This is the story of Vikaas Gutgutia from Bihar who started from Rs 5,000 and built an internationally renowned brand and brought a revolution in the floriculture industry.
The floriculture industry in India is rapidly developing with an annual growth of 30%. Vikaas Gutgutia found great success with his brand Ferns n Petals. He was born in a middle-class family in a village named Vidyasagar in Bihar and finished his education and also graduation from a local school in West Bengal. He learned the basics of a flower business through his uncle as he used to help his uncle in his flower shop while Vikaas was still studying.
After his graduation he looked for a job for two years at the same time was hunting for business opportunities in Mumbai and Delhi. In the year 1994, he was finally able to open the first air-conditioned flower shop in Delhi’s South Extension with a capital of Rs 5,000. At that point of time in India, there was not much progress in the flower business.
Vikaas did find a partner who invested Rs 2.5 Lakhs in the business but the partner couldn’t wait long for profits and hence the partnership ended soon. Vikaas still managed to keep running the business by retailing flowers.
Vikaas was focused on providing better service, decorations, and variations with appealing flowers which did not exist in this unorganized industry, thus he achieved success. He found a completely new business avenue when he got an order for flower supply in a grand wedding to be held at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi. Meanwhile, he increased the range of products he offered such as chocolates, cakes, gift hampers and soft toys.
After nearly 7 years, he decided to expand his retail business nationwide. He started franchising his brand Ferns n Petals Boutique and kept minimum criteria of 200-300 square feet area of the showroom and with an investment of Rs 10 to 12 lakh. The company provides gift items, flowers, and accessories, infrastructure support and training on flower decoration for store functioning.
Ferns N Petals now has 240 franchised stores in total in 93 cities in India and is the largest flower and gift shop in the country with the annual turnover of Rs 200 crore. Presently, Ferns N Petals has become a global brand.
(Photo Credit: DSIM, The Weekend Leader, Shaadi ka venue)
