Being the startup capital of the country means that many of us are planning our dream offices right now. But setting up your business often means that you are probably on a tight budget and don’t have too much wiggle room. However, that shouldn’t mean that you should give up on your office dreams. With a little effort, you can snap up great deals that bring you the basic necessities and also a few items that can add personality to your office space. LBB shows you the way to wholesale markets and budget shopping areas where you’ll find everything you need to set up shop.
Stationery, Furniture And Lights: How To Set Up Office On A Budget
Stationery
Avenue Road is your BFF for basic stationery. Just a walk down the long road can get you everything you’ll need. Start off at the State Bank of Mysore end and you’ll find plenty of stores that encourage bulk-buying. Expect sets of notebooks, ledgers, post-its, and appointment diaries. If your office goes through plenty of paper, then it would be a good idea to pick up the bundles of recycled sheets {the back of these will usually be printed with random numbers} for less than INR 50. Pens, pencils, rulers, staplers, and files can also be found. The prices are slashed down but you can still ask for an additional discount.
Not so keen on trudging down to Avenue Road? Then try Orion Paper Mart that’s just off Commercial Street. You won’t be able to bag the bargains that Avenue Road offers but you can still expect a substantial discount on bulk buys.
Plants
Nurseries are not hard to find these days. If you look closely you’ll probably find one sitting by the side of the road in your locality. However, if your plant knowledge is at best basic, then head to Lalbagh. The Horticulture Department runs an expansive nursery in the garden’s premises {get in through the gate on Double Road and you’ll easily spot it}. Here you can find everything from houseplants to ornamental and exotic offerings. You can also pick up planters and trays here. While the prices are not dirt cheap, you won’t shell out as much as you would elsewhere in the city.
Electronics
SP Road for the win! This busy street, near Bangalore’s Town Hall, is just perfect for office electronics. If you’re looking for heavy-duty stuff like desktops and laptops, then find a good dealer here and source everything you need from him. He’ll be able to give you a discount on the wholesale prices for sure. However, if you need something such as a lone printer or scanner, then shop around and take the best deal you get. Accessories such as pen drives, hard drives and headphones are also easily available.
Lights
Look no further than BVK Iyengar Road for all your lighting needs. You can add real funk to your office space with colourful bulb chandeliers and lights with unique metal frames from here. Pick up a bunch of overhead lamps and you can add a dose of personality to your meeting rooms. Outdoor, garden lights can also be found. Everything here is reasonably priced and they usually give you another 10 per cent off at the billing counter.
