Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food & beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zain Ali, Founder of IndiFix, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I founded IndiFix, an Indian snack subscription service that brings India's most popular snacks straight to your doorstep. Imagine receiving a box filled with all your favorite snacks (Oreos, Doritos, M&Ms, etc.) but their Indian counterparts. Our customers range from the homesick college student craving a piece of home to Americans looking to try Indian snacks for the first time.
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in India until I moved to Wisconsin for college. The brutal Midwest winter made me incredibly homesick, and monthly visits to the local Indian grocery store became my primary source of comfort. When I moved to New York for my first job, I decided to create IndiFix for college students that were probably going through what I did.
Surprisingly enough, most of our customers were curious Americans wanting to explore Indian snacks. Sharing India's rich snacking culture and a vital part of my upbringing with others brings me incredible joy. It motivates me to keep doing what I do.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment so far has been taking criticism well. Although rare, the handful of times I've received feedback from an unhappy customer, I've made sure never to take it personally. As a business owner, I think it's easy to get offended when someone doesn't like your product/service, and it takes patience and practice to view any form of criticism as constructive.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Trying to stay accountable to yourself is certainly one of the hardest things that come with being an entrepreneur. As a solo business owner, nobody is watching over you, so you have to do daily check-ins with yourself to ensure your actions and decisions align with your purpose.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start now. You'll learn way more in the process than you will from any amount of research you do beforehand.
- Don't try to do everything on your own, no matter how tempting it may seem. Delegation is the only way to grow your business exponentially.
- Be your own biggest cheerleader. Be sure to validate your ideas or accomplishments before someone else.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.indifix.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiFixBox/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indifixbox/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/indifixbox
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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