Hyderabad: Gurugram-based Anjali Agrawal (former IBM engineer) left her 12-year job to pursue her dreams, and started her own venture ‘Kota Doria Silk’ in 2014. Anjali has taken the traditional Kota Doria fabric to a global market and has provided many jobs for weavers and artisans in her native place and other regions. Besides a […]
Hyderabad: Gurugram-based Anjali Agrawal (former IBM engineer) left her 12-year job to pursue her dreams, and started her own venture ‘Kota Doria Silk’ in 2014.
Anjali has taken the traditional Kota Doria fabric to a global market and has provided many jobs for weavers and artisans in her native place and other regions.
Besides a beautiful collection of saris, salwar suits, and dupattas, Kota Doria Silk also have curtains, cushion covers, etc. Anjali’s products reflect traditional touch in every design, which is an affordable deal. And all the items are available for online and offline purchase.
This airy fabric of Kota doria is something working women would find comfortable for day-to-day wear. Anjali has 70+ craftsman, 25 looms, and more than 5,000+ women resellers across India working for her.
Anjali says that her next stop is Hyderabad, as she feels the city has a lot of potential thanks to its fashion-conscious women. More than 60% of her business comes from southern parts of India, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking about some of the challenges she faced in the initial stages of bringing her business idea to fruition, Anjali says, “As a woman entrepreneur, I had my own challenges to face. From visiting the local markets to the wholesalers, from finding out the best and safe logistic partners to negotiation… everything was a task for me since this journey was my decision. I wanted to find the best solutions and to make sure my customers are satisfied.”
Sharing some secrets to her success, she says, “There is no secret to success. One has to believe in the journey, dedication, commitment and learn to have knowledge about their business.”
When asked how did she persevere through the tough times, Anjali is quick to share that she’s the first woman in her family to own a business. “There were a lot of apprehensions, but the support from family makes it all possible. Of course, one has to sail through tough times, especially when you are new in the market.”
“Setting up the business was not a challenging idea. However, executing and being on toes for days and spending sleepless nights were challenging. My husband has been a rock-solid support in terms of boosting my morale, believing in my dreams and guiding me through the process,” shares the happy entrepreneur.
Talking about Hyderabad being a good market to expand her brand, she says, “Hyderabad, to be honest, has been the most accepting place for my business. My customer base here is vast and spread across the South. Considering the weather and the versatility of the fabric, it makes it the most suitable material. In future, I do have plans to open a brick-and-mortar store.”
“It’s all about providing the best customer experience with no compromise in quality,” she concludes about the mantra for growth.
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