Hailing from a quiet village near Amreli in Gujarat, Bhargav Thummar had a natural inclination towards business, which helped him pave his way to success in e-commerce. Leaving the conventional corridors of college education behind at just 18 years of age, this fearless first-generation entrepreneur familiarized himself with hardware business in Ahmedabad. In just 3 years, he made a daring shift towards digital commerce, not only providing livelihood opportunities to others, but also proving that success can bloom even in the most unexpected places.
From helping his father with farming in a village near Amreli to setting up his own e-commerce business at 21, Bhargav Thummar’s story is as unconventional as he is. Defying the traditional path to success, Bhargav found his calling beyond the confines of a classroom.
After dropping out of his B.Sc. course, he set his sights on a different kind of education – the retail market!
“Working for someone else was never something I wanted to do. While my father and sister remained in our village, I came to Ahmedabad to see what I could do,” says Bhargav. Little did he know that his keen eye for opportunity and journey with e-commerce would not only shape his own destiny but also provide livelihoods for several others.
No Risk, No Reward
“One of my friends was working in the hardware and bathroom accessories sector. I just got drawn to it,” says Bhargav. Intrigued by the potential of the market, he dove headfirst into researching the business. He studied everything from product pricing to sourcing materials. Taking the plunge was not an easy decision, but Bhargav was never one to shy away from risk.
Armed with knowledge from his research, he decided to take the bold step of relocating. “I moved to Ahmedabad to start this business. When I came here, I saw how everything is done and learned on my own,” he says about his early days in this bustling city.
Embracing the Digital Wave with E-commerce
Starting out in the hardware business around 6 years ago, he began selling accessories like soap holders and bathroom shelves by sourcing raw materials and goods from local suppliers. After just three years in the business and with his finger on the pulse of consumer demand, Bhargav knew that the future was digital.
“We live in a digital era where retail and e-commerce work hand in hand. I saw the opportunity to grow my business by going online. It’s helped me reach more customers while staying connected to the retail market.,” he explains.
Taking the leap of faith with Flipkart, Bhargav saw an immediate increase in demand. “Initially, we were restricted to Ahmedabad. But now, with Flipkart’s support in delivering products, we receive orders from across the country, making it easy for us to have a pan-India presence,” he says.
Since onboarding on Flipkart, both his business and income have grown significantly. During peak seasons like The Big Billion Days, Bhargav and his team work tirelessly, burning the midnight oil to meet the surge in demand.
Though his village is just a short train ride away, Bhargav’s sights were always set beyond the familiar horizon. Today, he proudly employs a small but dedicated team of 5 workers in his e-commerce business, many of whom hail from different states.
“I couldn’t be happier knowing I can provide livelihoods to others. Honestly, my business relies on them just as much as they rely on me,” Bhargav says.
Looking ahead, he envisions expanding his business further. “I gradually want to grow my business and work towards realizing my dream of buying a car and a house,” he says.
