Herald: Intertesting name, what inspired you keep this name The Little Pumpkin and what is the business all about?
VANESSA GONSALVES: My Little Pumpkin was started about three and a half years ago when I was about 24 year old. It was an initiative in Vasco, and eventually Goa and today it is a store that deals with everything for an expecting couple. It includes a product range right from maternity clothing, pregnancy guide books, newborn clothing, accessories and equipments alongwith kidswear. Basically, it is a one stop shop for parents. We opened another store in Margao less than a year ago. My Little Pumpkin was something that popped into my head quite easily. My five year old daughter Guinevere, inspired me with the name since she was a chubby baby. It just sounded right since then.
Herald: What value do you add to your business and how does it help Goans and who are your customers?
VG: Other than bringing a varied range of products across the board, both Indian and imported brands in one place, we cater to the needs and requirements of the Goans in particular. For example, Goans dress their babies in plain white with very minimal colours from birth, whereas across the country, newborns wear coloured clothing. Manufacturers will only make clothing according to the taste of the majority and hence a lot of the stuff you get is what people have to make do with. Since we also tailor formal dresses for girls, be it a birthday dress, flower girls attire, Christmas dress, communion dresses, etc it is easier to cater to the needs and wants of our customers. My customers are generally parents and people who buy gifts for baptisms, naming ceremonies, birthdays, functions, etc.
Herald: What issues you had to confront with when you planned to set up this business?
VG: My biggest issue was learning how things would work and how to do everything from scratch whilst juggling duties at home at the same time. There were no mentors for me in this business. It all began when I translated my own woes and needs during my pregnancy which gave birth to an idea of doing a business in this field. All working moms would agree that it is not easy nowadays living in nuclear families and to do everything and not feel overwhelmed. Learning everything on my own has been quite exciting and challenging. I think I can give some credit to my Goan vendors for their advice and perspective on things without which it would have been very difficult. My field of speciality was limited to what I studied in the text books. Business just does not work like that in reality. But I did understand that it provided me tools to understand how things work.
Herald: How do you find the market in Goa and where do you see you business in the coming five years?
VG: The Goan market is quite different from the rest of the country, in a few aspects. When you are a local, you know the mindset of the people. And having hands-on experience helps in a very big way. I am not the kind to stay content with what I have. Every business needs to grow and evolve otherwise things start to get stagnant. Five years down the lane I do see the brand much bigger than it is at the moment. We have ideas in the pipeline but we are waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
