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Convert stones into milestones. While this saying is understood by many, it is applied by a few. And those few create history. Standing up against difficulties is tough. What makes it even more painful is doing it against your family. Working your way up is a struggle. And at every point of time, Chinu Kala had to face this struggle to rise to the top.
At the age of 15, when most children are about to end their school life and enter college life, young Chinu had to face uncompromising opposition from her family and was eventually thrown out of the house and left to fend for herself. With Rs. 300 in hand, surviving was tough, even in the '90s.
Young Chinu never looked back. She stayed at a dormitory where even the cost of per night's stay could end up that Rs. 300 in a month. And her accommodation only included a mattress. Chinu knew that this money would finish quickly if she did not take immediate steps. Thus began Chinu's journey in the business world.
Rs.300, though it was a good amount in the '90s, it was not enough to start a career, let alone a business. Determination and efforts can move mountains. This is what Chinu had in her. She started as a salesperson and knocked on every door that came in her way. Since it was the 90's, knocking on every door was not as difficult as it is now. But the chances of rejection were never less. Since she was a young teen with no prior training about sales, Chinu had to face rejections far more often. While most people would get frustrated and give up, she did not. The rejections made her even more determined.
Chinu was not the Young Chinu now. At the bare age of 16, she had matured into a woman who was ready to work tirelessly to achieve what she wanted. Her efforts resulted in her being promoted as a supervisor. Her efforts landed her the job of waitressing at a restaurant. Slowly but steadily, those Rs.300 started blooming. At that time, Chinu changed jobs for the better, and within 3 years, she became financially stable.
Chinu married Amit Kala in 2004 and 2 years later, she entered the Gladrags Mrs India Pageant. This is where she had her first brush with the fashion world. She started working as a model and realized the gap between the fashion industry and fashion jewellery. Whatever Chinu had saved, she decided to invest it into fashion jewellery, and thus Rubans was born in 2004.
Since Chinu was brought up in a humble background, she knew everything costed money. Her designs and prices were such that a middle-class person could afford her jewellery just as easily as a wealthy person could. From a small startup, the eventual rise of Rubans had started.
From struggling to afford a small retail space in Bengaluru to opening branches in Kochi, Hyderabad, and Koramangala, Rubans was ready to enjoy the fruits of Chinu's efforts. Sales grew exponentially. Hundreds became thousands, and thousands became Lakhs.
Rubans became a known name with every passing day. Dedication, efforts, and the refusal to break even in the worst scenario helped Rs.300 to reach the 15 crores.
Chinu's story is an inspiration for everyone who aspires to make their dreams come true. We, at Glow and Lovely, wish that every girl is able to achieve her dreams and fulfil her wishes. For this, there are different initiatives that you will find on this site. From online courses and career guidance for girls to scholarships, jobs for women and internships -- we are there to help whenever you wish.