In 1956, Bantia Furniture began with a 3,000 sq ft showroom on Rashtrapati Road in Secunderabad and just three employees. Today, the family-run business spans three lakh sq ft, with around 20 branches across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — including Vijayawada, Warangal and Karimnagar — and over 700 employees.
For Surendar Bantia and his son Amit, the journey has been about adapting to changing aspirations and evolving homes.
When the business started, furniture choices were limited. Steel almirahs, tables, chairs and cots formed the bulk of sales, alongside supplies to government departments. The turning point came in the 1990s, when India’s economy opened up and imported furniture entered the market. Bantia was among the early businesses to source furniture from Malaysia, China and Thailand. “We realised that if we stuck to steel furniture, we would be left behind,” says Surendar Bantia.
The expansion since 2004 was driven by a simple observation: customers wanted convenience. A shopper in Kukatpally or HITEC City was unlikely to travel to Secunderabad every time they needed furniture.
The way people buy furniture has changed just as much. “Earlier, a dining table or bed was expected to last for generations. Today, customers may look to replace a sofa or upgrade their interiors within five years,” says Surendar.
Furniture gets personal
The average buyer today is between 30 and 50 and far more informed about international trends. Some customers even arrive with AI-generated designs.
Despite the growth of e-commerce, buying furniture online has its limits. The father-son duo say customers prefer to see, touch and try a piece before investing, particularly for larger purchases such as sofas. “People want modern-looking furniture, but they also want it to be affordable, easy to use and low on maintenance,” says Amit.
The firm stays ahead with inventive offers. For the festive season, Bantia is offering an electric bike on purchases worth 49,999 across its stores. Customers can also exchange old furniture for a 20 per cent discount and opt for EMIs with repayments starting only from next year (2027). With a range from 5,000 to a couple of lakhs, the brand both manufactures and imports furniture.
Nearly seven decades after it began, the family is betting on the same principle that drove its early expansion: understanding what customers want and being ready to change with them.
Take Three
Everyone should invest in: A good sofa and a mattress
When it comes to buying furniture: Always physically feel the product. Sit on the sofa before you decide
Trending now: Technology in furniture. Beds with music systems and reading lights, mattresses with cool gel
Highlight: For the festive season, Bantia is offering an electric bike on purchases worth 49,999 across its stores. Customers can also exchange old furniture for a 20 per cent discount and opt for EMIs with repayments starting only from next year (2027).
“People want modern-looking furniture, but they also want it to be affordable, easy to use and low on maintenance”
Amit Bantia
Bantia was among the early businesses to source furniture from Malaysia, China and Thailand. “We realised that if we stuck to steel furniture, we would be left behind.”
Surendar Bantia
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
