With the ‘second wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic hitting us, Indians are once more moving back to their properties and prioritizing ‘stay-at-home’ and ‘work-from-home’ to keep protected and stay away from catching the dreaded virus. Ever due to the fact the pandemic-induced lockdown was announced last year and the idea of ‘remote working’ became a element of our day-to-day reality, the demand for Work-From-Home (WFH) Furniture also shot up massively. In an exclusive conversation with Financial express Online, Sidhant Lamba, Founder, Fabrento says that although there was over 200% jump in their WFH furnishings segment in the months soon after the lockdown of 2020, the trajectory went downwards to some extent soon after the Unlock phase even so, WFH furnishings continued to well-liked with at least a 50% boost in demand as compared to pre-Covid. Excerpts:
How has been the business enterprise development in the ‘WFH furniture’ segment due to the fact the begin of the pandemic? Please share some relevant numbers in this regard taking your firm’s instance.
Before the pandemic occurred, we had a compact section for desks and home study furnishings. However, the pandemic-induced significant-scale WFH pivot has helped us to convert this category into a significant and booming one. So a lot so, we decided to place up a committed WFH section on our web site and mobile app, and ever due to the fact, we have witnessed reasonably very good client footfalls and orders from this segment.
Talking about numbers, it is tough to give an precise quantity due to the fact it is a new category but the demand in this has been exponential. In the months following the Unlock phase, the demand in this category had slowed down to some extent, even so we had been nevertheless seeing an boost in demand for WFH furnishings and home accessories, as compared to pre-Covid times!
During the second wave of Covid, has the demand for WFH furnishings shot up once more and by what percentageIt’s as well quickly to comment on no matter if or not demand for WFH furnishings will shoot up when once more (in a manner related to last year). We will have to wait and watch how the situation develops in the upcoming weeks and months. With lockdowns becoming began once more in some components of the nation, we are at present facing some logistical troubles and are as a result unable to provide effectively at this time. Also, for the security of our staff, we have had to implement sensible measures to safeguard them against the virus.
Apart from the WFH furnishings, which other rental furnishings segments/categories are most in-demand at present?Bedroom furnishings has always been Fabrento’s highest rented category among our shoppers. In the current months, apart from desks, living space furnishings such as sofas and recliners have been in higher demand.
Are you (and other players/stakeholders in India’s furnishings rental market) greater ready to manage the socio-financial adversities arising from the pandemic this time (second wave)? In case yet another set of nationwide lockdowns or curfews take place (has currently began taking place in some components of the nation), what tactics will you be implementing to cope with the circumstance?To be sincere, it was really difficult for us to be 100% prepared for this sudden resurgence of the virus outbreak (the second wave). However, as a accountable Indian brand, we are following all the Government recommendations and adhering strictly to the lockdowns taking place at the moment. As of now, we have shifted our concentrate on the precise regions which are completely operational (and devoid of lockdowns or restrictions). That’s what seems to be the best we can do at this point in time! Furthermore, we have re-planned and rescheduled Fabrento’s expansion plans into the new zones/places, which will be implemented later in due course of time, soon after the countrywide outbreak is mitigated or controlled. I think that for corporations, the crucial to coping with the circumstance in these attempting occasions is to develop empathy, ensure sustainability and to maintain the business operations going as smoothly as feasible.
Do you think that Covid isolation and “stay-at-home” and “work-from-home” mantras have enabled individuals to prioritize more on home furnishings and home décor? And to what extent?Yes, for sure they have – and upto a massive extent. Once the 2020 lockdown eased and deliveries began, we noticed a surge in orders, as individuals decided they want to live greater and use their spaces more effectively and be ‘comfortable’ during their time at home. Also, I consider individuals worth their life and individual relationships more soon after the pandemic, which makes them want to live and work with ease and comfort.
Since physical offices/workspaces are closed once more and WFH is the norm, will workplace furnishings demand fizzle out and be replaced by WFH furnishings?Yes, from what we have noticed more than the previous a number of months, the demand for workplace furnishings has fizzled out a bit and/or been adversely impacted to a certain extent, as it seems Covid is here to keep for a although. We are all constantly learning and evolving to live about this harsh reality. However, as and when the wave passes, individuals will attempt to return to their ‘new normal’ lives, as it is indeed hard to permanently sit home. Also, physical workplace-based interaction is required for team building, client focussing and preparing, among other individuals.
So, in my opinion, most corporations are going to have to uncover a viable balance amongst WFH and physical workplace-based working in the future and as a result, each WFH furnishings and workplace furnishings will be holding their personal respective grounds in the occasions to come (it will not be ‘either’ this ‘or’ that kind of scenario!).
In your view, what ought to be the way forward for India’s furnishings rental market from hereon? Will it barely sustain or thrive throughout and soon after the second wave?The furnishings rental market in India will develop substantially from hereon, as more and more people want to live effectively and be comfy, yet do not want to burn a hole in their pockets by buying things (any sort of physical merchandise like furnishings and so on.) in these unstable/uncertain times. Hence, individuals are going to continue to rent, as more and more Indians (in particular millennials) are constantly moving amongst cities and jobs, and will continue to do so when the pandemic subsides.
A massive plus point about furnishings renting (as opposed to EMI or other buying alternatives) is that here you can return the furnishings hassle-free of charge, rather than getting to be attached to the furniture pieces and moving them around with you and also bearing the burden of payment, even if you may well not want these furniture items anymore.
In view of the above information, it can be mentioned with self-confidence that the future prospects look bright for India’s furnishings rental sector and that it shall continue to sustain and survive in a ‘stronger-than-ever-before’ manner, and may possibly even commence to ‘thrive’ if innovations and time-relevant tactics are prioritized by the crucial players in the market.
Can you share some offbeat productivity guidelines for these who are working from home at the moment.
Here are my two cents of productivity guidelines for WFH workers:
• Set specific time slots for yourself during WFH, like you would when you head out to workplace. This helps in sustaining a wholesome work-life balance.
• It’s pretty tempting to chill and watch the newest show and procrastinate, but normally know that the work will have to be carried out- now or later.
• WFH period is a excellent opportunity to spend time with household as well, so make sure to eat your meals together with the household members (no matter how busy you are!). Bonding is necessary for having steady mental overall health throughout these difficult occasions.
• Even if practically, be there for your teammates and subordinates on calls and video chats. You never know who may well be getting a difficult time mentally. Boost their morale. Encourage group spirit.
What are some of the crucial measures Fabrento has taken in current months to for remote workers or the home-based workforce and to make their lives less complicated?
Last year, when Covid first wave began easing out, we had adopted a policy of ‘hybrid’ work, i.e. a mixture of WFH/remote work and workplace-based working. We assigned meetings only when absolutely necessary in our office, and implemented seamless processes vis-vis WFH for most of our staff, wherein they could stick to-up and communicate through their preferred channels with the team members, and also take all the meetings with customers more than phone rather than having physical meetings (unless it was radically crucial).
What measures have you taken/are taking to prioritize the security of your staff throughout the second wave?Since Fabrento is headquartered in Delhi-NCR, we are at present in a lockdown (as per directives of Delhi Government) and everyone at Fabrento is working from home. We are also offering economic and other types of help/aid that our staff may need for healthcare help or emergencies.