Earning Through Humor and Sarcasm

Your mind is not mature until it begins to think something out of the box. "If you don't work towards your dream, you will end up working for someone else's dream", says Sneha Koirala- founder of Studio Sarcastic, Nepal. Sneha described Studio Sarcastic as a Nepali brand having a standard quality product. It features enchanting and awesome illustrations and designs printed on notebooks, bags, T-shirts, mugs etc.  Our all-time doodler Sneha once posted a poster on a face book group called Potterheads Nepal, and as a return, a lot of positive responses came into her favor. Verdict: she turned out to be one of the inspirational business women of these times.

Apart from being an owner of Studio Sarcastic, Sneha Koirala describes herself as a novice doodler, an occasional blogger, expert food inhaler, and an almost creative person. The concept of treating sarcasm was just bound to the language; studio Sarcastic turned it into their business. We don't laugh much at ourselves; so, sarcasm is the best way to integrate humor.

With the trend of being globalized, people here are losing interest in their local language. Studio Sarcastic also aims to promote Nepali language and reach it to the standard so that it can compete with the rest of the world. Sneha's love for comics is the sole reason for the concept of this start-up. There is still more to learn. Every day is a new opportunity to learn something. She constantly kept herself updated with the internet and its contents. Along with the encouragement of the admin of a face book group, people were asking for post-cards and bookmarks to buy.

Day by day as Studio Sarcastic is growing, there are different investment offers coming in but Sneha isn’t ready to cope with the investors yet. She believes that she needs some time to grow up. Adding more investors will make it a money-oriented business, which in return will hamper the quality and creativity of the products. For now, her sole focus is on the quality and creativity of the product.

Studio Sarcastic was initially started with three products, which have reached eleven products altogether, and this is not the end. And to reach at this level where it is now, Studio Sarcastic had to fight with a lot of challenges. Being an MBA graduate, Sneha did a lot of market research in segmentation, targeting and positioning of her product in Nepal. She found the niche market where her product can at least compete with its competitors, if not higher.

About seventy percent of the semi- finished products of Studio Sarcastic are imported by Studio Sarcastic from different parts of the world. As soon as the product reaches Sneha, she shapes the products, and gives them a brand image. Her products are exported outside Nepal as well; one of her aides is promoting her products in India. A lot of artists like: Augustina Gurrero, Catana of Catana Comics, Sarah Andreson, Sikh Park etc. have been an inspiration for this firm.

Studio Sarcastic believes in being digital; so, they do most of their business through online trading. The perfect use of social media like face book and Instagram is done to sell its products. Alongside, a lot of Nepali stores like Daraz.com, Hamrobazzar.com etc. sell the product of this firm.  They are also physically available at "Timro Concept Store", Jhamsikhel, Kathmandu.

Fear of failure hits you hard, but we should take that fear as an inspiration for motivation, excuses make you a failure, but fear makes you stronger. Although it's a start-up firm, its turnover is growing initially.  Originality, constant learning and the use of economies of scope is what makes this firm unique from others.

Along with the business, Sneha herself is also growing. She became a better artist than she was before. After stepping in the business, she also learnt how to play her cards. She now values her originality. Working more than ten hours a day, she has managed to place herself as one of the independent women of 2018. She has been designated Head Marketing officer at Vespa and Aprilia. She perfectly juggles her jobs and doodling.

These days every business person thinks of expanding business and competing globally. There is always a tough competition. Keeping this in mind Sneha is further planning to expand her business digitally. She plans to develop her own website with more new products so that people all over Nepal know about her product. This will also make the interaction with customers easier. Basically, they are planning to settle themselves as a lifestyle brand, by adding a lot of human workforce, soon.

Basically, start-up companies either go bankrupt or somehow they manage to earn enough for the firm's existence, but this firm is not only doing a very good business but also promoting Nepali language alongside fostering the chances of job creation for many people in future. Today, where there is internet available to all, no one can stop you from learning. It takes time and patience to learn something. Every building was once a map, and every King was once a child. We should be dedicated and focused towards our goals. The more you do, the more you will know. Henceforth, it's you to decide your destiny; so, turn the rest of your life into its best form.

Writer: Satya Shrestha

Note: This article originally appeared in the print magazine, Management Vision-an opinion based magazine of business and entrepreneurship prepared by the BBA students of People’s Campus.