Cofounder of Horsely, Chinkit Patel takes the time to answer some questions about his horse related career.
How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Unfortunately, not often as I have recently moved closer to the CBD (inner city). Most of my time during the day is spent behind a laptop, managing our new brand HORSELY.
What is it exactly that you do?
HORSELY – it is not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle; aims to provide horse lover’s with high-quality, price-competitive products to meet their equestrian & lifestyle needs. A 7-year old family operated small business founded by close friends Chinkit & Gagan; manufacturing and retailing equestrian products in Sydney and Adelaide, Australia. Our brands are www.paylesssaddlery.com.au and our new baby is www.horsely.com.au – started in May 2017.
Our love for the outdoors, barn and Gagan’s leather craft as a ‘saddle maker’ brings us to all things equestrian. You will find us either at a coffee shop or in vineyards perhaps dreaming about our next adventure.
In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
I would love to say yes, however just like any other business, there are numerous challenges with an equestrian business. Unless you have 100k dollars stashed in your account, you are better off to continue with your day job while you set up your business.
Once you have tested the waters, the long term goal should always be to switch over completely to fuel your passion. With the right set of product/s that bring value to the community and a clear vision, it is absolutely possible to earn a liveable income or even more as a full time professional.
What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Apart from your passion for all things equestrian, to run an ecommerce business, you need to build your online presence. Our website is powered by Shopify which is a great ecommerce platform for beginners and experts alike. In today’s age, with so many apps and tools to assist with inventory, shipping, accounting, client management and social media marketing; you can save time and get to focus on your area of expertise. A good know how of business management practices is required.
Favourite horse memory?
That’s a tough one, as I am not a hard-core rider. I do enjoy leisure rides though. It is my dream to be able to spend more time around these magnificent beings and be more confident with riding.
Future goals?
Currently, most of our sales are in Australia. Our goal is to serve the horsey community globally. We are working to introduce an exciting new range of equestrian jewellery, bags and belts.
Best thing about your sport/profession?
In our experience, horsey people are adventurous, passionate and love a good laugh. There have been occasions when we were unable to meet customer expectations. During such times, we always make it a point to be honest and explain the real situation with sincere apologies. Our efforts to provide 5-star customer experience has often transformed furious customers to loyal fans and supporters.
On the other hand, customers that are happy with their purchase have been kind enough to appreciate and leave motivating feedback. After a day’s hard work, there is nothing more satisfying than a happy customer. This fuels our passion and pushes us to extend our boundaries. The ability to serve this amazing horsey community is what we love the most about our profession.
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