Furniture stakeholder asks gov’t to allow in-person sales in sector

AMMAN — The Jordan Furniture Exporters and Manufacturers Association on Tuesday called on the government to allow the sector to sell to customers in person due to difficulties in selling furniture products online.

Head of the association Sharaf Hayajneh said in a statement that the average number of customers in a furniture store on a standard peak day reaches 15, allowing an area of 80 square metres for each client within stores, which exceeds the safe distance determined by the government, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Most furniture retailers are choosing to keep their furniture showrooms closed until they are permitted to receive customers directly, as they do not consider online sales profitable, Petra reported.

The sector includes traders and producers of home and office furniture, carpets, rugs, curtain and upholstery fabrics, mattresses, kitchens, wooden doors, upholstery and paint products, Hajayneh said, noting that customers must directly view such products before purchasing.