With uncertainty around reopening of schools that were closed in March 2020 in view of the Covid19 pandemic, Sugan Uniforms which has stocked up uniforms for the academic year has faced low scale in business during the lockdown. With uncertainty around reopening of schools that were closed in March 2020 in view of the Covid19 pandemic, Sugan Uniforms which has stocked up uniforms for the academic year has faced low scale in business during the lockdown.
Talking to Stimulus Magazine, Dipesh Jain – CEO of Sugan Uniforms said, “Most of our business was dependent on school uniforms, as all the schools were shut down for more than 10 months, we were deeply impacted, the only thing is running now is corporate business, which has picked up speed. After the corporate offices are open we are seeing quite a demand in the business in the last three months.”
Embarked
Sugan Uniforms was started in 1975 by Vijayakumar Jain, they deal specifically on uniforms; they are into the multichannel uniform supply to schools, corporates, institutions, hotels, and hospitals. The company has eight stores in Chennai, where they have retail business mainly with school and institutional uniforms for smaller SMEs. They have B2C (mostly retail SMEs) and B2B (larger corporates).
Early days
“I started working for full time from the year 2003, before that I was on and off; technically I started when I was in school as part-time. From class 9, all my summer vacation used to be interning at the retail stores” said Dipesh Jain.
Recalling the memories, Dipesh shares that, “Grew up in this kind of environment was different, there are a lot of departments in our store, right from the doorman, billing, sales, and packing, we were giving training for every staff in each department. So, when we were interning, we were asked to master each department every day. Through that way, I was able to learn the trade at an early age. In those days, this work was more exciting than going out and playing in the summer holidays. But this work was more challenging and fun.”
Business tie ups
Sugan Uniforms has tied up with many companies. Even Dipesh is not able to give the exact number. However, they have the largest market share for Chennai in school uniforms. Lot of their business is B2C, where many customers come directly to buy uniforms for their children. The per cent of B2B is 30. Under this category, they supply uniforms to schools directly.
Branches
Sugan Uniforms has eight branches in Chennai. All the shops are based on B2C. The stores are located at T Nagar, Anna Nagar, Adyar, Porur, Velachery, Sembakkam, Mylaore and Puraiswakkam.
By-product
Thought the core product of Sugan Uniforms remains the uniforms, they also sell ‘after school wear’, which involves every day wear for school going children. This is for their B2C customers at the retail stores. However, they don’t concentrate on party or functions wear.
This Sugan Uniforms’ USP is that it is a complete package for school children, where they provide uniforms and the clothes after schooling for the children.
Working pattern
The company has a smart planning of work throughout the year. “We divide the year in schools and corporates. For schools, we supply uniforms in the first half of the year predominately. Then we concentrate on the corporate companies in the second half of the year. Fortunately, corporate companies’ orders are less when our school uniforms orders are at the peak. Likewise, when the season is over, the corporate demand starts peeking up” says Dipesh Jain.
Pandemic crises
Meanwhile, when a lot of businesses faced economic crises during the pandemic lockdown, where workers were laid off and there was cost-cutting exercise, Sugan Uniforms have not retrenched any worker from the company since March. Also, not a month’s salary has been cut off. It is not been revised downwards. The company believes that this is the way they could say their workers that ‘we are there at hard times’.
However, as far as school orders are concerned, the active business will get pick up only after the schools are reopened.
Lesson from Covid19 pandemic
This year has given a lot of lessons and wake up calls to many in many respects and Sugan Uniforms is no exception. “This pandemic gave us a lot of clarity on the business side on how to move forward. So, I would actually be thankful, because of this we are making the right moves. The world is much prepared, at least the business community now on how to handle tough situations” says Dipesh Jain.
Future plans
Sugan Uniforms plans to expand its retail network to 10 stores 2021. They aim to het the largest market shares in Chennai in the retail segment.
“We will expand the company and remain in the top slot” Dipesh Jain concludes.