Meet the SHEROES - Noopur Bakshi

“Oobuntoo is just the next adventure in my life. One I’m especially proud of because it’s a culmination of all my passions - creativity, business skills, community service, a love for travel and quality shopping” says Noopur Bakshi.

Oobuntoo offers curated handicrafts that are made by artisans around the world. Let’s hear more about the objectives of the venture and Noopur’s entrepreneurial journey.

Tell us a little about yourself

I grew up in Bombay in a creative family of curious people with open minds, who always encouraged out of the box thinking. My father was a serial entrepreneur before his time and always made sure I was involved in his work. He would find simple tasks for me to do as a child and as I grew older, he would present me with more complex business problems to solve. You could say I have been working at being an entrepreneur all my life.

The other thing I have always been involved in is social work. My pet cause has always been empowerment and development through education and skills training. Mainly for the youth but also for the artisan communities I now work with through Oobuntoo.

I don’t believe in having one career your whole life and I have already had a number of successful careers to prove it. I have channelled my creativity into being a professional photographer, featured in Better Interiors magazine and working with interior designers all over the country. I have also worked with a number of art galleries and The Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney. I have been Director Next Generation at Rotary eClub of Pune since the past two years and for the past decade I have used my education and qualifications as a business consultant for some of the top companies in Australia including Woolworths, Westpac and ING Direct.

How did the idea of Oobuntoo come about?

Many centuries-old tribal cultures and handcrafting techniques are going extinct. A need to help revive this legacy of craftsmanship and support indigenous communities in their up-liftment while giving today’s conscious consumer ethically sourced, quality products that have a sense of time and place all led to the idea of Oobuntoo.

I have travelled extensively and spent time living around the world from India and Africa to Brazil and Australia. I’d always come back from my travels with unique things that I found somewhere and everyone would love them. That along with the need to give thoughtful gifts led to the birth of Oobuntoo.

What do you give someone who already has everything? The gift of something that is one of a kind, hand crafted with care by a person who probably took three months to create it.

Oobuntoo comes from the African word for "human kindness" or "humanity toward others,” and at Oobuntoo we believe that while our customers are supporting our artisans, our artisans give back equally by sharing their skills, knowledge and time in creating works of art for our customers.

More and more, people don’t want to buy just a brand name but rather they buy what the brand stands for. Customers are more invested in brands that share their own ethics and beliefs. Our aim is for our customers to be advocates not only of Oobuntoo but also the causes and people we support.

What are the core services / objectives of your venture?

Oobuntoo is a luxury online destination for curated, handcrafted products from artisans around the world, where contemporary design meets traditional technique. Every product is sourced ethically, supports our global indigenous communities and preserves our collective cultural heritage as world citizens. We believe shopping can have a positive social impact 100% of the time.

OOBUNTOO.com stocks exclusive pieces that are limited in quantity and superior in quality, with many one of a kind pieces and most made to order. Our site showcases over 25 conscious and sustainable designer brands from every continent offering art, jewelry, bags, accessories and home goods for men, women and kids.

Oobuntoo is the experience of global travel, with a difference. It’s an immersion in the local colour, culture and craft found in souks, medinas, bazaars and markets. A place to discover unique finds with modern aesthetics and old-world charm. At Oobuntoo, our customers can wander the world, buy something with heart and soul.

In addition to the retail store and our social initiatives, we are also a collective for like-minded and ethical brands from around the world. A place of discovery, collaboration and creativity.

What were some of the challenges you faced when setting up?

One of the biggest challenges for us has been logistics. Our artisans are based in remote locations often with no internet connectivity and poor infrastructure. Due to the nature of the products, we need to place orders 4 to 5 months in advance to allow for enough production and shipping time. Also getting the products to Australia, is expensive and time-consuming.

What is a typical day at work like for you?

Everyday, on top of being a mother and an entrepreneur, I have to manage the house work, find time for my community work, dedicate time to my husband and make time for myself. I have learned to be very strict and disciplined with my time.

While there is no typical day in the content of what I do, I try and have a typical routine that’s based around my own energy and productivity cycle.

I start my work day at 7am every morning. After a quick review of the progress from yesterday, I focus on my three most important tasks for the day. Getting these done keeps me stress free and allows me to be flexible for the rest of the day.

After that, each day I dedicate time to a developing a different area of the business which keeps thing interesting and different for me. Early afternoon, I complete my admin activities and follow ups. In the afternoon my energy dips so I take a me-break and exercise or just relax for a bit.

Late afternoon, I schedule meetings because the personal interaction stimulates my mind and energises me for the evening ahead. Once my family is home, until they go to bed, work is banned. I use some time before I sleep to plan and organise the next day.

I do not believe in multi-tasking. I believe in doing many things in a day but I give each thing my complete attention. Allocating specific time to focus on each aspect of my life allows me to stay balanced.

What are your plans for Oobuntoo in the next 5 years?

To make a definite and concrete impact on the lives of the artisans we work with and to be the go to destination for unique and conscious gift items and personal products.

What core tips should new entrepreneurs keep in mind?

Always put your customers first

Done is better than perfect - Improve, fine-tune and adapt based on feedback

Never stop learning - Failure is a good thing

Collaborate - It’s okay to ask for help

Be disciplined with your time

Work Hard - there is no substitute for it

Remember why you started your business and have fun

Can you leave our readers with a few thoughts?

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take some time out to be happy. Be grateful for your blessings and give back to those less fortunate. Do good work, don’t worry about the rewards. Most importantly, make sure your next gift is bought with thought from www.oobuntoo.com