IFA & Wetherlys launch Wetherlys - M.E.

Wetherlys Middle East will now offer full contract furnishing packages to developers and individual owners of its luxury Palm, Jumeirah properties and other projects in Dubai. Wetherlys Middle East plans to expand to other countries in the Middle East in the near future.

Wetherlys is recognised as South Africa's leading furniture and accessory retailer with in excess of 20 retail warehouses and shops in the country and three outlets in Spain. Innovative design, quality furniture and superior service have placed Wetherlys at the forefront of the furniture industry. Its Colonial, traditional style of furniture is both comfortable and timeless. The range is available in various wood finishes, aesthetically pleasing in any style of home.

Wetherlys is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ellerines Group, a company with over 700 furniture branches and a number of furniture brands in Africa, considered in 2003 to be the leading furniture brand in Africa with a group turnover of around $335 million.

IFA chose Wetherlys for the link up because of its high quality production, affordability and eagerness to penetrate overseas markets.

"In keeping with IFA's ethos of delivering world-class services, Wetherlys was chosen because it is a top-end niche furniture and lifestyle retailer and presents incredible value for money given the international rate for the Rand," said James Wilson, President and COO, IFA Hotels & Resorts.

Wetherlys M.E. will launch a turn key furnishing service with most orders being delivered within 8-10 weeks and expects to sell this service out to other developers throughout the Middle East. It also plans, within a short period, to open a retail warehouse where clients can buy furnishings and accessories at a One Stop Shop Experience.

"The group has been eyeing international markets for some time and now has the platform to expand overseas through partnerships, such as that with IFA," said Barry Van Der Merwee, C.E.O. of Wetherlys.

The furniture facility will offer three packages, enabling home owners to choose the quantity and price level of their furnishings. Once this has been decided, Wetherlys will completely furnish their apartment for them.

"This is yet another package being provided for our Palm, Jumeirah and other properties in Dubai which makes real estate investment as easy as possible," said Wilson.

"This is another value-addition to our full-service real estate offering which continues to position IFA as the preferred property provider on Palm, Jumeirah. We will continue to innovate to ensure we take a leadership position for this unique destination.

"With the huge amount of residential and hospitality projects now being developed in the region, there is increasing demand for turnkey solutions from the contract furnishing sector."

On The Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island offshore Dubai, IFA Hotels & Resorts is developing a number of projects. These include: The Palm Hotel & Beach Resort with 300 rooms, with its 460 suite five-star Palm Vacation Club on the island's trunk, a 1,000 room five-star Palm Sun Hotel and Resort on the island's crescent.

In addition, the company is behind The Palm Residence, with more than 1,000 apartments in three buildings - Al Nabat, Al Hasser and the recently announced The Palm Golden Mile project, being developed under a joint venture with Nakheel, developers of The Palm, Jumeirah.

The Palm Golden Mile includes a shopping and residential complex will feature 780 luxury apartments as well as 220 boutique shops and restaurants.

The project will overlook a 1.5 kilometre canalside Corniche which will transform it into one of the world's most sought-after Corniche-style shopping destinations.

The Golden Mile apartments, due to imminently go on sale, will have stunning waterside views, iconic architecture, luxurious interior design and full access to the Palm Hotel & Resort on the beach. On offer are one, two and three bedroomed apartments, town houses or luxury penthouses complete with their own large, private patios and superb views.