The future of furniture and interior design in India is on the rise; now more than ever, people invest more in their homes, whether in furniture or home decor products. The Indian furniture market is currently at about 23 US Billion dollars, estimated to reach 37 US Billion dollars by 2030. Whereas this includes only about 7-8 percent of organized furniture suppliers, there is yet a massive space for various brands to come up and be seen, especially in the luxury market segment. While students and young people still go for affordable options, families and the young generation in their 30s now seem more interested in how their home reflects their personality and see it as more than just an accommodation.

More educational courses are currently being offered to focus on product design, which wasn't the case until 5-7 years back. With excellent public relations skills, Aprajita Bhargava Bhasin is the COO and Interior Consultant at East Lifestyle. Having over 26 years of presence in the furniture design industry, East Lifestyle is a fine boutique specializing in finely handcrafted solid wood high design and classic furniture.

Experienced Anchor with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry, Aprajita Bhargava Bhasin has completed BTech Hons and MBA in human resource management and Operation Relations. She is passionately working towards delivering a luxurious experience and having a happy clientele. She is also focusing on her new venture - The Stage Prop providing luxury furniture and home decor items on rent for TVC, Film sets, and photo shoots by interior designers and architects, as well as for Expats travelling to India for a few months and looking for a fully furnished luxurious home.

Aprajita Bhargava Bhasin engages in a one-on-one interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

What are some essential features of your expertise as a business leader?

Women in the design and decor industry are now rising to the top levels in their organizations. They are passionately working through tight deadlines in the industry when it comes to delivering a project to the homeowners so that they can shift to their new homes within promised time and the challenges that come with it. Being a business leader is more than just knowing your skill at work; it's about interpersonal relationships and growth while balancing your personal life with your professional.

Please introduce us to East Lifestyle and its primary area of expertise. In your opinion, what sets the organization apart from its contemporaries?

East Lifestyle, formerly known as 'Colonial Outpost', is known in the furniture design industry for its handcrafted bespoke products. We have been in the business for over 26 years and are like a family brand for our clients. We are a boutique brand; we don't massproduce items; each item is handcrafted to perfection by our craftsmen, who have been with us since the company's inception. We work closely with interior designers and architects, besides individual clients, to customize their furniture per their requirements. From ideation to design selection, from wood selection to fabrics, from feet to mm, East Lifestyle gives precisely what we promise. We are a luxury brand catering to people who admire furniture and would go the extra mile to ensure each piece in their house stands out and has a story.

Tell us about your responsibilities as the COO and Brand Manager at East Lifestyle. How do you drive growth for the organization?

My responsibility as COO entails a multi-vertical role, from hiring designers and a sales team to training my studio staff, from the look and feel of the studio to the look and feel of our social media pages, from meeting clients to media persons. To drive growth in my company, we focus on three main aspects- New sales - working on the in-studio client experience, and training sales executives to understand design and manufacturing better. Ongoing Sales – Thorough QC of every item leaving our factory and ensuring each client is satisfied and happy. Closed sales- following up on clients and providing maintenance service.

"If you want to go big, stop thinking small, as dreaming and manifesting your future helps"

Throw some light on the most critical challenges you have faced in your current role. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you encounter?

One of the most critical challenges I face is drawing the line as a brand manager of where this brand needs to be present and where it does not. Whether it regards media or what kind of furniture we design and produce. Sometimes this line is hard to draw, especially when finances are involved. In the world of customization, it is effortless to wander off to someone else's design line, but as a design firm, we need to have our own identity and standard. As brand managers, we must understand that we don't compromise on that.

What are some of the most significant milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey?

Bagging my first radio show at 18 and continuing that journey for 11 years- is a significant milestone for me, professionally and even personally. Setting up a business at 24, without any investors and gainfully exiting it by 27 to start a new phase of my life – was a significant milestone for me. Another milestone was to get back to work after my mother's death, pick up the pieces she left, and stand up and be more vital than ever.

Aprajita Bhargava Bhasin, COO And Interior Consultant, East Lifestyle

With strong media and communication expertise, Aprajita Bhargava Bhasin is also skilled in News Writing, Editing, Journalism, Media Relations, and Creative Writing. Her expertise in maintaining healthy public relations drives the company on the path of progress.

Quick facts:

A business leader you admire: Bernard Arnault – Chairman and CEO, Louis Vuitton.