Yogesh Jain turned an early career detour into a thriving entrepreneurial path in the footwear industry. His success, however, didn’t come overnight. Financial hardship in his early years tested him, but also built the grit he needed to grow. With modest capital and relentless dedication, Yogesh built a footwear empire from the ground up, scaling from single orders to impressive volumes. Leveraging platforms like Flipkart and events like the Big Billion Days, this Gen Z seller has experienced a remarkable growth – one step at a time. Read.
When Yogesh Jain first ventured into the world of footwear in 2019, he was simply looking for a new direction. He had little idea that this path would lead to a complete transformation of his future. Born and raised in a bustling joint family in Delhi, the life of an entrepreneur was initially the farthest thing from his mind. Having lost his father at a young age, and his uncle providing support and guidance, Yogesh was determined to stand on his own two feet.
Faced with a dead end in his professional pursuits, Yogesh turned to digital commerce and discovered his calling in men’s shoes. With unshakable determination, he turned adversity into opportunity, mastering market trends and customer demand to build an online empire. In just a few years, he reached the incredible milestone of 1 lakh orders a month. This is the story of how his perseverance put him on the fast track to growth.
A Road Not Taken
Yogesh grew up in Delhi with a clear plan: to set off on a well-trodden professional path. After finishing school in 2015, he dedicated three years to the rigorous process of becoming a Company Secretary. However, the goal remained just out of reach. “After dedicating three years to the course and not clearing the exams, I was completely lost. I realized that the path I had chosen was closed, and I had no idea what to do next. It was a very confusing and difficult time for me,” explains Yogesh.
His uncle’s construction and building materials business offered a safety net. “My uncle asked me to spend a year observing and learning the trade. So, I decided to give it a try,” shares Yogesh. Yet, a restlessness grew within him. “Quickly I realized it was not for me,” he recalls. “Every day was the same, and I knew I could not go on like this.”
Light at the End of the Tunnel
His way out appeared in the form of a friend who ran a successful online clothing business on Flipkart. The digital world, Yogesh felt, held untapped potential. “After researching several product categories, I saw a significant opportunity in the men’s footwear market,” says Yogesh. “I saw my friend’s success on Flipkart and knew online was the future. The big question was what to sell. Once I knew it was men’s footwear – I got to work. I saw a gap in the market for trendy, affordable shoes, and I decided to bridge that gap.”
He began his journey by sourcing products directly from Indian manufacturers to learn the trade from the ground up. Yogesh adds, “My plan was to start small, source from existing manufacturers to understand the business, and build from there.”
An Impossible Climb
With a capital of ₹80,000 generously provided by his uncle, Yogesh began his new venture. He was determined to build his own vision from the ground up. “When my uncle gave me the capital, I knew I had to do this on my own. An online business may take a lot of time and requires understanding the market deeply before you see any profit. I didn’t want the pressure of a partnership, I wanted to be fully accountable for the failures and the successes.”
His initial experience wasn’t without challenges. The first few orders trickled in – one, then four, then 10 – before dropping back to one. He worked tirelessly to stabilize his daily orders.
“The journey to that first hundred orders was brutal. For an entire year, I worked from 7 in the morning until 11 at night, a schedule that left no room for anything else. I would spend my days sourcing the footwear, packing the orders, and processing the returns myself. That was the most difficult part of this entire venture.”
After a year of relentless effort, his business was on solid ground. He hired a team and was consistently processing 500 to 700 orders a day. “During the off-season, he receives 50,000 orders a month. In peak season, that number doubles to a staggering 100,000. “For us, The Big Billion Days is the most important time of the year. The energy is incredible. We see our sales jump by five times on the very first day. It’s a massive opportunity and the culmination of months of planning and hard work.”
More Than a Business
In the six years since he started, his ambition has only grown. His journey, however, has transformed more than just his business. It has reshaped his personal life and allowed him to provide for the family that supported him through it all.
“My father passed away when I was young, and our family faced a lot of financial hardship. My uncle handled everything and took care of us all. We still live together as a joint family, but now, I am looking for a bigger house for everyone. It’s my way of giving back. And yes! I am fond of watches. It’s a small thing, but now I can finally afford the ones I’ve always wanted,” adds Yogesh proudly.
Despite his achievements, Yogesh remains grounded and focused on the road ahead. “I am now introducing men’s footwear in the higher segment,” he says of his future plans, “and I am even thinking of expanding into women’s footwear.”
