Amal KumaranCo-Founder at Jocular.in Published On: Monday, February 15, 2016 Views 2308
"Every problem has a solution, you just need to be creative enough to find it."
Amal is a young optimist entrepreneur having a firm belief to be a part of the dynamic change in the country. He has always liked managing difficult roles. He loves to work on new projects and new ideas. He has immense expertise in team management, CRM, sales and merchandising. According to him, one must have the desire to innovate and experiment with the ideas every now and then with a prospect of creating something exceptionally new and innovative. He has an MBA in management information system from Sikkim Manipal University.
He started his career as a customer sales associate and went on to become team lead of operations at IBM. However, he always had the urge to start something on his own. This is when he pondered upon the idea of launching Jocular. It renders you the joy of shopping best of products from various categories across clothing, fashion jewellery, serve ware, sunglasses, etc., with complete ease and affluence. Their products come with the most exquisite designs and have the best quality standards.
What inspired you to build the above product/ service?
We were constantly interested by the developing e-business industry in India and were an avid online customer. Having shopping done from different online portals, we used to analyze and study about the processes and results of one organization. Doing that we understood that the majority of them were having comparative sort of issue significantly in client benefit and offering unique and quality items. Subsequent to doing exploration and learn about this industry we at last chose to quit our job and start our own Fashion and Lifestyle brand and hop into this industry dedicatedly, so was Jocular conceived. We are now in different classifications such as Clothing, Fashion Jewelleries, Accessories, Home and Kitchen etc. We concentrate on giving superb crazy cool items amongst these classifications.
What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?
The most challenging part of our journey has been sourcing and vendor management.If one need to bring a great quality and unique product in the market then the market should be in favour of you too.The way backend market works is totally different from that a company works. Here you’ll need to manage the people who are not bothered about the change and one’s vision in trying to bring a change in the ecosystem.Also keeping up the quality principles is something they won’t give much focus on.
How did you overcome those challenges?
We have to build a multiple chain system so that the vendors can be comfortable too and quality can be checked at each process. Simountanesly we have created awareness in them in terms of technological aspects of the whole process.
Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.
We are primarily a fashion and lifestyle company and our product offering comes under various categories like Apparels, Accessories, Eyewear, Household etc. One thing which is common in all our category is the cool and funk quotient.
In apparel we are into T-shirts, here you will be able to find some cool funky prints and designs, which are inspired by trend style and fashion need.
The most recent addition to our category has been sunglasses, which are made from wood.RAINFOREST COLLECTION brings you shades that are made from the rarest wood like, mahogany, ebony, zebrawood, lacewood etc. The styling, the design, the comfort and the look will just fit perfect on anyone who wears it. Insanely unique and one of its kinds is what I have to say about it.
For the first time in India, we have launched the SKATEBOARD COLLECTION wooden sunglasses. These shades are made from brilliantly shaded layers of reused skateboard wood.Shades under SKATEBOARD COLLECTION have already been one of our most talked product ever since we have launched it.
In headwear, we have unique style and designs options in bandanas, beanies, hats and snapback caps.
Household has been our core strength ever since Jocular’s inception.We have multiple varieties and multiple colour options here for the customers in mug and cups section.Bar and glassware have been the newest section that has been added to this category and has already gained a lot of traction.
In accessories, we offer you an incredible list of stylish products in lockets, bracelets, cufflinks, suspenders, tiepin, earrings, key rings etc.
What is your life mantra?
Believe in Karma.
Share some details about the investments that you have been able to fetch for the business till now.
We are a self-funded company right now. The initial funding started with Vineet’s (co-founder) personal savings and me. The company since then has been able to keep its cash burn low and cash flow up.
According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?
First quality should be a belief in oneself; the second should be the awareness of what one wants to do and third should be the extra amount of hard work, which one should always be ready to put up.
Which online tools/ services/ apps do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?
Analytics and MS excel
Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.
Checking the suggestions of customers on how can we improve and give a better experience.
Share any one habit which you wish to change in yourself.
I wish I could be a bit hard
Answer in less than 50 words
- One tip to success:
Have a strong belief on what you want to do and have a strong determination that you can do it.
- One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:
Don’t waste time making decisions, just do it.
- One most important lesson that you have learnt till now:
Wise investments should be made at the regular time.
What are your plans for next 3 years?
Go offline as well with stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and be able to raise multiple rounds of funding.Expand up our category section and bring our whole list of product line items to more than 5k.Have a mobile app for both ios and android by the end of the 2nd quarter in the next financial year.
What are your top three getaway destinations?
Rishikesh, Kovalam and Kumarakom.
If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?
I would have learned the art of saving.
Share a quote that inspires you the most.
“Every problem has a solution, you just need to be creative enough to find it.”
Connect:
- Business Website http://www.jocular.in/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/jocularstore
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jocular.in
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