Established over two decades ago, Gitanjali Awards is dedicated to designing and producing high-quality trophies as tokens of appreciation. The brand has dominated Bhubaneswar market with a wide range of awards, trophies, mementos and corporate gifts for recognition and rewarding of talent and achievements. The entrepreneur behind this successful venture is Krishna Mohan Tata, Director who left his corporate job to enter the world of business. In an interaction with Orissa POST, he emphasises how recognition is a fundamental human need and shares his entrepreneurial journey. Excerpts…
Can you tell us about your early life and what made you enter this business?
People like being appreciated, especially when they work hard towards a goal and when the token of appreciation is beautiful, it becomes an objet d’art. This was precisely the thought that inspired me and my friend Budha Prakash Mohapatra to venture into the awards and recognition industry. We were working in the corporate sector when the entrepreneurial bug bit us. We wanted to do something and started off by wholesaling plastic housewares. This wasn’t our cup of tea and this business turned out to be a textbook definition of failure. But we didn’t let this failure deter us. There was no looking back after we decided to enter the awards and recognition industry.
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With the growing market base in this sector, what is your unique selling proposition?
Recognition is a basic human need and is always treasured. We at Gitanjali Awards believe that the best way to recognise performers is to present them with memorabilia which compliments their outstanding efforts. We design, manufacture and retail a wide range of awards, trophies, mementos in acrylic, wood and metal. We offer a complete solution. Our USP is the service and complete solution we offer.
What steps have you taken to safeguard the authenticity of your products and brand?
We have registered our trademark and plan to patent some of our designs. But ultimately it all boils down to the quality, speed, and service. We are constantly upgrading our workshop with the requisite technologies. We maintain high standards and deliver always on time. We are constantly innovating and offering new designs.
How has your journey been so far? Do you have any expansion plans in pipeline?
On the personal front, the journey has been equally fascinating. I have always dreamt about writing and my book ‘A Jar of Pebbles’ was published recently. This wouldn’t have been possible without the whole hearted support of my business partner Budha Prakash Mohapatra. Budha is the pillar that holds the fort of Gitanjali Awards. About 20 years ago, there were just two of us and nothing else in a tiny room. We bought a small pedal cutting machine and we started off by making tiny acrylic plaques and gifts for birthdays, friends and various occasions like Teachers Day, Valentines, Rakhi etc. And then we realised that globally acrylic was the preferred material for awards. We were one of the first people to have exclusive stores. Covid-19 hit us badly but we have bounced back and we are coming up with a new store in Shaheed Nagar. Apart from the new store and upgraded e-com portal we are gearing up to unveil a franchise operation for Gitanjali Awards all over the country. We are in the process of setting up a bigger workshop and warehouse to increase our operations. We are also now into handicrafts and gifting solutions with a focus on sustainable products.
As an entrepreneur, what advice do you have for the newcomers in this business?
Like every other business, this one has its own intricacies and anyone entering this field must work hard to create a market. To succeed in any business, one needs to have focus, patience, knowledge, positive attitude and determination.
With over 15 years of experience, what do you think is the scope of this business in Odisha market?
Odisha is growing. There is going to be a boom in industry, infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, sports, entertainment, real estate, media, events, cultural and many other sectors. We see this as a huge opportunity for the growth of Gitanjali Awards.
