FCML plans retail expansion

The market for luxury home furnishing and decor has been growing rapidly. With the emerging of the new rich and awareness among consumers, FCML plans to expand its reach and the brands it brings to India. Abhinav Khandelwal , Managing Partner, FCML Projects shares his views with Gunjan Piplani.

Gunjan Piplani (GP): Share the story of FMCL so far.

Abhinav Khandelwal (AK): FCML is a leader in bringing high-end, long-lasting line of beautiful design products from all around the world to the Indian customer. With a number of years of experience under its belt FCML has emerged as a lifestyle brand redefining opulence for customers who quest for high end, contemporary and luxurious designs.

In 1999 FCML pioneered the imported sanitary-ware market forging a tie-up with Jacob Delafon, giving birth to FCML Luxurious Bathrooms and from there on the journey began. FCML opened its first company owned retail store for bathrooms in New Delhi, in 2001. In 2005, realizing the potential of an emerging Home Décor & Accessories market in India FCML created a home identity under its Flagship brand by the name of FCML Home. Soon these were followed by FCML Surfaces division offering a collection of high-end tiles, FCML Wood Floors providing a variety of options in Wood and Laminate floors and also FCML Kitchens with Modular Kitchens.

GP: What are the product segments that FCML caters to?

AK: FCML is a complete one stop solution for all the home decor and furnishing needs. We have been expanding the product range and bringing in the best of brands from across the globe. We have FCML Luxurious Bathrooms, FCML Home, FCML Surfaces, FCML Wood Floors, FCML Kitchens and FCML Hotel Supply.

GP: Who is your ideal target audience?

AK: High end Customers, builders, architects, hotels and restaurants, interior designers, etc.

Our divisions cater to requirement under High-end Retail, Real Estate Development and Hospitality Supplies representing the who’s who of the international design fraternity.

GP: Catering to high end customers which all brands are available in your stores?

AK: Our divisions cater to requirement under high-end retail, real estate development and hospitality supplies representing the who’s who of the international design fraternity.  We make available brands like Gessi, Laufen, Roca, Agape, Devon & Devon, Pomd’or, Demista, Mepra, Milliken Napery Fabrics, Milliken Carpets, Nikko-Patra, Rausch, JVD, Bromiolli Rocco, Panasonic, Bodum, Krosno, Haro, Kuthaya Seramik and Aran Kitchen World including various others.

GP: Elaborate on your store/distribution presence- number of cities and number of total stores?

AK: We operate through three models including exclusive stores, shop in shops and dealerships.

FCML is an ever-growing company; we have 3 company owned stores at Delhi.  We have recently expanded by opening showroom in Chennai and Bangalore and are soon looking to open display centres at Ludhiana and Mumbai within the next six months.   FCML also has a number of shop-in shop formats at – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc.

We have very recently tied up with a number of dealers all around India (Kolkata, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, etc.) and are in process of setting up operations on an extensive PAN India level at these locations.  

GP: What are the future expansion plans?

AK: Witnessing a growth of 25-30 per cent per year, we plan to open more retail outlets across the country in regions including Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.

GP: What is the employee strength of the company?

AK: Currently we have 180 people employees on our pay roll including the store staff.