Interview -- Nature In a Bottle

I am happy to say I took a step forward and publishing small talks rather I wish to say an interview.

yeah u read it right. A new session is coming up-- Interviews  

Here is my first one.

I am happy to introduce Mrs.Hema Mahesh , a women entrepreneur.

         

   AT- Akatma Times    HM- Hema Mahesh.

AT: Hello Hema, Welcome to Akatma Times.Can you speak about yourself.When did your passion for cooking start? How the word Organic is related in your jams?

HM: Hi Akatma, I am happy to be a part of your blog. I am a cook, wife and mother - and that summarizes the essence of me. As far as my passion for food and cooking goes, one memory that stands out is when I was in 8th class and commuted daily from a small village to the school next town. The journey was long and tiring, but the best part was the scenery - green paddy fields, ground nut fields, road side vegetable markets and the colors of the earth. These are etched in my mind, and to me me, the food is always connected to the source - Mother Earth. When I grew up, got married and moved to the US for a few years, it opened the doors of the world cuisine to me. I was fascinated with the sight of all the new cusines I got introduced to in California. I shopped in a variety of local farmer’s markets for fresh produce, experimented a lot in the kitchen trying out Thai, Italian, Chinese, American,... dishes. My husband, a good sport, was my test subject, and the end result was that I emerged as a good cook. Moving back to India - Bangalore especially, and becoming a mom made cooking the centre stage. Jayanagar market with all the glowing vegetable and fruits raised my adrenaline levels .The colors were too tempting . To this day, Colors and fragrances were my turn-on’s in every dish. I tried applying my passion for color in painting with some success, but my heart is in the kitchen.

AT: Flavors

! They are just unique and tempting. How the name Nature in a bottle came to u? Is NIB your first venture?

HM:

I was in a mad rush preparing for my first exhibit with “A Hundred Hands”, and a week before the show, I still did not have a name nor a logo. My neighbor Anu Gummaraju, founder of Second to None, suggested asking for suggestions in their Facebook page. So I put up a small contest with s set of Jams as the prize, and a number of suggestions poured in. The name Nature In A Bottle is an adaptation of the winning entry for this contest.

Yes, this is my first venture  into the food industry.

AT:

What was your inspiration for moving into market? (like any other entrepreneur  or  story which provoked you to start a sale/entrepreneurial instinct in you)?

HM: :

Last year, I read a book called ‘Food Rules” by Michael Pollan, which became a turning point for my cooking. With too many choices and confusion regarding how to eat and what to eat, this book was a savior. One rule from the book is: “Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food”. As a result, I started looking at the ingredients of every packaged item we purchased, and in most cases, could not recognize several of the ingredients. So I started cutting down on buying packaged foods and making most of them at home. That is when I realized a shortage of preservative free products in the market. When the idea of Jams was in bubbling in my head, my husband and I decided that we have to make it exclusive in not just the flavors but also the ingredients. My offerings of my jams are based on these two constraints. So when you buy by products you know exactly what you are eating

AT:

How have you done your market research?

HM:

Rather than running after customers, my philosophy has been to envision a good product that people would like and then try to perfect it. Another key aspect is prototyping. I enlist the help of a small circle of friends to test and refine my jams before I sell. I am indebted to these friends for their constant feedback and support

AT:

When things come to action there will be a lot of things to plan and put in order. Can you please explain this phase?

HM:

Experience is the best teacher. It has been a learning process ever since I started my venture, but I am enjoying every moment of it.

AT:

Can you narrate your first sale experience?

HM:

My first customer was a small 7 year old girl. She very hesitantly tasted my Banana Orange Jam and the reaction was a wonderful smile. She then looked up at her daddy and my first sale was made!

AT:

customer feedback’s---  May be this is the point where the whole thing revolves. There may be many doubts raised by customers about colors/ preservatives/longevity and storage..Can you share with us your first feedback’s?

HM: :

Most of us in India have grown up on Kissan jams. The concept of preservative free jam which has a very short shelf life is new.  After tasting the jams, and I mention that these are preservative free with just natural products, they are delighted to take home a bottle or two.

AT:

Where would you like to see NIB in future?Any plans in adding other products?Any plans in penetrating large scale into the market?

HM: am hoping that NIB will be known for the purity of its product and their unique flavors. I am working on a line of such products.

AT:

Any lessons learnt in these few steps?Any message to convey aspiring women entrepreneurs.

HM: :

I am not sure I can advise any one but I do admire a lot of women entrepreneurs.I very strongly believe in the strength  of a women any point in her life.

AT:

How did you made a balance between family, profession and passion?

HM:

I am blessed with a very supportive husband and a darling son which makes it very easy for me to strike a balance in every thing I do.

AT: Thank You Hema for spending your time in being a part of my blog. Wishing you all the very best for your venture and expecting more variety of food products.
you can visit her facebook page Nature in a bottle
people from bangalore you can order from the facebook page and enjoy!