The furniture industry has confronted significant challenges in recent years, according to Michał Balcerkiewicz, President of the Management Board of the Balma Furniture Factory. He identifies rapid wage growth as a key factor impacting profitability due to the industry's heavy reliance on manual labour and limited automation.
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Balcerkiewicz highlights the industry's fragmentation and its inability to compete with global players, describing it as a "B brand." He also notes the growing burden of overregulation on business owners and the lack of legislative influence within the sector.
The office furniture segment is particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the construction and real estate markets. Additionally, ongoing issues with raw materials, such as board market oligopolies and restrictions on raw wood exports, continue to pose difficulties.
In public procurement, price remains the sole criterion, with little support for local manufacturers. Environmental and ESG regulations are described as "often discouraging," with many rules seen as impractical and driven by larger industry players.
Labour shortages and insufficient vocational education are further obstacles, with Balma actively investing in training programmes. Social attitudes towards work also threaten future development. Balcerkiewicz's insights reflect a pressing need for structural reforms to sustain growth and competitiveness.
Source: www.biznes.meble.pl
