Need an outfit for just one evening? Don’t fret about buying when you can rent!
“I did not get married in a Lehenga. My own wedding attire was a fairly simple Salwar Kameez. And I am talking about 1990! So to me this whole business of getting married in heavy Lehengas, or for that matter, attending parties and wearing outfits which you are not going to wear on a regular basis has been an anathema since my youth, which vanished decades ago.” Says Neeraj Wadhera, Founder of Wrapd.
Neeraj Wadhera
The first thought that came to my mind when I read this was ‘This is me!’ Life is too busy to be going around looking for the perfect outfit even if it’s for the smallest function you are attending. But when you belong to the female clan it is very important that you look your dazzling best at every event! My quest for a dress brought me to the world of renting dresses and Wrapd.
“It was only when I saw my daughter (who leads a fairly busy life) running around before every party, trying to put together an ensemble which she thought was acceptable to society, that I actively started thinking of finding a place where a working woman could outsource her fashion needs, a place where people who have a paucity of time, could rent clothes which were in current fashion and didn’t have to deal in making rounds of markets, tailors and alterations and maintenance. Finally I lost patience and started Wrapd.” added Neeraj.
Anunay Arora
This intriguing concept led us to explore more about Wrapd and thus today we have the Founders in conversation with Startoholics! Here’s a sneak peek of the interview with Neeraj Wadhera and Anunay Arora.
What differentiates Wrapd from the rest?
We are not trying to make money by renting. We are trying to address a need. If the idea is implemented correctly and professionally, money will flow in. A need of a working man or woman, who has no time to follow fashion, make rounds of a market, go to the tailor and fittings. A person who earns well but has tremendous demands on his/her time. S/He can buy but has no time or inclination to spend his/her time and money on such things yet has a need to look stylish and well dressed.
What challenges have you faced in your entrepreneurial journey?
The first was selling the idea. Waiting for days for customers to turn up – and nobody does and you start wondering if the idea is indeed valid. Listening to people make fun of your business and yet carrying on day after day. Then, getting systems in place. Being able to deliver, coordinating the alterations, the dry cleaning and delivery of pieces for the same day with no margin of error is stressful. And since there is no one who has done it before you, you are your own guide and student. It is a solo journey.
What has been the toughest decision you had to make lately, if any?
Scaling up, moving from home to the market and not being in charge. Giving up control while handing the idea over to other people.
What more do you wish to include to take Wrapd to the next level?
Our short term objective (to take Wrapd to the next level) is to have proper systems in place to ensure consistent quality in delivery and to reach out to every person who plans to go to a wedding soon.
If not for Wrapd, where would you be now?
If not Wrapd? Who knows? An entrepreneur is a thinker and a doer. S/He believes in doing and not in ifs. If an entrepreneur starts thinking in if nots, s/he will lose all courage. S/He believes only in success in face of all opposition and keeps solving all problems as and when they come. It is only this and this and this. Not, if not this 🙂
Finally, what advice would you like to give to other entrepreneurs?
What Nike says, just do it. You will fail, you can’t get everything right. As long as you keep learning from your mistakes you will realize your dream. And learning will not cease, every day will bring a new challenge. The journey is stressful, full of surprises – some nice, some not so nice. The reward is you live, you cease existing.
My idea of renting clothes was limited only to the costumes ever rented for dramas and costume parties and now here we have a whole new industry that lets us rent party clothes. A good thing for Delhi people, no more worrying about being caught in the same outfit.
If you’re in Delhi and running around for an outfit do give Wrapd a chance and let us know how it went! 🙂
