Home Furnishing: Lighting Up Businesses, Homes

In Diwali, Indian customers loosen their purse strings to grab the best offers from retailers across. It is during this time, when home furnishing segment gains maximum footfalls. Consumers splurge in buying various things like sofa covers, cushions, curtains, bed-sheets etc to adorn their houses. Looking at the market potential, organised players have entered the sector and are cashing-in on the festive moods of the consumers. The adoption of franchising business model by the orgainsed players has further fuelled the growth of home furnishing sector. Customers these days prefer buying from branded retail outlets and retailers are leaving no stone unturned to spoil the consumers for choice. The article highlights the festive offers and factors contributing to the growth and success of home décor franchise companies.

Home furnishing industry

Home furnishings are an indispensable part of Diwali celebrations. To give a new and festive look to your house, home furnishing textiles like curtains, rugs, durries, carpets, placemats, cushion covers, table covers, bath linen, bedsheets, bedcovers, sofa covers, have a major role to play. Considering the popularity of this segment, a large number of foreign brands have started investing in India to raise their market share in this burgeoning industry. It is estimated that the present Rs 9,300 crore organised home furnishing market will be reaching Rs 20,000 crore by 2012. Thus, home furnishing sector is becoming the fastest growing industries in India.

Significance of home décor during Diwali

The organised home furnishing segment witnesses rapid sales throughout the year but there is a noticeable increase in sales during Diwali celebrations. As Suchendra Hanchate, Head - Marketing and Retail Services, Rosebys Interiors, informs, “There is definitely a spike in the home décor segment during the festive season.” Few factors which may be responsible are as follows:

Following old tradition: The age all traditions of giving a new and clean look to the house during this festival to please Goddess Laxmi and Ganesha is the major contributory factor for increase in the sales.

Franchisor gears up: Retailers and franchisors from home decor segment, offer special gifts and freebies, and introduce special schemes and vouchers to lure consumers in Diwali.

Appropriate gift items: Home decor products like Sofa covers, bedcovers etc are the best possible gift items for Diwali. Family, friends, colleagues and even corporate houses offer special gifts for Diwali. As home furnishing is useful for each and everyone, therefore they are considered appropriate gifting items.

Festive moods: Shopping is considered to be a mood buster. With rising awareness and disposable incomes, the desire of living in beautiful houses has also increased which further grows during festive seasons. Chandan Savera, Senior General Manager-Sales, Creative Portico says, “The increase of home décor segment can be attributed to the desire of customers to have an improved lifestyle.” People do not mind spending extra money to make their homes more attractive during the festive season.

Franchisors offering best deals

Looking at the craze of consumers for new home furnishings, organised players offer a wide variety of offers during the festival. The various players in the organised sector like Welspun India, Creative Portico, Rosebys, Maishaa, Kurlon Ltd etc launch new marketing strategies to increase their sales during the season. As informed by Hanchate, “Rosebys Interiors has launched three new festive offers this Diwali. These are on cushions, bed and bath linen as well as institution or bulk orders. After a certain limit we offers a lot of debates on these items. “He further added, “These offers certainly lead to an increase of about 20-25 per cent of sales in our outlets. All our franchised outlets also employ the same offers to benefit customers all over the country.” Adding to the offers made on Diwali, Savera said, “We launch new products during this season. Presently all our outlets have the offers of ‘Bed in bag’ which includes quilts as well as bed-sheets and pillow covers in a single bag. We also have bedcovers and bed-sheets in one bag. Moreover we have a lot of towel sets which can be great gift for Diwali.” However on discounts given at this time he informed, “We do not offer any discounts at this time as our products are themselves at discounted rates. Customers who buy our ‘bed in bag’ offer get all these products at very low prices as compared to they buy them separately.”

Therefore, it would be apt to say that organised home furnishing segment gains maximum profits during festive seasons. Diwali serves the best occasion for franchise business owners to boost their sales.