7 minute read
Silken Sarees Goa
Early Life and Inspiration
Sachi Ghantkar Kamat hails from the charming town of Ribandar in Goa. Armed with a master’s degree in Biotechnology, Sachi’s path to the world of sarees might seem unconventional. However, her diverse interests and experiences have significantly shaped her entrepreneurial journey. An avid bibliophile, a dog lover, and an enthusiastic traveler, Sachi has explored 18 countries, gaining diverse cultural insights along the way. Her travels and experiences have enriched her perspective, enabling her to blend traditional aesthetics with contemporary styles.
A Mother’s Perspective
Balancing her entrepreneurial ventures with her personal life, Sachi is a proud mother to a two-anda-half-year-old daughter, Veerja, and a seven-yearold Labrador puppy, Mylo. Her role as a mother has profoundly influenced her approach to business, instilling a sense of empathy and dedication in her work. Sachi’s ability to juggle her roles as a mother, a traveler, and an entrepreneur showcases her remarkable resilience and passion. Her parents Mrs. Meeta & Mr. Hemant Ghantkar have been by her side from the very beginning, providing initial investment and handling daily logistics, as well as caring for her baby while she manages her business errands.
Bridging the Gap: Bringing Quality to Goa
Sachi’s inspiration for starting Silken Saree Goa stemmed from a personal observation. Noticing that Goans often had to travel to cities like Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai to find high-quality silk sarees, she envisioned a solution. She aimed to provide her fellow Goans with the variety and quality they sought, right at their fingertips. This vision of accessibility and convenience became the driving force behind her business.
Curating Unique Collections
What sets Silken Saree Goa apart is Sachi’s personal touch in curating each saree. Along with her mother, she meticulously selects sarees from master artisans across India. This hands-on approach ensures that every piece is unique, reflecting the individuality that every woman deserves. By making it a rule never to sell identical sarees, Sachi maintains the exclusivity of her collection, ensuring that each client possesses
Commitment to Pure Silk
Silken Saree Goa exclusively deals with pure silk sarees, steering clear of mixed materials and non-silk fabrics. This commitment to pure silk ensures stringent quality control, allowing Sachi to focus on quality over quantity. By personally checking the quality of materials and weaving styles, Sachi ensures that only the finest products are showcased to her clients.
The Business Model: Order-Based Excellence
Silken Sarees Goa operates on an order basis, eliminating the need for physical stock. By showcasing the latest trends and weaves on Instagram and Facebook, clients can browse and choose according to their preferences and budgets. This model ensures that clients receive the latest trends, fresh stock, and home delivery of exquisite silk sarees.
The Rich Variety of Sarees
Silken Sarees Goa boasts an extensive variety of sarees, each representing the rich tapestry of Indian culture. From Banarasis from Varanasi to Bishnupuris and Balucharis from Bengal, Patolas from Gujarat, embroidered Kashmiri sarees from Kashmir, Paithanis from Maharashtra, Irkals from Karnataka, Pochampally Ikkat from Telangana, and Kanjivarams from Tamil Nadu, the collection is a celebration of India’s diverse textile heritage.
Tradition Meets Style
Tradition dictates that sarees are worn at weddings and other significant events. Sachi believes in making these experiences stylish while preserving their traditional essence. By blending classic designs with contemporary elements, she ensures that every saree embodies both elegance and modernity.
Addressing Skepticism
One of the challenges Sachi faces is convincing older clients who are accustomed to buying sarees in person. These clients often doubt that online purchases can match the quality of sarees bought in physical stores. However, once convinced, they become her strongest supporters. Sachi’s personal engagement with each client ensures transparency and builds trust.
Tackling Scams and Maintaining Integrity
Like any business, Silken Sarees Goa faces issues with scamsters and cheats. To counter this, Sachi prefers dealing directly with each client, maintaining transparency and ensuring a smooth flow of information. This direct approach helps build trust and ensures that clients receive authentic products.
Overcoming Challenges: A Journey of Resilience
When Sachi started her business in 2018, progress was slow. Convincing people to buy sarees online, especially those used to purchasing them in physical stores, was challenging. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 turned this challenge into an opportunity. With people unable to travel, Silken Sarees Goa rose to the occasion, providing pure silk sarees for brides and their families. Sachi, along with her supportive husband, Vassudev, personally delivered sarees across Goa, building trust and loyalty among her clients.
Building Client Relationships
Sachi’s journey has been enriched by the relationships she has built with her clients. She cherishes the friendships formed and the joy of seeing clients return for their saree needs. Hearing clients express their preference for her collection over others in major cities brings her immense satisfaction and validates her hard work.
Marketing Strategies: Organic Growth and Client Engagement
Sachi believes in consistent marketing efforts. She uploads content daily on her social media pages, even when on vacation or unwell. Patience and persistence are her key strategies, answering every query with the hope of turning them into orders. Featuring clients on her page has been particularly effective, showcasing their beautiful sarees and encouraging their family and friends to purchase from Silken Sarees Goa. Remarkably, Sachi’s reach has been entirely organic, relying on word of mouth and goodwill rather than influencer marketing.
Valuing Artisans: The Backbone of the Business
Sachi maintains a strong rapport with the weavers, recognizing that their craftsmanship is the foundation of her business. She strives to give their art the appreciation it deserves, ensuring that their skills are acknowledged and celebrated. This mutual respect forms the bedrock of Silken Saree Goa’s success.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For those starting their own business, Sachi emphasizes the importance of consistency. She advises staying committed, even when orders are slow, and believing that inquiries will eventually turn into orders. Confidence in oneself and perseverance are crucial for entrepreneurial success.
The Future of Silk and Saree Goa
Looking ahead, Sachi envisions expanding her product line with innovative collections that blend tradition with contemporary trends. By exploring new designs and materials, she aims to keep the brand relevant and appealing to a broad audience. Additionally, she plans to reach a global market by participating in fashion shows and exhibitions, introducing Silk and Saree Goa to an international clientele.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Elegance and Craftsmanship
Sachi Ghantkar Kamat’s journey with Silken Sarees Goa is a remarkable example of how passion and dedication can transform a vision into reality. Her commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship while embracing modernity has created a brand that resonates with a diverse audience.
Through ethical practices, innovative designs, and a deep respect for artisans, Sachi has built a legacy of elegance and craftsmanship that continues to inspire. Silken Sarees Goa stands as a testament to the enduring beauty of Indian textiles and the limitless potential of visionary entrepreneurs.
By blending tradition with innovation, Silken Sarees Goa under Sachi Ghantkar Kamat's leadership celebrates the rich heritage of Indian textiles while embracing contemporary fashion, making it a beacon of ethical, sustainable, and stylish sartorial choices.