Deepa Chordia was the first customer at an exhibition organised by Co-optex at Tilak Smarak Mandir Hall in Pune. She was pleased with the varieties available there and is hoping for more.
“I bought a silk saree as I liked the colour combination. I hope they hold more such exhibitions,” said the 30-year-old entrepreneur, who runs a pickles and ‘papad’ unit.
The Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society, known popularly as Co-optex, has launched a series of exhibitions to promote handloom products outside the State called ‘Weaves from Tamil Nadu.’
A week-long exhibition will be held in Puducherry, Visakhapatnam and Delhi soon. By March-end, the organisation hopes to cover Kolhapur, Kolkata and Vadodara too.
“Co-optex has 200 showrooms across the country but our handloom products are in demand in other towns and cities also. We are developing an exhibition calendar on the lines of the Central Silk Board and the National Handloom Development Corporation,” says Co-optex managing director T.N. Venkatesh.
Co-optex’s newest customer is Anand Thammaji Kullgod, a resident of Belagavi in Karnataka who bought a dhoti through Co-optex online portal as the organisation has no showrooms in his town. “The type of dhoti they sell is not available here,” says Mr. Kullgod. What if he is not satisfied with the product? “They have an option where I can return if I am not satisfied,” he adds.
Co-optex is building its brand value on its online customer satisfaction. E.K. Ilyaraja, who works in Siruseri, had a saree delivered to his mother in Tuticorin through Co-optex’s online facility. While he is happy with the service, he has offered several suggestions including more seasonal discounts and online chat facilities.
