Gifting in Gurgaon

Among the tall, concrete buildings in Gurgaon’s business district, aptly called "Cyber Hub,” are bustling arcades of specialty restaurants, bars and boutiques. A brightly decorated store with a red signboard "Gifts of Love” beckons as a unique landmark in this commercial area. Inaugurated in March 2017, this is the third Gifts of Love outlet, owned and operated by the couple Hoofrish and Chetan Krishnamurthy.
Customers throng the lively store from morning to night to buy gifts for their office colleagues, occasion-specific items or stationery indulgences for themselves. Magnetic products, wall art, clocks, wallets, stationery, notebooks, folders, gift boxes and home-office accessories are featured in sections on the walls and on innovative shelves and table tops. The store’s cheerful and spacious interior is done up in pastel hues with colorful product displays.
"Having a prominent store location is primary for our business,” explains Chetan, buoyed by the success of their earlier ventures. Ten years ago they had opened their second store in Select City Walk, a prestigious South Delhi mall for designer and branded merchandise. The launch of their maiden "Gifts of Love” store in 2003 in City Centre Mall in Gurgaon was the outcome of their successful sales in exhibitions in Delhi’s NCR (National Capital Region).
The Krishnamurthys’ office of 2,000 sq ft with 25 employees is in Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, producing corporate/personal stationery and gift products. The high quality screen printing unit that marked Chetan’s initial foray into the business over two decades ago still exists with newer cutting and perforating machines. The enterprising couple also work with renowned graphic designers to create innovative notebooks, clocks, coasters, planners and calendars for individual and corporate clients like Park Hotels, Vatika and Google.

Stores at Select City Walk, (left) and Cyber Hub, (right) with selection of products

"The USP of our enterprise is its unique design, product quality and an affordable price range,” elaborates Hoofrish. "We began retailing our own products initially and now have a mix of products from other designers and vendors too,” she adds, stressing that stationery and accessories are their prime focus. "Our tag line ‘Celebrate Every Day’ reminds customers to enjoy each day, and live in the moment with happy things around you,” stress the talented duo.
Chetan, 46, with a physics background, began a small screen printing unit after college in a 50 sq ft area of his house with one employee in 1995-96. He would personally buy paper, inks and then print and deliver the orders for wedding invites and letterheads, he recalls. His marriage to Hoofrish Variava in 2001 was a new beginning in his personal and professional life. Hoofrish created innovative designs and bespoke stationery products, while Chetan concentrated on the operations and production of their growing enterprise. Though Hoofrish, 42, has a degree in sociology, her love for creativity, design and stationery drew her to this field of business.
Managing domestic and work schedules, comes naturally to this couple, attuned as they are to their common goal and the will to equally share in home and office responsibilities. Hoofrish maintains a flexible work schedule to be home when their daughter, Soha, aged nine, returns from school. Describing Soha as "their bundle of energy and joy,” the proud parents state, "She is happy to give her advice on new products, has a keen eye for design and even does window displays in the store.”
During exhibitions, Hoofrish’s parents, Soli and Farida Variava pitch in to help with their stall and to look after their granddaughter. Soli retired after a long career with Nestle, Delhi while Farida originally from Baroda, is a renowned cook. Hoofrish’s older sister, Monaz Ranina, a voice over artist, lives in Bombay.
Chetan’s mother, Naju (née Panthaki), hailed from Nagpur. His father, Raj Krishnamurthy was a creative entrepreneur in Bangalore, who voluntarily took to teaching students in the 1980s. His brother Jesh runs Anibrain, his own animation and special effects company in Poona.

Soli and Farida Variava, Hoofrish, Soha and Chetan Krishnamurthy

While their Zoroastrian background was not a key factor in their entrepreneurial venture, Hoofrish and Chetan share an openness on religion and spirituality. Proud to be Indians and good human beings, these are the values they pass on to their young daughter.
Speaking of their future plans, they want to continue to create new designs and innovative products, grow online and also to open up a couple of more stores. Acknowledging the importance of social media, they propose to build an online presence to nurture their venture beyond the 15 to 20% growth they achieve directly from their stores.
"We want Gifts of Love to be better than any international experience in terms of product quality and store ambience,” conclude the couple who "enjoy being together and working together.”