Indian Rug Market is of 1600 Cr

The Indian Rug market is very vibrant and has immense growth potential. However, this industry is constantly struggling with lesser innovation techniques, obsolete technology, labour law issues and crippled infrastructural facilities. Ambadi is a niche name in a rug business. In a candid conversation with Shipra Srivastava, Vishy Shenoy, Vice President & Business Head at Ambadi shared insightfull information from Rug Market.

(SS): What are major challenges in Indian Rug market?

Vishy Shenoy(VS): Currently the Indian market is a very fragmented market dominated by opportunistic importers who pick up end of lines, discounted lines and other similar products from multiple vendors and feed the Indian market. The market size is estimated to be around 1,600 Crores based on import data. But there is no brand in the market. 

(SS); What are current trends in rugs?

(VS): Currently we see that the Geometric and Patchwork is in trend. The Indian consumer who has travelled abroad and has lived abroad is expecting the same kind of lifestyle and interiors. They are co ordinating the  paints, uplhostery, Curtains with their rugs etc. they are working on a theme/Story. This is an exciting time to be there to participate in this market where the customer is actually looking at trendy designs and are following the trends globally. Our association with McThree which is a large player in the European market a large advantage, because the designs they launch in the Fashion forward European market is immediately available to us to offer to the Indian consumer. In a sense our rugs are in line with the European Current trends

(SS): Who is your target audience?

(VS): Our target audience is the fashion forward House proud customer who wants to make a Style statement of his own. She is a discerning customer and is in line with the fashion trends globally and is choosy about what she buys. She is price conscious and is brand conscious.

(SS): What things should be taken care while purchasing a rug?

(VS): Brand, Quality, and Color are three vital parameters while purchasing a carpet. Do not buy it from a fly by night operator who has no quality control over his merchandise. Also make sure yarn should not come out from rug. And, carpet should be color durable.

(SS): Speak about your current footprint and expansion plans?

We are currently in 5 states of the north (Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP,and Delhi) We are in the process of putting together a National footprint which will cover the top cities in India. We are currently available in over 150 benchmark furnishing and Furniture stores. Our aim to reach over 300 stores by the end of the year