Cover Florence Ko
Florence Ko
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As Furnitalia celebrates its 20th anniversary, Gruppo Mobili president and co-founder Florence Ko paints its humble beginnings and the values she takes to heart
If one would trace the remarkable 20-year history of Furnitalia, strength and sincerity simply rise to pertinence as intrinsic to the hard-earned success of the homegrown furniture showroom, now the proud home to a myriad of Italian luxury brands. These same values are likewise reflected in its founder and Gruppo Mobili President Florence Ko, the self-made entrepreneur who had many odds stacked against her in the beginning.
Unlike today when opulent showrooms have become highly abundant in the city, the scene Furnitalia entered 20 years ago was hardly cordial—there was a limited roster of high-end furniture names in the country and the curious market was yet to emerge. Ko and her husband William had also begun in a different industry entirely, as their initial business was importing hardware from European countries like Germany, Italy, Austria and more. It was only when they were building their house in Makati that Ko realised these could prove to be a fortuitous combination. She shares, “Since we knew a couple of people in Italy, we thought we’d buy from furniture brands there. Eventually, I told my husband, ‘Why don’t I get into this business?’ I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but my mind was set on it. I was certain there would be people who’d be interested.”
Read more: Furnitalia: La Dolce Bella
An Italian friend introduced them to Furnitalia’s first brand partner, Poltrona Frau, and soon they had access to top-level Italian furniture houses one after another. In 2006, Ko boldly opened Furnitalia’s magnificent showroom in Fort Bonifacio, but the challenge that remained was getting the word out to what would later become quite a loyal following. “I grew up in Sampaloc, Manila; I wasn’t rubbing elbows with the people who would later be Furnitalia’s clients,” Ko humbly says. “So, I wrote letters to people I’d see in the papers and send them catalogues. In our village, I personally visited other houses and tell them about Furnitalia. Whenever someone entered our shop, I would carefully explain the history of each brand.”
See also: Reinventing a Classic: Poltrona Frau Goes Bold in Collaboration With Artist Felipe Pantone
Truly a passion project from the start, Furnitalia brims with Ko’s fiery spirit and earnest commitment to this day; and yet, Ko insists that there’s always more to learn as time goes on. As she further says, it’s the candour and genuineness that have been sown into Furnitalia’s fine print that drives them forward. She relays, “When you sell, it must be sincere. I always tell my clients ‘Just come to our shop and see the items for yourself.’ I have confidence in my brands and my conscience is clear.”
Ko’s palpable dedication to her brand partners and her honouring of Italian craftsmanship was recently celebrated in the past year, as the Italian government graciously conferred her with the Ordine della Stella d’Italia (The Order of the Star of Italy) award. Ko deems it the highest honour she and Furnitalia can receive, adding that success will always be subjective. “How do you define success? When do you say you’re at the top? I don’t think there’s a right definition for that,” she muses. “There’s always the pressure to sell more and rake in more laurels. But personally, I am very happy with where [Furnitalia is at] now and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Read more: Filipina Entrepreneur Florence Ko Granted Award By Italian Embassy
Ko lastly notes that Furnitalia’s future is yet to be told and seen, but one can be assured she’ll be steering the helm as fervently as she always has. She imparts, “This is my only business—that’s what I always tell my clients. I’m here Monday to Sunday, so I really put my heart and soul into it. As long as I’m running this business, I will pour all of my passion into it.”
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Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
