing unit in the backyard of their houses, and display the finished furniture, in the showroom in front of their houses. It sounds very simple.

M.J. Jacob, owner, Mozhiparambil Showroom, is satisfied that he is able to get good business even amidst such competition. “A good number of people come here as we have sufficient choice and so many showrooms one after the other. This makes the buying easy too,” he adds.

More than 10,000 workers are associated with the furniture business in Chevoor. The cutting of wood to the desired size is the first step. Rose wood and teak are mainly used here.

Then the furniture is designed and fashioned as required. Polishing is done and the products are ready for sale P.C. Anoop, a worker, says that he first draws the designs on the paper. “Then it is coped to wood using a carbon paper. Then carving is done. Designing is needed especially on cots, almirahs and chairs,” he says.

They also design products according to the customers’ demand. Chairs, cots, almirahs, divans and all types of furniture pieces are made here.

People from all over Kerala come here for buying furniture. Just not satisfied with one shop?

It takes only seconds to step into the next. There is so much of choice in designs and the products are cheaper too.

That is the attraction here. Chairs vary in price from Rs.500 to Rs.1,000.

And sofa sets come in prices ranging from Rs.7,000 to 20,000. Kerala elephants and other fancy pieces made in wood are also available here.

“Shopping here is a different experience. So many choice and designs. Prices are less when compared to other places,” says Geetha Mayuranadhan, a housewife.

KUNDUR SATHYA NARAYANAN

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