The end of exams rings in cheer for most students, but they are also left with the daunting task of hunting for places to stay either near their college or within the campus. Leaving the comfort of home is in itself unsettling. But that is a must for any one going to college. What’s reassuring today is that facilities such as The Dorm Shop (TDS) exist. Its aim is to make people realise that the dorm could be a worthy place to shop for, one that gives them the freedom to express themselves.
So when and how did The Dorm Shop begin? Jay Bagri, the founder of company, says, “I had been dabbling with this idea for the past few years. The tipping point was when my cousin shifted to Vellore during the fall 2014 for his engineering programme. It was quite appalling to see that he was facing the same issues I faced a decade ago when I moved to Manipal. Being an obnoxious kid, I did not take my parents to Manipal to set me up. I was also stupid because when shopkeepers threw terms like, the thread count of this bed sheet is more so it costs more, it sounded like my calculus professor talking about Laplace equations. It was then that I started my research and visited a few colleges in every city where students had faced similar challenges when they moved there. It was a super slow process but it laid the foundation for The Dorm Shop. Finally, in mid 2015, I started the company and hired the first TDS employee.”
First time college goers and people who would like to change houses can avail these facilities. Currently the company is focusing only on students, but has plans of slowly expanding and becoming a lifestyle website for the youth. “We want to cater to a very specific audience so that we can curate the content and keep products that are relevant,” adds Jai.
What makes The Dorm Shop so special? And why should students explore it when there are so many online stores and hundreds of brick and mortar ones in their cities? TDS is a student-centric website which is why they will be able to relate to the content and products better. One of the biggest challenges students face while moving to a hostel or a paying guest accommodation is that they cannot pre-purchase their items as they do not know which room will be allotted to them until the last moment. Hence, they end up shopping at the nearest stores where they have limited choices. The Dorm Shop ties up with the colleges and is allowed in the campus during the orientation day. So your room is ready even before you walk in, just the way you would like it to be.
The Dorm Shop lists places that are relevant to the students. The product reviews come through peers, which is why they are accurate and credible.
TDS also stocks course-related products such as engineering drafters, isometric pens and small DC motors; basically very specific products which might not be sold on the generic websites.
It even claims to be your first friend in college. Not only does it provide you with all the information on supplies, it also has an orientation programme and anti-ragging organisations such as S.A.V.E. A senior student gets paid to take a few freshmen under his/her wing, help them settle in and share some tips and tricks for surviving the college. The senior also gives the freshmen a tour of the college campus and popular hangouts. This becomes a great ice breaker and helps in creating a friendly bond between the seniors and the juniors.
TDS now is also introducing packages which are customised according to the hostel students will be staying in. These packages will have kitchen appliances, bed linens, bath ware and other essentials. However, even if the college is not registered on the website, students can still place orders which will be relevant to them regardless of the college they attend.
