T-shirts and shirts are our fast moving categories
BeUnic is a queer-owned, community-driven e-commerce platform by LGBTQ+ creators and entrepreneurs, facilitating and supporting queer community through upskilling, entrepreneurship and international exposure. BeUnic curates lifestyle products and services provided by queer entrepreneurs, underlining the idea of ‘Being You’ and ‘Being Unique’. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, BeUnic Co-founder & Brand Ambassador Aashish Chopra and Co-founder & Director Simmi Nanda discuss their business.
How did you come up with the idea of BeUnic?
Simmi Nanda: The idea came up when my younger son was looking for shoes with heels for his drag performance. As this was a niche category, I shared the concept with a few manufacturers who were also interested in the idea. Together, we began producing shoes designed for drag performances and received a very positive response.
When did you start the e-commerce platform?
Aashish Chopra: We started our website in 2019, but in 2020-21 we pivoted to an e-commerce marketplace platform.
How many designers are registered on the platform?
SN: As on date, we have about 28-30 designers.
Do you think Gen Z cares more about representation than brand names?
SN: It has been a mixed of both. We recently conducted few surveys through IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL team, and got to know that the response has been 50-50.
Which product categories are the best performing under clothing and home textiles?
AC: T-shirts and shirts are fast moving categories on our website. In Home Décor category, rainbow candles and wall hangings are doing very good.
Which are your major markets?
AC: Our major markets are metro cities in India, and tier 2 cities in international markets where the LGBTQ rights are prevalent, and where same sex marriages are legal.
What is the USP of the platform?
AC: Ours is a platform which is building LGBTQ community as a whole. We are giving them financial independence by way of hiring, entrepreneurship and creating awareness amongst the corporates and society.
What has been your sales story for the last two years?
SN: In financial year 2019-20, we started with sales of ₹18,000. The next year in 2020-21, our sales galloped to ₹1.5 lakh, then it increased in 2021-22 to ₹50 lakh.
What new product categories do you plan to add going forward?
SN: Going forward we would be adding a range of footwear as the demand is good in the market. We would also be going faster in hiring and increasing sensitisation in the corporate world. IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL has been helping us in exploring the business model and fine tuning it with us.
Published on: 28/02/2023
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
