He constructed a Rs 300 crore turnover brand after misfortunes in his most memorable business that he began at age 22
Namit Bajoria, 49, the organizer behind Kutchina, a Kolkata-based Rs 300 crore turnover home and kitchen machines brand, was only a youngster when he concluded he would neither take up a task nor join his dad's business. His dad Bimal Kumar Bajoria possessed a limited-scale sodium dichromate plant in Ranchi with an office in Kolkata. In any case, Namit cared very little about the business and had not set in stone to be all alone from early on.
Namit Bajoria, 49, founder of Kutchina, a Kolkata-based Rs 300 crore turnover home and kitchen appliances brand, was just a teenager when he decided he would neither take up a job nor join his father’s business. But Namit had no interest in the business, and he was determined to be on his own from a young age.
He started doing part-time jobs after finishing his Class of 10 and launched his first business after his graduation in 1995 at the age of 22. “I borrowed Rs 1.30 lakh from my father and started a dealership in fax machines and digital phones,” says Namit, recounting his journey as an entrepreneur. Namit’s thirst for growth made him venture into another business in just a couple of years.
Eventually, in 2002 he launched Kutchina, a kitchen chimney brand, at the age of 29, which has grown into a composite kitchen and home appliances brand over the last two decades. While Kutchina is still known for its chimneys, it offers a wide range of products today, including modular kitchens, microwaves, dishwashers, induction cookers, hand blenders, and toasters.
Namit finished his Class 10 from St Paul’s School, Kolkata, in 1990, and took up a job in an office, where he went out to collect payments and deposited cheques at banks. “I didn’t know how to fill in bank slips to deposit cheques,” says Namit.
He then joined St Xavier’s College in Kolkata to his graduation in commerce (B Com). While in his first year, he attended a walk-in interview for a sales job. The company was looking for salespeople to sell office appliances such as EPABXs, fax machines, and cordless phones. Namit was hired as a sales rep at a salary of Rs 1,200 per month.
“I visited residential and commercial complexes to sell the products,” says Namit, recalling with nostalgia the time when he honed his sales and marketing skills. “I used to prioritize acquiring experience over socializing with friends.” So, by the time he finished his graduation, he was ready to start his own business.
In 1995, he started the office appliances dealership. The business was doing well, but young Namit was a tad quick to expand and became a dealer for a cosmetics brand, which sold talcum powder, nail polish, and other products. However, he lost all his money, because he sold on credit and the distributors and retailers delayed their payments.
He started doing part-time jobs after finishing his Class of 10 and launched his first business after his graduation in 1995 at the age of 22. “I borrowed Rs 1.30 lakh from my father and started a dealership in fax machines and digital phones,” says Namit, recounting his journey as an entrepreneur. Namit’s thirst for growth made him venture into another business in just a couple of years.
Namit finished his Class 10 from St Paul’s School, Kolkata, in 1990, and took up a job in an office, where he went out to collect payments and deposited cheques at banks. “I didn’t know how to fill in bank slips to deposit cheques,” says Namit.
He then joined St Xavier’s College in Kolkata to his graduation in commerce (B Com). While in his first year, he attended a walk-in interview for a sales job. The company was looking for salespeople to sell office appliances such as EPABXs, fax machines, and cordless phones. Namit was hired as a sales rep at a salary of Rs 1,200 per month.
“I visited residential and commercial complexes to sell the products,” says Namit, recalling with nostalgia the time when he honed his sales and marketing skills. “I used to prioritize acquiring experience over socializing with friends.” So, by the time he finished his graduation, he was ready to start his own business.
In 1995, he started the office appliances dealership. The business was doing well, but young Namit was a tad quick to expand and became a dealer for a cosmetics brand, which sold talcum powder, nail polish, and other products. However, he lost all his money, because he sold on credit and the distributors and retailers delayed their payments.
“I invested the Rs 30,000 l had with me and purchased a few pieces of chimneys on a half-cash, half-credit basis and started my business,” recalls Namit, laughing heartily. “I thought if I could sell someone else’s brand, why not I do it on my own?” Namit invested about Rs 20 lakh and imported a container load of German chimneys and sold them under the brand of Kutchina in 2002.
To counter this, Namit developed chimneys with auto-cleaning machines. He expanded his product line over the years, and the business kept growing. After his graduation, while doing business, Namit acquired PG diplomas in import-export, and sales and marketing.
Today, Kutchina Homemakers Private Limited sells a range of kitchen products, but chimney continues to be their top-selling item, accounting for around 60% of their sales.
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