Indigo Living opens in Dubai

Joe Hepworth, General Manager of Indigo Living's Middle East business, explains why its theme of 'Expressive Living' is proving such a winner in the region.

Indigo Living, an innovative new furniture and home furnishings concept, is already making a big impression in Dubai after opening its regional office here just over two years ago.

But the Hong Kong-based firm is hoping this year will be the springboard to an even brighter future, not just in Dubai but in the whole GCC and MENA region.

Indigo Living is an interior design specialist, providing products and services in four areas; projects, rental, retail and wholesale.

Already it has completed work with big names in Dubai such as the Westin Hotel, where it managed the architectural and interior design for rooms and corridors, as well as the sourcing, supply and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment in 297 rooms & suites. Similar work has also been carried out for the Emirates Harbour Hotel, the Greenlakes Serviced Apartments and is underway at the new Dubai Marina Mall Hotel and Traders Hotel in Abu Dhabi, both of which are due to be completed by spring 2009.

Over the past couple of years Indigo has also been working closely with Emirates Airline, providing over 2,000 units of stylish accommodation for crew, pilots, management and engineers.

General Manager Joe Hepworth, said: "Our tag line is 'Expressive Living' and that's what we pride ourselves on: unique designs, faultless quality and bespoke customer service that allows the client to really enjoy the end product".

As far as project work is concerned Indigo Living claims to provide an almost unique end-to-end service.

"This means Indigo not only supplies fixtures, fittings and equipment, but from the outset works with designers to get the specifications right - in fact we have our own in-house interior design team who can provide the full scope of ID services, as we did at The Westin. Once the designs are settled, we then source from dedicated suppliers, oversee production, ship and install the products for a complete turnkey solution. By dealing solely with Indigo's professionals as their single point of contact, the client gets an altogether more efficient and hassle-free service than would be possible if they had to manage all these separate components & suppliers by themselves. In the current market, this model also offers excellent value for money"

But, Indigo Living is bringing yet more new ideas to the region, including furniture rental.
Joe added: "Furniture rental is something we've been doing in Hong Kong for many years and was one of the drivers for setting up in Dubai, with its transitory and fluid expatriate market.

"Although the service is still relatively unknown, we've really seen it take off recently as individuals and companies realise it can get them out of a spot (or a hotel!) while they wait for their containers to arrive. I suspect there are landlords, investors and tenants out there who have never thought - or even known - that this is a great alternative to buying furniture, even for the long term. It might sound strange, but some of our best customers never buy a thing!"

In the immediate future Indigo Living is preparing to open a new store at The Walk in Jumeirah Beach Residences.

Joe said: "The store, due to open in early March, will be an excellent platform for Indigo's concepts and products - not least our furniture packages which residents and owners are increasingly looking to source from a single outlet.

"Further ahead we're already thinking about wider GCC retail expansion, perhaps through franchise, but at this stage the focus is on getting the new store up and running and the Indigo Living name better known in Dubai."