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VISHAKA
DALVI,
Banking on cricketing contacts to keep business going |
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PROFILE |
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START UP
YEAR |
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1985
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Address |
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Ahir Bhavan, Navre Mangal
Karyalaya, Behind Sena Bhavan, Dadar (W), Mumbai
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Tel |
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022-24306029,
24321810
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Fax |
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022-24310512
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E-mail |
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soham_ent@hotmail.com |
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She is better known as Ramakant Achrekar’s daughter, the man who coached
Sachin Tendulkar. And Vishaka has used this recognition to her benefit.
When Vishaka started Soham Enterprises, with minimal knowledge of the IT
industry, she banked on her cricketing contacts to get the business going.
Today, she has built a Rs 1.40 crore company, by sheer grit and hard work, with
a conscientious approach to service.
CRICKETING TO SUCCESS
A bachelor in Arts from the Mumbai University, Vishaka used to play cricket
and then joined Doordarshan as a program head, but was unhappy with the 9-to-5
monotonous work. Vishaka’s husband urged her to quit the white-collar job and
start something on her own. On a friend’s suggestion, Vishaka started Soham
Enterprises in 1985, which dealt in computer stationery.
She soon realized that this business was unlikely to sustain her in the long
run and decided to add consumables to her kitty. Today, Soham is an authorized
partner for HP, Epson, Sony Data and Canon. Last year, Soham started assembling
PCs and selling components as well. "Since we already had a good customer
base for consumables, we could easily convince our clients to go for other
components as well," explains Vishaka about the gradual shift to mainstream
trading.
BUILDING CLIENTS ON TRUST
Vishaka was conscious that a good name will only help in the first sale and good
service alone ensures repeat sales orders. She made prompt delivery and service
Soham’s specialty, often sending goods after midnight.
The
going was not always good for Vishaka. Her minimal technical knowledge was a
handicap at times. "There were days when I would makes sales calls from
morning to evening, without getting a single order. But I did not give up
hope," reminisces she. It was this determination that helped her grow from
an initial turnover of Rs 4 lakh to post revenues worth Rs 1.40 crore in
2002-03.
Breaking new ground with a never-say-die attitude is what keeps Vishaka
going. Today when she is all set to open a branch in a new city, she has to deal
with her own set of nay-sayers. But Vishaka, a believer in ‘Dare to Dream’,
is confident that she will succeed here, just like she has in IT reselling.
VINITA BHATIA
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