Meet Priti Gupta’s, Co-Founder and Marketing Director at Reliqus

What is Reliqus all about?

Reliqus is a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in helping businesses grow through strategic online marketing. We offer a wide range of services, including search engine optimization, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, and website design and development. Our goal is to help our clients achieve their unique business objectives through customized digital marketing solutions.

What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?

The top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur are resilience, adaptability, and creativity.

• Resilience is key because there will inevitably be challenges and setbacks along the way, and it’s important to be able to bounce back from those.

• Adaptability is also important because the business landscape is constantly changing, and successful entrepreneurs are able to pivot and adjust their strategies as needed.

• Finally, creativity is essential because it allows entrepreneurs to come up with innovative solutions and stand out from their competitors.

How have the pandemic and lockdown affected you or your new business?

The pandemic and lockdown have definitely presented some challenges for us, but they’ve also given us the opportunity to innovate and find new ways to reach our customers. We’ve had to shift our focus more towards online sales and marketing, but we’ve also been able to use this time to improve our website and social media presence.

How do you separate yourself from your competitors?

One of the ways we separate ourselves from our competitors is by focusing on sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices. We also make an effort to be transparent with our customers about our materials and production methods, so that they can feel good about supporting our brand.

What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?

• One mistake we made early on was not doing enough market research before launching our brand. We learned the hard way that it’s important to really understand your target audience and what they’re looking for in a product.

• Another mistake was underestimating the importance of a strong social media presence. We quickly realized that social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with customers.

• Finally, we learned that it’s important to have a solid financial plan in place from the beginning, and to be prepared for unexpected expenses and setbacks.

Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?

One of the most successful forms of marketing for us has been influencer partnerships. We’ve worked with a number of eco-friendly fashion bloggers and influencers to help spread the word about our brand and products. We’ve also found that social media advertising can be effective, especially when targeted towards our ideal customer demographic.

What are the top 3 online tools and resources you’re currently using to grow your company?

Three online tools and resources that we’re currently using to grow our company are:

• Google Analytics: This allows us to track our website traffic and see which pages and products are most popular.

• Canva: This is a great tool for creating professional-looking graphics and social media posts.

• Mailchimp: This is our email marketing platform of choice, and it allows us to send targeted and personalized emails to our customers.

Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?

Sure, I would recommend:

• Book: “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight. This memoir by the co-founder of Nike is an inspiring and honest look at the ups and downs of starting and growing a successful business.

• Podcast: “How I Built This” by Guy Raz. This podcast features interviews with successful entrepreneurs about their journeys and lessons learned along the way.

• Online course: “Entrepreneurship 101” on Coursera. This course covers the basics of entrepreneurship, including idea generation, market research, and funding strategies. It’s taught by experienced entrepreneurs and is a great way to learn the fundamentals of starting and growing a business.

If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?

If I only had $1000 to start a new business, I would focus on creating a strong online presence. I would spend some of the money on setting up a professional-looking website and social media accounts. I would also invest in some basic marketing materials, like business cards and flyers, to help spread the word about the new business.

Finally, I would allocate some of the budget towards product development and testing, to make sure that I had a high-quality and marketable product.

If you started your business again, what things would you do differently?

• If I were to start my business again, there are a few things that I would do differently. One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned is the importance of building a strong team. In the early stages of the business, I was so focused on the day-to-day operations that I didn’t invest enough time in hiring and developing the right people. Looking back, I realize that building a strong team should have been a top priority from the beginning.

• Another thing that I would do differently is to be more cautious with our finances. In the early stages, we were so eager to grow and expand that we took on more debt than we probably should have. In hindsight, I would have been more careful about managing our finances and ensuring that we had a sustainable path forward.

• Finally, I would have invested more in marketing and branding from the beginning. In the early days, we were so focused on product development and production that we didn’t prioritize marketing and branding as much as we should have. As a result, it took us longer than it should have to build a strong brand and gain traction in the market.

What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?

What helps me stay driven and motivated is the belief in our mission and the positive impact that our business can have on the world. I also find inspiration in the feedback and support we receive from our customers. Finally, surrounding myself with a strong team of like-minded individuals who share the same passion and drive helps to keep me motivated.

What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?

My advice for new entrepreneurs starting out would be to stay focused on their mission and values, and to be resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks. It’s also important to be open to feedback and to continually learn and adapt as the business landscape evolves. Finally, building a strong team and support network can make all the difference in staying motivated and achieving success.

What is your definition of success?

My definition of success is achieving our mission of providing high-quality and sustainable fashion to our customers while making a positive impact on the planet and the people involved in the production process. Success to me is also about building a strong and sustainable business that can continue to grow and thrive over the long term.

How can readers get in touch with you?

If you’d like to get in touch with me, you can reach me through my company’s website or social media accounts. Our website is www.reliqus.com, and we’re active on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram. You can also email us at info@reliqus.com and we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your interest!