‘Create and stick to processes, they make your life easier’ Antara of Antara Design Studios

This Entrepreneurial Story is about Antara Pal Chowdhury who Founded ‘ Antara Design Studios’ located in Bangalore, India.

About – Antara started her career in the banking industry in sales and then moved to marketing and customer relations in the Information Technology Sector. From Guwahati to Bangalore, her travel has been quite exciting. For Antara her exposure to and knowledge in varied fields of sales and marketing has been an advantage as she creates marketing solutions that strike a balance with sales.

Antara is a passionate marketer and really gets thrilled every time there is a need to plan a process to market. And it is this passion that encouraged her to create Antara Design Studios, which intends to enable any business’s marketing and communication process; from concept to launch

Antara is a graduate in Commerce from Pune University and a Post Graduate in Management from Gauhati University. Antara takes deep interest in the fields of Art and craft and wishes to set up an experience gallery in this field

When Started: April 2012

What motivated you to start your Business?

It took me a while to understand that my calling in life was to feel independent and make some meaning out of that independence. I saw my opportunity in Bangalore; a city that nurtures and encourages startups like ours in the midst of so many like-minded individuals.

Tell us about your Business

Antara Design Studios (ADS) started with the clear objective of becoming the source, the medium and the centre for an emerging business, to define and portray its image and message in an impactful style to its customer ecosystem.

ADS plays a role when you need assistance in creating your brand, unifying its messages and building continuity to the communication, so that you to meet your objectives and achieve your next levels of success.

The launch Engine – That’s what we want to be for businesses; launching their brands and services in a systematic manner, exploring all possible avenues to make them a marketing success.

What is a Day in a life of you like?

I thank God for every day I get in life! A typical day in my life begins with a cup of chai and biscuit accompanied with some planning for the day. Brainstorming with my Mentor, meeting with new prospects, servicing the clients and follow ups for work and learning something new every day are all features of a regular day. A difference I find between working for self and working for someone else is that every little decision is in my hands; and that is a power as well as a threat.

One particular skill you got right and gave you best results.

I won’t say I got it completely right as yet; but still worth acknowledging is clarity in communication. I practice at every given opportunity to talk what I mean, to ensure that people understand what I communicate and like to listen to me more!

What have been your biggest challenges in running your Business so far?

Pricing tops the list! Ours being a services business makes it difficult to strike a balance between the value delivered and the value perceived. And believe me at times your own perception of value delivered can be quite low! Can’t blame the customers in this case ☺

The other big challenge is to say “NO”. As startups we don’t like to deny any given chance of doing business; even if that opportunity is hardly related to what we do. This attitude causes dilution of business objective, loss of business and worst, harm to an individual’s morale.

How did you overcome these challenges?

Antara Design Studios works very closely with its Mentor in terms of business planning, process creation, pricing strategies and regular reviews to ensure that we keep to our plans.

What have you found the most effective way to get new clients?

For our firm reference has been the most effective way to get new clients. And for that you of course need to do good work. The other equally important way to get new business is to meet with lots of people and at the same time ensure that you and your team talk the same language everytime.

What advice do you give to other business owners?

Once you know what makes you different, make sure that there is a need to fulfill. The next step should be to be professional from day one; in terms of your communication, processes and management and delivery.

How did you keep motivated through difficult times?

My business is very young and hence may not have faced all the usual ups and downs in business. But I feel it is okay to feel down once in a while. In days when I am down I usually call it an early day at work, have some good food and sleep early to wake up to a fresh day and make a fresh beginning.

What are your Marketing, Funding and Team Building Strategy?

Marketing:

As a startup and as a provider for marketing consulting for startups, we understand the importance of spreading awareness, and at the same time that we have to work within limited budgets. Keeping these factors on mind, we currently focus in inbound marketing activities, which enable a business to create awareness, build continuity in communication and generate new business.

Funding:

We are currently privately-funded. As our biggest investment is our intelligence, our startup costs were limited to basic set up costs like communication devices and compliance formalities.

Team Building:

Our team currently consists of employees, consultants and partners who assist in terms of delivering projects for our clients. In near future, we would like to own some of the processes that we outsource currently. But we would outsource a significant amount of work still as we feel that this would give our business a better exposure and expertise.

Your Achievements?

From Personal front, my learning is my achievement because of which I have evolved as a more confident human being

From Business front, it gives us great satisfaction, that we have been able to generate continuity and a steady growth in our business since its inception

Whats your favorite quote?

“Courage is found in unlikely places” – J R R Tolkien

Who inspires you?

There have been so many people who have influenced my life in so many ways at so many times. It is my father who has been my constant driving force.

Do you have a Business Philosophy?

Be truthful and ethical. Create and stick to processes as they make your life easier.

Startup Freak Community for entrepreneurs and small businesses

‘Create and stick to processes, they make your life easier’ Antara of Antara Design Studios