Entrepreneurship is in my blood. My parents established Vimal Handloom Emporium in 1997, when I was a young school boy, and I dreamt of one day making a career in the exports field. After completing a diploma in Textile Design, I returned to Panipat to bring new skills to the family business. Our company is focused on the manufacture and supply of designer home furnishings, like bedsheets, comforters, blankets and bed runners, for local and export markets. We blend advanced technology with exquisite craftsmanship, and we have a reputation for luxurious designs, rich colours and quality finish. Wholesale distribution accounts for about 75% of our business, with the remainder in retail sales.
While pandemic disruption severely impacted our industry and our company, I’m expecting eCommerce to be an engine of business recovery. Demand is definitely shifting online; that’s where consumers and small sellers are increasingly found.
One thing I really value about the eCommerce platform is that it provides a direct interface with the consumer. This helps sellers like us to better gauge the market and gain insights and feedback about our products.
The eCommerce marketplace also offers a shorter payment cycle than the offline wholesale market, which is largely credit-based. I am now exploring online channels as a way to grow our business and build resilience.
After joining the Walmart Vriddhi program, we are now listing some of our key products on the Flipkart eCommerce marketplace.
There is a lot to learn when you begin selling digitally, especially with an eye on international markets. But with Vriddhi helping us gain the practical know-how of building an export business, I am positive that we will be able to tap more overseas markets in the long run.
The eCommerce marketplace also offers a shorter payment cycle than the offline wholesale market, which is largely credit-based. I am now exploring online channels as a way to grow our business and build resilience.
