PHILIPPINES, September 6, 2011 - Steelcase, the global leader in office furniture, and Ultra Modular Concepts, Inc. (UMCI), have formed a strategic partnership to offer a new dimension in office furnishings in the Philippines market. The new partnership will see UMCI become the official distributor of Steelcase in the Philippines, enabling Steelcase to further its goals of creating better work environments across the greater Asian region. The collaboration will dramatically expand Steelcase’s presence in the Philippines, working with an experienced and knowledgeable local operator with a long track record in the market, and expand the expertise and portfolio of products that UMCI offers its extensive client base.
UMCI is an established office furniture marketer in the Philippines, with over 30 years experience in the market, meeting the office furnishing needs of major local and international customers in the Philippines. UMCI is part of Frigate Holdings that includes the Philippine distribution and dealerships of several premier lifestyle brands including Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari, Maserati and Bose audio products among others.
The new products will be officially launched in the Philippines in early September, in a joint event to be hosted by Uli Gwinner, President of Steelcase Asia Pacific, and Wellington Soong, founder and chairman of the Frigate Group. They will use the occasion to launch Steelcase’s new Manifesto and Lexicon furnishing system ranges, which were designed for today’s workers as well as the younger generation of workers now entering the workforce in large numbers throughout Asia.
Commenting on the new agreement, Uli Gwinner said: “The partnership with UMCI gives Steelcase the presence and support it needs to service its international and local customers in the Philippines market. With the driving force of its chairman, Wellington Soong, UMCI will enable us to fully meet the needs of our global clients here in the Philippines, as well as extend our sales in a dynamic and growing market in which we have been under-represented. I anticipate solid growth for our key products in this market, which apply our global knowledge and expertise to providing systems, services and solutions that meet the unique needs of workers and organizations in the Philippines, and throughout the region.”
Wellington Soong added: “We are proud to be appointed as the official distributor in the Philippines for the world’s leading office furniture brand. It positions UMCI to build on our 30 years of local market experience, by applying the global knowledge and product range of the world leader in this field, in the Philippines market. We anticipate a strong response to our new portfolio of Steelcase products, which give us a superb balance of sophistication and value, together with the support of the world’s leading office furniture brand.”
The first exciting step for the partnership will be the launch event on September 6th in Manila, when Uli Gwinner and Wellington Soong will introduce Steelcase’s product portfolio to the Philippines market.
About Steelcase
Steelcase helps create great experiences — wherever work happens. Our brands offer a comprehensive portfolio of workplace furnishings, products and services, inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world's leading organizations. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 650 dealers. We design for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Steelcase is a global, publicly traded company leading our industry with fiscal 2011 revenue of approximately $ 2.4 billion.
About Ultra Modular Concepts, Inc.
Established in 1981, as an office furniture marketer, Ultra Modular Concepts, Inc. is part of Frigate Holdings that includes premier lifestyle brands including Jaguar, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari, Maserati and Bose audio products among others.
For more information, please contact:
Steelcase Asia Pacific
Cherry Wan
+852 2823 5527
Cherry.wan@steelcase.com