From Inspiration to Creation: A Passion for Pottery
Mumbai: The first WhatsApp Business Summit in India, was held on 12th September 2024 and a slew of features and updates were announced which will help businesses across the country build a presence, create great in-chat experiences for their customers and drive performance ahead of the upcoming festive season.
Millions of small businesses in India rely on the WhatsApp Business app, and many have expressed the need to stand out and build credibility with their customers. Now, Meta Verified is available to all eligible small businesses using WhatsApp Business in India. Businesses that choose to subscribe and prove their authenticity will receive a verified badge, protection from impersonation, account support, and premium features that enhance their online presence. This badge will also be visible on their WhatsApp Channels and Business pages, making it easy to share on social media and websites. It has also rolled out a new feature that allows small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app to send personalized messages to their customers.
WhatsApp has also simplified the process and do not want customers to experience a clutter like other platforms causing them to miss important messages from people and businesses they care about. That’s why the focus is on helping businesses create meaningful and valuable connections. Whether designing a custom Flow or running a messaging campaign for a holiday sale.
Last but not the least listen to your customers. They will let you know when enough is enough. Even if they opt-in to hear about a sale or promotion, they may not want to receive messages multiple times a day or week.
As India enters the festive season, we believe that these latest updates, along with best practices, will enable businesses to boost their sales and drive growth. By leveraging these innovations, businesses can tap into the festive surge and unlock new opportunities for success.
MadeInMedia.in caught up with Shivika Sabharwal, a young youthful entrepreneur running her own Pottery Studio in Gurugram, Haryana. She also teaches pottery to both adults and kids,
Sabharwal’s pottery beautifully mirrors her profound connection with nature and limitless creativity. After exploring diverse artistic paths, she discovered her true medium in clay, where the fusion of form and color gives her the freedom to express her ideas fully. Under the guidance of industry experts and through constant refinement, Shivika has elevated her passion into a renowned art form.
Journey
Shivika has always had a deep appreciation for art in all its forms. After finishing school and moving to Gurugram, she began visiting Anandgram, which hosts a collective exhibition of potters in December, as well as Triveni in Delhi. These visits ignited her passion for pottery, leading her to enroll in pottery classes at Anandgram.
After mastering the basics, she continued her studies at Zorba The Buddha in Gurugram, where she learned about colors, glazing, and the specific temperatures required for each piece. She also explored the differences between gas and electric kilns—working with a gas kiln at the school, though she now uses an electric kiln in her studio.
In 2019, Shivika took a four-month course under Sandeep Manjrekar in Indapur. Later that year, she set up her own pottery studio.
Setting up business
In 2019, I held my second exhibition, and we set up a small studio in our home. My mother, who has also been a significant part of my pottery journey, shared the same workspace with me. However, we soon realized we needed a larger space, and during the lockdown, we built a bigger studio. Since a gas kiln wasn’t feasible, I traveled to Bengaluru to learn how to operate an electric kiln. We then ordered one from the US, which I now use in my studio.
WhatsApp as the business model
Previously, we relied on various methods like ads and posters. In May this year, I held two pottery classes—one for kids and another for adults. By June, with children on vacation, many enrolled in my classes, and through word of mouth, people also started visiting the studio for corporate bookings. WhatsApp has been incredibly helpful in broadcasting updates, and beyond my existing customers, I’ve seen a steady rise in new clientele.
Future Plans
I am very happy as to how the business has shaped up thanks to WhatsApp, I will continue to use it and as Pottery needs new customers every time WhatsApp helps me in that.