Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - Dec/Jan 2018 | Page 46

RETAIL
Adapting Business
Models for Changing Times
Uncertain Economy Spurs Innovation
BY DESIREE KRIEL
T
he retail sector has been hit with shifting trends. From
challenging consumer spending habits, to new de-
mands from customers, retailers are being faced with
a simple challenge: Adapt or die. We spoke to the co-founder
of furniture specialist, Mobelli Furniture + Living, Alon Sachs,
on the ways in which his business has had to change to suit
the current market.
At the recent launch of their internationally inspired and
stylishly presented individual concept rooms in Paarden Ei-
land, Cape Town, Sachs unveiled the top interior décor trends
for 2018. The launch illustrated the ways in which the luxury
market is changing. Speaking on this, Sachs explains: “Alter-
ing your business model is not a bad thing, provided the time
is right. And businesses do it because sometimes, change is
necessary. In our experience, adapting our business model has
contributed to our overall growth and captured more business
from our target market.”
This move was necessary to keep his business current and
on-trend, a phenomenon he’s seen occur quite frequently in
the last few years with a range of other brands as a direct result
of tough economic times.
“Reinventing your business is never a bad idea, and the lux-
ury retail sector in South Africa has transformed quite rad-
ically in the last ten years. Brands have been forced to think
outside the box, to reinvent themselves, and to transform
where necessary. But what’s crucial for the business is that
while doing so, that quality is not compromised, that’s most
important,” he says.
Sachs says as businesses begin to adapt and reinvent their
brands, the thought process is key in order to come up with
fresh, new ideas that will both improve and grow the business.
“Ultimately when changing things up in your business,
growing the business is the objective. Therefore, when adapt-
ing or reinventing your brand, always aim to be unique, be
different and try to stand-out. But ensure that what you’re
offering is what the customer wants. At Mobelli Furniture +
Living, when our customers speak we listen, and that for me is
what sets us apart from our competitors,” Sachs says.
SOURCES
Mobelli Furniture + Living
44
DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
CASE STUDY
For years, Mobelli Furniture + Living were well-
known for their luxury outdoor furniture. But this
year, and taking into consideration the shifting
trends in the interior and décor industry, the brand
took to the indoors with the launch of its indoor
collection. The concept rooms aim to present this
collection. It incorporates this season’s top décor
trends, which include juxtaposing modern-retro
furniture; mixing materials; and contemporary,
upholstered soft furnishings in various, exclusively
curated in-house spaces.
“For a long time we embraced both the in-and-
outdoor trend. But we decided that it was time to
focus on a classic assortment of furniture pieces
and really go inside. We applied the very same
genealogy with the indoor collection, as we did
with the outdoor collection,” he says.
Sachs says establishing the new collection wasn’t
plain sailing. Instead, it took research, time and
hard work. And after a year of investigating trends,
styles and fabrics, a subsequent collaboration with
well-known South African interior decorator – Sam
Lurie – ensued, and the wheels were set in motion.