Biography of Shubhra Chadda: Co-Founder of Chumbak- Indian Entrepreneur
Biography of Shubhra Chadda:
Shubhra co-founded Chumbak with Vivek Prabhakar, creating an
online store that features unique, funky accessories and jewelry with a
distinct Indian flair. Shubhra, a notable woman entrepreneur in India, has
added a touch of beauty and creativity to the world through her design-focused
brand.
From Stability to Dreams
Shubhra Chadda made a bold decision to pursue her dream of
starting a business. She left a secure job and sold her house to make her
vision a reality. Her passion for unique and stylish designs led her to create
Chumbak, an India-themed retail lifestyle chain.
A Story Full of Charm
When Shubhra Chadda shares her journey, her storytelling is
filled with warmth and enthusiasm. Her stories are often accompanied by
light-hearted laughter and the gentle jingling of an anklet. Picture a cozy
corner with a steaming cup of coffee and her loyal labrador, Hugo, lounging
nearby. Shubhra recounts how she and her husband, Vivek Prabhakar, established
Chumbak, a name meaning ‘magnet’ in Hindi, and its design studio. The idea for
a souvenir store had been with her since childhood, inspired by her travels and
experiences.
A Childhood of Exploration
As the daughter of an Air Force pilot, Shubhra traveled
extensively across India to places like Adampur, Kalaikunda, and Bhuj. Her
boarding school education in Delhi broadened her perspectives, fueling her love
for travel. For her graduation, she chose a course in travel and tourism at
Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, which allowed her to indulge her wanderlust
and explore new destinations.
Educational Background
Shubhra Chadda, the Co-Founder of Chumbak Design Pvt. Ltd.,
has a strong educational foundation. She earned her Master’s Degree in Public
Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
graduating with an impressive grade of A between 2001 and 2002. Prior to that,
she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at Mount Carmel College, India,
where she also achieved a grade of A from 1997 to 2000.
Memorable Travels and Career Choices
One of Shubhra’s early adventures was a two-week trip to
Kerala with her sister for a project on Ayurveda. At just 18, Shubhra found the
trip magical and unforgettable, solidifying her passion for travel. Though she
once considered a career in the travel industry or even as a travel show host,
she found these roles intimidating due to her shy nature. Instead, she ended up
in a placement round for KPMG, where she was selected as one of the top
candidates.
Lessons from the Corporate World
Shubhra credits much of her work ethic to her time at KPMG,
where she quickly learned to handle significant projects and interact with
high-level executives. This experience taught her to mature quickly and take on
responsibilities. However, after a year, Shubhra realized that a traditional
career in accounting wasn’t her true calling.
A Journey of Discovery
Chadda embarked on a month-and-a-half-long trip to the
United States to visit her aunt, marking the start of her self-discovery
journey. Contrary to what one might expect from such a trip, her return
suitcase was not packed with high-end fashion but rather with a collection of
simple souvenirs. She humorously described it as “a lot of junk,” including
items like fridge magnets, quirky wall art, and a uniquely designed bottle from
a Mexican restaurant.
A Home Full of Memories
Chadda and her husband, Prabhakar, had gathered a cupboard
full of travel memorabilia even before they moved into their house, which they
had bought in their early twenties. This passion for travel and a deep desire
to create a beautiful living space laid the groundwork for Chumbak. Chadda
fondly recalled her childhood, saying she took great pride in decorating their
home. She enjoyed setting the table and arranging flowers, imagining the pride
her mother must have felt seeing her do so.
Biography of Shubhra Chadda: Co-Founder of Chumbak- Indian Entrepreneur/ Investor/Startup/Businesswomen/success story of Shubhra Chadda/Shubhra Chadd
Pursuing Dreams with Passion
Chadda, who now leads product design at Chumbak, had no
formal training in the field. Her career path included various job changes and
explorations in creative arts. In 2001, while pursuing a master’s degree in
Public Relations and Advertising at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, she also interned
at Nirvana Films. She admitted to the producer-director couple that she was
unsure about her career direction and offered to fetch coffee and observe,
which provided her valuable insights into filmmaking. Despite still relying on
her parents for financial support and feeling guilty about leaving a stable job
at KPMG, she eventually joined NetApp.
At NetApp, Chadda’s leadership skills were honed under the
guidance of her boss, George Thomas. She learned important lessons about
starting small, understanding profits, teamwork, and driving a team to achieve
excellence. These lessons now guide her hiring practices at Chumbak. She is
transparent with candidates about the startup’s challenges, particularly the
lack of work-life balance. However, she assures them that if career growth is
their priority, they will find a deep sense of accomplishment in their work.
A New Inspiration
After a year working at NetApp, Chadda felt the urge to find
something new and exciting. One Sunday afternoon, while admiring her collection
of fridge magnets, she had a realization. "I noticed there were no quality
souvenirs in India; the designs were limited and not very impressive. That's
when I decided I wanted to create fridge magnets," she recalls. With this
new goal in mind, she traveled to Channapatna in Karnataka, a city renowned for
its woodcraft. There, she met with local designers to bring her ideas to life.
She was all set to leave her job and start her own business, but her boss had
other plans. He challenged her with tough questions about her readiness and the
practicalities of running a business.
A Turning Point
Fate had other plans when Chadda was on maternity leave in
2007. Despite the joy of her newborn daughter, Samara, Chadda found herself
restless and reluctant to return to her old 9-to-5 job. One evening, her
husband Prabhakar surprised her with a colorful assortment of items like
keychains, fridge magnets, sippers, coffee mugs, and notebooks, all featuring
Chadda's designs. This thoughtful gift gave Chadda the final push she needed.
With that, Chumbak was born.
A Unique Concept Takes Shape
The idea for Chumbak came from noticing that while many
countries had quirky souvenirs, India, rich in culture and uniqueness, didn't
have a similar offering. Balancing her responsibilities as a mother of a
two-year-old with the growth of this new venture, Shubhra and Vivek embarked on
a mission to fill this gap. Today, Chumbak has expanded to over 120 retail
stores across India, offering delightful souvenir options for both tourists and
locals. The brand, known for its fun and quirky mix of products, now includes
everything from fashion items to face masks, all while showcasing a deep
connection to Indian heritage.
Taking the Leap
Determined to move forward with their bulk order, Shubhra
and Vivek made the tough decision to sell their home. “We weighed the pros and
cons,” Shubhra explains. They were prepared for the possibility of returning to
their previous jobs if necessary, but they were not willing to live with the
uncertainty of “what if.” In 2009, they launched Chumbak, a brand centered on
Indian-themed souvenirs, with Vivek joining Shubhra in 2011. Shubhra dove into
the world of retail marketing and sales, initially aiming to place her products
in airports and hotels. However, she found that smaller stores, which were more
interested in Chumbak's unique items than brand names or margins, were more
receptive.
A Promising Start
Within just six months of launching, Chumbak’s products,
including fridge magnets, sippers, notebooks, keychains, bookmarks, mugs, and
cushion covers, were featured in 60 stores and online. Shubhra notes that
starting as both an online and offline store was a key decision that paid off.
The brand quickly gained traction on social media platforms like Facebook, and
its innovative use of Google services caught the attention of the search
engine, making Chumbak a case study for effective digital marketing.
Overcoming Challenges
Shubhra had a clear vision for Chumbak to be accessible and
affordable, not just a boutique brand. Finding suitable retail spaces was
challenging, but persistence paid off. The first pop-up store in a major
Bengaluru mall required extensive persuasion. Although they initially secured a
small 20 sq ft spot next to an escalator, Shubhra transformed it into an
eye-catching, colorful kiosk. This effort paid off when, just two weeks later,
the mall manager offered them a larger 150 sq ft space on the ground floor for
the same price.
Growth and Funding
Chumbak became profitable within two years, but the next
challenge was scaling up. Shubhra and Vivek wanted to expand their product line
and open exclusive stores, but they were cautious about bringing in investors.
Their concerns were alleviated when Seedfund’s Bharati Jacob invested $2 million
in 2012. This funding not only secured Chumbak’s future but also reinforced
their vision for the brand, setting them on a path to further success.
Chumbak's Rise
Since then, Chadda's journey has been nothing short of
remarkable. She has expanded Chumbak to over 30 stores across India, offering
more than 75 different product categories, from apparel to home furnishings. In
2014, the company secured additional funding from Matrix Partners and Seedfund,
and they are now seeking Series C funding to support their plans for growth in
the United States.
From Humble Beginnings to Remarkable Growth
Starting with an initial investment of Rs 40 lakhs, Chumbak
has seen impressive growth over the years. In 2015, the company experienced a
remarkable 300 percent growth year-on-year. They began by leveraging existing
retail partnerships, such as with Shoppers Stop, and soon opened their first
physical store in Bangalore. By the financial year 2018-19, Chumbak’s revenue
reached Rs 40 crore, with fashion contributing about 60 percent to the
company’s total revenue.
A Reflection of Vision
Inside the brightly lit Chumbak store at their head office,
you can see Chadda's vision come to life. The store is a vibrant showcase of
Chumbak’s unique style, featuring whimsical prints of owls and auto rickshaws
that have become fashionable. Chadda's passion for surrounding herself with
beautiful things is evident in every corner of the store. Besides relying on
her talented in-house designers, she draws inspiration from various design
blogs. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Chadda offers practical advice: “While
aiming for perfection is important, don't overthink things. Understand every
aspect of running a business and be prepared to get hands-on,” she advises. Her
story is a testament to how a single room and a lot of determination can turn
into one of India's most exciting lifestyle brands.
A timeline for Shubhra Chadda's journey with Chumbak, based
on the provided details:
1980s - 1990s: Shubhra Chadda travels extensively across
India due to her father's Air Force career and attends boarding school in
Delhi.
1997 - 2000: Completes Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at
Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, graduating with a grade of A.
2001 - 2002: Earns Master’s Degree in Public Relations,
Advertising, and Applied Communication from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, also
graduating with a grade of A.
Early 2000s: Interns at Nirvana Films while pursuing her
master’s degree and later joins KPMG, where she gains valuable work experience.
2005: Joins NetApp and learns leadership and business skills
under the guidance of her boss, George Thomas.
2006: Shubhra embarks on a month-and-a-half trip to the
United States, returns with a collection of simple souvenirs.
2007: During maternity leave, Shubhra receives a colorful
assortment of items featuring her designs from her husband, leading her to decide
to start Chumbak.
2009: Chumbak is officially launched, focusing on
Indian-themed souvenirs. Shubhra and Vivek Prabhakar decide to sell their house
to fund the business.
2011: Vivek joins Shubhra in the business. Chumbak initially
places products in smaller stores and begins gaining traction.
2012: Seedfund’s Bharati Jacob invests $2 million, which
supports Chumbak’s future growth and expansion.
2014: Chumbak secures additional funding from Matrix
Partners and Seedfund and begins planning expansion into the United States.
2015: The company experiences a 300% year-on-year growth,
leveraging existing retail partnerships and opening their first physical store
in Bangalore.
2018 - 2019: Chumbak’s revenue reaches Rs 40 crore, with
fashion contributing about 60% of total revenue. The company operates over 30
stores and offers more than 75 product categories.
2024: Chumbak continues to expand its presence and product
offerings, with ongoing plans for growth and development.
