Otobi seeks to steal march on Indian players
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Kayes M Sohel, back from Kolkata
It was in November 2008 when Otobi re-wrote the history of Bangladesh's furniture industry.
With opening a showroom in Kolkata's posh Mani Square, the company, founded by a legendary sculptor Nitun Kundu, became the first Bangladeshi furniture maker to go global. Since then, it has never looked back.
The 35-year Otobi is already on track to emerge as a formidable player on Indian Kolkata market.
Otobi officials in India say the company managed to grab one-fifth of the branded furniture market in West Bengal in less than two years.
"Quality and design is the key. Our marketing strategy has also paid off here in Kolkata," said Ranjita Sing, regional manager at Otobi.
Prodded by the response of customers, the company looks to open five more showrooms in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal province.
"Our next target is to launch more franchises in other places like Ballyganj and Rajarhat by December to rope in more customers," Ms. Ranjita said.
She said, "The assortment at the store is planned in a way that it fulfills the needs of different budget customers. We are pleased to bring this world class furniture to our customers and promise to deliver the best."
Otobi opened a showroom recently in Louden Street in Kolkata, targetting housewives who bring their children to three nearby top-tier English medium schools.
Its officials say the company has a vision of becoming a major player in the West Bengal market by delivering "quality furniture at best prices."
"It's not going to be easy. We've compete with the 50-year-old Indian rival Godrej," said Ranjita.
Currently the Indian market is dominated by metal furniture and the Otobi official said the company would seek to capitalise on the wooden segment.
Ms. Ranjita said her company is spending substantially in advertisement to win Kolkata customers.
The company's sale turnover rose to Tk 160 million in one and half year, which is one-fifth of branded furniture market size worth Tk 800 million in Kolkata. Non-branded furniture market size is Tk 2.40 billion.
"I've come here for the second time. Its quality and design has caught my eyes." cardiologist Sunit Ray, who came to a showroom, told this correspondent.
Furniture for home, office and hospital, a complete decor solution has been offered by the company.
Taking forward the initiative to bring world-class furniture in India, it will foray into other states soon.
"At preset, we have showrooms in six states in India -Tripura, Assam, Sikkim, Bengalore, Mizoram and Urissaa. By 2012, we will foray into New Delhi and Mumbai," said Salah Mujahid, South Asia co-coordinator of Otobi.
Apart from South Asia, he said the company has plans to expand its footprint into Middle East and Southeast Asia.
"If we get back-to-back letters of credit and duty draw back facilities, we can conquer the world," Mr. Mujahid said.
In Bangladesh, Otobi has more than 20 showrooms and is operating through 300 dealers across the country.
"Our step to go beyond borders was driven by our robust success in Bangladesh," said managing director Animesh Kundu who took the company's stewardship after the demise of his father, Nitun Kundu.
Established in 1975, Otobi has captured roughly 85 per cent of the country's Tk 6.0 billion branded furniture market, although it started its journey with selling only metal furniture.
It was in November 2008 when Otobi re-wrote the history of Bangladesh's furniture industry.
With opening a showroom in Kolkata's posh Mani Square, the company, founded by a legendary sculptor Nitun Kundu, became the first Bangladeshi furniture maker to go global. Since then, it has never looked back.
The 35-year Otobi is already on track to emerge as a formidable player on Indian Kolkata market.
Otobi officials in India say the company managed to grab one-fifth of the branded furniture market in West Bengal in less than two years.
"Quality and design is the key. Our marketing strategy has also paid off here in Kolkata," said Ranjita Sing, regional manager at Otobi.
Prodded by the response of customers, the company looks to open five more showrooms in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal province.
"Our next target is to launch more franchises in other places like Ballyganj and Rajarhat by December to rope in more customers," Ms. Ranjita said.
She said, "The assortment at the store is planned in a way that it fulfills the needs of different budget customers. We are pleased to bring this world class furniture to our customers and promise to deliver the best."
Otobi opened a showroom recently in Louden Street in Kolkata, targetting housewives who bring their children to three nearby top-tier English medium schools.
Its officials say the company has a vision of becoming a major player in the West Bengal market by delivering "quality furniture at best prices."
"It's not going to be easy. We've compete with the 50-year-old Indian rival Godrej," said Ranjita.
Currently the Indian market is dominated by metal furniture and the Otobi official said the company would seek to capitalise on the wooden segment.
Ms. Ranjita said her company is spending substantially in advertisement to win Kolkata customers.
The company's sale turnover rose to Tk 160 million in one and half year, which is one-fifth of branded furniture market size worth Tk 800 million in Kolkata. Non-branded furniture market size is Tk 2.40 billion.
"I've come here for the second time. Its quality and design has caught my eyes." cardiologist Sunit Ray, who came to a showroom, told this correspondent.
Furniture for home, office and hospital, a complete decor solution has been offered by the company.
Taking forward the initiative to bring world-class furniture in India, it will foray into other states soon.
"At preset, we have showrooms in six states in India -Tripura, Assam, Sikkim, Bengalore, Mizoram and Urissaa. By 2012, we will foray into New Delhi and Mumbai," said Salah Mujahid, South Asia co-coordinator of Otobi.
Apart from South Asia, he said the company has plans to expand its footprint into Middle East and Southeast Asia.
"If we get back-to-back letters of credit and duty draw back facilities, we can conquer the world," Mr. Mujahid said.
In Bangladesh, Otobi has more than 20 showrooms and is operating through 300 dealers across the country.
"Our step to go beyond borders was driven by our robust success in Bangladesh," said managing director Animesh Kundu who took the company's stewardship after the demise of his father, Nitun Kundu.
Established in 1975, Otobi has captured roughly 85 per cent of the country's Tk 6.0 billion branded furniture market, although it started its journey with selling only metal furniture.