From Playground Hustler to $10m+ Collegiate Apparel Empire

Looking Backward

Nesha Sanghavi, founder of chicka-d, discusses the brand's focus on elevated premium essentials for women, with a primary market in collegiate apparel and secondary resort market selling non-licensed items to vacationers.

The majority of chicka-d's business is wholesale, with a small percentage in direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. Nesha shares the inventory and payment process for wholesale orders, as well as the company's growth from a small team to 40 employees.

She also reflects on her early entrepreneurial experiences selling hair clips and working at a pool concession stand and Limited Too. Nesha discusses her switch from pre-med to finance and her internship experiences at Morgan Stanley and WVBIT.

The conversation covers topics such as unclaimed property, office politics, setting ambitious goals, and the challenges of working at well-known brands. Nesha also discusses her experience at BNY Mellon and Puma, as well as the process of launching her first product line. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of being persistent, adaptable, and focused on profitability.

Takeaways

• chicka-d is a women's apparel wholesale brand that focuses on elevated premium essentials, primarily in the collegiate apparel market.
• The resort market is another segment of chicka-d's business, where they sell non-licensed items to vacationers.
• The majority of chicka-d's business is wholesale, with a small percentage in direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales.
• Nesha Sanghavi shares her early entrepreneurial experiences selling hair clips and working at a pool concession stand and Limited Too. Unclaimed property can take various forms, including real estate, safety deposit boxes, and inheritance.
• Office politics and the Peter Principle can hinder career growth and success.
• Setting ambitious goals and believing in oneself are crucial for personal and professional growth.
• Starting a business requires persistence, adaptability, and a focus on profitability.