New shop for gold cutlery and furniture

Nidshan shop located in upmarket Nyali estate in Mombasa looks like a tiny gold palace.

Nothing speaks minimalism. Everything is shiny, floral with gold accents from cutlery, candle holders, tea pots, soup bowls to dining chairs.

Vishal Sennik and his wife Nidhi, the founders of the company, say Mombasa needed a local shop for people who want to buy luxurious home accessories.

Among the products on sale is a Sh30,000 cutlery gold set and champagne glasses from Kashmir retailing at Sh20,000. The shop also stocks a ‘royal’ dining table with four brass-plated seats, serving dishes retailing at Sh240,000 and a dinner set costing Sh55,000. Most of the household items are imported from Italy, India, Dubai and Morocco.

The Senniks are targeting Kenya’s growing ultra-wealthy population that has been increasing over the years and who love fine things in life.

‘‘The shop is a solution to customers who take trips overseas to buy exclusive household items, outdoor and interior accessories,’’ Vishal said.

With the surge in luxury shopping comes a wave of opportunities for entrepreneurs. In the next decade alone, Kenya will create about 7,500 new millionaires, the Knight Frank latest wealth report notes.

Driven by an obsession with detail and brand, these millionaires are opening a new market for developers, fine furniture sellers, vintners, cruise ship tour companies among others and there is potential in them finding success.

‘‘We see the potential for entrepreneurs to do well, whether by creating stronger, smarter family businesses or providing professional services as economies expand,’’ the Knight Frank report notes.

The Nidshan shop located on Links Road in Nyali is among retailers in major cities that are seeking to satisfy the needs of discerning customers in search of unique home accessories.

“We want to take interior design to another level. We usually go to a client’s house and recommend the design that is best suitable from the ceiling to the walls,” said Vishal.

Good business

The idea of the shop was born when Vishal’s friend complemented him on his fine taste in designing his home ceilings and walls.

“A friend told me that I have an eye for exclusivity when he saw the interior design of my apartment,” said Vishal who describes interior designing as innate.

Other items for sale at the showroom include bone China tea cups, Chinese ceramics and furniture being top in the list of what the ultra-wealthy splurges on. It also stocks branded toy cars connected with music systems.

Nidhi said despite opening recently, the shop is doing ‘‘good business’’ and they will soon break even.

“We have Ferraris, BMWs, Bentleys for children and we are soon bringing in petrol-powered bikes for children above the age of 12 years,” she said.

Technology has played a big role in their business. Initially, they started as an online shop where customers ordered and goods delivered to whichever location but as demand grew they opened a physical shop. They also source the goods online where they engage with sellers from across the world through the Web.

She said that online business is based on trust and most of their sellers are reputable companies that sell high quality products.

“Trust is the key to online business, nobody will trust you if you sell to them something which is not of good quality,” she said.

Nidhi added that most of their customers are from Mombasa and Nairobi.

Another shop

Spoon & Bowl is another tableware shop that recently launched a Villeroy & Bochs store in Two Rivers Mall, Nairobi.

In this new age of dining, fine crockery is a must-have in a home and a table arrangement ought to reveal a Villeroy & Boch, Royal Limoges or a known luxury brand.

The Nairobi store stocks from premium porcelain plates and cups from Germany, exquisite cutlery, fine wine glasses to baking tins. Also at the shop are vintage collections.