Community Highlights: Meet Nikita Goel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikita Goel.

Nikita, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started PencilboxShop from a couch in a New York City apartment on the 4th of July weekend in 2015.

I had no idea how the world of fashion or e-commerce works but I always adored artists and knew had a flair for eye-catching unique jewelry and clothing designs. I always wanted to WORK FOR MYSELF and not others!

I being a software engineer started coding my website on the SAME DAY and in the meantime started looking out for products and customers.

Usually, people start by promoting to family and friends. But my belief was that I would be able to make this business successful only if I could get real clients and not people through contacts. Family and friends will always shop out of concern or love for you and only temporarily, but the real customers shop because they really like your product, and they want to.

I tried exhibitions, social media presence, networking, open houses, and renting booths. It’s been a “trial and error” approach improving every year as I learned more.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel that starting a business in itself can never be smooth, so how can its journey be?

It took me six weeks to get my first order for a shoulder bag and when I shipped the order it was marked lost in transit. Basically, I started off with a big FAILURE! I ended up losing my very first customer. But the interesting part is I learned a lot from my first order, and I managed to get my supply chain better and a lot smoother. After one year, the same first customer ordered that same bag again from me, and then I fulfilled that order successfully.

I spent months (a lot of time, energy, and money) to build my website right, but figured out that no one was even visiting it and even if they did, no one was shopping. FAILURE again.

The biggest struggle is self-doubt. When you don’t get orders or new clients. You start doubting yourself. Now, after so many years in business, I always try to be focused and take everything as an experience you can learn from whether it’s good or bad.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Pencil Box Shop?
We as kids always cherished our pencil-box. We kept a lot of unique and our most beloved things in there. And that’s what we want our customers to feel when they receive our package. We ship in a special package, a unique box every time! And that’s where this name Pencilboxshop comes from, (It’s the MOST asked question from people who hear this name for the first time).

Pencil Box Shop is an e-commerce brand on a website. As I am from India, we proudly sell Indian jewelry and clothing and cover a lot of Indian customers, as in the USA. We, Indians always miss our culture and festival shopping. But our brand also covers. Jewelry for American, Afro-American, and Latin American Clients. You will surely find jewelry for everyone.

We collaborate with a lot of artists around the world for our HANDMADE collection that includes hand-painted, fabric, clay, beads, and thread work jewelry. Each of these jewelry pieces is made from scratch and with hands (no machine work). It is a work of art and pride. And it’s unique, not available anywhere else.

Another thing that we are proud of is that we offer customized jewelry/designs to our clients as per their needs or choices. We love our PRICING! Jewelry starts at $5 and goes up to $500. But we do not compromise on quality. We sell the best of quality that’s available in the market. Pencil Box Shop is known for its unique, eye-catching designs. Our customers love all the attention and compliments they get over our jewelry and clothing when they meet their friends and family.

You’ll surely find something NEW every time you visit Pencilboxshop.com.

I personally don’t like to repeat my designs unless it’s a super hot selling piece and it gives my customers a chance to create their own collection and clients experience that amazing feeling that only they have this jewelry piece in this whole world.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
When COVID-19 started we thought we’ll have to stop our business altogether. No renting booths, no contact with local customers, and no exhibitions. After a few months of doing nothing, I started to figure out digital ways of selling. It proved to be a “blessing in disguise.”

I started my Live shows on Facebook and Instagram and was able to reach more customers not only across the US but around the world than I ever had. Finally, I felt that everything is working now (including my website). Once it was my dream to get at least one order per day from the website. During Covid-19, getting continuous orders from everywhere is like a blessing. Still, there is a long way to go but I want to enjoy this time also.

The most important lesson, I learned during Covid-19 is don’t let your business be dependent on a single channel or platform. Make your own clients and encourage them to shop from your website, Make direct contacts with clients.

And don’t be afraid from trying new things.

Pricing:

• $5, $10, $15 – Studio Collection
• $12 – $75 – Handmade Collection
• $12 – $75 – Exclusive Platinum Collection
• $85 – $500 – Royal Maharani Collection
• You can earn free PB Coins from our website and redeem them!

Contact Info:

• Email: pencilboxsales@gmail.com
• Website: www.PencilboxShop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pencilboxshop_usa/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/PencilboxShopUSA

Image Credits
Nikita Goel