Minu is the founder, owner and CEO of ART-ery. She has succeeded in taking the entrepreneurial plunge. There are thousands of souls who have the thirst to become entrepreneurs; but with a fear of taking the first step forward.
This post might be an inspiration for those who decide to follow their passion. I had a one on one chat time with Minu to understand her thought process for ART-ery. When I started having the one on one conversation with Minu, I had the option of donning the KRK mask/ Arnab mask and ask questions. Finally I settled for my own mask.
1) Why did you start
ART-ery in the first place?
I wanted to do something on my own. I wanted the brand
message to be clear. We do not do sizes. It should be "One size fits
all" . Hence zeroed down on Fashion Accessories. Something before I turned
30 was also a secret motive
Mindvoice : Ahhh! She is not yet 30 ;)
2) As in Minu - How did u land up here in the first
place?
I studied fashion for 5 years and worked in Various
companies for 6 years.I felt restrictive working for someone. Here I could take
a leap is what I felt
3) Growth plans?
I am a nomadic person. Never wanted to be in a store pinned to
one place. So I would see myself only being places online.But expansion would
be increasing categories. Home Decor is on my mind.I would like to create a
Home decor line for ART-ery
3) Investment pattern ( I know this is a private
question.)
Set up cost was close to Nil. I function out of a small
studio in Trivandrum Just reworked to accommodate inventory, a small work
station with a Laptop and good Internet was basically all my investment.Plus
70% of my investments are in Inventory and rest in Marketing as I do a lot of
exhibitions
4) What has been your most memorable sale?
Memorable Sale is when celebrities buy something or else
when kids cry outside your stall saying they want to buy it
6) Have you encountered any negative feedback on social
media for ART-ery?
So far NO. Touch wood. Customer care has been taken care
of as priority number one. I worked in Luxury Retail where we are trained to
handle that very well
7) What was the first product you sold? Tell me about the
experience!
My grandmother was the first one to buy. It was a
headband and a scarf.
8) What was the product for which lot of time and energy
was spent on?
Handcrafted range as always. They are necklaces. also
best performing so no complaints. I source most of my collection from
Wholesalers. I am more of a curator. It is handpicked in India and
Internationally (most of it). We also get imported beads and other raw
materials those are made in house by my mother. She is technically the master
mind behind ART-ery's signature handcrafted range
9) Any movie star who has worn ARTery products?
Parvathy Menon. Check that ring :)
There are no timings when it is your own business. The more you do the more you get. One excuse I give;it reflects in my sale. Have to be at it all the time.. Helps me be more creative looking at new avenues to expand and be different. Hard work pays! This is the greatest lesson I have learnt.
- Chronicwriter
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