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“I launched holiCHIC again in 2015 earlier than it turned the ‘cool’ factor to do,” says Megha Rao, founding father of holiCHIC. “I by no means discovered what I used to be searching for in shops: the blending and matching of a conventional Indian wardrobe with my trendy American outfits. As a result of pairing a sari shirt with denims or including Indian jewellery to a western gown is a mirrored image of who I’m.”
Rising up in Queens, New York as a daughter of immigrants, Rao discovered herself usually caught between two very distinct worlds. At house, she adopted conventional Indian customs, ate Indian delicacies and spoke her mom language. However at college, she lived a totally completely different life, immersed within the trendy American way of life.
“I recall having Mehndi on my fingers after spending a summer season with my grandmother in India. The ladies in class had been screaming and stated that I had blood on my fingers,” says Rao. “I additionally had hair all the way down to my waist, and they’d tease me and ask me ‘why is your hair so lengthy’ and ‘why do not you simply lower it.'”
Picture credit score: holiCHIC
Whereas Rao was impacted by the bullying, she by no means turned ashamed of who she was. Her childhood summers spent along with her grandmother, the place she explored Mumbai markets, gave her a renewed sense of cultural appreciation and creativity. Trend turned her outlet for self-expression.
Now holiCHIC, a women-led model, echoes her love for South Asian tradition and advocates for century-old craftsmanship. Actresses like Mindy Kaling, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani and extra have worn items from holiCHIC and the model has collaborated with Lilly Singh.
“By creating items that replicate my private model and identification, I am serving to different girls do the identical,” says Rao. “My model empowers girls to personal their identification and specific themselves confidently by means of style.”
Listed here are three classes Megha Rao has realized alongside the best way as she disrupts the style trade.
1. Focus by yourself journey and cease evaluating your self to others
“I spent six years persevering with to construct my profession at Citigroup earlier than I give up to deal with holiCHIC full-time,” shares Rao. “I balanced the company job and the facet hustle for so long as I may. Too usually, I see founders feeling the stress to go all in on their enterprise instantly to show they’re dedicated and critical. Do what is sensible for you and stop comparing yourself to others.”
Rao constructed her profession at Citigroup for over 15 years. She credit her time there for getting ready her to launch her personal enterprise, actually constructing a powerful understanding of selling, finance and gross sales. “I used to be in a position to test, try and learn issues whereas constructing holiCHIC whereas I held onto my full-time job. I made choices with out overthinking issues an excessive amount of. It took me longer to get my enterprise off the bottom and I do not remorse it.”
It was in 2021, through the Dior Trend Present held in India, that Rao knew this was lastly her second. All eyes had been on Indian style and he or she determined to give up Citigroup and work full-time on holiCHIC.
2. Strike a steadiness between ardour and execution
“I used to be so obsessed with our holiYOGA assortment and needed to launch as quickly as doable. We kicked off a significant marketing campaign and presale earlier than the product had arrived,” says Rao. “However quickly into our presales, we confronted surprising issues with our provider, which precipitated cargo delays and compelled us to change producers and in the end delay the launch.”
Rao remembers the influence on clients and the stress it precipitated the workforce. In hindsight, she would have launched the thought to her community. Then introduced them alongside the journey of the launch by sharing behind-the-scenes footage on design and manufacturing in social media. She would have made the gathering out there for presale a lot later within the improvement course of.
In the long run, Rao and her workforce introduced a greater high quality product to {the marketplace}. Right this moment, it is one of many best-selling collections for the enterprise. She cautions founders on putting a steadiness between ardour and execution.
“I want I had been extra affected person and waited till all the pieces was in place. It was positively a lesson in timing being ready,” she says.
3. Discover your personal leads and do not watch for “that introduction”
As a founder, Rao is consistently studying the market and is searching for methods holiCHIC can higher serve its clients.
“I knew Diwali in New York Metropolis was a significant second; there have been so many occasions occurring in that timeframe. So many people wanted a strategy to buy accessible and relatable items that they may attempt to purchase on the spot,” says Rao. “I knew holiCHIC was the reply.”
Rao spent 9 months hustling to make her Diwali pop-up retailer a actuality. She emailed, DMed, cold-called and left messages for patrons throughout the town. She did not have the contacts in retail she wanted so she spent hours and hours researching who she ought to pitch.
“My time in gross sales taught me that I do not watch for that introduction, I choose up the cellphone and make calls myself. So discover your personal leads, return to fundamentals and begin chilly calling,” she says.
Rao ultimately discovered the identify of the supervisor operating a specific Nordstrom location in NYC on LinkedIn. She known as the shop, requested to be transferred to her workplace and left a voice e mail message. The shop supervisor known as Rao again and understood and related along with her imaginative and prescient. Final Diwali, Nordstrom partnered with holiCHIC to showcase the model by means of a pop-up occasion. The retailer understood the model’s imaginative and prescient and supported them in bringing their distinctive model to their clients.
Right this moment, holiCHIC has grown 5x over the previous 5 years, averaging 100% year-over-year gross sales development. The model is seeking to elevate capital firstly of 2025 as Rao goals to scale additional, goal new demographics and discover wholesale and retail partnerships.
“There are situations I really feel I’ve to work 10 instances more durable to be seen and heard as a girl of coloration on this very saturated trade,” says Rao. “And, being a girl of coloration has additionally been my superpower, giving me a novel edge and perspective to take my enterprise to the subsequent stage.”
This WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR® article is a part of our ongoing collection highlighting the tales, challenges and triumphs of operating a enterprise as a girl.