Firdaus Nagree, the founder and CEO of FCI London, is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, father, husband, and passionate scuba diver. Since 1999, he has been involved in founding or funding numerous successful companies.
Firdaus started his professional journey as a strategy consultant at Accenture. However, his interest in the London property scene soon led him to engage in property trading at the young age of 21. Over the years, he has actively participated as an executive, board member, or investor in various sectors, including Digital Hospitality, F&H, Construction, Interior Design, Retail, Bridge Finance, Proptech, Education, Aggregated Logistics, Property, On-Demand Food Delivery, and Insurance.
The roots of FCI London can be traced back to its humble beginnings as a small mom-and-pop shop established by Firdaus’ parents in 1985 under the name Furniture Craft. Following his tenure at Accenture, Firdaus joined the family business with the aim of driving its growth and evolution. Together with his business partner, they ventured into acquiring commercial real estate in North London, which ultimately gave rise to the birth of the FCI London showroom.
The Brand
FCI London is the UK’s largest luxury furniture and interiors showroom, housing over 700 world-renowned brands in its expansive 30,000 sq.ft. North London location. As an independent family business, FCI London has a strong foundation in furniture design, manufacturing, and interiors.
The company’s reputation lies in offering exclusive luxury furniture from the finest designer brands. They iInitially collaboratingcollaborated with small artisan workshops, many of which are now famous these brands that have now achieved global success.
In addition to its extensive luxury furniture range, FCI London provides a comprehensive interior design service. Their team of skilled designers strives to create transformative spaces that contribute to clients’ happiness and well-being.
FCI London serves both B2C customers clients and a network of interior designers. The company offers trade services, including product sourcing, technical drawings, logistics, and installations, at competitive prices.
What sets FCI London apart is its unwavering commitment to customer service. Unlike competitors, FCI London manages all essential components in-house, including installers, fitters, delivery, warehousing, and administration. This end-to-end control ensures exceptional experiences for their clients and exceeds the high expectations of the luxury sector.
The company’s dedication to customer service has earned it acclaim within the industry. FCI London operates as a unified team, delivering integrated experiences that consistently impress customers.
Innovation at the Heart of FCI London
FCI London proudly identifies itself as a tech company concealed within the confines of a luxury furniture showroom. Embracing a deep passion for technology, the company remains vigilant in its pursuit of innovative solutions that can enhance the FCI experience for its esteemed customers. This relentless drive for innovation serves as the company’s core motivation.
In line with this vision, FCI London consistently engages with new designers, products, and brands to ensure a dynamic and diverse range of offerings. The company actively explores the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), recognizing the potential for these digital assets to revolutionize the industry and provide unique opportunities for customers and artists alike.
Embracing Challenges and Growth
Firdaus thrives on challenges and embraces the diverse nature of his work. Learning and personal growth are his driving forces, constantly exposing him to new experiences and connections with people.
Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, Firdaus has faced numerous business challenges. Following the successful opening of the first FCI showroom, the business expanded rapidly, but encountered a significant hurdle in 2008 when the bank threatened foreclosure on one of their commercial buildings. Firdaus and his business partner showed determination and resourcefulness, securing the necessary funds through a new tenancy agreement just before the deadline.
During his early days as an entrepreneur and leader, Firdaus recognized the importance of building the right team and cultivating a positive company culture. It took time for him to understand the significance of creating a supportive work environment and seeking assistance when needed.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unforeseen challenges for FCI London, particularly in terms of interacting with customers. Despite having a remote team, the inability to physically engage with clients proved to be tough. Firdaus and his team quickly adapted by implementing fully integrated online consultations, using platforms like Zoom to view customers’ spaces and provide tailored furniture recommendations.
Firdaus acknowledges the remarkable efforts of the entire team, spanning different locations, during the crisis. Their shared purpose of survival and unwavering commitment were both inspiring and humbling, leaving a lasting impression on Firdaus’ career.
Achieving Excellence Through Collaboration
FCI London has garnered numerous accolades and awards for its outstanding showrooms, interior design projectss, and overall business growth. While these achievements are undoubtedly commendable, the company maintains a grounded perspective and does not become overly consumed by them. Instead, their true excitement lies in customer reviews, as these serve as the genuine measure of their success.
Firdaus, personally, considers building an incredible team to be his greatest achievement. FCI London has fostered an environment of accessibility, where individuals feel comfortable sharing their ideas without fear. This inclusive atmosphere acts as a catalyst for creative thinking and innovation, as every team member has the opportunity to contribute and participate actively. Firdaus believes that when individuals are enthused about their potential and are encouraged to continuously improve, they will strive to deliver their best.
The success of FCI London is credited to the collaborative efforts of the teamteam’s collaborative efforts, and Firdaus takes immense pride in what they have collectively accomplished. The company has built a solid foundation for ongoing growth and achievement by nurturing a culture of openness and collaboration.By nurturing a culture of openness and collaboration, the company has built a solid foundation for ongoing growth and achievement.
Leadership Philosophy
According to Firdaus, he gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from his involvement with an organization known as EO, which stands for Entrepreneurs Organization. EO is a global network of entrepreneurs aimed at facilitating member growth, learning, and providing peer support. With approximately 14,000 members, it has played a significant role in Firdaus’ development as a leader.
Being a part of EO has been an enlightening experience for Firdaus in terms of leadership. He has come to understand that exceptional leaders are servants at heart. Their role revolves around serving those they lead. By effectively fulfilling this responsibility, leaders empower their team members to thrive and reach their maximum potential, thereby contributing to the success of the business.
Through interactions with fellow leaders in EO, Firdaus has discovered that the best leaders are unafraid to seek help. They embrace the fact that they don’t possess all the knowledge and can learn from others. This realization, though humbling, has been empowering for Firdaus. Even to this day, EO continues to serve as an invaluable source of growth and learning for him on a day-to-day basis.
Sharing the Power of Coaching and Leadership
Firdaus holds the belief that coaching and leadership are skills that can be learned and developed, emphasizing the importance of reading books on coaching to enhance these abilities. He recognizes that by investing time in learning these skills, leaders can positively impact the individuals they lead.
Firdaus views leadership as a form of service, where the role of a leader is to serve the people under their guidance. He believes that the more one improves in this aspect, the more their team will thrive, leading to overall success.
In line with this perspective, Firdaus recommends a book that has had a significant impact on him, titled “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. He suggests this book for anyone, regardless of their position as a business leader or not, as it offers valuable insights.
Furthermore, Firdaus highlights the transformative influence of meditation, especially for leaders who have not yet embraced this practice. He acknowledges that establishing a meditation routine may initially require perseverance and patience, but through dedicated practice, it can lead to life-changing breakthroughs.
Transforming Living Spaces
Firdaus shares his vision for the future of FCI London, acknowledging the evolving perception of interior design. This shift in the industry has inspired one of their most significant ongoing projects—the development of a global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that aims to revolutionize access to design advice and enable individuals to optimize their living spaces affordably.
The ultimate goal of FCI London remains rooted in bringing happiness to people by transforming their living spaces. By providing visually perfect designs that align with clients’ budgets, the company aspires to have a positive impact on their overall happiness. Firdaus believes that such transformations can inspire individuals to pay it forward, spreading joy and positivity to others.
Through the development of their innovative SaaS platform and their unwavering commitment to making design accessible, FCI London aims to empower individuals to create spaces that not only reflect their unique personalities but also contribute to their overall well-being and happiness.
