Weekends are all about downtime. After a week full of work to meet deadlines, everybody needs some breather to relax and recuperate. From watching a favourite web series to planning a vacation, weekends are designated as family and me time. Raghunandan Saraf, founder and CEO, Saraf Furniture, talks to BrandWagon Online about his weekends, favourite vacation destination and more.
What is the one thing you like to do when not working?
There are two things that I genuinely enjoy doing in my free time, one is table tennis and the other is playing with my children. I find both of these to be of different types of happiness and relief. Especially, the time spent with my child is so special and invigorating.
How do you spend your weekends?
Being in a small town in Rajasthan will alter my weekend routine in a different way. I make reasonable amount of time for workout by heading to the gym in the evenings. After a good exercise session, I tend to relax on the sofa and watch some series. Our town does not have a lot of entertainment activities but I have got the hang of table tennis and fitness activities which keep me busy and active.
What are your favorite gadgets?
I do love smart watches and fitness bands for they are useful in tracking my fitness journey. But my smartphone is most likely the most important device for they combined my work and personal life. I do however have a keen interest in automotive technology, particularly any that are relevant to the car.
Given an option to choose another career, what would it be?
A career in design was certainly in my plans because I have always enjoyed the challenge of making something that is visually stunning and useful at the same time. In reality, this passion is what shapes my current strategy in designing furniture at Saraf Furniture.
Which is your favorite vacation spot?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a very unique appeal to me and I think they are rather under exposed in the Indian tourism industry. The islands are indeed quite special in India as they comprise of beautiful beaches, a calm atmosphere and warm, welcoming people. I believe there are many who are still unaware of the endless possibilities that the archipelago has to offer – an enriching experience coupled with great relaxation.
A TV show, a movie, and an ad campaign you highly recommend watching
I am a huge fan of the series ‘Mad Men’, and more of Draper. It is interesting how the show makes one’s career and the growth of one as an individual seem to be interrelated. It brings the nuanced reality of how work takes shapes from individuals and people out of work.
The best advertising campaigns award has to go to the Vodafone ZooZoo campaign which was or rather is very different. For a company like Vodafone it was daring to launch a campaign with no human interaction in the advertisement. It illustrates how irrational advertising strategies can build a strong brand over time. It highlights the fact that even these consolidation efforts remain within the framework of imagination.