This article contains promotional content. (April 2018) |
Urban Ladder is an Indian omnichannel furniture and decor retailer that was founded in 2012 by Ashish Goel and Rajiv Srivatsa. Headquartered in Bangalore.[1] the company offers a wide range of furniture and home decor products through both online platforms and physical stores. Initially established as an online-only brand, Urban Ladder expanded into offline retail in 2017 and now operates 50 stores across major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.[2][3]
 | |
| Type of business | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Area served | India |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Industry | Furniture, Home Decor |
| Products |
|
| Services | E-commerce, Interior Design Consultancy |
| Employees | 800 |
| Parent | Reliance Retail |
| URL | www |
| Launched | July 2012 |
History
editAshish Goel, previously associated with McKinsey & Company and Amar Chitra Katha, and Rajiv Srivatsa, who had worked with Cognizant and Yahoo!, co-founded Urban Ladder in July 2012.[4]
Urban Ladder shifted to offline retail in 2017, in an effort to becoming an omnichannel brand. Urban Ladder opened its first flagship store in Bangalore in on 8 July 2017.[5]
In November 2020, Reliance Retail acquired a 96% stake in the company in a ₹182 crore deal.[6]
Products and services
editThe company delivers to over 83 cities in India and provides services such as furniture delivery, installation, and augmented reality (AR) technology, allowing customers to visualize products in their homes.[7][8]
In addition to its online platform, Urban Ladder also has brick-and-mortar stores across major cities in India. The company also provides interior design consultancy services to help customers create personalized and functional living spaces.[9]
Funding and acquisition
editUrban Ladder first secured seed capital of $US1 million from Kalaari Capital in August 2012. The company later raised another $US5 million in a Series A round led by SAIF Partners; Kalaari Capital also participated in the Series A funding.[10] The company subsequently raised $US21 million in a Series B round of funding led by Steadview Capital, SAIF Partners and Kalaari Capital [11] Four months after the company raised Series B funding from Steadview Capital and existing investors SAIF Partners and Kalaari Capital, Urban Ladder received a personal investment from Ratan Tata, Tata Sons.[12]
On 9 April 2015, Urban Ladder announced that they had raised $US50 million in funding led by Sequoia Capital and TR Capital. Existing investors Steadview Capital, SAIF Partners and Kalaari Capital were also participants.[13]
Urban Ladder, raised an internal round of $12 million from investors Kalaari Capital, Saif Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Steadview Capital in February 2018. Combined with the $15 million raised in January 2017, these funds were used to further Urban Ladder’s online and offline omnichannel expansion – a decisive step towards profitability in FY 18–19. With a $27 million infusion over 12 months, Urban Ladder's omnichannel approach and profitability push will help it build a powerful retail brand.[14]
In 2020, Urban Ladder was acquired by Reliance Retail Venture Ltd (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industry Ltd (RIL), in an all-cash buyout of a 96 per cent stake in Urban Ladder for $24.5 million (₹182.12 crore).[15]
Business model
editUrban Ladder uses both online and offline business models for distribution.[16] the brand has also put its products on marketplaces, like Amazon and Flipkart.[17] Urban Ladder has partnered with Zefo and Quikr to provide furniture exchange offers where customers can exchange old furniture for new ones. Urban Ladder has also partnered with HomeLane and GoZefo as their distribution partners.[18]
Urban Interiors
editUrban Ladder launched design consultation as a service in 2016.[19][20]
The Urban Ladder Design Network
editUrban Ladder works with external designers besides its in-house collections and consultations. The Urban Ladder Design Network provides external designers with 3D rendered models of its products. The partnered designers also get priority inventory blocking on Urban Ladder’s products and a commission when their clients select Urban Ladder’s designs for their homes. Currently, Urban Ladder has over 600 design firms working with them as part of The Urban Ladder Design Network, with the tribe increasing every month.[21]
References
edit- ^ "Urban Ladder helps to get your decor at pocket-friendly prices". The Indian Wire. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Urban Ladder Plans To Double Retail Stores By March 2024". NDTV.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Urban Ladder plans to double retail stores by March 2024, to expand retail presence in 32 cities". The Economic Times. 15 March 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Furnishing a new buying experience". Business Standard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Urban Ladder Scouts For Acquisitions in Home Decor-Lighting Segments/". thehindubusinessline. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Explained: What does Reliance Retail's purchase of UrbanLadder mean for both firms?". The Indian Express. 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Urban Ladder plans to double retail stores by March 2024, to expand retail presence in 32 cities". The Economic Times. 15 March 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Urban Ladder looking to bring virtual reality into online decor". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Urban Ladder launches 'Urban Interiors', a complete Interior Décor Service". BusinessLine. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Online furniture store Urban Ladder raises $5M in Series A led by SAIF Partners". VC Circle. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Steadview Cap backs furniture e-tailer Urban Ladder".
- ^ "Ratan Tata invests in Urban Ladder". thehindubusinessline. The Hindu Group. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ "Urban Ladder raises $50 m". thehindubusinessline. The Hindu Group. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Urban Ladder Raises $12 Mn Funding For Omni-Channel Expansion". INC42. INC42. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Upadhyay, Harsh (15 November 2020). "Urban Ladder raised Rs 770 Cr and acquired by Reliance for Rs 182 Cr". Entrackr. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Chopra, Ambika (19 October 2016). "Urban Ladder Shifts Business Model, Plans To Open Offline Stores". Inc42 Media. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Urban Ladder ties up with Amazon India to boost sales". Livemint. HT Media Ltd. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Urban Ladder partners with HomeLane; to ease designing of homes for customers".
- ^ "Urban Ladder launches Urban Interiors, a complete Interior Décor Service". VC Circle. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Urban Ladder Launches 'Urban Interiors', a Complete Interior Décor Service
- ^ "Urban Ladder - Wikipedia | PDF | Companies". Scribd. Retrieved 4 August 2024.