In our relentless pursuit to identify and share with our community some of the unique and compelling startup stories from the ecosystem, this week we spoke to seasoned entrepreneur and business leader Iti Rawat – Founder of Think Hall Academy to know more about her startup story.
Thinkhall is a Retail industry focussed, company which provides training, recruitment and consultancy services to retail industry and other support industry related to retail. We have a competent team of experts who customise our services for the clients. It is one of the fastest-growing start-ups within their spectrum. Let’s find out more!
Excerpts from our conversation with the founder of Think Hall Academy:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, tell us a little bit about your startup and the problems you guys are solving, please;
Thinkhall Training and Consultancy is a skill development firm. We are into bridging the gap existing between our education system to what industry is looking for in a professional.
We are also career growth enhancers. We provide the right skill sets to a person and also provide career opportunities. Thinkhall has also been benefiting the corporate trainer’s community by bringing to them the best opportunities existing in the industry. Needless to say, these projects come to them with timely payment and rightful payment.
You are the Founder & Director of ‘Think Hall Academy’ that has such a unique name. Our audience would love to know where did the unique idea to start something like this come from?
Thinkhall the name itself inspires you to stay knowledgeable. We believe Thinkhall is a knowledge hub and even our brand uses lots of yellow which is the colour of knowledge.
Thinkhallacademy.com started with our expertise in the retail training business. We were completely offline earlier for 6 years, and now we have an online presence which is the need of the hour. Thinkhall is solving the industry’s real pain point of finding the right professionals skilling them with the relevant courses, authentic trainers and providing the best training solutions for them, including content preparation and delivery. We are also upskilling those looking for career growth and mentorship.”
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
Fortunately, Covid did not make a massive impact on our business. We were agile enough to quickly shift our focus to online content and delivery. Our online academy saw a massive sum in learning hours and it was an exciting time for us in terms of business growth.
We also saw a dipping market for hiring the same time, which was impacting but then also it was a great time to build the supply pool. Once the market of hiring opens again, we are surely going to benefit from this.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives the team?
It was a changed world post covid. But our team held hands and we stayed positive. The best thing about our team is self-responsibility. They work as an entrepreneur and are responsible for their commitment to work. We have just placed our trust on them, the same way they have trusted us. We have a professional environment still we look out for each other as a family. Hence, Thinkhall has a very positive environment to work in. It is a 360-degree decision-making centre, with transparent policies. This makes us an excellent place to work in and drives productivity.
Although a bootstrapped startup, and even when the team was at home due to lockdown, they were paid in full salary, without any kind of deductions.
Please share with us about your expansion plans?
Coming online itself is going to make a huge difference and there are lots for us to capture here as a market. We recently launched our Live online Coaching for those looking for live mentoring sessions.”
We are intending to focus on our trainers now to bring them a platform which is going to bring business to them, sitting at their homes. There is a plan for hiring now across the board for us. Even for the recruitment site, we are making it extremely client-friendly, solving the real problems of the customer.
What has worked well for you so far?
We have been very agile and we work based on industry norms, readapting has never been a problem for us. The lean structure that we work in, is extremely cost-sensitive and high on profits. At the same time, we believe in hiring right. We spend a lot on human resource, needless to say, that with ed-tech now as a focus a lot of investment is currently going in the technology side as well. But the power of an organisation is in its people. Thinkhall believes in the power of people as well. We are extremely choosy about whom to hire, but those onboarded sticks to us for long term.
What is one strategy that you guys believe has helped you grow as a team/startup?
Thinkhall has been very client-friendly and we have built an ecosystem around us which has helped us deliver every time according to clients requirements. We have customised programs for clients, upskill our customers according to the relevant need of the industry. The focussed vision that we built is to “Enhance Retail Experience” which is extremely empowering. This helps us deliver many services which cater to the client’s requirements. We are also able to control the quality very well due to the fact that we build it all in house.
In your opinion – what is more necessary: Idea or a good team for a successful startup?
I believe execution is the most important. The idea can be brought from anywhere, but how you execute is really what matters. We have seen many startups fail as they keep dwelling on their ideas, or have not put the proper process in place and are too focussed on the profits. So timely execution, with a simple workable process, and passion to achieve a vision is what needs for a startup to be successful.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out?
Rome was not built in a day, grit and perseverance are what will help you going through the tough times. Also, be passionate about your ideas, but be open to share ideas, reiterate and change business plans according to the changing environment.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
