Journey of an Immigrant Entrepreneur: Svasti Rao - The Kurta Lady
In this engaging conversation, host Jai Desai explores the entrepreneurial journey of Svasti Rao, also known as 'The Kurta Lady.' After immigrating from India to the United States, Svasti navigated visa restrictions and various employment challenges which took a mental toll on her but she eventually fought back and started her passion-driven traditional Indian clothing business. The evolution of her business started as a side hustle, turning into a successful venture which she expertly balanced with her personal life and motherhood. Svasti worked 3 jobs at one point before going all in on her venture. Svasti shares her experiences on market comprehension, customer needs, fabric preference, and the capital and investment needed to start her business. Her venture attracts women in their late thirties to early sixties with an appreciation for Indian culture. Svasti reflects on moments of self-doubt and the fulfillment that has come from witnessing her business's growth, underlining the importance of market research in running a successful business.
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Show Notes:
00:00 Introduction and Early Beginnings
01:00 The Journey to Becoming an Immigrant Entrepreneur
01:32 The Struggles and Triumphs of Moving to a New Country
04:08 The Transition from Journalism to Teaching
04:08 The Challenges of Being an Immigrant and Starting a New Life
04:10 The Birth of the Kurta Lady Business
09:36 The Growth and Expansion of the Business
13:09 Starting a Business Amidst a Pandemic
13:09 The Journey of Registering a Business and Securing a Patent
13:36 Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Side Hustle
13:41 The Turning Point: Choosing Health and Passion Over a Stable Job
15:33 The Decision to Quit a Job and Bet on a Business
17:33 Growing a Business Through Social Media
17:41 The Challenges and Triumphs of Content Creation
18:49 The Power of Authenticity in Building a Brand
20:22 The Journey of Building a Business from Scratch
37:05 The Importance of Customer Interaction in Business
38:54 Understanding the Clientele and Business Distribution
38:54 The Role of Social Media in Business Growth
39:46 Challenges and Strategies in Shipping and Pricing
41:39 The Importance of Website Optimization and Digital Marketing
44:54 Exploring Other Business Opportunities and Partnerships
45:15 Influence of Bollywood on Business
46:27 Understanding Customer Preferences and Insights
46:28 Dealing with Doubts and Challenges in Business
51:15 The Role of Research and Understanding the Market in Business Success
53:50 Reflections on the Business Journey and Future Goals