Company Profile
A warm and welcoming introduction to a very hospitable establishment - that's the feeling that greets every customer upon entering any one of The Living Room's five branches. Company Chairman and Founder Mr. Dilip Kanabar had a vision and that vision elevated The Living Room to its status of being the leading premium furniture retail store in Tanzania.
Born and raised in Tanzania, Mr. Kanabar is a true entrepreneur. “There are no short cuts to success. One has to work hard and make smart decisions.” Mr. Kanabar initially imported men’s tailored suites from Europe. Brands such as Christian Dior, Yves St. Laurent and Cerutti, which were imported and sold locally were just an indication of the level of style and sophistication Mr. Kanabar possessed. He then established an electronic store housing a wide spectrum of products from kitchen appliances to video and audio equipment. His empire was now beginning to take structure.
It was about this time that Mr. Kanabar purchased his first house in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam. The challenge and excitement of furnishing his new home lead him all over the country, bringing only disappointment and frustration at finding nothing with a standard of quality and style that suited his taste. With the disgruntled notion of other families having similar experiences, Mr. Kanabar left for Europe and South East Asia in pursuit of exclusive furniture but without the significant price tag. What he discovered would shape the homes of many in Tanzania to date.
In 1993 The Living Room was established with its head office on Nyerere Road, Dar es Salaam. The journey had begun. Solid relationships with international manufacturers were formed, and the likes of Ashley and High Point were now being displayed on the showroom floors with staggering success and remarkable turnover.
It took another 5 years before the second phase of The Living Room was to unfold. An in-house interior designer suggested adding office furniture to the portfolio, as there was an increase in government development and tenders were being submitted for newly constructed offices that required furnishings and fittings. The Living Room was to succeed in being awarded 80% of all tendered developments and Mr. Kanabar attributes this to the solid reputation of The Living Room and the quality of furniture being supplied, accompanied with the guarantee of internationally recognized E1 Grade approval certificates. The success of office furniture sales began to filtrate the commercial sector by word of mouth and B2B sales currently account for 70% of The Living Room revenue.
Nishit Kanabar, Executive Director and son of Mr. Kanabar joined the business in 2005. At just 23, Nishit saw the need to enhance the outward profile of The Living Room. This was achieved by the modification of the company logo and the development of brands, which follow global style trends, thus achieving better price, quality and buying power. This same year also marked the opening of another The Living Room branch at the Millennium Towers. The ripple effect was in motion and the Mwanza branch opened the following year, The Arusha branch in 2008, and in June 2009 the exclusive Oysterbay showroom was launched.
Today The Living Room offers its clients the convenience of in-house interior decorators, floor planners, architectural consultants plus innovative concept designers who are able to assist in creating the interior make-up of any domestic or business environment, including the management of all turnkey projects both private and commercial. The Living Room also offer a very effective interactive website showcasing a virtual catalogue of the entire product line and client services offered, at the mere click of a button.
All this echoes what The Living Room stands for: convenience, simplicity, style, and an unequivocal attention to detail. Mr. Kanabar will not tolerate the words “impossible” or “no” and has instilled this mindset into all members of staff across the board. All clients are guaranteed the utmost in professional service and personal attention. There is no project too large or client too small for The Living Room and the company takes pride in this approach.
VISION
Develop The Living Room Brand into the Leading Commercial and Residential Furniture Franchise in Africa
MISSION
Provide Turnkey Solutions to all Premium Developments in Tanzania
STATEMENT
We are the only Furniture Company in Tanzania that has an Online Catalogue, which showcases International Furniture Brands with up to five years warranty
PRODUCTS
The Living Room products are divided into two main categories. Office and Home. It is the only company in Tanzania that offers products with up to 5 years warranty.
The Office sector comprises of office chairs, desks and storage facilities, to receiving room furniture, partitioning and a significant range of safes.
The Home sector comprises of everything you would find in a home’s living area, bedrooms and the outdoors.
SERVICES
In-House Interior Decorating Consulting
In-House Interior Floor Planning and Architectural Consulting
Managing Turnkey Projects
Online Virtual Catalogue – Only in Tanzania
Online Product Specifications
Quick Reality – Online Presentations of Current and Forthcoming Commercial and Residential Developments