‘Fix-up’ frenzy fuels Philippine furniture firms during Covid-19 lockdown
- Thousands have taken on do-it-yourself projects during the Philippines’ lockdowns, with the trend leading to an online shopping boom
- Many home-improvement businesses have begun focusing on catering to their online customers, lifting their revenues amid a badly shaken economy
“The farthest I’ve been is the office, which is just a few minutes away from my house,” Peredo said of her limited wanderings during the lockdowns, which have varied by city and province since the pandemic started. “I miss enjoying nature’s best.”
To recapture the ambience of the outdoors, Peredo, a human resources manager, did the next best thing to actually being outside – she brought it into her home in Antipolo City, just east of Manila.
She turned her family’s garage, which was initially used for storage, into a lounge filled with plants and upcycled furniture. Another part of the home was turned into a makeshift office so she can comfortably take calls and attend meetings virtually.
By the end of her months-long home-improvement spree in October, she was still yearning for more renovations.
