An Interview with Rohan Saraf, Co-Founder, BuddyGifting.com
- Tell us something about yourself?
Education: I have been business management student, after having graduated as a BBA from the best college of Ahmedabad (HLBBA) I went on to Goa Institute of Management for my Post Graduation (MBA)
Work Experiences: I joined AIESEC while in college, which was my first stint at working. Post MBA I joined Godrej Interio and worked with them for a year as Sales & Marketing Manager in Uttaranchal. As I come from a business family, I couldn’t stay away from joining the family business. I joined my father’s company, Sabar Roller Flour Mills (P) Ltd where I handled quality and sales expansion for the company. I then started my own company, Saraf Agro Products (P) ltd in the same field of wheat flour manufacturing where I am still the Director. Wanting to diversify and getting into new field led me to join my brother and his friend in their venture called BuddyGifting.com
- Tell us something about your venture.
We enable you to give multiple gift options to your buddy so that they can choose the gift more suited to them. At BuddyGifting we eliminate any unwanted gifts making sure that gift receivers always receive the perfect gift they wish for and gift givers no longer have to face a dilemma on what to buy. Following are the kind of gifting you can do through Buddygifting.com
- Group gifting – Create a gift pool on BuddyGifting and invite your friends to contribute. We remove the hassles of collecting money from other contributors as they can pay directly in the gift pool created by you.
- Individual gifting or buying for self – Send a quick gift to your loved ones on any occasion without the need to give an option or creating a pool. If you like the product, you may also simply want to buy it for yourself.
- Gift Receiver’s Delight – At BuddyGifting we believe that it is the Gift Receiver who should have the final say in what they get. This is why we let them decide what they should finally receive. They can choose from the gift options suggested by the gift givers, or swap it with something that they like in the BuddyGifting shop or they can redeem a prepaid VISA Gift Card. Thus no more unwanted or duplicate gifts.
- What is your philosophy towards work?
Plan, Research, Commitment and Hard work is my philosophy towards work. I believe in doing complete justice to whatever business I am doing by the efforts I am putting into my work.
- Whom do you admire as your role model? And why?
My Father. Because of the manner in which he has built his business and family, where he has managed to balance both beautifully. The way he conducts his work and the hold he has on his business.
- “Management is core to every individual, organization & society.” Give your views on it.
I totally agree with the same. You need management everywhere, be it your personal life, professional life and social life, how you succeed will depend on how good your management skills are. For me a successful person is someone who can manage all three aspects of their lives.
- Name 3 qualities of prime importance that a businessman should possess.
1.) Patience
2.) Commitment
3.) Faith
- According to you, what are the challenges for Entrepreneurship today?
1.) Competition in every field
2.) Fear of Failure
- Can Entrepreneurship be taught in B-Schools/Management Institutes/Colleges?
The tools and tricks that an entrepreneur requires can be taught in B-Schools, but there is a lot that the entrepreneur has to learn from his experience while handling their businesses.
- Is the Name of the Institute from where a student pursues his/her Graduation/Post Graduation or other courses important while setting up your business?
No. I believe the name of the institute only matters when you are doing a job.
- Do you think today’s economy is conducive for a new venture to start upon?
Yes it is. I believe any time to start your entrepreneurship journey is the right time.
- “Earning more & more is the motive behind any business.” Is it justifiable?
No, money is not the only motive behind a business. You might be in a business where you are earning very well but the work you do does not give you happiness and satisfaction. So for me the first motive behind a successful business is the entrepreneur earning happiness and satisfaction out of it. And as they say ‘Money Follows’
- Share with us the most enjoyable moment you had experienced on work.
Built the first Indian Gifting website, where the gift giver can give gift options to the gift receiver and the gift receiver has the final authority to decide what they will receive as a gift.
Presented at EDI Empressario 2013, where we were appreciated by the VC’s and participants.
- Your feedback for BMS.co.in?
BMS is a great initiative to build entrepreneurship in the country. Such resources will really help students decide on their career path in a better manner.
COMPANY PROFILE
History- BuddyGifting.com was launched in Feb 2013
Vision/Mission- To become the one stop shop for all your gifting needs, which solves the gifting problems of both the gift givers and gift receivers.
Products & Service- All kinds of gifts
Marketing Strategy- Social Media Marketing
Existing Market Presence- India
Future Plans- Want to reach out to the entire world
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