Lokendra Singh Ranawat : The Visionary Behind India’s Favorite Designer Furniture Brand

Lokendra Singh Ranawat started Wooden Street in 2015 in Udaipur to sell affordable and sustainable designer furniture across India.

He was working in the UK, where he felt detached and longed to start something of his own. Finally, he returned to India at age 33 to start his own business in the wood market.

Lokendra, who did his electronics engineering in Jaipur, comes from a modest family.

“My father, a retired naval officer, and my wife were strong pillars of support…The decision was not easy, as I was a married man with responsibilities”, he shared with Startup Pedia.

During his UK days, he got interested in home furniture and decor and noticed a shortage of online home decor and furniture options.

He dreamt of starting an online store with local artisans in his home state, Rajasthan.

Initially serving clients abroad, Lokendra later catered to Indian consumers through an e-commerce website, sourcing handmade products from Udaipur vendors.

In 2015, Lokendra envisioned Wooden Street as a custom furniture brand, focusing on bespoke pieces tailored to customers’ liking, which quickly gained popularity.

He emphasized Wooden Street’s unique blend of high-quality designs and affordability, a rarity in the Indian market.

Customers primarily discover Wooden Street’s products online but can also visit nearby stores.

Since 2015, Wooden Street has expanded to over 97 company-owned stores across India, serving 300 cities, including major hubs like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi.

Wooden Street launched Earthy Threads in 2023, offering products like curtains and bed sheets. It also introduced Light Street, an offline brand with stores in Mumbai and Jaipur.

Starting with an investment of Rs 5 lakh, Wooden Street generated Rs 200 Cr revenue in FY23 and aims to close FY24 with Rs 300 Cr.

The bran is now valued at Rs 2,000 Cr and aims to open 300 stores in the next 24 months.

Signing off, Lokendra Ranawat, in a message to budding entrepreneurs, said, “If you want to become a successful entrepreneur, rather than a dreamer, you have to take the plunge. There is no other way”.