How a model turned gems shop orderly fabricated a Rs 27 crore turnover gems brand

Naturally introduced to a joint family in Kolkata that was in the truck transport business, Anand Kulthia had an agreeable youth experiencing childhood in their familial home at Focal Road. However, around the time he completed his graduation in 1997, his dad was cheated of his portion in the vehicle business, and Anand's family that incorporated his folks and three sisters were abruptly left without any type of revenue.

Born into a joint family in Kolkata that was in the truck transport business, Anand Kulthia had a comfortable childhood growing up in their ancestral home at Central Avenue. But around the time he finished his graduation in 1997, his father was defrauded of his share in the transport business and Anand’s family that included his parents and three sisters were suddenly left with no source of income

How young Anand took up small jobs to support his family and learned the jewelry business working at a small jewelry shop and later became a jeweler himself is an inspiring story of rags-to-riches. In 2001, Anand started his jewelry business with his savings of Rs 50,000, making gold and diamond jewels with the help of artisans in Kolkata and selling it to retailers in different cities like Raipur and Jaipur.

Now we have a workforce of 34, including seven jewelry designers, and another 50 people who work on a contract basis, says Anand, who is a specialist in polka and diamond jewelry. Anand, 47, recounts his life journey - how he coped with the struggles, disappointments, and humiliations to keep moving ahead, and building his own small business empire.

Anand finished his Class 12 from Shri Jain Vidyalaya, Kolkata, in 1994 and then completed his B.Com from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, in 1997. By then, the problems in the family business had surfaced, and his father allowed him to go to Mumbai. “I would leave after having breakfast at around 7 a.m. and would come back only in the night for dinner. I skipped lunch to save money,” says Anand, who finally got a chance to act in a couple of small banner films as a lead actor.

While in Kolkata, he realized that his father had no income and the family was in dire financial straits. His maternal grandfather advised him to learn the jewelry business at his maternal uncle's jewelry shop. I gave all the money at home since my father had no job.” Anand learned to manage the jewelry shop, and he knew everything from pricing, sales, and handling accounts.

Meanwhile, his father set up an STD-PCO booth in a small corner of their family property at Central Avenue and Anand assisted him. “I used to work in the jewelry shop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and managed the STD booth from 8-12 p.m. after my father went home.” In 2001, he quit his jewelry job and joined another uncle’s import-export apparel business and managed the accounts for a monthly salary of Rs 8,000.

Around this time, Anand also started spending time with some friends whose families were involved in the diamond business. One of them had a diamond shop at Johri Bazaar, where he learned about the diamond trade and soon plunged into the jewelry business along with a friend. “I invested my savings of Rs 50,000 and made some jewels with it and took it to a Raipur jeweler who purchased them all, says Anand.

His business continued to prosper and Anand’s network too expanded as he roped in clients from other cities as well. Since 2012, Anand forayed into the international market and got orders from countries like Dubai, Hong Kong, and Thailand. I have this deep hurt in my heart that he could not see my first store, says Anand.

Anand has plans to open a store very soon in Delhi, and 20 more stores across the country in the next three years and take the business to a turnover of 100 crores. He loves his family and likes to spend his Sundays and leisure time with them.- ©JR

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