Arjumand Aazad (formerly known as Arjmand Qureshi)
Qualification: MBA in Human Resources from the University of Wales, UK
Certification: Certified Operational Manager from ITDC India (India Tourism Development Corporation)
Work Experience: Extensive work experience in London (7 companies) and India (6 companies), including holding the position of General Manager in a hotel.
Hobbies and Passions: Exploring business opportunities and growth options, Writing Poetry, Playing Cricket, Doing Charity Work, Investing in Cryptocurrency.
Background: I had settled in London with the goal of obtaining British citizenship, which was my lifelong dream. Unfortunately, circumstances changed when my father passed away and my mother’s health deteriorated. In January 2013, I made the difficult decision to permanently return from London, leaving behind all my dreams. Starting from scratch, I ventured into an IT software support-related business in partnership with friends in 2015. However, I faced betrayal from my friends and had to start the same business again with another close friend, only to be betrayed once more. These ventures were solely meant to meet my needs and were not aligned with my true passion.
Entrepreneurial Journey: Despite the setbacks, I finally fulfilled my ten-year-old dream by launching my own brand, The Cashmir STAG, on October 24, 2020, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This brand represents an authentic Kashmiri experience, offering a diverse range of products sourced directly from Kashmir and available worldwide under a single brand name. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with The Cashmir STAG gaining recognition and appreciation from customers in various parts of India and abroad.
Success and Expansion: Over the past year, we have achieved significant sales both in our store located in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and through our online platforms, including social media sites and YouTube. Building on this success, we are excited to announce the opening of our second store in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, on August 1, 2021. The Cashmir STAG has become a well-known brand in Himachal Pradesh, and we have also begun exporting Kashmiri kurtis to Malaysia and Kashmiri leather handbags, wallets, and sling bags to Mauritius. With increasing export orders, we are now preparing to serve clients in Germany, the UK, and several other European countries. As licensed exporters authorized by the government of India, we ensure the highest standards in our operations.
Future Plans: Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans to expand our chain of stores across different cities in India by 2023. In 2022, we are scheduled to open our first international physical store in London, further strengthening our global presence. We have already successfully delivered online orders to customers in India, the UK, Canada, Germany, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Malaysia, and the US. YouTube has played a pivotal role in facilitating our global reach, as we have acquired both our export clients through this platform.
Product Range: Currently, we offer a wide range of handicraft and other products from Kashmir, including clothing, saffron, honey, shilajit, kehwa, curtains, bed covers, diwan sets, cushion covers, kurtis, handbags, wallets, sling bags, decoration items, paper mache, walnut wood hand-carved items, and much more.
Best regards,
Arjumand Aazad