Today we’d like to introduce you to Priya Govind.
Hi Priya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello friends, I’m Priya. I’m the founder of GARVAM Indian fashion jewelry, Utah. I came to the US due to marriage after resigning from my beloved job with so many dreams. Since I’m an only child I didn’t feel any boredom like others. I was happy enjoying my own company. But I felt empty somewhere. To change that mood swing and to engage my time I started to make beaded jewelry and gifted it to many friends and relatives.
Learned so many techniques, tools, beads, etc. Then once on my India trip, my neighbor girl introduced me to the quilling technique and I started to make earrings and felt so happy for the first time since it was so perfect in finishing. After my India trip, I made this jewelry and got an idea to sell through social media so I posted. Once I posted, I got an order which was a dream come true for me. The profit is lesser though takes so much manpower I decided to get an alternate way, so I bought handmade jewelry and started to sell. Got many orders all over the USA. But I never sold one piece in Utah which was my next challenge.
Then again decided to fill the gap in Utah by introducing temple jewelry with very premium quality and the best customer service. Utans started to buy and my next challenge was to get returning customers. So decided to introduce new designs every month and now I’m working towards more than 50 sellers all over India. Slowly built business in Utah. Received so much support and love. Now in most of the houses, GARVAM is one among them on special occasions.
I always help orphanages every year and last year decided why not education? So last year funded one full year of college fees for a girl (Ph.D. Physics) from GARVAM. This year I added one more little cutie who got her full-year fees for LKG in a private school. And I never told this to any of my customers for extra money or donation for this act.
These are done only from the profit from GARVAM. Hope every year I could donate to one more girl child’s education. Thanks to all of my customers who are taking part in this good deed without their knowledge. Still, GARVAM is trying to expand its wings in many ways. Always working towards it and many more plans on the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Everything I started from scratch and never want to depend on anyone. So whenever I make a decision I will always keep this point in mind. The first struggle is finding a good and genuine supplier in India from the USA. It was the most important step for all sellers like me and if you didn’t select proper vendors then your business is a failure.
Once you select a vendor then decide whether to sell good quality or not. For me, quality is the mantra so it took me so many days or months or even years to find a good supplier. Then marketing, here comes the tough part. I don’t know about marketing which was a drawback for me. But I have chosen my own path to market instead of talking, selected to advertise on daily basis, giving the best online customer service, timely response, and promising shipment.
Slowly started to get more customers from outside Utah. Only one thing in my mind “Always focus on your work, and do more and more daily without expectation. One day it will pay me”. Yes, it’s happening now and still working hard since competition is more nowadays.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Garvam means PRIDE. I sell high-quality Indian fashion jewelry. So as the name says my jewelry should make my customers feel proud and happy. GARVAM specializes in south Indian jewelry.
What makes GARVAM so special is the quality and unique designs. Super happy to say that I do have many long-term customers who are traveling with me for more than 5 years since I started. That’s the most wonderful success according to me as an entrepreneur. Always I focus on returning customers rather than on one-time customers which makes me work towards them.
Treating all customers the same by fixed price. Started a website www.garvam.us which is running successfully now. All our services offer, designs can be seen there.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Always any business should have ethics. Mine is making customers happy by giving good quality products. Work hard and create your own path. Give respect to all the small suggestions or reviews given by customers, friends.
The analysis is another important step in business. Always try to learn from others if they have good content.
Contact Info:
- Email: garvamllc@gmail.com
- Website: www.garvam.us
- Instagram: http://garvam.us/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garvamjewel/
