Ever surfed shopping websites and chanced upon cute accessories to spruce up your garden? From metal planters in the shape of an owl, old tires and bottles that function as pots, Mason jar lights for a balcony garden to kettles repurposed as watering cans, and funky garden hoses, gardening enthusiasts are spoilt for choice these days.
Among those in the business of beautifying balcony gardens of Bengalureans is Tanya Brar, through her online venture, Chulbuli Balcony.
Tanya set up her pet project in December 2013. “I have always been very passionate about furnishings and greenery and I have been snapping up exclusive products to dress up different areas and corners in the house, my garden being one of them,” she says.
Tanya worked with an airline as a cabin supervisor for 10 years before she quit and started Chulbuli Balcony. “My job gave me the opportunity to visit various countries and explore various cultures and living styles. And I became even more passionate about garden décor. Since I’ve always nurtured the idea of wanting to do something on my own, my husband encouraged me and gave me the courage to quit a lucrative airlines job and follow my dream to be a creative entrepreneur, she narrates.
Through Chulbuli Balcony, Tanya deals in metal garden products from the typical planters, hooks, and watering cans to exclusive railing planters. The specialty of her products is that they’re hand painted and come in a variety of vibrant colours, shapes, and designs. Prices range between Rs.300 to Rs. 900, depending on the dimensions of the products. Various combos are available as well.
“We have something unique for every home, something that can bring that element of fun and frolic into your gardens, whether on the balcony or in your kitchen,” Tanya says. According to her, “It’s been a beautiful start with an overwhelming response as people seem to love how our products have just transformed their green spaces. And to ensure we keep receiving positive feedback, we have to continuously innovate and create new products to meet customers’ expectations as the competition is immense with basic planters available on other sites too. It is important that we maintain our exclusivity.”
While starting and maintaining an online venture is comparatively simple in a time and age when marketing on social media doesn’t cost a dime nor requires great expertise, the young entrepreneur says, “Facebook works well for most of us who are starting out like this. But we are now scouting around for a good location in Bangalore to open a store and are also looking into setting up our website to cater to people outside the city. It’s all a part of evolving organically.”
Tanya currently takes orders via her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chulbulibalcony) and email (chulbulibalcony@gmail.com)
