Goa's Hoteliers make
a beeline for 'Honesty Foods'
Honesty Foods Goa, based in Siolim, is Goa’s largest supplier of premium meats and cold cuts. It was officially launched in Goa on June 17, 2021. They are the sole distributors for the entire North Goa and South Goa region. They do both, retail as well as wholesale distribution of these meat products. Their parent company, Mayur Piggery Farms, is based in Pune. It was set up by Mr. Balasaheb Jadhav in 1978. Pork and poultry are their mainstay and since these animals are raised in their own farms spread across Pune, the company can confidently vouch for the quality of their 'farm-to-the-table' products. The products which they offer include Pork Sausages, Ham, Salami, Bacon, Pepperoni, Frankfurters, Pork Chops, Pork Shoulder, Pork Belly, Pork Spareribs, Duck, Smoked Ham Leg, etc.
The factory-cum-distribution outlet of Honesty Foods is located in Siolim in North Goa. The factory has a state-of-the-art cold room to ensure that all their products are maintained at -18 degrees centigrade, round the clock. They also have a reefer (refrigerated) van to ensure that their products are delivered across Goa in sub-zero temperatures to adhere to the highest standards of quality.
Honesty Foods offers home delivery of its products all across Goa on all orders above Rs. 2,000. Customers can places their orders online 24/7 by visiting their website www.honestyfoodsgoa.com and can pay either using GPay, Paytm, Phonepe and 150+ UPI apps or by cash.
At the helm of affairs of Honesty Foods Goa is its founder, Mr. Craig Fernandes. Craig’s entrepreneurial streak actually started right from his days at high school. During those days, he used to organise book exhibitions in various schools in Mumbai to earn some pocket money. He went on to complete his diploma in electronics, but had an intense desire to see the world. Hence, he joined the Merchant Navy and the rest, as they say, is history.
“Honesty Foods Goa is very close to my heart”, says Craig. “My mom is an amazing cook. So, I grew up tasting the choicest of meats. Also, being an officer in the Merchant Navy for almost a decade, I have travelled the world, and have therefore got a chance to try out a variety of cuisines”, he says. Craig quit the Merchant Navy in 2007 to set up his hospitality business, “Dreamhome Relocations” in Mumbai.
Always ready for gastronomic adventures, he also helped set up and manage three well-known restaurants in Mumbai at various points in time. “We specialised in steaks, spareribs, pulled pork, etc. That's how I got to learn first-hand about various types of pork meats and developed a keen interest in the industry. I am also a certified HACCP holder and therefore, food safety is topmost on my priority list”, he says.
In 2020, Craig had to close down his hospitality business due to the Covid-induced lockdown. He then moved to Goa and launched Honesty Foods in Goa after realising that there was a dire need to provide hygienically cut and packaged pork meat to people. Unsafe handling of meat is very rampant in unregulated pork shops in Goa. That was the underlying thought which led him to start Honesty Foods in Goa.
Honesty Foods Goa has made a name for itself within just one year of its inception due to its excellent quality of meats and prompt service. Craig proudly states that most of the hotels in Goa that offer pork dishes source their pork meat requirements from Honesty Foods.
“This is not only because of the excellent quality of products that Honesty Foods offers, but also because all our products come with the required licences like FSSAI, HACCP, HALAL, APEDA etc., which can help in tracing the products right to its origins”, he says.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
As of now, Craig has a 10-member team at his distribution-cum-factory outlet in Siolim. One major challenge which he faced initially and continues to face even today is that of skilled manpower. His idea is to provide employment to the locals, to give back to the community by empowering them to become sub-sellers, working from the comfort of their homes without any investment. Craig appeals to homemakers, unemployed youth and anybody with a passion to excel, to connect with Honesty Foods for entrepreneurial opportunities. “This is one of the reasons why I came back to my roots even though I was born and brought up in Mumbai”, he says. “I want to dispel the notion that there are no job opportunities for Goans in Goa. If one is prepared to work hard, nobody can stop their progress”, he says. In the next five years, Craig aims to expand his business by opening franchises of Honesty Foods, not just across Goa, but also in Karnataka and other states in South India.
Craig says that his family has been his greatest source of strength and support throughout the course of his journey. “Like me, my kids love the products offered by Honesty Foods and are the best brand ambassadors one can ask for”, he says. “A large chunk of my success today is also because of my wife, who pushed me to start Honesty Foods. She had the unshakeable faith that I could make this venture a great success. Today, my chest swells with pride when my mom and dad proudly declare how their son has made it big in Goa”,he adds.
When asked what message he would like to share with all Goans, this is what he had to say: “No dream is too big to achieve. Guts and glory go hand in hand”.
For more information, about Honesty Foods Goa, visit www.honestyfoodsgoa.com
Website: www.itsgoa.com
I
@_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Instagram:
Honesty Foods Factory Outlet at Siolim
7 Gents Salon & Spa The Perfect Spot For All Your Grooming Needs NEW BUSINESSES Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
known businessman, Mr. Savio Rodrigues.
An engineer by qualification and a businessman by passion, Savio has always been enthusiastic about trying out new things and venturing into different fields of business.
In a brief tete with ItsGoa, Mr. Savio shared a lot of insights about 7 Gents Salon, his idea behind starting the salon, its USP, his future plans and lots more…
Excerpts
Tell us a little bit about 7 Gents Salon and Spa.
7 Gents Salon and Spa was started on 11th January 2022. We are located in the Paulin Business Hub near Maruti Mandir in Aquem.
Brief us about the various grooming services and wellness treatments provided at 7 Gents Salon and Spa?
Some of the services we offer at our salon and spa are the steam room service after a massage. We also provide services such as Hair spa depending on your requirements, facials for de-tans, glow and so forth..
What prompted you to start this salon? What was the idea that you had in mind when you decided to start this venture?
Seeing that most salons cater to women, I decided to start something exclusively for gents. My salon is equipped with two massage rooms , a section for manicures and pedicures , different kinds of hair and skin treatments and our star attraction is the steam room.
What’s the story behind the salon being called 7 Gents Salon and Spa?
Honestly, I've just found the number to be very lucky for me growing up. So, I thought why not call it “7 Gents Salon and Spa!”.
What are the few things offered at 7 Gents Salon and Spa that make it stand out from other salons and spas? What is the USP of your business?
I personally think that the steam room would be our USP, since there are very few salons in South Goa that offer this service. In addition to this, 7 Gents Salon and Spa is a highly-valued salon with top-ofthe-line hygiene standards and professional barbers brought in from other states of India.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
What role did family or friends play in setting up this venture? Any quick incident you recall that helped you overcome a hurdle when planning this venture?
My family and friends have been the biggest supporters of my venture.As you know, in Goa, word-of-mouth plays a big role in the success of business ventures. My family and friends contributed in a big way to promote the salon when it just started.
What was the response from the public like when the salon just started off?
Our daily walk-ins are approximately 20-25 people, with high numbers during festivals and times of celebration. We also cater to wedding troops, with a special groomsmen discount, so do come and see us if that's what your requirement is!
What are your plans for the next few years? Do you plan to open more branches of your salon and spa in other parts of Goa?
Absolutely. We will definitely start a few more branches of our salon so that people in different parts of Goa can get to enjoy our services.
www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Website:
www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Website:
Vola
Art Escape A Paradise for Art Lovers UNIQUE START-UPS
Managing
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Viola Rodrigues, Founder and
Director,
Vola Art Escape
VOLA ART ESCAPE is an art gallery and studio based in Candolim. It was established in 2010. Based out of Goa, it has operations Pan India as well as globally. At the helm of affairs of this unique venture is its Founder and Managing Director, Ms. Viola Rodrigues. Viola is a name and a brand in the field of art in Goa. She has established herself as a pioneer, working in the industry for 12 years now and breaking new uncharted ground. She is an enthusiastic artist who handles each and every project by herself with the support of her artistic team. She is known for delivering quality work on time.
She is multifarious in all mediums of art. Starting her career at a very early age of 5, Viola started learning the basics of art and color by trying out everything, be it sketching, doodling or painting. Her initial paintings and drawings were based on fashion trends of different styles of outfits and garments. Her father, Vernon Rodrigues, who saw her keen interest and talent in painting, encouraged her to pursue a career in the field. “My parents were always open minded and persuasive and always encouraged me to follow my goals to the fullest.” she says.
The Art Gallery
Following her passion and love for painting, Viola opened her own online art gallery named “VOLA ART ESCAPE”. Later, she took it offline and opened a physical art gallery in Porvorim which moved to its present day location on Candolim's Main Road, next to Lemon Tree Amarante and the Candolim Health Centre.
In the gallery, there are paintings of various genres like abstracts, contemporary art, comprehensive art, religious art, detailed doodling and various other Indian art variables which are available for purchase. There are live artists working in the art gallery, from whom walk-in customers can personalize their portraits or paintings. Viola describes her art gallery as “a piping hot cup of tea for everyone”.
Other than the work in the gallery, Viola also takes personal orders for portraits, sculptures and culture murals from walk-in customers, as well as customers who get to know about her through word of mouth publicity and satisfied referrals. Viola, who prefers detailed artworks, always takes time to understand her customers and their unique preferences and choices before delivering their requested masterpieces in time.
Viola’s Team
Viola has a team of around 25+ artists who are based in different parts of India and work under the brand of VAE who handle the Goa region as well as pan India operations including 5 professional artists who are based in the Middle East and Europe with different forte covering all sorts of art.
Starting Vola Art Escape
Viola always had a dream of starting her own business. However, when she did start Vola Art Escape, she got limited by people around her who were in the same field and who created obstacles to limit her. After some time, her passion started wearing down and she was beginning to compromise on her work ethic and self belief. Viola says that by sheer will power and lots of encouragement from loyal family members and close friends, she has been able to redirect so much negativity in these years when Covid and life expectancy is limited to one day at a time and ambition is just a word.
“To turn myself around was the biggest hurdle”, she says. “Negativity is the biggest obstacle to my ambition”. Viola then came to a resolution to either focus on the obstacle and try to overcome the difficulties or quite simply re-route my objective without compromising on my passion and my skill. “To optimize my skills, I decided to work with people who were less ambitious and more eager to do something real”, she says.
The Story Behind The Name
The word “Vola” means to fly high and escape from this sad world into a world of art and passion. “I decided on the name “Vola Art Escape” as it would give me a kaleidoscope of advantages”, says Viola. “I found that colors were my main expression and in what was a dull and gloomy perspective, this absolute sense of medieval war at present raging all around me was totally limiting all my real thoughts of finance and dulling my ambition to a zero”. Vola Art Escape is a total escape to an avenue where your skills and sense of adventure opens up into a Pandora's Box. Viola started this adventure because of the total lack of incentive and encouragement wherever she turned. Everyone was more interested in the financials than the creativity. “Survival skills and money juggling are for people who have the facility of a circus, but not for someone with a burning desire to succeed”, she says.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook:
Itsgoa
Types of Paintings and Services Offered
Vola Art Escape offers a plethora of paintings and ideas from different cultures, dynasties and native ethnicities. It is an expression of vibrant colors and silver linings in every cloud. They offer all types of artwork such as wall murals, canvas paintings, abstract art, sketches, portraits, doodles etc. They also organize face painting, live caricature, live sketching, live canvas painting, Speed Art and many more artistic services for corporate events, private events and birthday parties.
Viola says that the USP of her firm is that they create customized wall murals and professional canvas paintings based on their clients design, size and budget specification, without compromising on the quality of the art. “We are a one-stop shop for all our clients artistic needs and as our tagline states: ‘YOU NAME IT. WE PAINT IT’,” she adds.
Major Clients
Vola Art Escape has sold 1000+ paintings Pan India, across the Middle East and Europe in 2020 while the world was still experiencing the peak of the pandemic. Viola has done professional wall murals and customized canvas paintings for hotels, restaurants, clubs and casinos.
These include the Taj Group, Hyatt Group, Strike Casino, Tito’s Club, Club Antares, Cohiba, Ritz Classic, Best Western Group, Lemon Tree Group, Tomato’s Restaurant & Bar, Sun City Resort, Silver Sands Resorts and many more establishments all over Goa. They have also sold paintings to the famous and Honorable Mr. Narayan Bandekar, who is their prestige client. He has offered a lot of support to Vola Art Escape by having their paintings displayed at The HQ Hotel in Vasco. “He has always been a father figure to me”, says Viola.
In 2019, Viola worked with the prestigious brand Seagram’s Royal Stag wherein she accepted the challenge and completed 100 professional wall murals in 100 local tavernas all over Goa in just 30 days. “It was a huge challenge for me as an artist to complete 100 wall murals across Goa from North to South within the stipulated time, but I managed to do it”, says Viola. Recently, Viola also did art related work for the prestigious international brand ‘Best Western’.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Viola at her art gallery in Candolim
Viola, through the course of her career, has also worked with renowned architects, interior designers and builders pan-India. Her firm has provided customized artwork for residential and commercial premises as per the design requirements and budget of their clients. The art work which her firm has done for clients in the real estate sector range from personalized sketches and portraits to customized wall murals and canvas paintings.
People’s Response
Viola says that creativity is a very sharp fine point where nothing can blunt your ambition and your will to succeed. “Success is a flower that blooms each time you create a piece of magic and others can perceive and relate to it”, she says. “Whatever you attempt in life, there will always be negativity surrounding you.
You will always experience things such as lack of enthusiasm, lack of feeling, intense jealousy and envy, etc. Viola says that she has been lucky that the public has swung around into wowing her artwork. She feels blessed when she receives statements of encouragement from people who also introduce her to future Investors, rather than duplicating her artwork and being offensively critical. She feels really nice when she does not have to introduce herself to others, but rather be introduced to eminent people.
Other Endeavors
Viola says that her enterprise, “VOLA ART ESCAPE”, is not just a business venture, but also an institution for art lovers. “Apart from delivering portraits and painting to customers who place orders, we also teach people to learn art and provide internship opportunities for students who are interested in learning about various art forms and developing themselves. We also help underprivileged people to become self reliant so that they can stand on their own feet and also contribute to society,” she says. VOLA ART ESCAPE was instrumental in organizing the International Art Contest which successfully concluded its second edition in 2020. This contest was a platform to recognize the talents of the different artists from all over India and overseas and to appreciate their works by handing out cash prizes and certificates.
Challenges
Viola says that at present, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to equate a well conceptualized artwork in terms of any financial recovery. “I have to reach a happy compromise with myself by giving my brand where I may have to endure a temporary financial loss”, she says. Despite her efforts, and in spite of the hours and pain staking thought in alterations, she successfully manages to please her customers who actually don’t always understand the basic concept and reality of art and artwork.
Viola’s Role Models
Talking about her interests, Viola revealed that she loves oil painting and acrylics the most. She has a keen interest in contemporary and abstract arts along with Renaissance artwork. Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo are two of the painters whom she considers as her role models.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Prestigious Wall Murals Customised For
Corinthia Boutique Rooms, Candolim
Reminiscing about her successful journey so far, Viola took time to give credit to Mr. Anshuman Sharma and her parents who have been always supportive and have played an important role in vetting her Art. Viola says that connections and financials are a must for any artist starting their career to make it big. But in her case, due to the constant and unwavering support from her parents, family and friends, she was able to follow her passion and become a giant in the industry.
Viola’s Plans for the Future
Viola highlighted that she wants to open 1-2 more art galleries outside Goa and mark her conquest in the Pan India horizon. “I would like to open my own interior design studio connected with art which can be a one stop shop for all artistic needs ''. She also wishes to open an art institute in various cities where people will get a platform to teach and spread their creativity.
Her Message to Budding Artists
Vola says that if there was no art, there would be no sense of creativity or expression. Being a role model for many budding artists in the state of Goa, Viola doesn’t hesitate to extend her support to the youth.
“Join me and I will give you an opportunity to grow as an artist while giving proper exposure and a good platform to showcase your talents”, she says. “Even a Dish needs a Pinch of Salt. We will sculpt you to become an all-round artist”
Viola’s advice to every aspiring ambitious artist is “Don’t ever let anyone take away your dream, your passion and your obsession for art. Regard the world not as an oyster, but as an exhibition of luxurious cultured pearls. Be imaginative and work hard persistently. Don’t lose your sense of adventure as art can be a very expensive investment program and a very lonely journey. So, please navigate through carefully at present in 2022, as the world is going through a very rocky and turbulent scenario.
VOLA ART ESCAPE
Address: Opposite Magnum Resort, Next to Lemon Tree, Vaddy, Candolim, Bardez, Goa - 403521.
Phone: 079723 55356
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa Prestigious Wall Murals Customised For
Corinthia Boutique Rooms, Candolim
ADR Pro System, Quepem Your One-Stop Shop for Music Equipment!
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa Aaron Rodrigues,
Proprietor, ADR Pro System, Quepem
Aaron Divino Rodrigues a.k.a "ADR" is a 22 year-old rising entrepreneur from the beautiful village of Quepem. He is the founder of ADR Pro System, a complete music store that deals in a wide range of musical instruments, DJ equipment, audio recording gear, professional audio/sound systems, stage lighting and case logic products. He is also the founder of ADR Music Studio.
Apart from their retail store in Quepem, ADR Pro System also sells musical instruments online on Amazon India. They have clients from different parts of India. These include recording studios, music institutes, schools, colleges etc.
Born and brought up in Goa, Aaron did his schooling at Don Bosco School, Quepem. He had a very funfilled childhood. He used to participate in various cocurricular activities like football, athletics, music etc. He was also the state record holder in High Jump in the year 2015.
From a very young age, he aspired to become someone in life who can inspire the youth. After completing his schooling and higher secondary education, Aaron enrolled himself at the Government College in Quepem and successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in Commerce.
Aaron started singing and playing the keyboard for small parties when he was 15. The then Parish Priest of Quepem, Fr. Mario Vaz also encouraged him to play the keyboard for the Church. He gave Aaron a chance to play for Retreats, Night Vigils, Charismatic Meetings and for the Church Choir as well. This helped Aaron gain a lot of confidence as a keyboardist. His aunt Maria D'Costa also encouraged him and gave him a Chance to feature on Rophe Tv to perform with her for Praise and Worship.
Around that time, Aaron wanted to upgrade to a new keyboard and was introduced to a music store in Mumbai called Shalu Music. He discovered that the store gave very good discounts on musical instruments as compared to what music stores in Goa offered. Later, he started teaching music to young kids and even helped many of them to purchase their first musical instrument from Mumbai since it was cheaper there!
This kept Aaron thinking about venturing into the business of reselling musical instruments. He had even heard that the proprietors of the Shalu Music in Mumbai had started off selling music equipment on the streets. This motivated him to start selling instruments from his home when he was 16, he says. Mohammed, the son of the owner of Shalu Music helped Aaron a lot when he just started his business of selling musical instruments in Goa.
After promoting his business through social media, he started getting many customers. Many Goan musicians also started ordering musical instruments from him. Aaron registered his company ADR Pro System in 2017 and opened his store in October 2017 in Quepem, just next to his house. Aaron couldn’t afford to buy a shop or rent one. So, his parents gave him a room which he converted into a shop.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
just started off. "The company was running into losses due to mismanagement. But it was a lesson for me and I always tried to learn from my mistakes and moved on!” he says. "I realised that business is not that easy. You need to work hard for it.” When his store just started off, Aaron had an aim to see it as an authorized dealer for at least 35 brands in the coming years. But today, ADR Pro System is a dealer for more than 70+ music brands from different parts of the world!.
During the pandemic, everything was shut and Aaron had nothing much to do. So since he was into music, Aaron thought why not he start his own home recording studio where he can record his music and also provide services to other musicians and singers. And so, in April 2020, just after the lockdown was lifted, Aaron opened his music studio called ADR Music Studio.
This time, the space which he used to set up his studio was a storeroom which is located upstairs, just above his music store. The studio started off very well. "During the lockdown, many people had started their own YouTube channels. So, I used to get a lot of clients who used to come to record their songs at my studio", he says. The studio provides services like Vocal Recording, Mixing, Mastering, Video Shoots and Editing. They have recently started music distribution to online music streaming platforms. They also provide artist management services.
like Benzer Fernandes, Elaine Pinto, Lawry Travasso, Jelson Pacheco and Frazer Antao to name a few. In the next 5 years, he aims to expand his business and take it to the next level. Maintaining a good relationship with his clients has always been his top priority, he says.
Aaron says that his parents Antonio Rodrigues and Nelsy Rodrigues have been his biggest source of support throughout his journey. "My mother Nelsy , who is also a singer, sings with me for choirs", he says. "She also sings for music videos which are uploaded on our YouTube Channel ‘ADR MUSIC STUDIO’. She is my backbone", he adds.
When asked what message he would like to share with the readers of ItsGoa, he said that he wants to see the youth of Goa doing something out-of-the-box. "There are many youngsters who start their own businesses and I appreciate that", he says. "We should always try to do something different and strive to bring about a change which can impact our society and our life. Just stay focused and positive in whatever you do!"
ADR Pro System, Quepem
Phone: +91-7040946866
Facebook: facebook.com/ADRPROSYSTEMGOA
Instagram: www.instagram.com/adrprosystemgoa
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
woman who means business
COVER STORY Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Siya Shaikh A
Rafina Siya Shaikh is a person who needs no introduction. She is one of the most popular names in the business fraternity in Goa. She is the founder of GoWomania Goa, an initiative by a group of women entrepreneurs to provide a social platform to encourage, guide and build a support system for aspiring women entrepreneurs. The platform came into existence in order to explore entrepreneurship opportunities by building skill sets as well as a strong motivated mindset.
She is also the founder of Goenkart, Goa’s first local, multi-product, multi-brand e-commerce portal. Apart from this, she is also the founder of WEBN-Goa, Goa’s first business networking platform for women entrepreneurs.
In a brief chat with ItsGoa, Siya offered a lot of insights into her life, her career, the journey of GoWomania and WEBN, her future plans and lots more…
Excerpts
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Rafina Shaikh. I am popularly known as Siya Shaikh. I was born and brought up in a small village called Nanus-Valpoi, which is located in Sattari taluka. I did my schooling at Our Lady of Lourdes Higher Secondary School, Valpoi and then completed my Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Government Polytechnic in Bicholim.
My mother was an ‘anganwadi’ (government primary school) teacher while my father worked as a helper at GMC (Goa Medical College and Hospital), Bambolim. I got married in 2013 in Panjim and have a 4-year old son named Raheesh.
What was your childhood ambition?
Being the eldest female child born in an orthodox Muslim family, I wanted to become somebody and prove the worth of a girl child to everyone.
.
Give us a brief picture of your career as a civil engineer?
I didn't actually make a career in that field. I worked as a site supervisor for only 6 months and then left the job to move to Pune for better opportunities.
When did you move back to Goa?
I returned to Goa in 2013 owing to my marriage.
What inspired you to start GoWomania Goa? Give us a detailed insight into the organization and the work that it has done to promote women-run businesses in Goa?
While setting up my factory in Guleli, I came across women who were involved in making hand-made articles of different kinds. I was amazed at their skill, passion, and their willingness to work hard, but it also broke my heart to see them suffering from lack of exposure to market their products.
Since I had a lot of experience in marketing, I decided to give them a platform to market their products. So, in 2017, I took the first step and started GoWomania Goa, a Facebook group that would list women entrepreneurs who made hand-made crafting items. However, when I shared the idea with a few people, no one believed that it would work. So, I did some research, went on to learn a few things, took some small steps and eventually made the GoWomania Goa Facebook group grow from just 50 women entrepreneurs to more than 1000 women entrepreneurs. Very soon, our GoWomania platform on Facebook grew from 1000 to 10,000 members and today has more than 12,500 members.
We recently celebrated our 5th anniversary with an event called “Pehchaan”- Ek Prerna. The event was Goa's first multilingual stage story event where eminent Goan women from different walks of life narrated a 360 degree account of their life in 360 seconds in their own mother tongue.
(Konkani,Marathi,Hindi and English). The aim of the event was to provide a stage to successful women from different spheres to share their success stories and inspire other women. At the event, GoWomania’s first print magazine "BOSS LADY '' was also released at the hands of Smt. Sulakshana Sawant, spouse of Goa’s Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant.
When did WEBN start? Elaborate on the various activities undertaken by WEBN to promote women led businesses in Goa.
The journey of WEBN began in October 2018. We named our little platform as ‘Women Entrepreneurs Business Meet’ (WEBM). There were only 15 women who used to ‘meet’ when we just started off. Our first term’s tenure was only 6 months. In June 2019,
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
we started our second term, where more women entrepreneurs joined us and by the end of another 6 months, our total strength increased to 24 members.
Then came the third term in May 2020 with a 1 year tenure. We got a new leadership team headed by our Power Team. We achieved exponential growth in terms of business as well as number of members. This increase in the number of members led us to change the name of our organization from “Women Entrepreneurs Business Meet'' (WEBM) to ‘Women Entrepreneurs Business Network’ (WEBN).
WEBN is a platform which provides an opportunity to do business with like-minded women entrepreneurs having the same agenda of increasing their business and network. We, as a group, create a bigger network and help women entrepreneurs to reach a wider audience through different resources and tools. We also help them to troubleshoot the various issues they face and enhance their potential to grow their business.
WEBN has 4 chapters all over Goa, namely PanjimPrudence, Margao-Magnitude, Mapusa-Majestic and Vasco-Vibrant. It has a total strength of more than 80 women entrepreneurs. We together generated a business of Rs. 1.7 cr. in the last 4 years.
What’s the difference between GoWomania Goa and WEBN?
GoWomania is all about Facebook networking and offline activities like events and exhibitions, while WEBN is Goa's first purely business networking platform where we have fixed meeting agendas, twice a month, for all the four chapters.
How has Goenkart's journey been so far?
A multi-vendor and multi-product platform, Goenkart is a user friendly website that offers local Goan organic products like jaggery, Goan masalas, pickles, artifacts etc., all at one place. The journey of Goenkart is a bit challenging, but exciting at the same time.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook:
Itsgoa
Siya with the senior core committee of GoWomania Goa and volunteers
Initially, getting vendors selling different varieties of products and logistics were the two major issues which we faced. But things are going quite well now. I, along with my partner, Dr. Sneha Bhagwat, are trying to bring something new and innovative for buyers across India through this platform. We currently offer more than 500 products on the platform. We have successfully delivered products to places outside Goa such as Mumbai, Gujarat and Pune.
What were the challenges that you faced when you just started GoWomania, WEBN and Goenkart?
And how did you overcome those challenges?
Well, I would say that challenges are a part of life. Without challenges, you don’t really grow as a person. With my conviction and hard work, as well as the help and support of my senior team members from all the platforms, I am able to manage all these three platforms successfully without much difficulty. I would love to mention their names:
Team GoWomania - Moksha Kotian, Madhumati Devi, Kusha Nayak, Jasmine D’Souza, and Naznee Khan.
WEBN - Sunitaa Mathur, Padmaja Chauhan
Goenkart - Dr. Sneha Bhagwat
Also, my family has always stood by me in all my endeavors. My husband, Mr. Riyaz Shaikh has always been a great mentor and a source of support for me.
Any awards that you have been felicitated with?
I was featured in the ‘Top 30 Tech Supergirl of India 2021’ list compiled by IWIL India. I received an award for contributing towards a positive change in society at the ‘National Women’s Parliament 2021’ event, which was organized by the Goa State Legislative Assembly and supported by the MIT School of Government. I was also felicitated at the ‘Times Entrepreneurs of Goa 2021’ awards organized by The Times of India.
What are your plans for the future?
The sky's the limit. I just keep working on my goals which are:
-To empower every woman in Goa to achieve her dreams and become financially independent.
-To ensure that a strong support system is available for women entrepreneurs in Goa.
-To make Goa an example of a powerful collaborative effort towards empowering women.
-To take Goa and Goan products to a global audience and market.
Finally, is there any message or words of advice that you would like to share with our readers?
I just want to say that “Self belief is the strongest weapon one can possess. Nobody can destroy it unless you do. So keep your head high, but feet on the ground and keep moving and growing.”
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Chaturthi Bazar organised by WEBN in 2021
Over the past few decades, the hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India.
CAREER careers in the
hospitality industry Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
The hospitality and travel industry has always been one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors. Over the past few decades, the Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India.
In the trends seen in the recent past, the post Covid phase has witnessed a resurgence in travel fuelled by better connectivity and ease of flying. With an advancement in technology, hotel rooms can now be booked with a click of a button. From budget hotels to five star properties and home stays to boutique resorts, there is something for every traveller.
The world is changing rapidly due to advancements in technology. It is therefore imperative that individuals and professionals take time off to upgrade their skills so that they remain relevant to the industry. The way we do business is certainly going to change due to greater use of technology. We all need to gear up for it. The need for a world-class institute in India has never been stronger. Professional hospitality institutes are churning out well qualified professionals every year. Trained professionals, of course, have an advantage over untrained graduates as hotels would rather not invest in training of new recruits.
Embarking on a career in culinary arts can be hugely rewarding. Constantly interacting with people, working within a team of professionals, creating culinary delights, pursuing a career in culinary education and learning something new every day are some of the perks.
The industry is people centric and hence in constant need of skilled personnel. Students who opt for a career in the Hospitality and Culinary industry should be willing to be open to learning, be friendly, undergo rigorous training and be willing to work long hours.
The rewards are job satisfaction, social interaction with individuals and good pay packages. There are a number of departments one can opt to work in. Food and beverage service, kitchen, spa services, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, accounting, engineering and leisure are some of the key departments. Candidates must be willing to work in various areas of operation as the profession may demand it.
Besides starred hotels, professionals can also opt to work in the airline industry, manage boutique hotels and homestays, cruise liners, hospitality institutes, cafes, restaurants or an alternate entrepreneurial venture. Other sectors such as banking, healthcare, IT and corporates also have a requirement of skilled professionals.
The hospitality industry overall provides a diverse range of experiences. It is often considered as one of the most exciting careers, but there is a lot of work and effort involved behind the scenes. However, with the positive growth of this industry, students with an inclination towards this career have a bright future ahead.
(The article has been authored by Prof. Irfan S. Mirza, CHE, Director and Principal, V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE)-Goa.
Affiliated to Goa University, VMSIIHE offers two Degree Programs, B.Sc. Culinary Arts and B.Sc. International Hospitality Management and one Master’s Program, M.Sc. International Hospitality and Tourism Management.
After successful completion of their degree program, students of VMSIIHE can
pursue higher education at the prestigious César Ritz Colleges and Culinary Arts Academy in Switzerland.)
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
IHCL, GOA ENHANCES SERVICE STANDARDS AT GTDC RESIDENCIES Conducted a training programme in hospitality service standards at
Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa SERVICE Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Development Corporation Ltd (GTDC) Residencies at Taj Resort & Convention Centre in Dona Paula. The training involved a thorough showcase of IHCL’s signature hospitality and an interactive session with the Learning and Development Team of IHCL, Goa on the current trends and potential learnings of this rapidly evolving industry.
The attendees were chosen on the basis of seniority in ranking and experience. The session involved a detailed study of the heart of the house departments including Housekeeping, Food and Beverage Service, Food and Beverage Production, Front Office, Engineering and Horticulture. Each Head of Department demonstrated the various techniques and skills used in daily hotel operations and the correct use of state-of-the-art equipment for effective time management with bulk requirements. Additionally, each department discussed the common challenges faced and the various methods practiced to address them.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Vincent Ramos, Senior Vice President – Goa for IHCL said, “Unlike other states in the country, tourism is the backbone of Goa’s economy with 40% of the population directly or indirectly dependent on it. Hence, it is imperative that we adapt to the changing tourism landscape and match the service expectations of today’s traveller. Goa has immense potential to position itself as the world’s best travel and leisure destination.
with certificates and mementos by GTDC’s senior leadership team. In his speech at the closing ceremony, Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman – GTDC said, “We are immensely grateful to the IHCL team for extending their resources and support towards enhancing the service standards at GTDC Residencies. Undoubtedly, IHCL is the hallmark of Indian hospitality with a service culture that has been nourished over 118 years and practised across 50 global destinations. This synergy will help Goa to be a model state as per the vision of our Hon'ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant.”
GTDC has over 500 keys spread across the length and breadth of the state in key locations. These properties are primarily used to cater to travellers visiting the paradisiacal state of Goa from across the country.
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers, SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels, Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels, and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 236 hotels including 60 under development globally across 4 continents, 11 countries and in over 100 locations.
Website: www.itsgoa.com I Instagram: @_itsgoa I Facebook: Itsgoa
Mr. Gavin Dias, General Manager – GTDC; Mr. Nikhil Dessai, IAS, Director Tourism and Managing Director –GTDC and Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman – GTDC felicitating Mr. Vincent Ramos for his contribution towards enhancing service standards of tourism in Goa.
