Owing to a shift in design and tastes, people are now returning to hand-made, quality furniture and fittings. Exactly the kind of rustic, wooden, well-made pieces that John and his team of 50 at the Underwood Factory on the Bypass Road make.
“About ten years ago the market became more and more high tech and mainstream, where people could buy good quality furniture straight off the shelf,” says Underwood.
“Now the market has changed quite dramatically and people are returning to handmade furniture and we’re getting more and more enquiries.”
He admits though, that it is still very much a boutique industry. For instance, the team is currently finishing off a project for the Ritz-Carlton hotel group in Puerto Rico, for which they’re making a number of items, including lighting fixtures, furniture and massage beds.
“We use metals and reclaimed wood and also do mechanical work and more intricate stuff like ceiling fans,” says Underwood.
He adds that the Factory tends to use environmentally-sound and recycled materials wherever possible. The artist and entrepreneur becomes noticeably more animated when he speaks of his latest project, which he believes is the most eco-effective one yet and also ‘quite’ different, he says with a smile.
It manages to make use of his many passions – design, art and music. Whilst showing The Phuket News around the busy work area of the factory floor, he points to the far end of the building.
“We are building a raised mezzanine floor that will become a stage for house bands and entertainers. The factory floor will then turn into a 500 seat arena for the price of just a mezzanine floor. With orders sometimes slow, Underwood hit upon the idea of making the venue ‘concert-friendly’ every year.
The front of the Underwood Factory restaurant and seating area is already the venue for regular gigs by Phuket expat band, The Lost Legends, but his intention is for the shop floor to play host to all kinds of different events, including live performances of music and art, comedy nights, plays and readings.
Plans will be finished by the end of the year, in time for the Factory’s first event on December 15.