About Guest:Gaurav Singh Kushwaha is the Founder and CEO of BlueStone, one of India’s leading omnichannel jewellery brands. An IIT Delhi alumnus and a seasoned tech entrepreneur, Gaurav began his career as a software engineer at Amazon and Tavant Technologies. He co-founded Chakpak.com before launching BlueStone in 2011. Recognized by Fortune and Economic Times in their "40 under 40" lists, Gaurav has redefined how Indians discover and buy fine jewellery online.In this podcast, Gaurav Singh shares how he built Bluestone from scratch, turning a struggling startup into a ₹12,000 crore jewelry brand. He opens up about early failures, surviving near shutdowns, pivoting from online-only to omnichannel, and using design, data, and trust to win customers. He also talks about tech-driven retail, funding challenges, Ratan Tata’s support, and his vision for Bluestone’s future, including IPO plans and the role of AI in retail.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction 02:13 Lessons from Early Career02:32 Cryptography and Early Jobs06:38 Transition to Amazon08:03 Founding the First Startup09:46 Challenges with Chakpak11:33 Birth of Bluestone11:54 Initial Struggles and Perseverance14:13 Building the Brand16:47 Design and Catalog Challenges21:24 Manufacturing and Quality Control26:44 Adopting Omnichannel Strategy30:39 Opening the First Store31:07 Competing with Legacy Brands31:31 Customer Behavior Insights33:44 Expanding Store Locations37:25 Franchise Model and Future Plans37:48 Store SOPs and Initial Challenges38:26 Capital Structure and Franchise Model39:45 Convincing Franchisees and Early Growth40:54 Impact of COVID-19 on Business42:41 Gold Inventory and Hedging Strategy44:23 Navigating Financial Challenges49:36 Target Audience Insights51:36 Cultural and Demographic Factors52:57 Store Profitability and Inventory Management53:22 Co-Founder Elevation and Team Dynamics57:29 Technology in Retail Operations57:38 Automated Merchandising System59:52 Investment from Ratan Tata01:01:17 IPO and Capital Strategy01:04:18 Debt vs. Equity Decisions01:07:21 Support from Key Investors01:07:31 Empathy and Support from Prashant01:08:24 Navigating Competitive Markets01:13:06 Future Predictions and AI Impact01:14:37 Concluding Thoughts on AI and Human ExistenceCredits: Host: Shivank Joshi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivankjoshi-2001/Thumbnail: YaaSPost Production: YaaSSupport: Zerodha ( https://zero1byzerodha.com/network )Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the speaker and host are their own and do not represent those of the Exploring Minds platform. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. All products and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply any endorsement or opposition.#GauravSingh #Bluestone #RatanTata #StartupJourney #EntrepreneurLife #FoundersStory #BuildInIndia #StartupIndia #BusinessInspiration #IndianStartup #D2CBrands #IPOJourney #ScaleUp #JewelryBusiness #Bluestone #RetailRevolution #JewelryDesign #OmnichannelRetail #JewelryStartup #LuxuryRetail #EcommerceIndia #JewelryInnovation #JewelryTech #ZeroToHero #FromFailureToSuccess #BrandBuilding #CustomerExperience #DataDrivenBusiness #FranchiseModel #LeadershipJourney #TechInRetail #GoldBusiness #IndianBrands
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