Srinagar, August 7: Kashmir Valley’s love affair with Turkish products is continuing to grow, with the latest addition being wooden paneling from Turkey. Even as the Kashmiris have already been enamored with the Turkish Bukhari, carpets, crockery, food, sweets and serials, it seems that the European-made wooden flooring from Turkey is now set to woo the locals.
Dealers claim that Turkish wooden paneling is stronger and more durable than its Chinese counterpart, and that the locals in Kashmir have already given a thumbs up to the latest product.
Talking to The Kashmir Monitor, Arif Ahmad Wani, owner of Lifestyle Interiors Rawalpora, said, “We have imported stock from Parke Lam, a leading European laminated flooring maker. The density of Turkish panels is higher, making it stronger and more durable. Turkish panels have a density of 9+ compared to the 7-8 density of Chinese panels.”
Wani also claimed that he is currently the sole importer of European wooden paneling in the region, with a substantial stock readily available. “We have fresh stock directly imported from Turkey, and it is readily available at our store. While others may take orders locally and then procure the stock from importers outside Jammu and Kashmir, a process that takes about three days, we offer a large collection of flooring that is immediately accessible,” he added.
The reception to Turkish flooring in Kashmir has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Wani, despite the lack of formal marketing efforts. “We have not yet done any marketing, and just through word of mouth, the initial response has been great,” Wani said.
Suhail Ahmed, a professional fitter who has worked with both Chinese and Turkish wooden flooring, praised the quality of the Turkish product. “I do not mean to say that the wooden panels imported from China are bad. The Chinese paneling is good too, but the Turkish panels are next level. They are very hard, and we have to change cutting blades very often when fitting the panels. Also, the locking system of Turkish panelling is unbelievable,” Ahmed told The Kashmir Monitor.
Mansoor Ahmad, a customer, said he had developed a fascination for Turkish products. “After watching Ertugrul and other Turkish serials, I developed a fascination for Turkish products. I already own a Turkish Bukhari and carpet, and I also love Turkish food. As I was recently shopping for wooden flooring, I came across these panels from Turkey and immediately fell in love with the product and got it fitted at my home,” he told The Kashmir Monitor.
