As one of the leading home retail brands in the GCC, Home Centre has been at the forefront of providing stylish and functional furniture and home décor for nearly three decades. With an unwavering commitment to innovation and customer-centric design, the brand continues to evolve to meet the dynamic tastes of its customers. In this exclusive interview, CP Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with Arja Taaveniku, the CEO of Home Centre, during her recent visit to Kuwait for the launch of the Ramadan collection.

With an impressive career spanning strategic advisory roles and leadership positions, Arja Taaveniku brings a wealth of experience to Home Centre. She shares her insights on the significance of Ramadan for the brand, the meticulous planning behind their annual collections, and the company’s vision for growth in Kuwait and beyond. She also discusses potential collaborations with local designers and her personal favourite pieces from this year’s collection. Read on for an engaging conversation with a leader dedicated to transforming homes across the region.

Crafting a Legacy of Elegance & Excellence

Welcome to Kuwait!
Thank you.

Is this your first visit to Kuwait, or have you been here before?
No, I have been here before, yes.

How long have you been with the company?
I have been the CEO of Home Centre for seven months. However, prior to that, I worked as an advisor for Landmark Group for two years.

Since you have been working in the region for some time now, this must not be your first Ramadan. How significant is Ramadan for Home Centre?
Ramadan is an incredibly important time for us. It is the highlight of the year. We prepare for it throughout the year because it holds great significance for our customers. Since we operate in the GCC and other countries where local communities are our primary customers, Ramadan is a key period. My teams and I dedicate much of our time to ensuring we are fully prepared for it.

Do you introduce new furniture collections specifically for Ramadan, or do you focus more on themed setups?
We do both. In fact, just last week, I was with our design team planning for the next Ramadan. We begin by identifying themes for the following year. Based on those themes, our teams start working on designs and collaborate with partner suppliers to develop new products. It is a comprehensive process that involves designing, producing, and shipping the items, which takes almost a year.

How significant is the Kuwaiti market for Home Centre in this context?
Kuwait is a growing market for us. In fact, it is currently our fastest-growing market. It is incredibly important, and we see great potential to expand further. Home Centre has been in Kuwait for 28 years, so we are well established, but we believe there is still more we can achieve here.

Do you customise your offerings for each GCC country, or do you maintain a general theme across the region?
We do make some local adaptations, but overall, we focus on a broader regional theme. Our primary target customer is the modern Arabic woman, and we have found that taste preferences tend to be quite similar across the GCC. This allows us to maintain a consistent design direction while still accommodating smaller regional differences.

Do you have any plans to collaborate with local designers from different parts of the GCC? There are some amazing designers in the region.
Yes, absolutely. There are many talented artists and designers across the GCC. We are actively exploring opportunities to collaborate with them. While we have already initiated some small-scale collaborations, we are looking at ways to expand these efforts further.

For this year’s Ramadan collection, do you have a favourite piece or collection?
My favourite is the Tamara collection. It is a beautiful collection with well-crafted pieces. The design is inspired by the date palm, which is deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of the region. It reflects the essence of the desert and the traditions of this part of the world. Tamara is definitely my favourite collection this year.

What message would you like to share with the people of Kuwait as they prepare for Ramadan?
Since moving to the region, I have been deeply touched by the meaning and traditions of Ramadan. My message would be to continue cherishing this time as a period of togetherness and reflection. Homes play a central role in these celebrations, and I encourage everyone to embrace and enhance that tradition even further.

Thank you so much for your time. It has been a pleasure speaking with you. We look forward to welcoming you again, perhaps for other occasions beyond Ramadan.
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.