World’s largest Quarantine Centre is being developed in Delhi; Sheela Foam will contribute 10,000 beds to it under its CSR activity: Rahul Gautam, MD

Rahul Gautam, Managing Director, Sheela Foam Ltd, talks about COVID and its impact on his business, supplies to hospitals, the largest quarantine centre in the world, and online platform Sleepx.com among others during a candid chat with Swati Khandelwal, Zee Business.

Edited Excerpts: 

Q: Tell us about the kind of impact that COVID had on your business during the lockdown? We are slowly opening up now under Unlock 1.0, so let us know about the kind of demand that you are seeing?

A: There was a total blackout of around 2 months during lockdown – implemented due to COVID – and we were not able to sell anything except few mattresses, which were supplied under some hospital initiatives or to quarantine centres. But as far as the market is concerned they all were close. It took some time after the unlocking process was started and if I look at the current position then around 50-55% of the business has returned. It is just not limited to mattresses but there are B2B segments as well under which we supply our products to other industries like show, helmet and furniture industry. 

Q: Has demand increased in the hospitals and are you providing some mattresses in the state hospitals? What is your outlook on that segment of the business?

A: During the COVID-time, we have supplied many mattresses to various hospitals that were looking to expand or extend themselves to develop the quarantine centres. We have supplied around 2,000-2,500 mattresses across India. Right now, we are involved in one of the largest quarantine facilities in the world that is being created at Delhi in the premises of Radha Soami Satsang and it will be done in the quickest time. We are involved in it as a company and Sleepwell is involved as a brand. They have a total outlay of 10,000 beds and they want to complete it by June 30, 2020. But my assessment says that there will be slight overflow but we are involved in establishing this facility and the products have been readied for the purpose. I had words with them yesterday and there is a delay of 2-4 days but the process is on. 

The 10,000 beds of quarantine facility is not an issue of business for us but it will be done through under our CSR activity and Sheela Foam is completely responsible for it and we will not charge anything from anyone. These beds are special lightweight beds. We will also supply mattresses and beds. 

Q: Tell us about the capacity utilization situation at the factories and how many of your dealerships have been opened till now?

A: Around 70-80% of the markets have been opened. However, there are certain confinement zones and red zones as well as areas where shops are opened on alternate days or for a limited period. People are still afraid of going to the shops and that’s why we have launched an initiative of creating a safe zone under which the shops have been created in a way that people are not afraid of going into the shops. At the same time, we are creating a facility where people can make appointments to visit the shop and we will ensure that any other person is not available at the shop at that particular time. This is an option. We have also started a process of Sleepwell at Home under which we are taking appointments from the customers and then reaching to their homes to show the products, describe it and take the measurement in accordance to their needs. Thus, each activity that takes place at a shop is being undertaken at their homes. As far as the opening of the shops is concerned then 75-80% of shops have been opened. 

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Q: You have created an online sales platform in the form of Sleepx.com. Let us know about the kind of response the platform is getting in terms of sales as compared to store sales?

A: It is a product of our market place but is being sold mainly through Amazon and Flipkart. I would say that we have reached a reasonable level and I expect that the number will go up in days to come. Currently, it has reached to 1,000-1,500 mattresses per week and the internet business is likely to go up soon.