An Interview with Ashmika Gupta and Kush Dhannawat, co-founders of Bijou Co

An Interview with Ashmika Gupta and Kush Dhannawat, co-founders of Bijou Co

In an interview, Ashmika Gupta and Kush Dhannawat, the progressive co-founders of Bijou Co, share their entrepreneurial journey. They talk about the inspiration behind their model, the challenges confronted, and their imaginative and prescient for the way forward for sustainable style.

Are you able to share the story behind the founding of Bijou Co?

Ashmika Gupta: By numerous hours immersed within the conventional jewellery market, Ashmika, a second technology jeweller with over 12+ years of expertise, noticed a rising disconnect. The grand, conventional items, whereas gorgeous, didn’t at all times resonate with the rhythm of contemporary ladies’s lives.

They need one thing ‘blingy’ for on a regular basis put on however with out the hefty price ticket. That’s when it clicked: there was a transparent hole.

Her imaginative and prescient ignited: to bridge this by creating recent, up to date jewellery utilizing attainable supplies like lab-grown diamonds and gold-plated sterling silver, crafting items completely suited to at the moment’s empowered client.

What impressed you to start out a digitally native, remote-first diamond jewellery model?

Kush Dhannawat: We based Bijou Co. as a result of we noticed how comfy at the moment’s technology is shopping for on-line, and we acknowledged that the expertise of going to a conventional jewelry retailer can generally really feel daunting and even time consuming within the trendy quick paced world.

Our inspiration was easy: make it simple.

As a digitally native, remote-first model, we’re making the method of discovering or creating one thing particular as seamless and approachable as potential.

You don’t want to dam out your day; we carry the experience and the gorgeous items on to you, in your phrases. It’s about making the journey to proudly owning one thing beautiful really feel easy and pleasing.

How has being a remote-first firm influenced your small business operations and firm tradition?

Ashmika Gupta: We work with contracted artisans, eliminating the necessity for giant stock area, and use third-party logistics for achievement. This retains our operations extremely lean and inexperienced.

Most inside conferences occur on on-line platforms, streamlining our processes. Our distant setup means we’re constructed on flexibility and accessibility. We readily supply on-line consultations to clients globally.

We’re additionally exploring pop-up occasions for a bodily touch-and-feel expertise, making certain we join with shoppers on their phrases, making high quality jewellery acquisition seamless and trendy.

What have been among the greatest challenges you confronted within the early phases of launching Bijou Co, and the way did you overcome them?

Kush Dhannawat: Certainly one of our early challenges at Bijou Co. was packaging. We needed one thing premium and distinctive, but in addition with a low environmental footprint. Discovering suppliers prepared to experiment and meet each our design and sustainability wants was powerful.

Many simply weren’t on board. However we refused to settle. We ultimately discovered a provider to create our customized cotton pouches. These will not be solely premium and simple to hold (not like cumbersome bins) but in addition much more eco-friendly.

The important thing lesson: by no means compromise on high quality or values. We’re nonetheless innovating our packaging, making certain each element of the Bijou Co. expertise is phenomenal and sustainable.

How do you differentiate Bijou Co from conventional diamond retailers and different lab-grown diamond manufacturers?

Ashmika Gupta: Bijou Co. units itself aside by providing trendy luxurious with out the standard price ticket. We use 18k gold-plated sterling silver, offering the very same luxurious look as strong gold, however at a considerably extra accessible worth.

You get the aesthetic with out the associated fee. Our designs are made on your trendy life-style. They’re versatile for any event—from work to dinner—and constructed for each day put on.

Our items are anti-tarnish and hypoallergenic, which means you don’t have to fret about harm or pores and skin irritation. Bijou Co. delivers diamond magnificence in sturdy, comfy designs that suit your life, providing unmatched worth and on a regular basis wearability.

What sorts of merchandise do you supply, and the way do you determine on new designs or collections?

Ashmika Gupta: At Bijou Co., we provide a curated vary of important diamond jewellery, together with bracelets, rings, earrings, and neckpieces (necklaces and pendants). In terms of new designs and collections, our choices are pushed by trendy life-style wants.

We concentrate on creating items that seamlessly transition via your day – good for work, a elaborate dinner, events, or any event life brings.

Our purpose is flexible magnificence that you may actually reside in. The truth is, we’re at present excited to be engaged on a brand new trendy Polki assortment, which we anticipate launching simply in time for the marriage season, providing a recent tackle conventional brilliance.

What recommendation would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs trying to enter the e-commerce or jewellery area?

Kush Dhannawat: For aspiring e-commerce or jewellery entrepreneurs, concentrate on three issues:

First, discover your distinctive area of interest. Don’t simply be one other model. What makes you completely different? This readability guides the whole lot.

Second, obsess over the client expertise. In e-commerce, each digital touchpoint issues. From a easy web site to memorable packaging (like our eco-friendly pouches!), guarantee each interplay is phenomenal.

Lastly, be extremely resilient. Challenges, like discovering the fitting suppliers, are inevitable. Don’t settle if it compromises your imaginative and prescient. Persistence and an adaptive mindset are your biggest property.

Ashmika and Kush’s ardour for sustainability and creativity shines via, positioning Bijou Co as a trailblazer within the style trade. Their insights encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace innovation and accountability of their ventures.

Discover Success story of Indian entrepreneurs & startups at SugerMint. Comply with us on Twitter, Instagram, Fb, LinkedIn