‘We’ve got the new generation excited’

If wishes were horses….folks would be in gifting haven, is what Priyanka Agarwal would have. For, the 25-year-old Wharton graduate has spun out a creative venture of having your friends and family buy you the gifts of your choice, through her online portal Wishberry.in. And in a country that’s quick on the uptake to ‘here and now’ fads, the concept’s got a great response, she reveals. “We’ve been online since July and have already about 1,000 registered users. Took a few months to convince folks and I have to say we have got the new generation quite excited over it,” she says.

It started with boring wedding gifts…
Little did Priyanka realise her own sister’s wedding a few years ago would lead her to her calling. “It was during that time that we were sitting around and opening gifts and realised that she had got so many gifts that were recycled,” recalls Priyanka. “One was shocking, it was a wine bottle with the label ‘To dear’ still on it that was just cut and re-presented. In addition, there were so many random gifts like silver plated frames and cutlery that we eventually melted into bricks to be used later on. I decided then that when I got married, I’d get rid of this ‘problem’,” she smiles.

Variety on the cards
The idea took further root when she took off abroad — first to Wharton to complete her graduation and then work as a management consultant. “I was exposed to the concept of wedding registries there,” she says. “You simply go to a store, choose what you want and friends buy the same for you.”
Back home in India, she got together with two friends and they created an online gift registry. “It wasn’t easy but we managed to get the best names together,” she adds.

The customer being discerning today, has made a positive inroad for her venture. “Indians today have more aspirations and we have people today making everything from birthday and wedding wishlists to charity ones too,” she announces. While watches, jewellery and chocolates (among other things) are on offer pan-India, food items may have to wait for now.

Any regrets of having left her management career on the side? “No, I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur — I’m a marwari and business is in my genes,” she grins.