We are still the aspirants, but in our small stunt, we have learnt that believing in your idea and regular evaluation of the product is very important for start-ups. You should have faith in your product and your process should be well planned and sound.
1. Tell us more about your company and your journey.
The jotting dots is a thoughtful product of efforts we have made to bring new dimensions to the Indian bullet journaling arena. We are an Indian based manufacturer who makes dot grid notebook in different paper quality.
We are India’s first company to make this notebook in the higher GSM range of 160 and 190. Our designs are extracted from India’s culture and heritage and our notebooks are 100 per cent made in India and are available at a reasonable cost.
Ashish (my husband) and I started this company in August 2020. It took us around six months to shape it, in the way it is now. It started with an idea, which we think is unique, with my interests aligned to our passion to make these products available to the bullet journaling community in India.
The journey was not easy especially when you don’t have any idea of doing business and that too as a new mother with a toddler twirling around me all the time.
2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?
Our journey started with my passion for art and bullet journaling. I started bullet journaling in 2018 and soon realised that there was a lack of good dot grid notebooks available in the market. With research and practising bullet journaling, I developed an understanding of what are the exact requirements for people who use these notebooks.
And then came the drive of patriotism in #localkovocal which derived Ashish to this idea of manufacturing India’s very own, first indigenously developed dot grid notebooks in different paper quality and sizes.
3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?
As a start-up, you face many challenges. To be honest, the biggest challenge was to meet my own expectation. Till the time I myself did not have full confidence in our product, I was not happy. It was a recursive process but now I am happy with the overwhelming response we are getting from the users.
4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
The most important ingredient is your passion for your work. While chasing your dream you face a lot of challenges and they tend to slow you down or even derail you. That is when your madness for your passion thrives you to keep moving forward.
Second to that are patience and consistency, as they help you to move forward during the challenging phases.
5. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?
We believe, continuously improving your product according to the need and demand of your target consumers, and being present at the right place at right time are the most important factors to be successful.
Feedbacks on your product from your users are of utmost importance in evolving your product plus they also help in consumer engagement.
6. What are your tips for the first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?
We are still the aspirants, but in our small stunt, we have learnt that believing in your idea and regular evaluation of the product is very important for start-ups. You should have faith in your product and your process should be well planned and sound.
7. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?
Funds can be a very big challenge. We feel the best way to overcome that is to start with the most lucrative portion of the business which is cost-effective and gives you maximum reach into the market. Planning of funds is very important and it can actually help you reduce your operational expenditure.
Deeksha and Ashish
Entrepreneurs | Bloggers
Interviewed by - Amatullah Lightwala
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