How does a 128-year-old company with deep roots in Indian households reinvent itself for the future?
This is one of the most critical challenges facing established businesses today.
A new in-depth feature by Forbes Asia explores this very topic through the lens of Godrej & Boyce and the modernization mission led by fourth-generation scion Nyrika Holkar.
Ankur Bisen, Senior Partner at The Knowledge Company, contributed his expert perspective to this important analysis of balancing heritage with a forward-looking strategy.
The Challenge: Balancing Heritage with a Gen Z Future
The Forbes article details the strategic overhaul at Godrej & Boyce, a company synonymous with legacy products like steel wardrobes and locks.
The mission is to transform this heritage into a “retail, customer-centric, front-facing narrative” that resonates with Millennials and Gen Z.
This involves a multi-pronged approach:
The Competitive Arena: Where Brand Power is Paramount
This modernization is not happening in a vacuum. Godrej is competing with global giants like IKEA in furniture and Korean heavyweights like LG and Samsung in appliances – companies that have historically been more effective at capturing the Indian market.
Commenting on this intense competition, Ankur Bisen provides a crucial insight. He explains that in the consumer appliances space, success is deeply tied to perception and market presence.
His analysis highlights that “leadership has a lot to do with brand power,” and the Indian market is already home to a number of “mighty brands with a pan-India presence.”
This underscores a key lesson in legacy brand modernization: heritage is an asset, but it isn’t enough. The primary battleground is for the consumer’s mind, requiring continuous innovation and investment in building a powerful, modern brand that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with aggressive global competitors.
Read the complete deep-dive on Godrej & Boyce’s strategy in Forbes Asia. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anuraghunathan/2025/10/08/indian-heiress-is-on-a-mission-to-modernize-her-family-storied-furniture-business/
Supporting Strategic Retail Transformation
Ankur Bisen’s contribution to this discussion exemplifies The Knowledge Company’s role as a trusted advisor to businesses navigating complex retail transitions.
Whether it’s category expansion, private label strategy, or Q-commerce profitability, our insights are built on decades of experience and real-world data.
We work closely with clients to evaluate emerging categories through a multi-lens approach – consumer behaviour, infrastructure, margin potential, and operational scalability.
As the retail ecosystem evolves rapidly, our role is to balance ambition with execution reality.
This feature in Forbes Asia aligns with TKC’s ongoing work in:
At TKC, we believe the future of retail will be built on precision, adaptability, and consumer-first thinking—not just a celebrated past.
Need help assessing a new category or modernizing your brand strategy?
Reach out to TKC for tailored, forward-looking consulting across consumer goods, retail transformation, and brand strategy.
