Predicting the future of the Interiors Industry with Arun Harshan
The global market size of the Interior Design industry is estimated at $14.7 billion in revenue and a CAGR of 6.75% and is expected to remain steady for the near future. The growth rate projected between 2020 and 2027 is 7.8% CAGR. Several key factors can be attributed to being the driving force behind this exponential growth. However, there are only three primary reasons. One, the number of construction and expansion activities that happen around the world and the UAE is the centre of it all. Second, the rising incomes in the world provide plenty of space for professional interior design. This brings us to the last major reason, the increasing desire to improve the standard of living.
KANDAS is an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization specialized in Interior Designing, Joinery and Fit-out projects, Project solutions; skilled/unskilled outsource staff across various specializations, equipment rental, portable living spaces for events and construction projects, manufacturing, and trading of premium wood products. They have consistently delivered unparalleled product and service quality, and excellent customer satisfaction over the years since their inception in 2007. Arun Harshan is the Group Co-Founder and Managing Director. Mahesh Shankar is the General Manager for their Interior Decorations vertical. Here is an interview with these two stalwarts that takes us through the company’s journey and its future.
Interviewer: Mr Arun, how did you start your journey as an entrepreneur?
Arun: I was born into a family of entrepreneurs and was exposed to creating sustainable business models from a very young age. I have been working in this industry for the last 15 years focusing on varied but related fields such as Interior Design, Joinery, Fit-outs, Project Management, Equipment Rental, Portable Living Spaces, Workforce solutions, facilities management, manufacturing, and premium wood trading.
Q: What would you say is the secret of your success?
Arun: I have found success not just because of only my efforts. A team consisting of impeccable talent surrounds me. I mean I could not have done any of it without them. Mahesh Shankar is the General Manager for the Interior Decorations division. He has proven to be an invaluable addition to my team and I have complete confidence in him.
Q: What core values have driven the company to its current heights?
Arun: We, at KANDAS, believe in delivering customer excellence and unparalleled product quality. We started this company with an ironclad conviction to build an organization that is rooted in a customer-first approach and a relentless pursuit of innovative service offerings, practical solutions for any challenge that may arise during a project and aspirational product pipelines to generate sustained value for all our stakeholders. Furthermore, I believe in a people-centric leadership style and have always voiced my support for equal opportunity for increasing the diversity ratio in the business.
Q: Mr Mahesh, as the General Manager, can you tell us what makes KANDAS Interiors stand out in the market?
Mahesh: Our team specializes in blending unique ideas with premium grade products, materials and modern technology to transform living spaces into sustainable and spectacular creative statements. Our processes and systems are result-oriented and committed to honesty, transparency and reliability by empathizing with the client to the greatest extend. Simply put, we pay heed to our customers and try to understand exactly what they want. From conceptualization to the finished product, during every step of the way, our skilled craftsmen work hand-in-hand with the client. We combine that workmanship with modern technology to create a bespoke product that suits their requirements. That is the secret of our success. You would be surprised to hear that we are an integral part of the team that created the UK Pavilion and the Gabon Pavilion at the Expo.
Q: Speaking of Expo 2020, it has become a thumping success. Do you guys have any thoughts on the designs of the pavilions?
Arun: Yes, of course. I had visited the Expo twice with my family. They have come out with some of the most breathtaking designs I have seen. Especially the Al Wasl Dome, the Falcon-shaped UAE Pavilion and the KSA Pavilion. They stand testament to the willingness of this country to reach for the highest of heights and bleeding edge innovations. It is clear from how they have planned and executed the Expo that Sustainability is the key to the future. At KANDAS, we have always tried to incorporate Sustainability into our creations. Our clients can testify to this fact. I think Mahesh can add more to this subject.
Mahesh: Thank you, Mr Arun. Yes, we have been closely involved in the conception, design and construction of the UK Pavilion and the Gabon Pavilion. I believe that it is one of our biggest achievements to date. I mean, to be able to be part of such a massive project is in itself a reward.
Q: That sounds fantastic. Speaking of Sustainability, if you go through the Sustainability Pavilion at the Expo, we have the chance to see some of the most advanced technologies that create sustainable living and structures in reality. Can you comment on the future of Interior Design and Fit-outs, your forte?
Mahesh: The human race can achieve what it sets its mind to. Innovation and progress will keep happening no matter what. Interior designing and fit-out is an art form in some sense that keeps on evolving to the changing times. It is sometimes overwhelming to keep track of the trends and revolutions, which are shaping the future of Interior Designing. KANDAS strives to stay at the top of these trends, paying heed to different perspectives and executing research-backed ideas. We as an organization, with those changes in mind funded and constructed a 60,000 sq. ft. facility that includes a Joinery with state of the art technology that is supported by the excellent talent that provides us with the economic moat required to stay current in the business.
Q: What are some examples of the trends you mentioned could you give us from the top of your head?
Mahesh: Smart homes, Storage Spaces and Green Offices. They may not sound like much. However, let me explain. Rapid AI-based innovations such as Google Home and Alexa has helped people to turn their homes into smart homes. Those technologies have given rise to home automation technologies through which you can control all aspects of your home from room ambience, opening and closing doors and curtains to even controlling your stereo systems. It has grown into a normal part of interior designing now. It is one of the truly exciting innovations.
Q: And what about Storage Spaces and Green Offices?
Mahesh: With companies following a trend of downsizing their office spaces, storage spaces have become more innovative and unique and that job has become part of an interior designer’s responsibility. From suspended storage options, cleverly designed cabinets, to hidden spaces, storage has become another exciting area that has the potential to grow far and wide. As for Green Offices, from coffee and food compost to recreational areas, more and more companies are opting for energy-efficient spaces of work. As these trends develop, it becomes even more important for interior designers to be ready with innovative solutions for environmental conservation efforts.
Interviewer: Thank you for letting us into your minds and for your time. That was a scintillating conversation that we had, in which you gave us such great insights into the company’s journey and your hopes and thoughts about the future of interior designing.