How My Simple Idea Turned into a Business

Hi everyone 🤟, Sabesh here! I'm a startup enthusiast, and I'd like to share my funny yet emotional journey of starting my first business. When I began, I didn't know anything about startups or business. My first venture was selling 3D-printed products. My friend and I started this business with just 20k. Back then, this was a huge amount for us. We used my scholarship money and my friend's savings to buy our first 3D printer.

The reason we started this business was due to a lack of resources at our college. The only 3D printer available was reserved for club activities and specific projects. Despite our needs, we were denied access and even insulted 😑. Many students in our mechanical department faced similar issues, creating a high demand for 3D printing services.

Fueled by determination and a bit of revenge 😆 , my friend and I decided to take action. We planned to buy our 3D printer and imported our first one. My friend had a solid understanding of technical aspects, while I focused on marketing and other business operations. We divided our roles accordingly.

Like many newcomers, I proudly put "Entrepreneur" in my Instagram bio and printed visiting cards with the CEO tag 🙃 . Although it might seem funny to start a business out of revenge, this experience taught us some key business principles:

RRR in Business - Right Idea, Right Time, Right People

1. Identify and Solve Problems: We provided a solution for people who faced the same problems as us, recognizing the demand in our college.

2. Take Calculated Risks: We carefully considered the financial aspect and took a calculated risk to invest in the 3D printer.

3. Build the Right Team: With my friend's technical expertise and my focus on marketing, we formed a balanced and effective team.

After successfully solving the demands within our college, we gained significant recognition. We received applause from our college's HOD and the entire department. However, a question lingered in my mind: "Is this it? What’s next 🧐?" I realized we needed to think outside the box.

With our established customer base of students, we saw an opportunity during Valentine's Day. We launched our commercial products—customized keychains with photos and names. We promoted these products within the college and sold them on a prepaid basis, as they were customized. Our initiative was a hit, not only among students but also among staff members. This venture put us on a profitable track💥 .

Business Takeaways:

1. Always Innovate: Even after initial success, continuously seek new opportunities and think creatively to expand your business.

2. Leverage Existing Customers: Utilize your current customer base to introduce new products and services, ensuring steady growth and profitability.

After gaining good traction, I decided to turn this into a full-time business. However, my friend wasn't interested in pursuing it full-time due to his higher studies. So, I continued solo, starting an Instagram page to showcase our products. I shared the profile with friends and posted it on WhatsApp status. One of my classmate's sisters saw the post and contacted me. She wanted to gift our products to her college staff on Teachers' Day. By this time, our product range had expanded to 3-12 items.

This was my first bulk order, and we delivered with quality. They were very happy with the products and decided to give all birthday gift orders to us. I started receiving regular monthly orders. I also got business tips and advice from my close friend's brother, who was selling accessories on social media. Implementing his input helped my business grow.

Here are some key tips:

1. Target Resellers and Make Partnerships: Collaborate with resellers to expand your reach.

2. Use Social Media Ads and Boosting: Invest in social media advertising to increase visibility and attract more customers.

3. Use a Specific Business Number for WhatsApp Business and Queries: Keep communication professional and organized by using a dedicated business number.

4. Create Customized Products Featuring Celebrity Images: Cater to popular demand by offering products with celebrity images.

These tips may seem simple, but they were golden during that time and significantly boosted my business.

I created a product for actress Aathmika and posted it on Instagram during this period. She saw the post and shared it in her story by God's grace. The sales skyrocketed, and we gained significant profits from the exposure. With those profits, I bought my first vehicle. Everything was going well, and as my college years came to an end.

That's the end of my first newsletter. Stay tuned for the next episodes where I'll share more about my journey and the lessons learned. Thank you for reading! 👋 👋

"Every end is a new beginning. The journey continues in the next episode."