The cerebral businessman

MEET YOUR ENTREPRENEUR/KAMLESH PATEL

Kamlesh Patel likes to attribute the smooth journey of his personal and professional life to his focus on intellectual moorings.

From manufacturing ice-cream paper cups and building high rises to setting up an exclusive women's store, Patel, managing director of Ruchi Group, has tasted success in everything he has done so far.

Patel, after completing CA inter in 1982, discontinued studies in search of more adventurous and exiting career options and ventured into manufacturing paper cups for Vadilal ice-cream on the advise of his friend Rajesh Gandhi, owner of Vadilal ice-cream.

"I started manufacturing paper cups for Vadilal with my saving account balance of Rs 3,100," said Patel.

In 1986 Patel sold his paper manufacturing unit for Rs 6 lakh and ventured into real estate business on the advise of one of his well-wisher, Hasmukh Patel, a renowned architect.

All the 20 projects undertaken by Patel show the focus on aesthetics and basic amenities fulfilling all customer needs.

In 2000, though the turnover of Ruchi Builders was around Rs five crore, Patel felt the real estate business lacking clearness and decided to venture into some thing more creative.

"After real estate, I ventured into women's life style retail stores by setting up Tamanna at Panchvati, which is more sensitive and creative because women always have more spending power, along with time and passion for shopping." said Patel.

Tamanna was started with an initial investment of Rs two crore and being the one of its kind of exclusive store with strong brand image is able to mark its position in the over crowded retail market in Ahmedabad. The company had posted a turnover of Rs three crore in fiscal 2002-2003.

Most of the prestigious national brands of Satya Paul, Jaipur Saree Kendra, and Amarpali are available along with Javed Habib beauty parlour in the 'Tamanna' store.

Patel introduced the concept of having a beauty parlour in a store, which was adopted by Shopper's Stop in association with Patel and Javed Habib.

All the Shopper's Stop beauty parlours are named 'Habib Tamanna' with the space input from Shopper's Stop, technical input by Javed Habib, and administrative support by Patel.

"At this point of time, I am planning to have more 'Habib Tamanna' and the next three years I am planning to invest in my kids' education," said Patel.

Patel's wife Bhavana looks after the merchandising of the company. His daughter Ruchi is interested in academic research in bio-technology, while son Shilen likes to become an entrepreneur like his father.

"I want my children to chose their own careers and do not want to force them to join my business," said Patel.

Patel being an introspective person loves more of philosophy and attributes his creative success to Dashrath Patel, a renowned designer, who guided him in moulding his thought process.

Forty-two-year old Patel loves to spent his free time with his family and have a passion for travelling.

Patel attributes 60 per cent of his success to luck, 20 per cent to efforts, 10 per cent to vision and the remaining 10 per cent to planning.

On his principle of life, Patel said, "Introspection is the best thing that one can have."