Up Close & Personal with Roche Bobois’s Sandrine Fanchette

A name synonymous with style and timeless interiors, Roche Bobois has come a long way to establish itself as a leader in the global furniture market. Today we share an interview with Sandrine Fanchette from Roche Bobois and learn more about her world of design, craftsmanship and global appeal.

What motivated you to open Roche Bobois in South Africa?

We opened a Roche Bobois showroom in Mauritius 12 years ago. We love SA and waited to move to your beautiful country for many years. As soon as our Mauritius RB showroom had been successful, we decided to expand in SA with Roche Bobois.

How many stores do you run within South Africa and Mauritius and what are the biggest geographic challenges?

For now, we run 3 stores (2 in SA and 1 in MRU) but we are currently working on opening one in SA – in Durban region for 2024/25. We also trade in about 20 African countries.

Tell us what makes Roche Bobois special?

Roche Bobois is unique. This is the only high-end brand that I know in the market that produces in about 30 different European factories and can propose to their customers a high level of product customisation and versatility. This is also one of the only brands that spend so much on product and material development. We have two new collections per year. Most of our pieces are designed by famous designers… It’s just the perfect brand for the perfect interior.

When selecting your ranges for Roche Bobois, what key considerations do you prioritize?

In all my showrooms, my office desks are in the middle of the showroom. I speak to customers as much as possible to better understand their needs. I always check international trends and also all the statistics related to RB international sales.

How frequently do you update furniture and lighting collections, and what drives those decisions?

We receive about 2 new containers per month per showroom (mix customer orders and new products). For SA, we always order new collections as well as buffer stock with our best-selling products worldwide.

Can you share details about any projects you’re currently working on or have recently completed?

We are at any time working on some very exciting projects. In SA we are working on luxury villas in CT and Sandton, as well as in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Our Mauritius showroom is working jointly with a few luxury estates to furnish and assist direct customers.

Within the current RB Collections, what is your favourite piece of furniture?

I like quite a lot of pieces in the Roche Bobois ranges; I also bought many of them. The most comfortable sofa for me is the Preface (we have it in front of our TV in Joburg). The most flexible/easy sofa for outdoor is Escapade (we have 2 on our terrace in Mauritius for 10 years) and I am an absolute fan of our Vanessa Mitrani vases.

Préface Modular Sofa by Roche Bobois

Can you tell us more about RB’s approach to sustainability?

For about 20 years, Nicolas Roche has considered sustainability when developing new models at Roche Bobois. We now have dozens of pieces at Roche Bobois which are designed with sustainability as a finality. By 2025, our aim to ensure that all our new products will be eco-designed.

Who are some of the furniture or lighting designers you admire, and what aspects of their work do you find inspiring?

Sacha Lakic (very versatile designer, beautiful and easy pieces) and Joanna Vasconcelos (for the arty and creative parts).

How would you characterize your personal design style?

I am quite versatile on style. We are lucky enough to have houses in France, SA and Mauritius and each of them has a different style blending with the style of the house. Moreover, I like to mix modern pieces and antique pieces… a very fusion-focused style.

What are your thoughts on the integration of 3D printing in design and its potential impact on the industry?

I think it is still at an early stage. It’s very efficient to create designed pieces of accessories and interesting for furniture and architectural pieces. It could also be a solution to reduce transport costs and improve one’s carbon print… let’s see in the next years.

What are the latest trends to look out for in 2024?

In terms of colours I am always following Peclers predictions for year now: “2024 will welcome a playful juxtaposition of invigorating hues and pastel shades. In particular, we can expect to see an interaction between milky and earthy colours,” says Xavier Pouget, head of communications at Peclers.

In terms of furniture pieces themselves, I think eco-design pieces will be very strong as well as all the modular pieces and all about new tech designs.

Do you have a preferred international fair you enjoy attending, and what aspects make it special for you?

I visited many international fairs but I will say Milano Furniture Fairs… for the choice of furniture brands and Maison & Object for the accessory suppliers. I am not a fan of the Fairs in USA, China or Germany.

When not at work, how do you spend your free time?

I like to spend time with my two beautiful and smart daughters and my parents. I am also passionate about yoga, travels, gastronomy/cooking and fine wines.