Bong Haat: An online store for Bengali community selling directly from Kolkata

 

Tanmay Sar and Sharmistha Sar are the two founders of Bong Haat. Bong Haat is a Delhi based startup, it also has office in Kolkata. Bong Haat is an online shopping portal for Bengali people. They sell products directly from Kolkata as they want to sell authentic product at reasonable price.

 

Bengalis outside of West Bengal face a lot of problem to buy typical Bengali products from their localities. The goods are not easily available in their localities. Even if some of the goods are available but they are sold at a very high price.
Moreover, India is now getting ready for online shopping. Big thanks to the ‘rise of smart phone’, says Tanmay Sar.

 

We got an opportunity to talk with Tanmay, the co-founder of Bong Haat  and see what he has to say. I am sure his interview with us will inspire you.

 

 

Give a brief info about your startup?

Bong Haat is India’s first ever Bengali Community based online shopping destination. Bong Haat’s vision is to create an one stop shop and life-changing experiences for Bengali communities round the globe. Our mission is to create India’s largest online marketplace for Bengali communities with the widest possible categories of products & services from the districts of West Bengal. Prime objective of Bong Haat is to let Prabashi Bengali (Non Resident Bengalis) relish their Bengali lifestyles anywhere in India.

We have celebrated 2nd Anniversary on 16th June 2018.

BongHaat is conceptualized, managed and owned by Borderless Office LLP from New Delhi & Kolkata, India. Borderless Office LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership firm registered with MCA. (Reg Number: AAG- 6909). Borderless Office LLP is having two designated partners namely Tanmay Sar & Sharmistha Sar. The partners of Borderless Office LLP  are also directors in an NGO named Come Forward India Foundation

 

 

What made you start your startup and what problem does it solve?

Bengalis outside of West Bengal face a lot of problem to buy typical Bengali products from their localities. The goods are not easily available in their localities. Even if some of the goods are available but they are sold at a very high price.
Moreover, India is now getting ready for online shopping. Big thanks to the ‘rise of smart phone’.

 

 

Tell us about yourself, your previous jobs/ventures? What were you doing before this startup?

All our business partners and advisors are from their respective filed of works with decade of relevant work experience. Our business partners belong to FMCG, Media, Garments, Online, Banking, Film Industries.

 

 

 

Where is your startup based out of? Why do you think that is the best place for you?

Borderless Office operates from Delhi and Kolkata. Delhi being the corporate office where the admin, IT and marketing functions are carried out and from Kolkata, all shipments, sourcing, dispatch are carried out.

 

 

As a startup founder, what are you paranoid about? What keeps you awake at night?

Internet and eCom segments are very unpredictable in nature. This dynamism nature of the industry, where we belong to, always keeps all our partners awake, not only at night but in day time also. We work 24X7 basis to cater to the varied needs/questions of the customer from across India.

 

 

Who are your competitions and how are you better than them?

There are no competitions in the market besides some small players who are not exactly in the same trade. Major web sites (of similar categories) are selling sweets, gifts, fishes etc. etc. But we are having more than 750 SKUs to offer on BongHaat.com. That way we do not feel there is any competitions.

 

 

How hard is it to have a work life balance as a startup founder and how do you manage it?

We do never work under pressure. We do always try to make fun elements as a part of our daily works. Doing that the work-life balance is always maintained.

 

 

Have you raised funding? If yes, then we would like to know the details. If no then please tell us if you are looking to raise.

We have not raised funds from market yet. But yes, we are looking for raising funding for Borderless Office, primarily for our business expansions. Till date all investments were made by our partners only.

 

 

What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? Why do they have that? What’s the reality?

I have not heard anything about it.

 

 

What gets you excited about this company?

The growth opportunities are huge with Borderless Office and this does always keep me excited and motivated.

 

 

Tell us how a day in your life looks like? Your schedule for a day right from the time you get up till you hit the bed at night.

All days in a week are same and hectic. I start my day at 7:30 AM and ends at 12:30 AM. First half is spent in day planning and ensuring all shipments are dispatched to all customers from Kolkata. Second half of the day, I am on field meeting partners, business associates, looking for new avenues of business.
From 7:30 onward till 12:00 AM I do handle online chat section.

 

Tell us about your team and how did you meet each other?

We are having two teams, one is in Kolkata and the other is in Delhi. We meet with all members everyday in Delhi office and I meet my Kolkata team two times a month.

 

 

 

 

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