Nelson India : Offering unique integrated services

Mr Anand Daniel Koshy speaks to Retailer on Nelson’s India launch

Retailer: How did Nelson International come into being?

ADK: Nelson, started in 1977 as an interior designs firm by John J. Nelson, Sr. headquartered in the USA, has grown into a unique, integrated-services firm offering six lines of business. Nelson now has 475 teammates in 35 locations around the world, with revenues of more than $50 million. With strong experience in the financial services industry, Nelson works with more than 20 per cent of companies in the Fortune 100. Its infrastructure allows offering clients a global platform to deliver fully integrated services and single point of contact for all their portfolio planning, design and space management needs.  

Retailer: What was the inspiration, and when and how did the company enter India?

ADK: Nelson sees tremendous opportunity in the Indian market and has selected it as the location of the firm’s first independent office outside the US. As part of its ongoing efforts to serve clients around the world and provide the best resources for each job, Nelson is committed to making India a vital link in its work with multi-national companies as well as local and regional businesses. The firm actively serves clients through affiliations in the UK and also has affiliate locations in Mexico City, Singapore, Japan, and China through a strategic business relationship with SPACE, a US-based design and strategy firm. Nelson specifically chose to establish operations in Delhi because of the available talent pool, infrastructure and opportunity for growth at a much more accelerated rate than any other market.

Retailer: Throw some light on unique integrated services that the firm offers?

ADK: Nelson has grown into a unique integrated-services firm offering six lines of business: Strategies, Interior Design, Architecture, Engineering, Workplace Services and Information Services. 

Retailer: How has the real estate industry driven the need for professionally managed design solutions in India, during the past few years?

ADK: The real estate developers also aim at delivering the best to their buyers, and space management is one area where all construction companies are looking for the best consultant. Big real estate giants have also been reported to have hired international architect to procure services like interior designing, space management, architecture etc. Nelson now has its offices in India and real estate giants have responded well to its presence.

Retailer: How is the quality of interiors and designing of the malls helpful in attracting the consumers?
ADK: Mall designing is a very lengthy process that requires a lot of expertise, experience and architectural know-how. The space should be optimally utilised. This would thereby lead to attracting maximum number of brands. The retail sector is growing phenomenally and FDI for retail in India has reached 51 per cent. Retail is a ‘Sunrise industry’ now. International brands would go in a mall, which matches their standard of quality. If the interiors are taken care of well, it portrays the mall as a promising business area. And more the number of brands, more would be the footfall generated. We offer integrated services to ensure that the builder does not have to look for different service provider for different requirements.
Retailer: What are Nelson India’s future plans? Which strategy is the company following for expansion in India?
ADK: Nelson has specifically chosen to establish its operations in Delhi because of the available talent pool, infrastructure and opportunity for growth at a much more accelerated rate than in most other markets. About the growing need for architectural firms in India, Mr John 'Ozzie' Nelson, Jr., President & CEO Nelson says, “With India’s economy growing at a rate 8 to 9 per cent annually and the construction activity accounting for 50 per cent of the capital outlay, the forces are aligning for Nelson to have significant impact on the Indian marketplace. Our unique service offering of strategic real estate consulting, design services and real estate information management solutions are well-suited for an evolving Indian market that is going from a largely localised approach to adopting global best practices.”

After Delhi, the firm is keen to set up operations in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad.  Apparently post-launch, Nelson will capitalise upon its existing affiliate relationships in the region and henceforth aims to become the top firm in the Asian market within the next five years.

Retailer: Which are the various projects in India that the company is currently involved in?
ADK: Nelson has done thorough research in the Indian designing and real estate market to make the best of opportunities foreseen. The demand for professional designers has been tremendous and the business is growing phenomenally. The paradigm is set for Nelson. The company is on the verge of finalising certain huge projects but it would be too early to disclose the same.
Retailer: What has been the success story for Nelson International, and how is the company planning to repeat it in India?
ADK: Nelson is currently ranked No.3 among the Top 100 Interior Design Giants specialising in corporate/office design (Interior Design magazine) and No. 4 in the same category on the Architects/Engineers Giants 300 List (Building Design & Construction magazine). Clients include Bank of America, America Online, Wachovia, Sprint, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Aetna, Wells Fargo, E*Trade, PepsiCo, Citi Group and many more. Today, in its second generation of leadership, Nelson boasts of  a strong suite of Integrated Service Solutions. Nelson enjoys successful working relationships with some of the world’s leading Fortune 500 multinational companies. Initially, in the local market, the primary targets will be the Indian offices of those firms to expand upon the services that the company currently provides in other markets. By the first quarter of 2007, Nelson India will expand its service by offering to these firms by delivering an array of global best practices for cost-effective solutions.