Here Comes The Queen

As the first step towards going global, Chairman Johnny Sandelson opens UK’s 191-year-old Thomas Goode & Co’s first international outlet in Mumbai; pins hopes on the burgeoning, affluent Indian middle-class

- Riddhi Doshi

Established in 1827, Thomas Goode & Co, London, home to the world’s finest tableware, china and silverware has a new address in Mumbai. The 1500-sq-ft store and museum in The Oberoi, opened on January 3, displaying the brand’s finery spanning two centuries, is the British label’s first international outing.

The fineries Meissen, Lalique, Herend and Sèvres - at its South Audley Street showroom, in London, sought by the royalty of England, Russian Tsars and Indian Maharajas, will now travel to India, under the leadership of British property entrepreneur Johnny Sandelson, who acquired the store for an undisclosed amount in 2015.

It’s his vision to reinvent the brand and democratise it. Reportedly 40 per cent of the brand’s £5m in annual sales comes from special orders. However, Sandelson knows that in today’s market, it is essential to reach out to a broader audience, those who aspire to own a piece of luxury and who better than the burgeoning, affluent middle-class of India. Moreover, with plates starting at about £35, Thomas Goode’s tableware is more affordable than people think it is.