AS IT gears up to take its expertise westwards into Saudi Arabia this year, Murano Design and Build (Murano DB) is hopeful of achieving a better response at this year’s gulfBID, following a “moderately successful” participation last year.

The design-and-build company, which is aiming to attract a commercial clientele, will be promoting its differentiated services during the exhibition such as free-of-charge design solutions provided to clients intending to buy its products.

Managing director and interior designer Suha Hassani explains: “We will be mainly focusing more on home furniture as we observed high demand for it when we made our debut at gulfBID last year. However, in a bid to give us a competitive edge in this domain, we are aiming to differentiate our services and provide design solutions along with products sales in order to target a new market instead of competing within the usual retail market.”

Established in 2006, Murano DB offers design-and-build services including interior and architectural preliminary design; interior and architectural design development; interior fit-outs and execution services; and projects supervision and project management services. Its main mission is to deliver a full-package product including design, construction, furniture and after-completion services. The Bahrain-based company has an office in Muharraq, which employs 15 people and achieves an annual turnover of BD1 million ($2.65 million).

Commenting on the company’s participation at gulfBID 2012, Joe Chalala, general manager and architect, says Murano DB clinched a few deals during the event last year while other contracts were signed due to the contacts made during the exhibition.

“Our first participation was moderately successful but we hope to achieve better results this year. The response was relatively satisfactory, however, all our visitors were involved in private projects while we prefer to gain more access to clientele at the commercial level this year,” he says.

He continues: “Overall, gulfBID has become well known in our industry and being part of such an event will contribute to the success of our organisation. It will increase the exposure of our brand in the local and regional markets.”

Business last year for Murano DB was better than in 2011, as the market started to recover gradually, especially at the lower and mid-segment where the company is positioning itself, says Chalala.

Also, during the during the recession in 2010 and 2011, Murano DB took advantage of a slack market to develop its capabilities. “In line with our vision to be vertically integrated, we’ve recently established our own carpentry workshop and in order to be more competitive, we achieved strategic alliances with companies,” Chalala elaborates.

Murano DB has undertaken several striking projects over the past two years including the construction and furnishing of Gulf Air’s sales office covering an area of 600 sq m in Seef Mall; the design, turnkey execution and interior and exterior renovation of the Bahrain Science Centre involving a total area of 2,000 sq m; and the Bahrain Institute For Political Development in Mahooq; and the Bahrain TV news centre in Isa Town. It also designed, renovated and furnished the Fakhro Villas Compound in A’ali; and the Al Mansoori Villas in Muharraq.

Murano DB is now eyeing a strategic move into Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province by mid-2013 through a business development office in Al Khobar. “This will pave the way for us to enter the market in Riyadh by the year-end,” he says.

Commenting about the prospects for the construction industry in the region, he says: “Despite the current recession, the construction market will continue to grow in the GCC as a result of the fast development in this region. Saudi Arabia will remain the main market followed by Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE and Qatar.”

Murano DB can be visited at Stand 2A42 at gulfBID.