Neeraj Kumar Dhir started out as a garment trader, and at a later point of time turned into a manufacturer. But with that change, he also turned into a visionary, who has influenced the garment industry in a significant way. \u201cI\u2019ve visited South Korea and China several times since 2011, and I always come back with more ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dhir says innovation and the introduction of more and more variety of products is what motivates him. He\u2019s looking for ways to introduce novelty into the market. \u201cI saw that baby blankets were a big thing abroad. I brought back that idea with myself and my firm introduced a new line of baby sheets and blankets back in the day. This gave birth to a whole new market segment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dhir, in his own words, is a very positive person. That positivity is reflected in his optimistic outlook towards the garment industry, specifically the infant garment industry, in India. \u201cthe infant garment sector has the potential to reach a level hundred times that of where it is right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have a very segregated market at the moment, while what I\u2019ve observed in other countries is a very consolidated, one-stop-shop business model. So, the prospects are good.\u201d Dhir feels that India has a long way to go when it comes to upskilling labour and using technology that is efficient. \u201cI\u2019ve noticed a dearth of efficient technology deployment in our industries. And we need to upskill our labour tremendously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite exuding a very positive attitude, Dhir once faced a time where he felt he should return to trading. \u201cThe overhead costs of manufacturing were too high. We had to start from scratch, and there was a lot of time and resources spent on building the business.\u201d Once the business was established, he had contracts with supermarkets as a supplier, but too didn\u2019t pan out as a good partnership. \u201cThe payments were delayed and sometimes they blocked inventory. At one point of time, I felt that I\u2019d make much more if I stuck to trading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Dhir persevered and devoted all his time and energy to building his own brands, and has been working relentlessly to broaden the product line. \u201cI think, as a person from the fashion industry, we must always be on our toes. We must strive to innovate and bring in new products everyday\u201d he believes. Even the pandemic was used as a time to deliberate on the bigger picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was stressed in the beginning, but later I utilized that time to think about the winter line that\u2019s to come.\u201d He also came to realise what his workers meant to his business. \u201cIt\u2019s only after my factories were emptied that I thought who actually makes the business. It\u2019s the workers. I treat them as family, and I\u2019m trying my best not to let go of anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Growtharator programme has provided Dhir with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who have become his support system. \u201cWe discuss the issues we face in our respective lines and come together to resolve them. I think this type of friendship or collaboration can only grow with time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n