The pandemic has made on-line buying everybody’s greatest pal. Be it only one pen, a sudden craving on your favorite candy, a single grocery merchandise, or a costume, the whole lot is out there with one click on.
However relating to on-line buying, two issues are commonplace — the match and high quality.
Wouldn’t or not it’s a dream, then, to mix the most effective of each worlds — the consolation of on-line buying with the expertise of visiting a bodily retailer? For Chennai residents, it is a new actuality because of Pikbig, a “boutique on wheels” that brings a wide range of style selections to 1’s doorstep.
The style retailer caters to ladies and has Indian in addition to western put on, together with kurtis, t-shirts, sarees, robes and clothes.
After operating a profitable brick and mortar retailer in Chennai and a web site, founder Karthick G needed to discover a brand new avenue. Wanting to ascertain “a Swiggy-like platform for style”, the 32-year-old considered a boutique on wheels.
“If meals could be delivered at an individual’s home, we will ship garments too. However the issue with on-line buying is that whereas a product could look engaging, we aren’t positive of the standard. I believed that being able to verify the standard and measurement of the product, and having it delivered to the doorstep could be the most effective resolution,” says Karthick in a dialog with The Higher India.
Trend at your step
This boutique on wheels was formally launched in Chennai in October this 12 months.
“We began by taking permission from residences and would take our bus there. Slowly, individuals began noticing us and contacting us. Our concept is to go on an appointment foundation. When individuals name us, they inform us the type of assortment they need, and we stock garments accordingly. Now, we largely transfer on appointments solely,” explains Karthick.
The bus has an space of 100 sq. toes and the capability to retailer 300 sarees or clothes at a time, of which 150 could be on show). It additionally has a trial room.
Karthick, who’s an MBA graduate, explains, “After ending my MBA in HR & Advertising in 2012, I labored in two-three corporations, however my curiosity was at all times in style. Round 4 years in the past, when companies had been booming on WhatsApp and Fb, I had began a small enterprise.”
“I might purchase garments from wholesalers in Mumbai and Surat and promote it to individuals in Chennai. I constructed a great buyer base, however as many individuals began doing it, the orders began getting diluted,” he provides.
That was when the entrepreneur considered beginning an organised platform for individuals to order garments.
‘The Swiggy of clothes’
Nevertheless, life had different plans. In 2018, Karthick needed to go to Nagercoil to deal with his household enterprise of a nursery backyard.
“[But] I stored researching the clothes enterprise on the aspect. I had this concept of a bus on wheels for a very long time. It lastly got here to fruition and I purchased a bus too, however then COVID got here. So I launched a web site and brick and mortar retailer earlier than launching the bus,” says Karthick.
Initially, he thought he might “provide unique collections” utilizing this idea, however the response made him change his outlook. Now, the bus provides garments beginning at Rs 500.
“I carried out many trials when the bus was in Nagercoil. Even in Chennai, first we went and understood what prospects needed. Based mostly on their suggestions, we maintain bettering. Some need us to get extra varieties, sizes and many others. Some need simply silk sarees whereas some need day by day put on.”
Clients are additionally pleased with the idea.
Ranjitha, a resident of Adyar, says, “The pandemic has modified our buying habits. I’m not comfy going to crowded outlets. I’m additionally not pleased with the standard of most garments we order on-line. After I noticed Pikbig’s boutique in my space, I used to be thrilled. Their merchandise had been additionally good and the buying expertise was totally different and unique.”
In the meantime, Karthick says his goal is to offer a great buying expertise together with high quality merchandise. The clothes are sourced from throughout the nation like Surat, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Tiruppur, and Ludhiana.
He hopes to develop this enterprise mannequin and replicate it throughout the nation.
“We’re already getting plenty of curiosity from others who need to begin a boutique on wheels. We need to make this an e-commerce mannequin, with a web site in addition to a bus. We’re in talks with traders. I need this to turn into the Swiggy of clothes,” says Karthick.
Edited by Divya Sethu