Top image: Wilkhahn Stand-up chair

West of May is a new online furniture marketplace for authentic designer furniture that connects retailers and wholesalers to designers and design aficionados in Singapore, offering genuine products without the long lead time.

Anglepoise desk lamp

According to CEO Charlie Brazier, one of the main reasons for starting the website was to address the “devastating affect that replica manufacturing has had on brands.”

He adds that West of May was conceived as “a way to bring together all authentic brands in one place and prove to customers that good design doesn’t have to cost the earth.”

Gloster Nomad outdoor lounge

Products on West of May can be shipped quickly (between 2 to 10 days) because every item featured on the website is in-stock and immediately available.

Gloster Vista outdoor lounge

“I’ve always had a problem of build-up inventory in my [own] warehouse. Everybody in the industry has the same problem,” says Brazier, who is also Managing Director of BW Furniture.

“My sales [representatives] always sell what the customer wants, not really what’s in our warehouse, so there is not really a connection between what’s available and what the customer is looking for. The idea for West of May therefore was to take that inventory, in any particular country, and put it in front of customers [in that country] who are looking for authentic designer furniture.”

Foundry Loppa pendant light

West of May currently has an Australia and a Singapore e-commerce site, and plans are underway to launch a Hong Kong platform by the end of the year, and a UK site by early next year. “The focus [will be] on Europe next year, followed by the US the year after, so we have a pretty aggressive roll out strategy. The [important] thing is [that] for us to offer stock to everybody around the world, we have to be in those particular countries so that we protect the distribution network of the sellers,” Brazier explains.

He says the response from sellers in Singapore so far has been very positive. The website may be new, but it already carries a diverse range of products from well-known and respected brands such as Haworth, Gloster, David Trubridge, Anglepoise, Artemide and Wilkhahn, to name just a few

Sika Design Lucas dining table

Besides a super-fast delivery time, West of May customers can expect special pricing on many of the products when they sign up as members. This is made possible because these are stock that sellers are already looking to shift. The website also offers 100 per cent money back guarantee and live support.

West of May is offering newsletter subscribers 10% off their first purchase from now till 30 September 2015.