About Us
India Meets India is world’s first platform that provides handicraft buyers and resellers a one stop handicraft wholesale as a service.
Handicraft buyers from all over the world can directly connect with makers and order products at the source price. India Meets India will help a US retail store owner or online seller to find the right handicraft product and producer and vice versa. Moreover, it will also provide a robust ecosystem wherein win-win transactions can happen without worrying about the product authenticity, quality, delivery, timelines and payments.
India Meets India has a catalogue comprising over 100,000 authentic handicraft products from over 400 artisans and communities spread across 25 Indian states. All products are made by registered artisans, Not for Profits, Section 25 companies, Self-help groups, MSMEs i.e. bottom of the pyramid makers.
We endeavour to make www.indiameetindia.com a global marketplace connecting makers with handicraft products resellers, stores and business buyers.
Till date there is just 1 large, organised handicraft brand in India despite the domestic and b2b (exports) handicraft industry sized over 1 lakh crores. We are addressing this inefficiency.
Our model leverages technology, logistics prowess, product design capability combined with robust marketing expertise and years of working experience with artisanal set-ups across India.
Most players have limited understanding of the product life cycle – maker to the market. We have the range, depth and expertise to offer a ‘One stop solution’.
Quick Experience
I partnered a AD agency between 1999-2002. We increased business 20x in 3 years. I left it to chart my own journey in 2002. Set-up a strategy & creative boutique AD firm. Grew it from scratch to one of the fastest growing firms. Launched / worked with a lot of marquee brands including GE Appliances, HP Helion, DLF Pramerica, Discovery, Eli Lilly, Radio Mirchi, NIIT, HDFC Life, Kotak Life, ICICI Prudential, HCL, etc. Quit mainstream advertising in 2018 to focus on building India Meets India.
Experience & Accomplishments
Experienced entrepreneur, people leader and hands-on professional with a demonstrated abilities of setting-up, growing and managing thriving business enterprises.
Skilled in E-commerce, Development Space, Art & craft, Supply chain, Creative Advertising, Business Development, Business & Marketing Strategy, Team Building & Organisation Development
Value (ethics) driven, focused and result oriented professional with Engineering, Management & Law degrees from India’s most respected institutions.
How far along are you and how long have you been working on this company?
- From 2015-2018, we worked on the overall business concept. Interacted with 300+ artisans & not for profits across clusters.
- Deep diving into issue related to production, design, supply chain & marketing.
- Engaged with 5000+ customers through exhibitions, joy of giving events, carnivals & fairs to understand buying behavior.
- Built www.indiameetsindia.org, India’s first online marketplace for cause-based handmades
- First vernacular Android APP called ‘Saamarth’ for onboarding remote artisans.
Accomplishments
- Recognised Start-up by Government of India
- Nominated for Annual Start-up Awards organised by Government of India
- Over USD 1 Mn in lifetime sales, 65000+ orders, 60000+ customers
- 15000+ authentic products, 400+ artisan and community partners, national reach
- 19+ international storefronts. Planning to start selling through India Meets India website
- First to launch a cause-based online marketplace in India indiameetsindia.org
- First to launch a vernacular Android APP – ‘Saamarth’ to help artisans sell their products from remote locations.
- Un-matched handicraft range across product categories
- Deep artisan and community relationships. Excellent word of mouth in supplier community space.
- Leadership position in aggregating handicrafts across clusters & materials like ceramic, wood, metal, paper, jute, glass
- Direct Seller to Amazon in India, Gold Seller with Flipkart, One of the first sellers to get On-boarded with merging marketplaces like Bzaar, Shopee, Jiomart, Meesho etc.
Are you solving a problem? What’s new about what you’re building? What substitutes do people resort to because it doesn’t exist yet?*
India is home to 7 Mn+ artisans & 3000+ age old crafts. Handicraft sector is the 2nd biggest sector after agriculture for employment. Traditional selling methods of handicraft retail are obsolete, in efficient, majorly rely on Institutional support & exploitative. Resulting not only in the loss of livelihoods but also dying of age-old unique crafts. www.indiameetsindia.org was the 1st cause-based online marketplace in 2015 for selling handicrafts. ‘Saamarth’ was 1st vernacular selling APP designed exclusively for remote artisans & communities. And now www.indiameetsindia.com will become world’s first handicraft wholesale as a service marketplace.
What do you understand about your business that other companies in it just don’t get?
1- Artisan & craft centricity as much as customer centricity
2- Design approach customised for consumer groups
3-Depth & range of products/ artisan network
4-Relationships & reach across clusters in 24 Indian States
5-Strong and positive word of mouth
6-Excellent consumer behavior understanding
7-Hands-on success in scaling the business online
8-Domain expertise in building brands
9-Global selling experience
10-Passionate & committed team
We intend to bridge the gap between makers and global buyers and resellers of handicrafts by leveraging ‘Saamarth’ – India’s first Android APP designed for the artisans combined with setting up a hub & spoke artisan centric supply chain infra that meets the criteria of fastest time to market, lowest logistic cost, and a delightful customer experience. Our excellent reach across clusters, hands on understanding of varied product categories, and deep relationships with artisans and communities provide us a competitive edge in setting up an enviable network quickly and efficiently.
We are a boot-strapped start-up, profitable and with 0 debt, just at the tipping point to scale. Our Mission is to contribute an additional daily income of INR 100 for 100,000 artisans & beneficiaries. We are looking at a long term partner who not only help us access capital at various growth milestones but also co-shares our mission and unbridled passion to create value for the bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs.