Grow. Promote. Protect. Forum 2026. Panel: Current State of Play – Supply Chain. Import. Export. Competitors. Risks. Opportunities.

Hosted by the Australian Furnishing Industry Stewardship Council, Australian Furniture Association and RMIT University, and running over February 24 and 25, Grow. Promote. Protect. Forum 2026 built on the momentum of recent Commonwealth and State-funded research projects that have identified key recommendations for industry growth. This episode is from a day one panel session, including guests Tom Clark, CEO, Workspace Commercial Furniture; Boaz Shiponi, CEO, Nexus Point; Arnold Jorge, CEO, Export Council of Australia . The moderator is Marcus Downie, Partnerships and Government Relations, The Australian Furniture Association. Episode guide 0:02 – introduction to the session. 0:52 – introduction to panellists. 3:36 – Some thoughts on supply chains and their operation. 7:42 – The opportunity that exists relating to overcapacity in shipping and an approaching of “rock-bottom prices”. 9:08 – If you import raw materials, now is the time to pock in prices. 10:38 – Why the Suez Canal matters. 11:50 – The overall cost of freight to a business, a common hidden cost,.and why companies sometimes overpay duty when importing from FTA countries. 13:30 – Tariff concessions and duty planning. 14:24 – Most people do not explore the costs of their freight forwarder, to their detriment. 16:40 – What exporters should consider regarding the US market at the moment. 17:42 – The size of the US furniture market, as well as the current risks attached to selling into that market. Customs officers are taking a “very conservative approach” at the moment, and declaration errors are being treated harshly. 20:30 – A question from the floor on exporting to the US as a raw materials supplier to the furniture industry and the biggest barrier in this. 21:02 – The possible usefulness of a furniture product passport to Australian exporters to the US. 23:10 – Why Workspace Commercial Furniture deliberately decided not to go to the US. 24:14 – Other markets that hold potential for those considering exporting. 25:18 – The upcoming EU FTA, and some of the considerations regarding things such as waste management obligations. Features the example of Bundaberg Ginger Beer sales in Germany. 26:40 – The importance of collecting as much data as possible throughout your supply chain to remain internationally competitive. 27:40 – The adoption of traceability technology in Vietnam. “Almost every small farmer in Vietnam actually uses blockchain.” 29:20 – Auditing a supply chain and the usefulness of this. Why Workspace chose to own its supply chain and why this is critically important. 32:25 – The advantage of Workspace owning its own fleet of delivery trucks. “At the end of the day, if it’s damaged, we did it.” 34:20 – Launching a circular economy division at Workspace and the role in their freight network in this. 36:58 – The tyranny of distance versus export opportunities. 37:42 – Supply chain business development work that overseas countries are doing, specifically China. 39:20 – The skills that are needed currently. Apprentices are the biggest challenge. 40:47 – A question from the floor on sustainability credentials and upstream suppliers.