This week, Emirates Man speaks to Tarun Joshi, Founder of IGP, the international gifting platform that takes care of every occasion.
Welcome to the Emirates Man weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businessmen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
IGP AE stands out as a prominent online gift delivery company in the UAE, dedicated to enhancing your gifting occasions. Their extensive selection includes vibrant floral arrangements, meaningful presents, custom cakes, and thoughtfully curated hampers, ensuring that they hаve the perfect offering for every celebration shared with your dear ones.
To delve into his entrepreneurial journey, Emirates Man spoke to Joshi to see how it all began.
What was your favourite subject at school?
As an entrepreneur, my favorite subject at school was Mathematics. Its logical structure and problem-solving nature have always fascinated me and laid the foundation for my analytical and innovative thinking in my business venture.
What was your first job?
My initial professional experience as an aeronautical scientist laid the groundwork for lessons that continue to resonate in my entrepreneurial journey. Designing flight control systems for India’s Tejas fighter aircraft instilled in me a commitment to precision, efficiency, and attention to detail—values crucial in the dynamic world of business.
What brought you to Dubai?
The UAE has over 10 million people and out which 85% are immigrants who are wanting to stay connected to their families and build and enhance their social graph in the UAE. Our sole reason of existence is to help our consumers stay connected to their friends and families back home and to enrich new relationships whether personal or corporate. We look at UAE as our entry into the MENA region as the culture is very warm and social and similar across the entire MENA region.
What inspired you to enter the gifting industry and launch IGP?
IGP was born out of my commitment to create an International Gifts Platform that goes beyond transactions, focusing on creating memorable experiences for individuals across the globe. The vision is to redefine the landscape of online gifting and flower delivery, leveraging technology to forge emotional connections & enrich relationships.
Talk us through the concept?
With a vast selection of over 1000 designs of floral arrangements and decor solutions, we cater to a diverse range of preferences and budgets, ensuring each client finds exactly what they need. Our offerings are varied but personalized, allowing customers to express their sentiments precisely. We specialize in creating floral hampers that not only communicate emotions effectively but also add a personal touch to every occasion, setting us apart in a competitive market.
What are the key elements of your role?
As the Founder and CEO, my key responsibilities include setting the strategic vision for the company, overseeing operations, and ensuring our financial health. The best part of my job is engaging with customers to ensure they have amazing shopping experiences, as their feedback helps us improve. I also love spending time with our team, fostering creativity and support. Every day, I look forward to using new ideas and technology to enhance our services and expand globally, enriching relationships through gifting.
Talk us through your daily routine.
During the weekdays, I follow a structured routine that keeps me balanced between health, family, and work. As the CEO, my days are busy and purposeful. I start by checking important emails early on and then dive into strategic meetings about our projects and how the company is doing. Throughout the day, I make sure to handle both leadership responsibilities and day-to-day operations. This routine helps me stay productive and connected while taking care of what matters most to me.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
There is no shortcut to success. Perseverance, dedication, and hard work are the key pillars.
Tell us more about the pieces?
In the culturally diverse UAE, we offer a broad range of flowers and arrangements that respect cultural significances and occasions. Our designers are finely attuned to cultural nuances, ensuring our products are appropriate and customizable to individual tastes. We also tailor our marketing and celebrate national and religious festivals with specialized products and promotions, adeptly catering to the unique needs of the UAE’s cosmopolitan population.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is to solve a genuine consumer problem in my own way. This principle has guided my approach to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of innovation and authenticity in creating solutions that truly meet consumer needs.
And what is the worst?
The worst advice I’ve received is to pick a successful business idea from around the world and replicate it in your country. This approach often overlooks local nuances and unique market needs, which are critical for genuine success.
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What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome as the Founder and CEO of IGP was navigating the dynamic Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) business landscape, especially during the Covid-19 disruption. The pandemic forced us to swiftly revamp our supply chain, which involved engaging directly with global artisans and growers to ensure precise deliveries. Adapting to evolving consumer preferences required us to launch new categories and products based on market trends. Expanding internationally with quick deliveries became crucial as the shift towards online retail accelerated.
Additionally, managing the complexities of cross-border gifting demanded meticulous planning and led to partnerships with global logistics networks and seamless integration with third-party companies. We implemented automated technology to streamline partner selection, ensuring reliable international deliveries. Through these challenges, my team and I’s dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction allowed IGP to not only overcome these hurdles but also to redefine the art of gifting globally.
What’s your future for the brand?
IGP has created a state of the art 20,000 square feet facility in the heart of Dubai and will look at opening similar facilities in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jeddah.
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To place your orders for delivery visit ae.igp.com
Images: Supplied
