She will pull the rug from under your feet and replace it with a new one – Interview with Venuka Jaitly

How did you happen to select one category out of the endless range of home decor?

Instead of trying my hand on the entire range, I decided to focus on one category and make it my niche. I have begun just six months back and my specialty is rugs, all kinds. It’s not that I wanted to start small or anything, but with limited time on hand and plus a baby to look after, I thought this is the best way forward. There is this added advantage that my brother is also in the same line of business. I began selling bathroom mats with the starting price of Rs 100 and a profit margin of Rs 30. I source the best quality rugs from wholesale markets and factories at a bargain. The same benefit is passed on to my customers.

I began small by selling within my society and a small group. Eventually this group grew by reputation. This is the way I had planned. Eventually my group grew and I expanded my reach to the whole city. With social media, I could reach more cities. The response has given me more confidence to reach greater heights.

How has the journey been?

I was never an entrepreneur. I belong to a rural part of the country and I am an M Tech in the field of computers. I was teaching in a University but after the birth of my son, I had to leave the teaching job for good. That is the time when I realized that entrepreneurship is a good option for me as I did not have sufficient time to devote to a 9 to 5 job. The transition has not been easy because a job provides you with security. But I am a short height girl with tall ambitions. When I go to a wholesale market, I do all the bargaining and purchasing on my own. The male people around me look at me with curious eyes wondering who this tiny girl is and how she will take all the stuff she has purchased back to her place. I  pick up the stuff on my own and push it in an autorickshaw. This is who I am.

What about relations, life and other things?

If any of you is in love with a woman entrepreneur or in relationship with one, consider yourself to be lucky because we are special. Entrepreneurs choose their own path. They struggle to establish their brand. They cannot ask anyone for help and cannot even hire an assistant. It is important that they get success, else people will say, see, tried so hard but could not succeed. Failure is not an option. Every success is brief and not even celebratory. Those are the few challenges of a single person owned brand. 

To be continued …

Venuka Jaitly is an entrepreneur who specializes in rugs. She is in Home Decor business and deals in rugs, poufs, carpets and many such items. Check out her collection at the following link.

https://www.instagram.com/home_decor2212/

Manisha Yadav

I am Manisha Yadav, Founder and Ideologue of Narisakti. MBA Student and Digital Marketing expert, I take your brand online and help you reach more customers.