Serba Antik, Completes 25 Years in Home Furnishings
January 1, 2010
Company Which Began in a Garage Plans to Open Fourth Showroom by January 2003
Jakarta, Indonesia — The home furnishings retailer Serba Antik is preparing to celebrate 25 years in business. It is continuing to expand with plans in the works to build a 750 square meter retail outlet to open in Bali by January 2003.
Serba Antik had a humble beginning in 1975 when Prem Bharwani, the founder, renovated his garage and transformed it into a showroom. (He also sold his car and bought a pickup truck, with which he delivered the merchandise.)
Although 25 years have passed, Bharwani recalls how an early sale of an item valued at $200 was never realized and he settled instead for the customer's used music system as payment.
Bharwani built the business as a door-to-door salesman, working 14 hours a day. He is proud to have built Serba by word of mouth. As Serba landed contracts to supply residences, small offices and establishments, he began buying from local manufacturers.
The oil boom in 1982 helped the business grow, said Bharwani, as expatriates wanted to decorate and furnish homes in style. To meet their growing demands, in 1984, Bharwani visited Heimtextil in Frankfurt and got his first look at suppliers from around the world.
The property and real estate boom during 1985-97 brought more opporunity for Serba.
In recent years Serba has begun offering expanded services from sofa manufacturing to total project execution. The company has completed projects in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei catering to up market clients like hotels, palaces, residences and corporate clients among others.
Today Serba has three 7,000 square meter showrooms, each stocked with brands from Europe and America. During the last year furnishings sourcing has changed, according to Bharwani. European suppliers excel in innovation and design quality, he said, while China and Turkey offer attractive pricing. "We may have to order larger quantities from these countries per design and color, but the prices are cheap and the customer needs an economical option too," he said. F&FI
Jakarta, Indonesia — The home furnishings retailer Serba Antik is preparing to celebrate 25 years in business. It is continuing to expand with plans in the works to build a 750 square meter retail outlet to open in Bali by January 2003.
Serba Antik had a humble beginning in 1975 when Prem Bharwani, the founder, renovated his garage and transformed it into a showroom. (He also sold his car and bought a pickup truck, with which he delivered the merchandise.)
Although 25 years have passed, Bharwani recalls how an early sale of an item valued at $200 was never realized and he settled instead for the customer's used music system as payment.
Bharwani built the business as a door-to-door salesman, working 14 hours a day. He is proud to have built Serba by word of mouth. As Serba landed contracts to supply residences, small offices and establishments, he began buying from local manufacturers.
The oil boom in 1982 helped the business grow, said Bharwani, as expatriates wanted to decorate and furnish homes in style. To meet their growing demands, in 1984, Bharwani visited Heimtextil in Frankfurt and got his first look at suppliers from around the world.
The property and real estate boom during 1985-97 brought more opporunity for Serba.
In recent years Serba has begun offering expanded services from sofa manufacturing to total project execution. The company has completed projects in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei catering to up market clients like hotels, palaces, residences and corporate clients among others.
Today Serba has three 7,000 square meter showrooms, each stocked with brands from Europe and America. During the last year furnishings sourcing has changed, according to Bharwani. European suppliers excel in innovation and design quality, he said, while China and Turkey offer attractive pricing. "We may have to order larger quantities from these countries per design and color, but the prices are cheap and the customer needs an economical option too," he said. F&FI
