Interviewed by The Success Today – A Digital Webzine.
Could you tell us about yourself and your work?
I am Shramana Gupta, born and brought up in the City of Joy. I started Chandrabali in September 2020, amid a pandemic. While I was going through a lot of professional and personal turmoil, creating my brand gave me hope to keep going. I named my brand after my mother. I wanted my brand to be as authentic and elegant as she. Chandrabali started as just another jewellery brand in the market. The competition was genuine and brutal. What made us stand out was our approach toward our customers. I never miss out on helping our customers whenever they have any queries. From taking orders to delivery, we assist them without fail. Even after they have received our product, if they have any questions, I make sure to contact them and resolve them. This made most of our customers trust us more. I am grateful for all their genuine feedback, which helped me improve and work better. My family and friends have cheered me up and supported me like anything. I am blessed with a supportive partner who is always there for me. Since childhood, as far as I can remember, I always wanted to do something on my own, something that would excite me to go to work every morning. In 2021, we launched our apparel section and the response was beyond my expectations. Today I can proudly say that I’m loving my job and there is a long way to go. I want Chandrabali to be a household name.
How you and your service is helping society?
I am eternally grateful to have met some skillful and efficient tailors over the years. Some I knew since childhood, and some I got to meet during my college days. Due to the pandemic, some tailoring communities faced a lot of distress. I got in touch with a few tailors who had lost their jobs in a textile factory. Out of work, it is very difficult for tailors to sustain their basic livelihood. I would always suggest people go for tailored clothes. There is an essence of beauty in their hands. I am currently working with a few of that brilliant masterjis who are the backbone of Chandrabali. In the coming years, I’m positive about employing more efficient tailors and paying them a fair wage. I wish to form my unit shortly.
What is the USP of your work?
Fabric quality: We spent hours sourcing high-quality fabrics for our customers. Our efforts have always paid off. Most of our customers have always reached out to us after purchasing from us. They are hugely impressed by the quality of our clothes. I feel choosing the right quality of fabrics can go a long way in the fashion industry.
Fair remuneration for our tailors: We have never requested a low rate from them. Whatever they think they should charge, we always agree to that depending on how good their skill is. If the worker is efficient, we don’t think of anything.
Our relationship with customers: I am personally grateful to everyone who visits our page and looks at our work. I have built some beautiful relationships with some of our
customers. We have always been honest, approachable, and available to our customers. That’s what makes us stand out amongst so many clothing brands.
What are your vision and mission?
My vision is to make Chandrabali a household name.
My mission is to make myself capable enough to hire more skillful tailors and form my unit in the coming years. I wish to make fashion affordable and fun at the same time. Wearing clothes should be fun and comfortable. It shouldn’t look like a task or something short-lived.
What are your achievements in this industry?
There is a long, long way to go for us. We will be two years old this September. In terms of industry, the fashion and textile industries are huge. Starting our apparel section was a major risk for us. I have always believed in taking risks rather than sitting and remorse. We made only 40 pieces of our designs, and within 24 hours, we were sold out. I still remember the day. It feels surreal. I know it’s nothing for many brands. But for a home-grown start-up, so many orders overnight is something I can never express with words. The next day, we had to source more fabrics, and the demand kept increasing.
We have now gotten into a full-fledged clothing line and are getting an amazing response to our latest collection. Fingers crossed because some incredible work is coming up very soon.
Does your work ever feel tedious to you? If so, how do you stay driven and motivated towards it?
Yes, it does feel tedious at times, like any other job. Being your boss comes with a lot of responsibility. Doubting oneself is one of the drawbacks when you are starting. Will I be good enough to grow my brand? This is one question that keeps ringing in my head. There were days when I worked for a straight 24 hours without sleep. Health sometimes gives up. One should acknowledge it and take care of themselves. Taking a break is very important.
What keeps me motivated is my vision and clear perspective for my brand. During bad days I always remind myself that I didn’t start to stop like this.
What are your hobbies and specific interests other than your profession?
I am a movie buff. I love watching thrillers and suspense movies. Netflix and chill are my mantras. I am a complete homebody. I prefer hanging out with friends at home rather than going out. My partner is an extremely fun person. I love going for long drives with him lately and watching movies together. I enjoy travelling and visiting offbeat places. I try to travel to at least one offbeat place on my to-do list every year.
Here you can give suggestions to our readers related to your experience in this field.
I feel a lot of us get puzzled at the beginning. To be honest with you, not everyone has a lot of contacts and networks around them. Yet, I would request all budding entrepreneurs to go for it, and doors will open if you are good enough. To all the readers reading this, if you have a passion in life, chase it and make practical decisions when it comes to business. Start today and keep going.
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