Located ten minutes drive from the city, Furniture Land - a subsidiary of AH&L Kissoon Limited - is nestled among the big factories in Industrial Site, Ruimveldt.

The Sunday Chronicle dropped in on the Managing Director Hemraj Kissoon who gladly consented to a request to tour the base. It turned out to be a long tour beginning at the raw lumber location at one end of the huge compound and concluding at two show rooms, one for local customers and the other for export.

Chatting briefly before the hour-long tour, Kissoon declared that it is their firm belief that their customers must see what they are receiving. He explained that this includes how the furniture is constructed.

Addressing the issues of quality and affordability, he pointed out that only through the Guyana National Bureau of Standards is there any control over the production of furniture and it takes the form of a certification programme.

There is no law in the land governing the quality of furniture sold to customers, he noted, hence, the reason why Furniture Land grants customers a unique opportunity to get 'a behind the scenes' look at the long, detailed process involved in the production of their furniture.

The process involves about 12 days of curing wood before cutting to precision with comupterised equipment; the making of frames; attaching upholstery in case of chairs; or, in the case of a wall divider, sanding and priming repeatedly with machine and hand until a smooth finish is achieved.

Spraying and drying are the final stages before the wall divider is ready for a home and put into the show room or packed into a truck with countless other pieces for shipment to Linden, Springlands, New Amsterdam, Essequibo or other locations.

While this newspaper was touring the premises, a truck was being loaded for Linden. The supervisor, who was ensuring that every piece on his list was on board, explained that practically every working day trucks are roaring in and out fulfilling orders.

In response to a question, Mr. Kissoon said the factory's location was not a disadvantage and pointed out that apart from the fact there is another location in Central Georgetown, the phones are constantly busy with customers making enquiries. Customers also wend their way to the Industrial Site complex to see what is being offered.

Transportation is also provided for customers from the Georgetown branch to get into Furniture Land, he stated.

He anticipates that his 140-strong staff would be extremely busy serving the Guyanese public and even foreigners who are frequenting Furniture Land.

When questioned on whether any Christmas promotion is being offered to customers who have been spoiled with give-a-ways and drawings at other stores, he smiled and simply pointed to the complex's discounts that vary from 10 to 50 per cent. He hastened to add that even better than that is the fact that their prices are at least 40 per cent cheaper than their competitors.

Mr. Kissoon added "This is the reason why we do not have to offer a motorcar or a house ..."

He even went further to state that the extra money saved can be used to invest in Lotto and quite possibly win and buy several cars or houses.

A bed at Furniture Land costs $38 000 and customers benefit from a six-inch mattress (and in some bargains two bed side tables are included). Other pieces of furniture at the complex include towel rack, wardrobes, television stands and vanities. There are traditional Berbice chairs as well as new varieties. Suites include El Dorado Brocade, Ituni Suite, PM Suite, Melrose Suite and the Sandaka Suite. There are also tables with exotic sounding names like the Anna Centre table, Kimbia table, Regina Centre table or the conventional Mona Lisa Glass table.

Mr. Kissoon who has been in the furniture making business for more than 50 years noted that one of the hallmarks of the Kissoon Furniture Company is that in every Guyanese home there is at least one piece of furniture that came out of the Kissoon's factory.

He threw out a challenge for all Guyanese to check at home and added if in doubt, they can make contact with their parents to confirm since Kissoon had started beautifying homes in Guyana way back in the 1960s.

Even though the prices can reach the small man's pocket, there is still an option of hire purchase if desired.

The lower floor of the show room is filled with racks of carpets of every conceivable style and design and technicians are on call to do the installation in home or office and custom-made services are available.