Yogitha Ramamoorthy

August 17, 2024

How to Source High-Quality Sarees Without Spending a Dime

Finding and negotiating with suppliers to get quality sarees without any upfront cost can be challenging, but it's definitely achievable with the right strategies. Here are some tips and tricks to help you source high-quality sarees for your business:

1. Build Relationships with Local Artisans and Weavers:

Networking: Attend local fairs, exhibitions, and markets to meet artisans and weavers.
Partnerships: Establish mutually beneficial relationships where you promote their work, and they provide sarees on a consignment basis.

2. Utilize Online Marketplaces and B2B Platforms:

Platforms: Explore platforms like Alibaba, IndiaMART, and TradeIndia to find suppliers willing to offer samples or consignment deals.
Communication: Clearly communicate your business plan and negotiate terms that allow for initial samples or low minimum order quantities (MOQs).

3. Consignment Agreements:

Proposal: Approach suppliers with a well-thought-out consignment proposal, explaining how their sarees will be promoted and sold.
Terms: Negotiate terms where you pay the supplier only after the sarees are sold, reducing your upfront costs.

4. Leverage Social Media and Online Communities:

Groups and Forums: Join social media groups and forums related to saree trading and fashion.
Networking: Network with other business owners to find reputable suppliers who are open to flexible payment terms.

5. Attend Trade Shows and Exhibitions:

Networking: Meet suppliers in person and discuss your business plans.
Samples: Request samples and build relationships that can lead to consignment deals.

6. Offer Marketing and Promotion in Exchange for Products:

Promotion: Offer to market and promote the supplier’s sarees on your social media and website in exchange for inventory.
Collaborations: Create joint promotions where both parties benefit from increased visibility.

7. Showcase Upcoming Trends and Market Potential:

Trends: Demonstrate knowledge of market trends and the potential for high sales to convince suppliers of your business’s profitability.
Case Studies: Share success stories or case studies of similar businesses that have thrived on consignment models.

8. Negotiate Favorable Payment Terms:

Installments: Propose payment plans that allow you to pay in installments as you sell the sarees.
Trial Periods: Request a trial period where you can sell the sarees before making full payment.

9. Local Wholesale Markets:

Exploration: Visit local wholesale markets to find suppliers who are open to negotiation.
Personal Touch: Establish a personal rapport with suppliers to build trust and negotiate better terms.

10. Build an Online Presence and Showcase Your Brand:

Professional Website: Have a professional website and active social media profiles to demonstrate your commitment and reach.
Testimonials: Use testimonials and reviews to build credibility with potential suppliers.

By employing these strategies, you can source high-quality sarees for your business without spending a dime upfront. Building strong relationships, negotiating effectively, and leveraging your marketing skills are key to achieving this goal.

January 8, 2024

Organising Saree Parties To Sell Your Sarees !!!

Organizing saree parties at homes, whether yours or your customers', can be a fun and interactive way to showcase your saree collections. Here are some ideas to make these parties enjoyable and successful:

Theme-Based Parties:
Choose a theme for each party, such as "Festival Fiesta," "Wedding Extravaganza," or "Casual Chic." Tailor your saree selection and party decorations to match the theme.
Personal Styling Sessions:
Offer personalized styling sessions for attendees. Provide tips on draping styles, accessorizing, and pairing sarees for different occasions. Consider having a professional stylist on hand for expert advice.
Interactive Saree Draping Workshops:
Conduct saree draping workshops where attendees can learn various draping styles. Encourage hands-on participation, and provide mirrors for attendees to see their unique looks.
Mini Fashion Shows:
Organize mini fashion shows featuring attendees showcasing your saree collections. This not only adds a fun element but also allows others to see how the sarees look when worn.
Exclusive Discounts and Offers:
Provide special discounts or exclusive offers for sarees purchased during the party. This creates a sense of urgency and incentivizes attendees to make purchases.
Themed Decorations:
Decorate the venue in a way that complements the theme of the party. Use colors, fabrics, and decor elements that showcase your sarees and create a festive atmosphere.
Saree Games:
Incorporate saree-themed games or activities to keep the atmosphere lively. For example, a saree draping competition or a guessing game where attendees identify different types of sarees.
Customization Station:
Set up a station where attendees can customize their sarees with embellishments, tassels, or embroidery. This adds a personal touch to their purchases.

Saree Trunk Show:
Display a variety of sarees in a trunk show format. Allow attendees to touch, feel, and try on different sarees, enhancing the tactile experience of shopping.
Saree Consultants:
Have knowledgeable saree consultants available to answer questions, provide style advice, and assist attendees in choosing sarees that suit their preferences.

Remember to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and encourage social interaction. Offering a memorable and enjoyable experience will not only boost sales but also create a positive and lasting impression of your brand.

June 19, 2023

Five Fascinating Saree Facts That Might Surprise You:

Here are five fascinating saree facts that might surprise you:

Lengthy Legacy:

Sarees have a rich and ancient history that dates back more than 5,000 years. The earliest depiction of a saree-like garment can be found in the Indus Valley Civilization's sculptures, showcasing the enduring legacy of this iconic attire.

Diverse Draping Styles:

While the most commonly known saree draping style is the Nivi drape, there are actually more than 80 different ways to drape a saree across India. Each region and community has its unique draping style, showcasing the incredible diversity and versatility of this garment.

Guinness World Record:

In 2010, a group of 3,236 women in India set a Guinness World Record for the largest saree draping event. They gathered in a stadium, donned vibrant sarees, and performed a synchronized draping routine, promoting the beauty and cultural significance of the attire.

Sustainable Silk:

Silk production is traditionally associated with the use of silkworm cocoons, but there's an innovative and sustainable alternative known as "Ahimsa Silk" or "Peace Silk." In this process, the cocoons are allowed to hatch naturally, and the silk threads are collected from the empty cocoons. This method promotes ethical treatment of silkworms and is gaining popularity among environmentally conscious consumers.

Saree Sanskrit Connection:

The term "saree" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sati," which means a strip of cloth. The evolution of the word "sati" into "saree" over time showcases the linguistic influence and evolution of language across cultures.

These intriguing facts highlight the cultural significance, diversity, and timeless appeal of sarees, making them an integral part of India's heritage and global fashion scene.

February 23, 2023

My Successful Saree Business Tips and Tricks

Invest In Good Customer Service :

Taking care of your customers is essential to the success of your small business. Make sure to have well-trained staff, respond to customer inquiries promptly, and offer incentives to keep them coming back.

Develop Relationships With Other Businesses:

Collaborating with other small businesses in your area can help you both gain customers, increase your online presence, and get more referrals.

Utilize Online Marketing:

Use digital marketing techniques such as SEO, social media, and email campaigns to reach more potential customers.

Get Creative With Pricing.

Consider offering discounts, freebies, and other incentives to help increase sales and attract new customers.

Invest In Quality Employees:

A good team can make a huge difference in the success of your small business. Make sure to hire the best people you can and provide them with the resources and training they need to do their job well.

Streamline Your Operations:

Look for ways to be more efficient and reduce overhead costs. Automating certain processes, using cloud-based software, and outsourcing can help save time and money.

December 6, 2022

5 Tips To Build A Career In Saree Business

A career in saree designing is quite demanding but lucrative too. Saree industry is booming like anything and if you prefer a career in it you need to think out of the box. You can go ahead with the following to make things easy .

Create An Online Presence :

Its best to create your online presence from the beginning. Social media is an amazing platform to create your online presence especially when you are starting off. Simultaneously you can start a blog and start blogging as and when you learn something new about the subject. This gives you an edge over your competition and you might get customers or perhaps an internship with a good design house or you may even land up with a job.

Have an understanding about the trends :

Sure enough, when it comes to sarees what our grandma wore some 50 years back can still be adorned and made into a style statement. Nonetheless knowing what the present trend is can take you a long way. For example, if ruffle sarees are making a trend come up with variations of ruffles in the saree. Make it a little more appealing to your target market by teaming your sarees with jeans, crop tops etc . Do some great photoshoots . You can get the help of your friends to do the shoots for the start. A basic phone with the camera is good enough: technology has improved so much – you can edit the pictures to make it look clear and neat .

Conduct Fashion Shows & Events :

Once you make a collection of 10 to 15 sarees, do get in touch with event collaborators . There would be many events and shows coming up in your city, offer to collaborate with them to showcase your sarees for free. You could use these shows to highlight your brand presence . But opt for events that pertain to your niche – for example, women’s association events, family shows, beauty contests etc .

Conduct Exhibitions or Pop -Up Shows :

Two or three of you could join and start exhibiting your products wherever possible. For example, you could start exhibiting in apartments ( generally the pricings would be economical ), in malls, or other events that’s related to your niche. When customers purchase your products use their testimonials in your website, blogs, and social media profiles. Testimonials can help immensely to improve your sales and brand presence. Make sure you collect their email ids and if they prefer their phone numbers too !

Nurture Your Customers :

Now that you have email ids of your customers, start nurturing them with informative content. Do not keep spamming them with your mails but do send it out on regular intervals with great content. Every now and then you could inform them about your new collection . This way you are in touch with all of your customers – you never know, they might turn out to be your lifetime clients. Periodically keep asking them in form of surveys or quizzes as to what type of sarees they prefer, what are their pains points and create solutions around those pain points .

Look Out for Internships :

Taking an internship with a good design house can bring in huge benefits. Sometimes they might even offer to pay you ( might not be an attractive pay) and you can learn a good deal about how the design industry works. Simultaneously keep honing your skills . Any new skills that you learn, implement it and show it to the world. Learn as much as you can : the best advice I can ever give is : NEVER STOP LEARNING !

November 8, 2022

365 Days Of Saree Business

Here is a small initiative to help women to start their own saree business. You can follow all about it here or on my social media pages. Please share the message to people you feel can benefit from it !!!

I have mentioned the links below for my social media handles !!!

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/yogitha.fayo/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/FaYoIndia/

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/yogitha-ramamoorthy-585ba618/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/YogithaFaYo

Pinterest : https://in.pinterest.com/yogithafayo/

February 18, 2016

FABRIC BASKETS

Fabric baskets have always fascinated me! Well, the idea of fabric basket had come when I realized that my 2.5 year old naughty little boy loves throwing away things. I had to do something to keep his toys organized. The solution – fabric baskets :)

Toy baskets / Bread baskets / Cosmetic baskets – name it and it serves the purpose. All the more with checkered fabrics!!!

It can stay on the shelf/ table and look pretty or you can easily untie it and stuff it in your suitcase – great for travelling purposes.

What’s more is that it’s priced at a mere 150 rs as the ‘launching price.’
Buy a set of four and get one fabric basket,’ completely free! Limited period offer :)
Just shoot me a mail at fayo.yogitha@gmail.com !

copyright@2016FaYo.in

June 11, 2014

Elabore - The Online Store of Shawls, Stoles & Scarves

“ElaboreStore.com is an online store of Shawls, Stoles and Scarves and they sure take pride to announce that they are the market leader in terms of maximum styles showcased under their brand. The traditional as well as contemporary designs of Elabore place a twirl twist on the archetypal looks.

A major part of fabrication steps is based on manual work, e.g. hand looms, power looms and sulzer looms. The fashions are so audacious and unique that even if they weren't desired by women of the day, they still turned heads and brought the Elabore luxury brand a lot of recognition. The ideal and quintessence collection is given by the fusion of complex and simple shapes as well as by the meticulously processed premium quality like silk, cashmere etc.”

One such category that they take pride in is their “Embroidered Collection.” Pankaj Dhingra – COO of Elabore India Private Limited says, “Our Idea for concentrating on this particular segment was pretty obvious as it is truly an essential fashion accessory that has not so much promoted in India, although it is a make of Indian Subcontinent. It is pretty amazing that an Indian product which has a huge potential globally is not quite promoted here in India in the way it should be. So the idea clicked and we started this project. In a short span of time the growth of our ‘idea’ has been tremendous. Hence, we strongly believe and support that this particular segment has a huge potential.”

Here is a glimpse of their embroidered collection :