Interviewer:How did you get the idea for MAD Designs? What was the process behind the creation of this company?
Ms.Mohana Basran: As a part of marketing team in my previous organization, I shared routine interaction with graphic designers and creative teams. It was back then that I first found my interest in it. Since then, it has been a long journey of learning and polishing my skills to creating MAD Designs and growing it ever since.
The process was simple and the focus was clear right since the beginning: Quality Delivery and Customer Satisfaction. So, the first thing I did was to define the services that we want to offer and pen down the marketing strategy and next was to find people those are equally MAD about designing and excellence. Once we had these in place, rest of the pieces started falling in place on their own.
Interviewer: What steps do you take in order to make your company stand out in this vastly competitive field?
Ms.Mohana Basran: Fortunately, our name ‘MAD Designs’ wins half the battle for us. Since it speaks volume about our passion for designing and consumers find it easily relatable, we automatically enjoy an edge over the others. So, this helps us overcome the entry barrier. Once that is done, the next thing that keeps us apart from others is our punctuality. We respect consumer timelines and do our best to stick to deadlines; a trait which is becoming rare these days. Also, we invest deeply in building long term relationships with our clients; even it means going an extra mile. Another factor that builds consumer confidence is our habit of accepting mistakes gracefully rather than covering it up. We rather fix them quickly and remember that ‘to err is human’. Also, we disbelieve in false commitments. Saying ‘No’ is a better option than ‘Yes’ when something cannot be achieved – This discipline is sincerely practiced at MAD Designs. And yes, in an era where everyone is running behind money, we are chasing excellence; since excellence automatically will pull the former.
Interviewer: You provide various services. How do you make sure that you manage to deliver top notch performances in all that your company offers?
Ms.Mohana Basran: Top notch services are impossible without trained and experienced professionals which are our formula number one for delivering excellence. Next, to keep up with the dynamic business environment, we stay committed to continuously learn and study the latest trends in our field. Also ‘what gets measured improves’; thus we follow a consistent process for evaluation and improvement within our team and all that we do to stay on top of the game.
Interviewer:What are your core values? What measures do you take to stick to your core values?
Ms.Mohana Basran: We practice the core values of Commitment, Ethics, Unity and Excellence within our organization. These are like pillars to our business and keep reminding us about what we stand for. Here are a few things that we do to stick by our values:-
Maintain check sheets and daily reports to evaluate tasks
Put quality above everything else
Take client feedbacks on regular basis
Performance based incentives
Indulge in team activities, appreciation and recognition
Background check of employees
Interviewer:What are your future plans in order to expand your company further? What new things do you plan to do?
Ms.Mohana Basran: The expansion plans certainly involves taking MAD Designs to the next level and achieve a global status. We have plans to open a flagship office in London in the next few years which will earmark our journey of transforming into a global brand consulting firm. In short term, we look forward to keep pace with market expectations for which we shall expand our bouquet of offerings and soon include services such as Market Research, TVC Ad development, Brand Audit, etc. Also, the Branding Workshops, a tool which we believe is extremely important for creating branding awareness in Indian marketplace, shall now be held more frequently.
Interviewer:You have worked with so many companies. What do you think makes your clients decide to keep coming back to you?
Ms.Mohana Basran: As said earlier, we do few things to bring out a distinct flavour in our services and perhaps this is what helps us in client retention. Here are a few factors that continue to work for us:-
Time-bound & result-oriented services. Commitment is commitment and we never falter on that.
Consistent communication with new, old clients & prospects. Clients have several options in the market and consistent communication is the key to influence them to choose you each time.
We listen to our clients & try to give solutions standing in their shoes.
Delivering more than expectations and creating an experience for them.
Interviewer:How did you manage to garner such success in such a short amount of time?
Ms.Mohana Basran: I don’t think I have reached the point yet where I can call the venture a successful one. There is still a long way to go.
Interviewer:What advice would you give to the up and coming entrepreneurs and small business corporations in order to help them grow?
Ms.Mohana Basran: The first advice is to follow your passion. If you love your work, it resonates and impacts the people around you. This naturally gives way to best end products and quality service deliveries, which of course is the mantra to success.
Another crucial tip is to be far sighted and keep the bigger picture in mind while designing your business model. Always create one that is scalable; irrespective of the current size of your business. This will eliminate the need for business remodelling in the phase of rapid growth and help you achieve success at a faster rate.
Also remember that business ideas alone cannot do wonders unless accompanied by smart processes and impeccable execution. Therefore, work well on both aspects, lay a strong foundation and be market ready.
Market readiness also comes by keeping a close watch on the changing consumer demands and latest industry trends. Be agile and flexible. If you want to go a long way, do not resist change but flow with it.
Last but extremely important, business is much more about relationship building than anything else. Never stop building good relations with your consumers, employees, vendors. Remember, people work with and for people, not companies.