Brief introduction about yourself and tell us something about Just Deliveries.
I am an Engineer from UDCT Matunga Mumbai and MBA from FMS Delhi. I have worked with Firms, like IDFC Private Equity & Tata Group earlier.
Just Deliveries is a specialized delivery service for delivering delicate and perishable products – door to door! Can be cakes, premium items, flowers, hampers etc which require careful handling or temperature control. The service is available all over Mumbai. It’s like a courier service that uses air-conditioned vans for multiple deliveries of birth announcements, wedding invites and festive hampers as well as single deliveries such as cakes, floral arrangements, and high-end products.
What ignited the spark in you to start Just Deliveries
On a particularly hot summer day, I was taking home a cake for a family function when I got stuck in traffic. Heat, pollution and countless minutes later I got out of the traffic only to realize that the cake melted and became a sugary mess. This is when I realized that in a city like Mumbai, many people must be facing the same issue. This was the thought that led to the conception of Just Deliveries.
Please share your future goals.
Our immediate goal is to let all Mumbaikars know of this service so they can avail safe deliveries without sending out their cars in the traffic.
Something about the challenges you faced while starting Just Deliveries.
A few challenges included getting customers to pay for delivery. Delivery Charges was quite unheard of when I started out in 2010 – although now most clients understand that paying a delivery charge is cheaper than spending time and fuel in the mindless traffic.
Finding and retaining trustworthy staff – drivers and delivery boy is a constant challenge and we overcome it by offering higher pay and a healthy work culture.
What are your views on the thought, that as compared to male counterparts, it’s harder and more struggling for females to make a mark professionally?
There are and will be for sometime a sect of the population who will underestimate and even challenge the competence of a female. However, with sustained hard work and belief in oneself, women can definitely make a mark professionally, although circumstances for each one is different.
What piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring youth who wish to pursue their dream of becoming an entrepreneur?
Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone deter you. It is a long journey but if you stay put….you will get there!
According to you, what are the top three essential skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Is it easy to maintain the work-life balance?
Maintaining work life balance can be very challenging during the initial phase of growth. It is important to each one to decide their priorities and accordingly proceed - it is perfectly fine to have more quality time with young kids and accelerate growth of business when kids are older.
What are your views and opinions towards the ambiguous need to promote women entrepreneurship and women empowerment in India?
Yes women entrepreneurship and empowerment is a very important need in our country to encourage and equip women with skills to succeed. Such programs also offer networking platforms where women can learn and grow their business.
