Furnishing a perfect career

How this father-son duo has been reinventing their furniture business in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad since the 1950s, makes for quite an interesting story.

Surendar Bantia was a born entrepreneur with high morals, strong relationship values and a sharp acumen for business. No wonder then, that today, he is the man behind the largest chain of retail furniture stores in the state — Bantia Furnishings. Almost 60 years ago, Surendar opened his first furniture store in Hyderabad and since then, enabled the business to become the twin cities’ largest privately-owned furniture chain, with nine popular stores.  

Just like his father, Amit has realised very early on that he wanted to join the family business after completing his education. “I always wanted to join my father’s furniture business and for that, after my management course in the US, I did an internship with a furniture company,” says 33-year-old Amit.

A strong history
Surendar’s great-grandfather came to Hyderabad 150 years ago, and the city has been their home ever since. Then in 1955, Surendar’s father started  manufacturing steel furniture. But the entrepreneurial journey and experience wasn’t easy. “Initially, we faced many challenges in importing as India was new to liberalisation. But in 1999, when the government of India opened the economy and allowed imports, we were the first to import goods from Malaysia and China,” says 58-year-old Surendar.

The driving idea behind the company was, and is, that anyone should be able to afford stylish, modernist furniture. “When it comes to furniture, people really want to feel a piece and test its sturdiness to better visualise a place for it in their homes — and that happens in our store,” says Amit.

Secret of success
“We’re always looking for new products, new ideas and new markets. We travel to different countries, to educate ourselves and buy products. We have exclusive tie-ups with various designers in Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia and China,” reveals Surendar, who is also the founder chief patron and vice-president of Jain International Trade Organisation.

As the market has got tougher, the duo continues to emphasise on quality and value of their products. “We offer good quality as well, and interesting designs and choice,” says Amit.

Bantia Furnishings has been marketing upper-class taste to the middle and upper-middle classes since 1977. What started as a humble beginning with just one 3,000 square-feet store at R.P. Road has now grown manifold. “The business grew a lot after Amit joined it. We moved to a bigger store of 30,000 square-feet in 2002,” says Surendar, adding, “In the beginning, we only sold steel furniture and almirahs. But we  developed quickly and now have been awarded as the biggest furniture retail company in the country.”

In all these years, Bantia never loaned money for their business. “Right from the start, we were self-funded,” says Surendar, who is also  the secretary of Jain Temple Kulpak, one of the oldest surviving Jain temples in South India.

On the personal front, the father and son maintain a cordial relationship. They talk business at work, and they talk business outside of work. “Working together is fun as long as we look at each other as equals and friends. Both of us, in case of a difference of opinion, don’t give up just because one is the son and the other the father. Our bond has become stronger over the years. Now we understand each other better and respect each other’s opinions,” says Amit and Surendar concludes, “We make a disciplined attempt to have healthy discussions when making business decisions.”

Passion
Surendar: I love travelling and taking part in social and religious activities
Amit: I love skiing. I make sure I visit Gulmarg every year for the annual skiing event

Anecdote 
Surendar: The first time when we were importing goods from China, communication was a big issue. The Chinese did not know about the Indian customs’ requirements of an original bill. So, this gentleman was sending me a fax copy of the bill and I was not able to release the container. Because of the language, it was difficult for me to explain to him that we needed the original copy. Finally, instead of original currency, I faxed him a dollar and it was only then that he realised that I was asking for the original documents.

Other interests: Warehousing, theatre, real estate and logistics business