Posts Tagged ‘Business Review’

The Entrepreneur Spotlight for May 2012 is on Gauri Kulkarni who crafts beautiful soapy creations under the brand name “Parisa Creations”.  In a market that is facing a blitzkrieg of soaps, handmade soaps are all the rage now and Gauri’s beautifully scented creations indeed stand out in the crowd.  Here is a look at her story…

NAME OF THE VENTURE:PARISA CREATIONS

PERSONAL PROFILE OF FOUNDER

Ms Gauri Kulkarni, 29 holds a degree in Home Science and has been running her own soap business for over a year now.  Gauri is a first generation entrepreneur who did not have any prior exposure to business before she struck out on her own.  Parisa Creations is a sole proprietorship which was established on 21^st July, 2010 and operates from A – 13,Kaustubh Society, Opposite Mangla High School, Kopri, Thane East, Mumbai 400603.  Gauri only sells her soaps online through facebook, Shop and some other online ventures.

How Did You Get The Idea To Begin This Venture ?

I started making soaps buying a hobby kit from Hobby Ideas…I made soaps and gave to my friends and family…And getting a good response from them,I started thinking of making it into a business.I found out places of getting the raw materials and did some research on internet and read some books for herbs and thereby started selling it online and also supply to exhibitions.

 What were the supporting/motivating factors in setting up this business?

Family & Friends

What is your USP (unique selling proposition)?

The USP for Parisa creations soaps is that all my soaps are completely natural and hand made. Also they come in unique shapes a factor which attracts most of my clients.

What is your vision for the venture?

Someday when I have lot of time and money, I plan to expand the business and even open a small scale workshop in some village. I want to employ the local people and have my own website too.

What Sort Of Growth Strategy Did You Follow?

I started selling soaps from home to my friends…I opened a facebook page and it started reaching across to people…I started putting small exhibitions throughout Mumbai,so I get to know the response of people using my soaps.

Then I came across “Shopo” website and it helped me reach out to lot of people.My soaps were marketed from the website and I was given an individual shop to display my products.I am also featured on “Unwrapindia” and “Snapdeal” websites.

Any steps that you are taking to help society in general & people in particular?

­

I am a very social person.I like to do lot of things for the society and am an animal lover. I have worked with lot of NGO’s like Akanshaa, Ahimsaa, SOS and have done my little bit from teaching underprivileged kids to volunteering for feeding stray animals to finding foster homes for cats to planting trees for global warming. I wish to do a lot for the society in future.

What are the problems that you are facing?

MARKETING

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NATURE OF PROBLEM: I have good product with me, but I don’t know how to market it so it reaches out to a wider audience…I had tried to contact some spas and beauty parlour thru email to display my products but I didn’t get any response.-

FUTURE PROSPECTS:

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

a) FIVE YEARS FROM NOW: Five years from now, I will have more and more varieties of soaps and my own website and maybe a small scale workshop/initiative in some place apart from the city.-

b) TEN YEARS FROM NOW-Ten years from now I see my business to have grown and running on its own and added more varieties like body gels,shower gels etc-

c) TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW: Twenty years from now I see myself retiring to a farmhouse and growing my own vegetables and have a beautiful garden of flowers along with my family and of course pets-

Any Plans Of Expanding The Business: YES

If Yes, How? Branches/franchise – As already mentioned above, I plan to expand it by getting into retail industry and also increasing my online sales by tying up with different websites.

How much use of technology is made to promote business?

1. SMS/mobile advertising
2. online store
3. social networking sites like Facebook

ANECDOTES/EXPERIENCES (GOOD )

My experience of online selling has been really good with websites like “Shopo” and “Unwrapindia”….online selling/shopping is catching up slowly and I see it as a future of retail industry. I plan to tie up with lot of other websites and also have a website of my own soon

Any advice for future entrepreneurs?

Just believe in your passion and keep going.Though as much efforts are required along with money investment,the most important thing these days is marketing and publiscing your product.—

What are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?

STRENGTHS: Belief in myself/my passion–

WEAKNESSES:- Lack of time management -

OPPORTUNITIES: -Loads-

THREATS: -None…I don’t see any threat if you love to do what you are doing–

What innovative ways of doing business are you using?

–Researching through internet…using microwave to save time to melt raw material…growing my own herbs at home,trying new varieties and clicking photos at home for display—

What are your views on customer relationship management?  How do you approach it?

As the old saying goes ‘ a customer is always right’…As much as I have never had problems with my product anytime or any complaint yet so far, people write to me asking for solutions on skin problems and if my product is suitable for particular allergies etc and I honestly try to answer them as much knowledge I have. I don’t try to fool people ,just because they buy my product as I myself wouldn’t like anyone doing that to me. I try to maintain honesty and transparency.

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

The product completely!!! Use it and you will know it!!!

This is a Guest Post by Don, the brain behind www.cashfortrucks.com.

Running a business is no easy task, but running a company and helping it succeed is very rewarding. Half of all new businesses started fail in years three through five. These businesses don’t necessarily fail because they did not have a strong product or service to offer. They fail due to poor management. With focus, goals and organization, your business does not have to be one of the 50% that fails.

A successful business will have a successful manager. First and foremost, a business must be managed by a person who is organized. Organization means that deadlines will not be missed, employees will be paid on time and deliveries will be arrive when promised. When deadlines are not missed, there are no extra fees incurred in order to fix any problems that may arise. A person who is not organized can find help to get organized either by hiring a support staff to stay on top of things or by using technology. Today, there’s no excuse for not to stay organized. Apps, the web, business software and portable devices can help anyone stay on top of their business in an organized manner.

A successful manager is a great leader. Leaders don’t have to be perfect, but they do need to be a person that others want to follow. A person who will walk the walk and talk the talk is most likely to be respected. Leadership comes in many forms, but it all leads to the same place. Managers who lead with integrity, are able to motivate a group of people and demonstrate teamwork in any given environment are less likely to be abandoned by their team when times get tough.

Having foresight is an essential quality that someone running business should have. Foresight doesn’t necessarily mean carrying around a crystal ball but it does mean that this person is knowledgeable in their industry and will be able to sense when tough times may be coming in order to prepare for them accordingly. Being prepared for the lulls in economic cycles means that your business will not crumble will the others who did not pay attention to the signs will.

Running a business is a challenge, but it does not have to become a burden. Being organized, a great leader and having foresight will help that person running a particular business climb over the inevitable mountains that come and go with business cycles.
Bio: Don speaks from experience as he runs an automotive company, that has become a nationwide recognized company. He specializes in helping you to sell your car.

Image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1701

Abhilasha, is the lady behind this independent label which deals with high quality hand painted products.  Her designs are unique, colorful and seem to have an attitude of their own.  Flaunt a bag from the Rangeela Rajasthan collection which captures the essence of this beautiful state of India in its warm colors and rustic charm.  Or grab a Diwali special offer on home décor items with cushions emblazoned with distinctly Indian motifs like the lotus flower, village belles and even images of Ganesha, while the combo offer lasts.

Range of Products on Offer: Hand painted cushions, totes, clutches, sling pouches and kurtas

Mish Mash Design  exclusively retails at:

http://shopo.in/shop/MishMashDesign

 http://ofindianorigin.co.uk/shop/

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/MishMashDesign14

Retail Store -

1.O Layla Delhi Store
21, Huaz Khas Village
New Delhi – 110016

2. Appleblossom,
FF-12, camps Corner 2,
Opp Prahladnagar,AUDA Garden,
Ahmadabad – 380015

3.Bliss
180, Aram Nagar 1,
7 Bungalows, Versova,
Andheri (west), Landmark – Legacy of China
Mumbai 400 061.

4. The Orange Bicycle (Bangalore)
House No. 3353, 5th Cross, 12th A Main,
HAL II Stage, Indiranagar,
Bangalore.560038.

5. The Maximum Store (Delhi)
5J/1 ShahpurJat, near Asiad Village,
New Delhi, India