In this exclusive interview on Women Entrepreneur Day, we had the privilege of speaking with the accomplished Natasha Jain, the visionary founder of Bent Chair. Natasha has not only carved a niche for herself in the business world but has also been a trailblazer for women entrepreneurs, breaking barriers and setting new standards.
In this insightful conversation, Natasha graciously takes us through her entrepreneurial journey, sharing the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that have shaped her success. We delve into the intricacies of setting up a business, gaining valuable insights from Natasha’s firsthand experiences and expertise. Her story is not just a testament to her resilience and innovation but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring women entrepreneurs looking to embark on their entrepreneurial ventures.
How did you come up with the Bent Chair?
Bent Chair was born to revive the lost skills of local artisans in India. I had just moved back from the States to India after a long stint in the IT industry, ready to start afresh and hoping to move into the manufacturing section. At the time, I was putting together my home, and being from Ambala, I was in touch with local artisans to customise my home decor for me. I realised the gap in the market for quirky and modern-looking decor handcrafted by local artisans and used that opportunity to give life to Bent Chair. The brand fell in line with my vision to uplift and revive the skills of local Indian artisans in the manufacturing sector, while creating products that hold an international appeal.
What were the challenges you faced in the beginning?
I don’t think there is a challenge that I didn’t face! Everything from finances and the how-to of setting up a manufacturing business in India, to providing credibility to the brand through high-quality products and building trust; I’ve faced it all. I’ve taken every opportunity we had to talk about the brand, the processes, and even the people behind the processes, and then ensure that we deliver everything that we said we do. You can say, it’s been an interesting six years building Bent Chair.
Did people take you seriously as a female entrepreneur? How did you overcome that?
I think it is always challenging to be a female entrepreneur and it was a challenge I chose to face head-on when I started. People tend to not take women entrepreneurs seriously easily, but ultimately, regardless of gender, I believe that to be taken seriously and considered at par with other entrepreneurs, one needs to not only have a clear vision but to also ensure that they deliver on the same. It’s about being good at your work, showcasing your skillset, and about delivering what you pitched on time. Of course, I received a lot of pushback, but I stuck to my guns and delivered again and again, till everyone started taking me seriously.
It’s not just the Bent Chair that you manage. There are many other restaurants that you are a part of. Please tell us about that.
A few years ago, I decided to foray into the world of hospitality, while still keeping Bent Chair at the heart of it. That is how Plum by Bent Chair came about, going on to become India’s first retail restaurant. It brought Bent Chair into the limelight, with more and more people being able to envision eccentric decor in their private spaces through the setup of the outlet. The hospitality sector also allowed me to get as creative as I liked, while attempting to one-up myself with every new outlet. After three Plum by Bent Chair franchises, I took other hospitality design projects such as Diablo, Miso Sexy, Noche, Tickled Pink, and more, to help Bent Chair expand its horizons and expand into design for commercial spaces.
What will be your quick tips for someone who is working hard to become a successful businesswoman?
I’d only have one tip: Believe in yourself and keep working hard. The path is rough and not well-paved for us, but the results can be beautiful and empowering and reinforce the path for others to follow. Where there is hard work and perseverance, it will always pay off, though the timelines may vary.
How has the pandemic changed the business? What are the changes you saw?
The pandemic has changed a lot of things, from the priorities and mindsets of the customers to the way a business functions. It taught me the importance of being a lean company and having control over the way we run a business, apart from the need of always have an emergency budget to help through tough times. The pandemic also taught us about prioritizing, whether it is goals for the company or shopping habits for customers. The downtime helped everyone, especially businesses, find newer means of moving forward and investing in things like training and human resources.
What are the 2023 home decor trends?
Some of the more interesting trends that we look forward to this year are the return to classic pieces but with a twist of eccentricity. 2023 will be about decluttering, moving away from loud maximalism and toward a softer bohemian, and earthy approach. In terms of furniture, curves are making a comeback as opposed to geometrically shaped designs, giving a softer look to the space. A lot of importance will be given to lighting and lighting accessories as well this year.
5 tips for someone who is planning to redecorate the house.
Understand your style. Decorating your home in someone else’s style will leave you always feeling like an alien in your own home.
Try and have fun while redecorating. Not everything has to match and sometimes you can add some things simply because you liked them.
Function over fashion. Always make a comfortable house.
Classics over trends. Trends for the year or the decade will change but classic staples will stay eternal. I always suggest signature key pieces and designs, peppered with accents of trendy stuff.
Don’t be afraid to try something new or ‘outrageous’. It may very well become everyone’s favourite part of the house!
What’s next
We are proudly unveiling our latest creation at Bent Chair – the “Bent Surfaces” mosaic collection. This innovative assemblage seamlessly fuses creativity and skill, introducing a blend of cutting-edge design and meticulous craftsmanship.
Within this collection, we present four distinct series: Arcana, Geometrix, Giardino, and Stone Weave. Each series showcases versatile, modern, and nature-inspired designs that are bound to captivate and elevate your spaces. But that’s not all – “Bent Surfaces” signifies a pivotal moment for Bent Chair as we embark on a journey of self-reliance in manufacturing. We’ve ventured into captive manufacturing for water jet cutting and stone processing, a groundbreaking step that establishes new benchmarks in mosaic craftsmanship.