Have you heard about the ‘furniture village’ in Kerala? Nellikuzhi, located on the Perumbavoor-Kothamangalam route, is a hub offering an extensive variety of wooden furniture, such as beds, cupboards, dining tables, sofas, and chairs, all at unbeatable prices. Known as the furniture capital of Kerala for the last two decades, Nellikuzhi is home to over 350 shops. These shops range in size from 1,000 to 20,000 square feet, and the income generated through taxes from these businesses is a major contributor to Nellikuzhi Panchayat’s revenue.
With around 10,000 skilled workers from different states, Nellikuzhi has grown from a small-scale industry to a prominent furniture manufacturing center. The area serves as a production and distribution point for furniture stores across Kerala. Custom furniture orders are also accepted, catering to individual preferences. Furniture items like divan couches are priced at Rs. 4,500, almirahs at Rs. 15,000, dining tables at Rs. 7,500, and chairs at Rs. 1,000, made from premium teak, mahogany, and manjiyam. The village also imports furniture from Indonesia and Malaysia.
So, what makes the prices so affordable? The majority of the workforce in Nellikuzhi comes from Uttar Pradesh, and the cost-efficiency is due to the effective use of wood. Every piece of wood is carefully utilized, with advanced machinery minimizing waste. Even the smallest pieces of wood are repurposed into furniture. When a tree is cut down, the remaining wood is used to create additional furniture, which helps keep costs low.
The furniture made in Nellikuzhi comes with a 20-year warranty and is supplied to large retail outlets in cities. For customers looking for even more affordable options, there is a practice of using different types of wood and applying a uniform color finish, with the customer’s approval.
