COVER ARTICLE

Gaurav Bhasin - TDTM 2001-2003

How Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF) contributed to what you are in life today?

PAF has not only touched my life but has changed me as an individual and inculcated a positive attitude. (you can ask faculty members and our course leader of that time Ms Nien Siao too). Before I joined PAF, I was nervous and inconfident.

‘Every Individual is Special and talented’ – that’s how they treat each one.

How was the environment at Pearl during your times? Any memories of those Golden Times you want to share with us.

Very friendly, it was a great mix of Learning and Fun. RE-DOOOOO, I still remember, I got 5 times RE-DO for making Colour shade card in my Color Composition class of TDTM .

‘No spoon feeding – Do it on your own' - these were phrases of our faculty to ensure we learnt fundamentals.

Brief us something about your professional career.

I started my professional career as a merchandiser in a Home Textile export house in Panipat , then joined a retail firm and learnt all the basics of organized retailing.

Now I am into sourcing and marketing for my own company ‘HOMEWIDE FURNISHINGS PVT LTD’

What has been your best achievement and your toughest experience as a professional since you graduated from the Academy?

My tough times started after I joined the retail company. I did not have any knowledge of retail business, I was recruited by India’s top retail company - Pantaloon. So initially I faced many difficulties.However, with my perseverance and the attitude of 'lifelong learning' inculcated while I was studying at PAF, helped me sail through.

I achieved 4 promotions within 3 ½ years - in organized retail sector. Not only this, in 2007 I joined Reliance Retail as a Category Manager with 8 lac+ Package.

You have started your own company – ‘Homewide’ along with your batch mate ‘Ankush Agrawal’. Tell us something about your company and its vision.

As you know that RETAIL sector is growing in India and organised retail still contributes about 4 % only, So there is still a great scope for experimentation and exploration in this field. Currently, there are few formats and few players.I have a very knowledgeable partner - Ankush, who is also a PAF alumnus and has strong product knowledge.We both compliment each other and we value each others role.

What are your plans for expansion for your company?

We wish to start our own pan India -Wholesale and Retail club (value chain) and Home Style Studios (Lifestyle). We will be selling our brand in all the big retail houses like Pantaloon, Reliance, Birla etc.

By FY 2010- we wish to have our own HOME retail stores

This is all about future of our brand HOMEWIDE.

Any message that you would like to give to the alumni.

Live with your dreams but don’t die with it.