Industry titan recognised for his contributions to the Italian furniture scene in the GCC
Dubai, UAE: Mikdad Bhabhrawala, CEO of Western Furniture LLC, was recognised as one the most powerful leaders of the MENA region by Images Retail Me. He received an Images RetailME Icons 100 Award in acknowledgment of his contributions to the Italian furniture scene in the UAE through Western Furniture and its flagship brand, Natuzzi Italia, at the Images RetailME Icons 100 gala dinner held on August 5th at the JW Marriot Marquis Hotel.
Gayatri Dongre, Senior General Manager, Western Furniture LLC said, “As a businessman and entrepreneur, Mr. Mikdad has placed profound footprints in the UAE and GCC’s pathway to becoming a leader in the premium luxury furniture retail sector. It is an honour to work with him and we are so proud of him for this ostentatious award that is very well-deserved.”
Mikdad played an integral role in porting Western Furniture, and Natuzzi Italia, from Italy to the UAE furniture market and integrating it into the furniture scene in the GCC. Through his relations with designers and an incredible knowledge of the market and the region he was able to establish Western Furniture in the MENA, with the strongest presence being in the UAE.
From a standard store with 11,500 square feet of space when it opened in 1992, Western Furniture now occupies 100,000 square feet of retail space at sprawling showrooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Showcasing the largest and finest selections of living room furniture, bedroom sets, dining room sets, as well as a wide range of decorative accessories, the brand offers classic and contemporary pieces representing the elegance and expertise of Italian craftsmanship.
Mikdad’s commitment to the Italian furniture scene also saw the immense success of Natuzzi Italia, the premium brand of the Natuzzi Group. A mono-brand store located on Sheikh Zayed Road, which happens to be the largest showroom in the world, was opened. Offering stylish and highly sought after furniture and home furnishing, the store saw profits and revenue increase exponentially over the last few years and even maintained this momentum through the recent pandemic.
Through the implication of a ground-breaking, user-friendly and trust worthy virtual store concept, Natuzzi Italia continued to sell its edgy and luxurious items throughout the quarantine and lockdown periods at the height of the pandemic. Sales continued to soar as the city began to return to normal as Mr. Mikdad mandated a strict protocol by limiting the capacity of the store and implemented a rotation of sanitization. Every hour, all surfaces such as couches, tables and beds were cleaned and sanitized, allowing customers to reliably try out any and all luxurious items comfortably and in a safe environment.
The RetailMe Icon 100 awards will celebrate and recognise 100 trailblazers who have set the scene in the region in and risen to build bridges over troubled waters in light of recent challenges created by the pandemic. Prioritising people over profit and purpose over revenue, the icons will be awarded for their trailblazing innovations, collaborations and operations in wake of the challenging times we are facing. The industry trailblazers will be awarded based on their achievements, contributions, and the impact they’ve created in the industry.
Accepting his award Mr. Mikdad thanked his family, employees, and customers, and said, “Italian furniture was always my passion, and foreseeing the market demand for it, realising it and making that it a major success never seemed like hard work for me, as it was the equivalent of a dream come true for me.”
About Western Furniture:
Founded in 1992 in Dubai, Western Furniture LLC is a well-established leading retailer of medium to high quality furniture in the region and is a member of the Arenco Group of Companies. Western Furniture offers a large selection of bedroom sets, living room furniture, dining room sets, occasional tables, sofa sets, entertainment centres, and decorative accessories. It showcases Italian brands like Natuzzi Italia, Tomasella, Zanette, Calligaris, Miniforms, Gamma, Tonin Casa, Natuzzi Editions, Bonaldo, Kristalia, Adriani & Rossi, and Reflex. Spanish brands such as Schuller, German brand Draenert are also showcased at the Western Furniture Stores in Karama and Sheikh Zayed Road. Western Furniture is the dealer of Natuzzi Italia, the premium brand of the Natuzzi Group with a mono-brand store located on Sheikh Zayed Road, its largest showroom in the world offering stylish and highly sought-after furniture and home furnishing.
