Expo Bazaar USA can be an internet market connecting small companies and artisans in India with specialty retailers within the U.S. [Photo: Expo Bazaar USA]
Arun Agarwal heads considered one of America’s largest dwelling textile corporations from his workplace within the Dallas Design District. As CEO of Nextt, he’s bought bedding merchandise to everybody from Neiman Marcus to Walmart and Bloomingdale’s to Costco. (“Every two seconds, a sheet set by the company is sold,” Nextt says.) His firm additionally manufactures dwelling décor, clothes, and textiles for specialty retailers and high manufacturers throughout the U.S.
But now the Indian-born entrepreneur is coming full circle—with a brand new tech platform that helps join artisans and craftspeople in India to specialty shops and designers within the U.S.
The B2B market—Expo Bazaar USA—will launch subsequent month as a three way partnership between Nextt and exporter India Exposition Mart Ltd.
Arun Agarwal, co-founding father of Expo Bazaar and CEO of Expo Bazaar USA. [Photo: Expo Bazaar USA]
“Main Street is the driving part of U.S. business…and they’re looking for the help,” Agarwal, co-founding father of Expo Bazaar and CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, informed Dallas Innovates. “We thought if we bring this, this is really going to be providing a lifeline to them. We are providing them focus, learning from all the needs they have, and delivering it in this platform.”
Expo Bazaar is ‘India, curated’
Describing it as “India, curated for the world,” Agarwal mentioned the enterprise has greater than 200 individuals in India and leaders from giant U.S. retailers placing collectively a collection of tons of of 1000’s of merchandise—starting from handicrafts to dwelling décor. Specialty distributors within the U.S. can use to discover new merchandise to inventory their cabinets, with Expo Bazaar providing “zip code protection,” making certain that sellers within the U.S. have items distinctive to their space.
“It’s curated by merchants who know the U.S. market. It’s accumulated by designers who have been part of the retail system here,” Agarwal mentioned. “So for the buyer, really half the job is already done. The team is guiding the small manufacturer in terms of the sustainability factor, and our portal is providing support to them.”
Uplifting artisans and small companies in India
In addition to being a connection instrument, Expo Bazaar goals to uplift the Indian artisan and small enterprise group. While providing their wares on , Expo Bazaar helps Indian sellers with issues like product images, advertising copy, and telling the story behind their items.
From getting the product from India to retailer cabinets within the U.S., Expo Bazaar additionally acts as a logistics service, serving to with issues like packaging and stock administration. To assist keep away from provide chain points which have plagued different industries all through the pandemic, Agarwal mentioned Expo will retailer stock on within the U.S. He added that being an digital platform permits Expo to change merchandise on and off shortly, whereas creating a way of urgency amongst U.S. patrons, who he mentioned can use the platform as an extension of their very own stock.
“One thing I’ve learned in business, no matter what product you sell, if you don’t have your supply chain and logistics in place, you will fail,” Agarwal mentioned. “And it’s never been more important than today.”
The pandemic created a possibility
Agarwal obtained his begin promoting items with Indian block print designs at North Richland Hills Mall in 1998. He switched to promoting bedding with a handshake deal with Mumbai-based manufacturing big Alok Industries, beginning as a U.S. advertising subsidiary earlier than separating from the corporate in 2014 and putting out as Nextt.
He mentioned the thought for Expo Bazaar happened amid the pandemic. After many commerce exhibits had been shut down and worldwide journey was restricted, he discovered that small artisans and producers had been unable to discover the worldwide attain that they had earlier than. At the identical time, he noticed small companies and specialty retailers struggling to handle provide chains and compete with bigger retailers on worth and stock.
“Both of them have been suffering in terms of finding proper forces to connect with each other,” Agarwal mentioned. “That’s where the idea of Expo Bazaar came about: How do we connect them together, provide that value addition, and really become the driving force for small- to mid-sized businesses?”
Planning to go world
Though Expo Bazaar has but to absolutely launch, Agarwal has large plans for the enterprise. It’s one thing he is aware of effectively after rising Nextt into an almost 100-person firm with round $500 million in annual income. First, Expo is trying to join U.S. designers with Indian producers to develop distinctive, particular person collections. From there, will look to go world.
“I’m not doing D2C, but I’m helping my B2Bs do D2C,” Agarwal mentioned. “This will be transformative to help small business in both countries by making this connection.”
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