For this go-getter in her 50s, Fanzart has been a rediscovery of passion and energy. Starting from ground zero to celebrity clients- it has been an interesting journey for her which she enjoys every bit. This is Sangeeta Lala, President Retail and Co-Founder, Fanzart, a luxury fan brand headquartered in Bengaluru, who believes that success means ultimate happiness and age is not a barrier for achieving what you set your mind on!
In an exclusive interview with This Week India.News, Sangeeta talks about her success mantra, how Fanzart innovated to beat the Covid blues and much more.
Excerpts of the interview:
This Week India: Tell us something about your family and educational background.
Sangeeta Lala:I grew up in an extended family of doctors and intellectuals, my parents were organic chemistry professors at Jai Hind College,Mumbai before my father turned to his printing business. I did my Hospitality, Culinary and catering from IHM Mumbai.
TWI: What made you start this luxury fan firm ‘ Fanzart’?
SL:My husband and I were renovating our home in Bangalore – back in 2011 – and were unhappy with the lack of aesthetic appeal in fans. We looked for fans that were pleasant looking and found zero options in a country where the ‘pankha‘ is in the blueprint of almost every home.
TWI: Where were you into before you started Fanzart?
SL:I started my career in hospitality with names like Taj and Oberoi. I started my own computer training institute after migrating to Bangalore alongside independently consulting restaurants. We started Fanzart in 2012 and haven’t looked back. It’s been a rediscovery of passion and energy since!
TWI: What are the milestones in your Fanzart journey that you are proud about?
SL:Our first franchise store was in my home city of Mumbai. That was my first happy milestone. Similarly reaching 10, 25, 50! Next milestone of 100 would be before the end of this financial year. I look forward to that.
Other milestones include our celebrity clients – Bollywood stars, cricketers – and sometimes I get the pleasure of personally talking to them and consulting them on their creative fan journey!
We have achieved other milestones like – our first patent, our first export, to now exporting to 5 countries and seeing our products adorn the ceiling of many international hotels, and more.
TWI: Fanzart has launched e-commerce and customisation of fans for the customers. Can you please tell us about how you customise fans?
SL:Yes – eCommerce was a good move we adopted after Covid.
We earlier offered some kind of customisation in polishing blades to various lacquer finishes. Now we also screen print domes as well as have over a 1000 shades/colours that we can finish our fans in. Therefore, it just exponentially expands how we can make your ceilings uniquely YOU!
TWI: What are the challenges you faced that you would like to share?
SL:We took on the challenge to make an electrical product into a luxury designer one and ask for 5x to 30x the amount per product. As a last mile purchase product that is a heavy ask. But our products are totally worth the money. This only means that the fan – as a product – hadn’t evolved in decades.
TWI: What is women empowerment according to you?
SL: Women empowerment according to me is raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy and opportunity.
TWI: What is the definition of success for you?
SL:To find ultimate happiness.
TWI: What message do you want to give to our readers especially women who want to become like you?
SL:Do what makes you HAPPY! Do not second guess yourself! You can be ambitious AND take care of your family – at any time, or in any way you want. Also, AGE got nothing on you!!
