Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sriram Iyer, owner of Jaipur Handcraft and Decor, located in Mississauga, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Jaipur Handcraft & Décor store is a store borne out of passion showcasing the world's oldest civilization in the form of expertly curated furniture and décor. Supporting over 3000 artisans, we follow a fair-trade procurement policy to ensure that our supply chain pledges sustainable economic and environmental benefits to artisans and help them earn a fair wage and raise their family with dignity and respect. We draw our inspiration from the hundreds and thousands of artisans who have preserved their cultural heritage inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.

We additionally, through our online store, provide the artisans with a platform to showcase their artwork and increase their exposure and visibility to the global market to help sustain Fair Trade. We work closely with our suppliers by providing them workshops, upgrading their skills and product through Research and Development, and use of technology to improve their productivity. Our gallery encompasses the finest handmade crafts under one roof, ranging from exemplary Sculptures, Paintings, Wood/Bamboo & Cane Craft, Brass / Bronze and Bell Metal Craft, Stone-craft, Terracotta / Blue Pottery / Ceramics & Glass Crafts, Papier Mache figurines, Furniture, Textile Crafts, Home Décor, Perfumery, and Jewelry.

Tell us about yourself

Collecting handcrafted furniture and décor for display in my house has always been my passion from the 45 odd countries that I visited during the course of my international business travel. I wanted to buy handcrafted affordable return gifts for my son's wedding but couldn't find them anywhere in North America, and my search led me to buy them from a government emporium in India. The Chairman of the Corporation reached out to me. He said they would support me if I were interested in taking forward the art and culture of India to North America. Thus my foray into this business started in 2019. The backdrop of the zen music in the store and a walk around the various galley of the store looking at the incredible creation of art all around makes each of my days great. I eagerly look for customers who want to know more about each art and passionately give them a tour from where the art has its origin, how its made, and the effort that has gone into its making.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our store opening coincided with the advent of COVID, which led our store to be shut for almost a year by the government-mandated rules, but we still kept extending our sustained support to our artisans during the difficult times and continued our imports. Unlike the big box stores, our product range is unique. Every customer that buys a piece of art from our store has a feeling that it's unique and can cherish the feeling that none of their neighbors or friends have the same items at their home. Most customers find our products inexpensive but at the same time perceive a lot of value and pride of ownership. Touching the lives of the artisans who make the products and the customer who cherish the products made by these artisans is indeed a happy moment that gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As a first-generation business owner, the hardest thing is to do proper research to get things "Right" the first time around. Knowledge of import regulations, Customs, Logistics, proper documentation, etc., are difficult, but the hardest has been the uncontrollable challenges like an increase in the sea freight cost by ten folds, longer delivery lead times, and the pandemic hitting on and off, seriously affecting the supply chain.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Come with an idea or a plan after weighing all the odds, pros, and cons
    Diligently put your heart and soul into executing the plan and face all eventualities bravely.
  2. Follow ethical business practices respecting the law of the land and the environment.
  3. YOU ARE BOUND TO SUCCEED.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I love what I do, and I do what I love ethically, adopting the best business practices and respecting the environment. Touching the hearts of the thousands of artisans is a sense of pride and immense satisfaction. My next dream project is to franchise the store coast to coast across North America, wherein my artisans are benefitted, and the customers can touch, feel and buy what they like to transform their house into a home.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.jaipur.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaipur.handcraft.54
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaipur.handcraft/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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