‘People now prefer products that are curated for them’

Q. What inspired you to launch an e-commerce venture about furniture?

A. The shift in the industry towards personalisation made it clear that people prefer products curated for them. But largely, the industry only dealt in one-size-fits-all kind of furniture. And given that India is rich with cultural diversity, run-of-the-mill furniture just can’t work. That’s when we decided to give people control towards how their furniture looks, and hence, Woodenstreet was born with customisation at its core.

Q. Why did you choose to base your business on web rather than opening a store?

A. Woodenstreet, at this point, is an omni-channel brand. But initially, we started with a web-based platform simply because it allowed us to create an interface through which people can visualise and request customisation for their furniture in a hassle-free manner. However, considering how important it is for people to touch-and-feel furniture products, we’ve also opened 15 experience stores across India, and many new stores are in the pipeline.

Q How do like to spend your free time?

A. I love to play with my kids and spend some quality time with my family. They’re always a priority, and I make sure to not let my schedule be a sore point in their lives.

Q. Name your favorite book and author.

A. I recently read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, and the writing opened my eyes to see humanity from a different perspective. The author has presented several facets of how humans have evolved over eons, and how we have come a long way from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. It’s fascinating, thought-provoking, conflicting and the future feels bleak, but that’s the kind of life we humans have led.