METRO.STYLE LIVING - Philip Cu-Unjieng
October 24, 2019
It may have started with representing the MAV brand of furniture in the Philippines, but thanks to their determination to grow the business, and expand the brands they carry; Home Mavericks Managing Partner Eric Alvin Po and Chairman Eric N. Mendoza can now add the illustrious Bernhardt Furniture to their portfolio. And that’s some feather on their collective cap.
At the launch of the Bernhardt Flagship Showroom on Connecticut St., Greenhills, there was a palpable sense of pride etched on the faces of the Home Mavericks team in how this well-established, prestige American brand was now exclusively represented by them here in the Philippines. A company that designs, manufactures, and markets furniture for homes, for offices, for hotels all around the world, and for learning centers and institutions, Bernhardt can trace its roots to 1889, in North Carolina, USA - that’s a provenance of 130 years & counting.
While Bernhardt can boast of manufacturing facilities spread all around the globe, eight of these facilities can still be found in North Carolina. Known for their soft lines and sophistication, tempered by modern American sensibility; Bernhardt is one of the go-to brands in America and you’ll find the brand in such up-market retailers as Neiman Marcus, in Wayfair, and Horchow. Wherever quality, durability, and sensible design are placed at a premium, you will find Bernhardt. The vignettes put together in the Flagship Showroom speaks volumes about the Bernhardt DNA and why they’ve earned such an enviable reputation.
Talking to Eric Alvin, I was struck by the personal journey he has taken to reach this point. Eric hails from Cebu and it could have been much easier to stick around and get involved with the family business of Activated Carbon in Mandaue; but instead, in true maverick fashion, he was ready to strike it on his own - with the family’s backing.
Eric Alvin was also effusive about the mentoring and guidance given him by Eric Mendoza over the years; from the start when they formed the furniture retail business. And thanks to the synergies of the two, Home Mavericks is well on its way to being a truly reliable home for quality furniture across diverse price points.
For now, it’s Bernhardt Furniture that’s the focal point of their efforts, and Bernhardt’s Director of International Sales Peter Hancock was in town to grace the ceremony launching the Flagship Showroom, which was led by no other than San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.