Iconic Designs: She creates magic in interiors; wins hearts

Designing is an exciting and thrilling experience for this entrepreneur who completed her courses in fashion designing and interior designing to become a well accomplished businesswoman. Being a B.Com graduate, Sujatha wanted to start a business a few years ago, but it was not possible then.

After 8 years, she tried her luck again and started doing wall decor business which involves designing wallpapers, liquid wallpapers, customised wallpapers, vertical gardens and different kinds of furniture. "I have my family's immense support without which I can't fulfil my dream of becoming a businesswoman," says Sujatha, the founder of Iconic Designs. She says "Learning interior designing clicked and I launched my company Iconic Designs on March 8, 2016."

She was also a part of Business Networking International (BNI) group where she learnt many things related to business and her client base increased immensely wherein the company has been performing successfully for 6 years under her continuous efforts to make her company a great success.

Sujatha had go through many struggles in her life because the business moved at a snail's pace in beginning. "The major struggle was during the pandemic period where I was getting orders, but the labourers were not allowed into anyone's house, as a result I had to lose several lucrative contracts," says Sujatha. "I had to take the brickbats from the society, wherein people used to discourage me to work and always tried to pick loopholes in my work," adds Sujatha. Weathering the tough times, she motivated herself and brought laurels to her company through immense effort and hard work.

As far as the advertisement of her company is concerned, Sujatha believes in word-of-mouth advertising and in using WhatsApp and other social media platforms for the purpose.

"A client sees my work in pictures and videos and entrusts me the project. My completed projects speak of my work," says Sujatha.

She started her company by taking a loan of just Rs 10,000 and now has succeeded in achieving great heights.

Sujatha has won laurels from several companies who congratulated her for her creative work. "This is to appreciate Muthu Sujatha from Iconic Design dealing in wallpapers. I wanted to get wallpapers and other accessories for a few of my apartments and so I got in touch with ma'am. She showed her catalogues. The variety and the quality that she has, is just amazing. I can say it is not just wallpaper but much more than that. I am highly impressed and satisfied with the work that they have done for us. I would always recommend this interior design company for any wallpaper requirement," compliments Kawaljit Singh Sabharwal, a client.

Sujatha believes that when the government helps women entrepreneurs to start their own business through loan, it becomes a huge responsibility of one who takes a loan to pay back it correctly so that the same amount can be used for other women who need the money. "The government should give simple procedures to take loan as some women are from village and are not well educated. Again they have to depend on others to fill the form," asserts Sujatha. Interest rate should be very less for startup women because they need time to establish their business.

In order to begin a startup, Sujatha believes in working hard and following a plan to uplift the business strongly.

"Keep encouraging yourself, re-invest the profit in business, learn new things from people, after acquired the relevant knowledge, improve and work on it and don't listen to people who discourage you," says Sujatha.

According to Sujatha, every woman should be independent and learn new technologies which will help in the growth of the business.