When passion and innovation go hand in hand, the true charm of magic unfolds. Revealing the beauty trapped within the mind to be expressed through designs, décor, wall arts, and more, SIMONE, the brainchild of Simone Arora, is just the stop where dream meets reality. Celebrated as one of the prominent names of design and décor, Simone Arora is one of the few personas who took her passion for art to the next level by curating a luxurious yet sophisticated brand – SIMONE. An elite home decor boutique that portrays 25 years of design experience, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality and perfection. SIMONE showcases globally sourced products attractively combined in visually attractive settings to soothe one's senses.

In an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Simone Arora reveals her journey as a zealous and successful businesswoman who is determined to outshine in the interior design industry owing to her immaculate products and service offerings via SIMONE.

1. Tell Us About Your Journey So Far? What Drove You To Entrench Simone?

I was associated with D'Decor as Creative Director of design & product development for 20 plus years, and my journey was filled with learning, travel, exposure and interactions with the design. This, coupled with my artistic background lent tremendously to my creative talent & design aesthetic. I then felt the urge to create an independent identity & express myself as 'Simone- the woman, her style and design'. during this time, I had the unique opportunity of building & designing my home, working alongside the renowned architect Hafeez Contractor, where I selected and sourced all the furniture & decorative accessories from different parts of Europe. After the completion of our home, I was humbled by the appreciation it received from both family & friends.

This encouraged me to introduce these unique & attractive home decor products to Mumbai, after observing an absence of ‘one of a kind’ luxury retail space offering home decor products, all under one roof, curated into room settings. Subsequently, I embarked on purchasing this retail space on a prominent high street, and the brand SIMONE was launched shortly thereafter.

2. Give Us Brief Details Your Educational And Professional Background. Also, Explain About Simone And How Do You Uniquely Run The Functions Of The Company?

I got married at an early age of 21, right after my graduation in Bachelor of Arts degree. It won’t be wrong to say that all my learning has come ‘on the field’ working daily & perseveringly towards building brand D’DECOR alongside my husband Ajay Arora. My knowledge was further enhanced through our numerous travels & exposure to international trade shows, visiting the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, design studios, & through my interactions with designers worldwide. SIMONE is one of India’s finest home decor luxury stores, housing furniture, decorative artifacts, accessories, equipping aspecially curated range of D'Decor home fabrics, wall coverings & bed/bath linen. At SIMONE, my primary role is sourcing the merchandise, which I selectively handpick at international design exhibitions, based on the criteria of design, quality, functionality, utility, and price. We strive to create a readymade attractive visual setting for our customers, which we believe will hugely assist them in their selection.

“Staying focused without temptation or distraction requires grit. So, discipline & undeterred perseverance are hugely important in achieving one’s end goal”

3. What Were The Major Challenges Faced By You While Establishing Simone And How Has Your Journey Been So Far?

After acquiring a unique property in a landmark heritage building for SIMONE, the external facade of the premises needed some major restoration work, such as exterior, and interior refurbishment, and recreating spaces without compromising the safety & stability of the building. I commissioned noted restoration architect Vikas Dilawari to restore the external facade of the building to its original stature, and consequently for the interior, I chose a contemporary concept, a neutral setting, which would serve as a canvas & a backdrop showcasing the merchandise. The design process and interior execution were closely monitored by me at every stage. The sourcing of the furniture/decorative accessories, store interiors, facade restoration, marketing & branding, HR & BMC permissions required for this project, all happened simultaneously. All these numerous activities needed to converge & meet the deadline launch date. After an actionpacked, unforgettable & hard journey of 2 years, we finally opened our doors to the public in September 2014.

4. As A Woman Leader, How Are You Influencing And Inspiring Others In And Around Your Professional And Personal Stratum?

Hard work, discipline and perseverance have been the key principles in helping me accomplish my goals on both the personal & professional front through the years. Effective time management has been my mantra ever since I was elected Head pupil of my school in the 9th grade. I have been very passionate about each project I have taken on, giving it my soul with the ‘never say die spirit’ no matter what the obstacle that came my way. The result was my reward, & this further fuelled my desire to continue to dream.

Simone Arora, Founder, Simone

A proud mother of three children with a supportive husband, Simone is blessed with a beautiful family that continues to inspire her at every stage. Maintaining meaningful relationships with family and friends by perfectly balancing her personal and professional career, she believes that an all rounded effort goes a long way in one’s overall sense of wellbeing, development & success.

HOBBY:

Healthy activities such as swimming, weight training & Yoga, watching informative & inspirational movies, reading varied articles on diverse topics

Travel Destination: Europe