Shalini Vij ( Owner, Hang Out)

Shalini Vij is the very first women entrepreneur to start a business like Hangout; which is one of its kind in India. She has revolutionized the concept of entertainment in India with her brand Hangout and her entrepreneurial skills and passion; that is the driving force behind the success of Hangout. 

Moving back from the U.S with retail & entertainment experience behind her and as a mother of 2 young kids, she realized the need to start an inclusive entertainment joint for families where children & parents could enjoy together, spend quality time with their families & keeping in mind the sibling age differences, she created a perfect Hang Out for all age groups and families as a whole. 

Thus began the journey of Hangout, a complete entertainment joint based in Select City Walk, Saket and DT Mega Mall, Gurgaon. 

A quick moment to familiarize you with Hang Out, it is a family hangout, as the name states. It's not just about Kids entertainment, Hang Out promotes family interaction & understands the sibling age preferences of entertainment & family needs as a whole, they cater to ages 2 to  U2.

Hang Out is not just another gaming zone or toddler area, it’s  a comprehensive centre for family, party fun, play and operate as a party facility and promotes festivities and events.  They understand the parental psych, the family needs and keep in mind the child's attention spans. 

From toddlers to big kids, from young parents to grandparents, HANG OUT is the Ultimate destination for Party, Play and Fun. Regardless of the age, come and enjoy the exciting Arcade/Redemption/Skill Games, Amusement and High-Tech Rides, Virtual Roller Coasters, 3D/4D Motion Theatre, 360 Degree Virtual roller coaster, Indoor Playground with Monku’s show and mouthwatering snacks menu at the Hang Out Café & Hang Out Family Restaurant. 

Shalini Vij answers the following questions ...............

1. What is the motivation behind starting Hangout? 

When Shalini Vij, moved back from U.S with 14 years of retail & entertainment experience behind her and a mother of 2 young kids, she realized the need for comprehensive entertainment for families where children & parents could enjoy together, spend quality time with their families & keeping in mind the sibling age differences, she created a perfect Hang Out for all age groups and families as a whole.  

With experience in Management and Human Resources from many US based Companies like Caldor, Discovery Zone, Things Remembered and Rainbow Shops, Shalini has revolutionized the concept of entertainment in India with Hangout and her entrepreneurial skills and passion. Her children inspired her to put together the concept of Hangout, which aims to be a one stop shop for complete amusement.

Shalini has a detailed understanding of the entertainment needs of children of the current decade. She has contributed a milestone to the Entertainment Industry with her brain child- Hangout, with a foray of technology driven entertainment experiences. She has contributed a milestone to the Entertainment Industry with her brain child- Hangout, with a foray of technology driven entertainment experiences. By bringing together technology and contemporary entertainment to children of the Capital and now in NCR, Shalini ensures a “Global Smile” of safe fun and complete customer satisfaction. 

2. What are the startup challenges? 

Hailing from a business family, it wasn’t a cake walk for Vij. Talking about the hurdles she had to face she says, “Making a place for myself in the male dominated sphere of entertainment industry, was a big challenge for me. Also, the risk of bringing a new concept, a different model and convincing people to believe in it was more demanding than I ever anticipated.”

As her first move to make her off-beat project a success, she travelled for two years,

 “I kept my kids involved in the research work by making them go over my catalogues and videos. This helped me understand their expectations as children,” she shares.

Being a mother herself, she realizes the importance of healthy meals. That’s why she has carefully drafted the menu of her cafe. “I have put lots of veggies to make the meals healthy. The mother in me at work alternates white bread with wheat offers soya burgers as an option over potatoes. I have also added milk drinks like Milo and Hershey’s along with the milk shakes. Wheat pastas, veggie pizzas and wheat based kathis bring the flavour of home cooked food,” she adds.

Not just this, at Hang Out, Vij has made sure that the play zone caters to proper motor and sensory skill development of the kids as well. To achieve this, she has various edutainment panels in the toddler area, which concentrate on their cognitive, music, fine motor and sensory skills while they play. “There are many games to improve their hand and eye coordination. Games like virtual bowling, golf and basketball help them achieve this,” she explains.

3. Were there any challenges being a woman entrepreneur?

Being amongst the first few woman in the entertainment & retail industry, trying to make a place in the male dominated industry was a challenge.

The risks of bringing in a new concept, a different model & convincing others to believe in my passion project was more demanding than I anticipated but again with the Grace of God & support from my well wishers, Hang Out changed the face of Kids entertainment. There were no women in the entertainment industry when I started, but having experience from the US, I was confident that I will make my mark as a pioneer in this field in India. 

Hang has been awarded as the best family entertainment center, northern Region for 2 years in a row by the Indian Association of Amusement Parks, also nominated as the Best retailer in entertainment & creative concept & Visual merchandising by the IRF & is an active member of the International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAPA & IAAPI). Shalini has attended many workshops in the US & been on the speaker panel for the IRF & continues to stay actively involved.

“I am happy that we have received recognition internationally in the Amusement & Family Entertainment Sector, it means a lot to me being amongst the very few women in this Industry."

 4. How her family reacted on starting a business? 

My Dad, Mr. O.P. Bajaj, is my mentor & my role model. He is a self made industrialist & director of M.F. Group of Industries. He has always been my inspiration & I have learnt a lot from him. It was my dads, my in-laws, & my husband’s promotion & support that I could shape my passion project.

My mother symbolizes love & values to me. She has made me the person I am. She has taught me the meanings of life. I can't thank her enough for this gift of life.

I have been married 25 years, to my husband Sundeep, he's my companion of all times, in good & in bad, he's stood by me & always motivated me & kept me going. He helped me whenever I got stuck as he puts it "we are partners for life". Even though he's from the steel forging industry, his curiosity, quest to educate him in my line of work is commendable.

I thank God & my invisible pillars of strength for the success of Hang Out. With Blessings of God, family & friends, I was able to convert my passion project, my dreams & my love for kids into a family hangout.

5. What are the future plans?

With 3 locations in Delhi NCR, Hang Out, a complete family entertainment joint, now spreads its wings into Ludhiana, opening soon at the Pavillion Mall, Ludhiana & west Delhi project in the pipeline.

"We plan to ensure a global smile on the children's faces by ensuring we can bring our Family Entertainment Center close to their homes & cover as many states, cities & localities as we can”, says Shalini Vij, Owner and Founder of Hangout.

All operations to date are company owned & operated, however we are looking into possibilities of an international merger or a franchise model down the line. 

US is best for female entrepreneurs, with UK ranked in sixth place

The UK ranks only sixth out of 17 countries for female entrepreneurs, a new study has shown. Computer giant Dell released the results of the first Gender-GEDI female entrepreneurship index at a conference in Istanbul today.

The rankings reveal the US is the best place for ambitious female entrepreneurs, with Uganda rated worst, based on 30 indicators. Chief marketing officer and senior vice-president at Dell, Karen Quintos, said: "The research clearly supports the assertion that key things need to be fixed in order for female entrepreneurship to survive and flourish.

"Increased access to knowledge, networks, capital and technology are critical if countries are to empower female entrepreneurship and create a culture of success," she added.

The index tracks a range of different factors which determine how supportive a county is for "high potential women" – those with proven potential to succeed and a business 42 months old or younger. The study found that economic development and access to eduction is not enough to create a strong entrepreneurial environment, as cultural and societal factors also play a part. This was particularly evident in Japan, which sits in twelfth place, largely due to the low social status of entrepreneurs in the country.

Access to finance is another barrier for many women, with low-performing countries like Egypt, Uganda and India having the lowest number of women with bank accounts, at 7%, 15% and 26% respectively.

The index coincides with the launchof Dell's new competition for university students to come up with innovative ways to empower women around the world. Semi-finalists will be mentored by members of Dell's women's entrepreneur network and the winning team will receive a $15,000 (around £10,000) cash prize.

source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/women-in-leadership/small-business-blog/2013/jun/04/us-best-country-for-female-entrepreneurs

Meena Bindra on Creating a Pan-India Brand Like BIBA

Meena Bindra

She started her designing business with a Rs.8000 loan from the bank and today she has grown it into a pan-India brand. In the last 30 years, Meena Bindra has created a success story called BIBA thanks to her love for what she does.

From a home-based business, Meena Bindra has created a pan-Indian brand of ethnic wear

Interview with MEENA BINDRA: Source: http://idiva.com/interviews-work-life/meena-bindra-on-creating-a-pan-india-brand-like-biba-diva-in-focus/20461 

    Q. How did you set up BIBA? 

Meena Bindra

I was a housewife who had never worked before. I had no knowledge or experience in business and I was not a qualified designer. Also, at that time (the early 1980s), there weren't any courses in fashion design. People usually bought fabric and had their garments stitched because readymade garments were rare. But when I told my husband that I wanted to start designing and making ethnic wear, he was supportive and agreed to get me a loan of Rs.8000 from the bank. I'm not sure why he got me Rs.8000 and not Rs.10000 or Rs.5000, but eight turned out to be a lucky number for me!

I had my first major break when I found a very good block printer. He was an educated young boy who understood what I wanted. Soon I began to spend hours everyday at the factory as I enjoyed my work and also the yummy Gujarati food that he would serve me there. 

I started my business with around 40 printed salwar suits that I had priced at about Rs.170. I was making them for about Rs.100, so I thought I was making pots of money (laughs).

Q. How was business in the initial years?

Meena Bindra

I received a good response from people and gradually started increasing my stock. These were fun years because I got to experiment with various fabrics, cuts, colours and more. A short while after I began, a small boutique in Mumbai began to retail some of my creations and later Benzer came on board too. I did not ever have to do any marketing. People just kept coming to me. 

The market also opened up and there were retail chains like Shopper's Stop and Pantaloons who approached me. That's when I realised the importance of professionalism. From pricing to timelines, I had to be accountable and deliver on time. What's more, they wanted to see different ranges, so I had to be aware of the fashion seasons too.

  Q. What was your vision for BIBA right from the very beginning? Did you expect it to become this big?

Meena Bindra

When I started, I had no long term vision. I simply wanted to keep myself occupied and earn a little extra money. But growth kept happening. Now our vision is to keep growing and of course, enjoy the journey. We currently have about 107 stores over 46 cities but we want to open more stores in certain cities as well as expand to cities where we have no presence. In a year's time, we want to be a 500-crore company.

We also want to launch formal wear, bridal trousseaux and the likes. My aim is to make BIBA the one stop shop for a woman's ethnic wear needs.

Who does BIBA cater to essentially?

Meena Bindra

BIBA has a range for girls from the age of 2 to 12 years and our range for adults can be worn by women right from 20 to 70 years. However, it is most suited for younger women. 

What are some of the ethnic wear trends for the season?

Meena Bindra

I think a lot of asymmetrical cuts are in vogue. They add that bit of edginess to your everyday ethnic wear.Anarkalis are also extremely popular, especially the long flared kurtas that we wore around 15 years ago.

In terms of colours, pastels and bright colours like lime green and fuchsia are the shades to sport this season.

How do you think styles are evolving over the years with the modern Indian woman looking for comfort over tradition?

Meena Bindra

When it comes to ethnic fashion, I have seen all the cycles. Trends keep coming back into fashion with a little recycling here and there. But styles really have evolved in the last 30 years. Today, cuts, prints and fashion accessories are extremely important. But because of the variety available, I think women can have both comfort and tradition!

What does it take to be a successful woman entrepreneur?

Meena Bindra

The most important key to being successful is to enjoy what you are doing. I enjoyed immensely what I did and I wasn't worried about making money. 

For about 5 or 6 years, I worked out of my house and would constantly have people come over. I made a lot of friends too and there was never any pressure on them to buy. In fact, if someone bought something and didn't like it, I'd return the money and maybe even throw in a free dupatta. I just wanted my customers to be happy.

What is your advice to stay-at-home moms who want to start their own business?

Meena Bindra

The opportunities to work from home are endless, so nothing should stop you from venturing into what you love to do. Whether you want to bake a cake or write a book, do what you are passionate about and the results will follow.

Enjoy the fact that you can work. There's always a sense of achievement when you do!

How do you balance work life and home?

Meena Bindra

I make sure that I give equal time to my work and home. Even when I was working from home years ago, I would shut shop by 5 PM. I never extended my work time.

What are some of your hobbies?

Meena Bindra

My hobbies have changed over the years. I love to read but I have got into more serious, spiritual reading these days. I also listen to western, western classical and even Indian classical music. Another thing I really enjoy is meeting up with my friends.                                                                                                                                  

Women entrepreneurs still trail their male counterparts: Report from economic times

Even as Asia, including India, has a higher proportion of entrepreneurs compared to the rest of the world, the number of women business owners is much below the global average, according to a recent report.

"The number of female business owners in Asia is still trailing levels seen amongst their male counterparts and below the global average," says a new research report from Barclays Wealth and Investment Management.

This, it says, is despite Asia having a higher proportion of entrepreneurs (47 per cent) compared to the US (29 per cent) and Europe (30 per cent).

This new report finds that 39 per cent of high net worth (HNW) women in Asia classify themselves as business owners, which is far below the 50 per cent of high net worth men in Asia.

Globally, 44 per cent of HNW women and 49 per cent of HNW men classify themselves as business owners.

It also shows that the gender pay gap is wider for non-entrepreneurs compared to entrepreneurs.

Non-entrepreneur women earn significantly more than non-entrepreneur men, while male entrepreneurs make slightly more than their female counterparts, it shows.

However, this trend is reverse globally, where among the high net worth female entrepreneurs earn 14 per cent more than their male counterparts.

In contrast, the average income of a high net worth woman who does not own her own business is 21 per cent lower than the corresponding average male income, it adds.

For the research, more than 2,000 high net worth individuals were interviewed and in Asia 500 respondents were surveyed, of which over 200 respondents were entrepreneurs.

The report further says, a higher proportion of entrepreneurs in Asia value the role of failure in contributing to future success more than their global counterparts.

Only 60 per cent of male entrepreneurs and 51 per cent of female entrepreneurs agree that past failure in entrepreneurial endeavours increases their chances of success in a new business, it points out.

However, the Barclays research shows that globally female business owners tend to value past failures less than their male counterparts.

While 70 per cent of male business owners agree that past failure in entrepreneurial endeavours increases the chances that a new business will succeed, this figure falls to 65 per cent for female business owners.

"Today women are at a threshold where they are moving from being a back door decision maker to board room decision maker. The present generation is supportive of women actively being engaged in family business, starting their own entrepreneurial ventures and acquiring professional education," Barclays, Wealth and Investment Management Chief Executive (India) Satya Bansal said.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/jobs/women-entrepreneurs-still-trail-their-male-counterpartsreport/articleshow/18865585.cms

Youngest Woman Entrepreneur...........:)

Shreelakshmi Suresh, at 14 years is the youngest female web designer and CEO in the world. She designed her first website at the age of 7 and started her first company ‘eDesign’ in 2009 along with designing 80 websites and making name for herself in the field of computer technology...!! Hats off to her!!!

TiE Delhi NCR & Mazars presents ‘Creating Better Workplaces for Women'

While there may be extraordinary professional opportunities for women, issues remain on a daily basis. Large numbers of ambitious young Indian women will be blocked in their ascent up the career ladder because of safety, security and other concerns at and on way to work. It is more than evident that women fail to emerge in any consequential numbers on the top of the professional pyramid. This is true for women treading the entrepreneurial path as well. Smart companies will do more to safeguard their talented women. What are the best practices, followed and possible? Speakers – Muriel de Saint Sauveur Director, Mazars Group Saloni Malhotra Founder & Director, Desicrew Solutions Pratibha Jain Partner, Nishith Desai Associates Preet Dhupar Chief Operating Officer India BBC Global News Rachita Sehgal Director, Learning & Dev GE Global Date: 8th March, 2013 Venue: Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Contact: Upasana Sharma upasana@tienewdelhi.org +91 9810078395 Paridhi Goel Thakur paridhi@tienewdelhi.org +91 9811774173 Annual Partners Global Partners Copyright © 2012 TiE Delhi Design by i2k2 Networks Pvt Ltd

Unit No.1102, Tower-A, Advant IT Park, Plot No.7 NOIDA, 201305 India

The Best Cities For Women Entrepreneurs? It Takes A Lot More Than Promise

 The top 10 cities for women entrepreneurs:

1. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is well-known for its entrepreneurial climate, particularly in the technology industry.  With nearby Silicon Valley and a whopping 13.7 businesses per 100 residents, the city has plenty of fellow entrepreneurs for networking and collaboration opportunities.  The Bay Area is also home to three of the nation’s most famous businesswomen, Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook), Marissa Mayer (CEO of Yahoo) and Meg Whitman (CEO of Hewlett-Packard).

2. Seattle, WA

Seattle is one of the most highly educated cities and has a correspondingly high median income and low unemployment rate.  With 12.5 businesses per 100 residents, the city is highly entrepreneurial, and women own around 4 of those businesses.

Organizations like CHEW organize events and panels to encourage female entrepreneurs to open their businesses in Seattle.  Seattle is also home to one of the world’s most famous and civic-minded businesswomen, Melinda Gates, as well as rising chef and restaurant entrepreneur Renee Erickson.

3. Washington, DC

Over one-third of businesses in DC are owned by women, meaning that women in this city can find plenty of female coworkers and mentors.  The city provides plenty of resources to women as well, such as the Washington, DC Women’s Business Center.  The organization, partially funded by the SBA, offers trainings, classes and one-on-one consultations.

4. Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis has the dual benefits of having a very low unemployment rate and an educated workforce.  Additionally, women own almost a third of businesses in Minneapolis.  Minnesotan businesswomen can meet each other and network at quarterly events at Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota.  The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) of Minnesota is very active, providing networking and other events, and nearby twin-city Saint Paul-based WomenVenture offers loans and transitional career services.

5. Portland, OR

This laid-back West Coast city has it all: plenty of businesses, a good share of which are owned by women, an educated general populace and a low unemployment rate.  Additionally, organizations like Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon hold plenty of events for women.  Intel is Oregon’s largest employer, and the company has six Oregon campuses as well as a female Executive Vice President, Renee James.

6. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta has plenty of businesses, a third of which are run by women, and an educated population, making it a great city for female entrepreneurs.  Plus, businesswomen can meet at the various networking events and educational programs run by the NAWBO in Atlanta.  The Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection assists women in finding mentors, and the state provides plenty of trainings and networking assistance for women business owners.

7. Austin, TX

Austin is known for its startups—there are almost 11 businesses for every 100 Austin residents.  Austin has a very low unemployment rate of only 6.2%, which is one reason we rated it as the number one city for job seekers.  With organizations like Austin Women in Technology, businesswomen in Austin will have little trouble finding a supportive and knowledgeable community.

8. Raleigh, NC

Raleigh’s low unemployment rate and high number of businesses per person make it a great city for female entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs can check out organizations like Raleigh Business and Professional Women for resources.  In addition, the City of Raleigh has adopted a Small Disadvantaged Minority and Women Owned Business Program, promising to award 15% of the city’s contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

9. Denver, CO

Denver is a highly educated city with plenty of businesses, 30% of which are owned by women.  The Mile High City also has resources for businesswomen through The Entrepreneur Centerat the University of Denver, which provides mentorship and networking opportunities.  The city even hosts Denver Startup Week, a week of trainings, office hours, parties, mentorship and networking events. The week was so successful in 2012 that the city has announced a second year of the program.

10. San Diego, CA

With an educated population, moderately high median income and entrepreneurial atmosphere, San Diego is a great city for women in business.   San Diego female entrepreneurs can access mentors, workshops, networking events and various small business tools through SCORE and the NAWBO.  There are also several startup incubators in the city that help foster entrepreneurs and their ideas, including EvoNexus and the newly launched cybersecurity incubator CyberHive.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2013/02/27/nerdwallet-best-cities-women-entrepreneurs-more-than-promise/2/