Entrepreneurship is often understood with regards to the finding of an opportunity, while the gathering of resources is secondary. Entrepreneurship has always been about learning and pursuing the business dream. In India, entrepreneurship in the advertising field is booming. Most of the people with rich industry experience are starting enterprises on their own. However, it is difficult to find people who become entrepreneurs out of the zeal to serve quality works. Especially in the advertisement arena, being a creative field, a person starting as an entrepreneur cannot just look at the wealth aspect, but the innovative segment too.

Meanwhile, some quit their job to follow their heart. For Kajal Agarwal, it is her passion for building something creative that lead to entrepreneurship. She buys Bill Bernbach’s quote, “Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make”, in her engagements in the marketing field. Keeping this very principle in mind, Kajal and her friends initiated Helvetica Advertising, a 360-degree advertising solution based in New Delhi. For her, the goal is set to drive the business forward with a rich portfolio of clients and productive outcomes.

Kajal joins in a brief conversation with Women Entrepreneurs India to talk about her entrepreneurial journey and her company.

“Understanding client needs and development of brand strategies change according to the industry we cater to. One of our most exciting projects has been for the wwf”

The Entrepreneurial Energy Can Be Summed Up In Two Words, Risk And Change. Tell Us How You Steered Towards The Road Of Entrepreneurship.

I hail from a family of entrepreneurs. Everyone in my family had their own set up running and working relentlessly. After pursuing an MBA from Cardiff University in the UK, I started working in a company called ONGC Mittal. Though I am a finance major, eventually I got through UCLA’s marketing course. Due to the economic recession of 2008, I came back to India. While working as a Marketing Manager with a company here, I learned the initial lessons in carrying out useful market research. Moreover, I started nurturing my abilities in creating a marketing team and developing marketing strategies for brand building.

I started Helvetica Advertising in 2014 as a 360-degree advertising agency. We have been fortunate to have great clients on this journey. Our first client was the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), giving us a good start to explore how an advertising industry works.

For An Entrepreneur, The Initial Days Of The Establishment Of A Company Are Challenging Times. Please Walk Us Through The Obstacles That You Faced Upon Establishing Helvetica.

For an advertising agency which is independently starting brick by brick, there are insurmountable problems along the way. It is about proving our mettle and attain credibility. Not all are willing to give a chance for a startup. However, once we got some good leads and recognition, we started growing. Client acquisition, serving up to and beyond their expectation, and gaining trust has always been a significant issue. Besides that, competing with other established advertising agencies has been another challenge.

Kindly Throw Some Light Into The Engagements Of Helvetica Advertising In Making Brands Sound. How Have You Been Winning In The Sector?

In Helvetica, we like to step into the shoes of the client and plan strategies for them. We do not stick on to specific rules or procedures. Understanding client needs and development of brand strategies change according to the industry we cater to. One of our most exciting projects has been for the WWF. We helped them in running awareness campaigns on water preservation and protection of water bodies. Apart from that, we have also carried out various activities across schools and Tier 2 cities. Helvetica bears a robust research team. They help in curating specific marketing strategies as per the client’s business.

We started with a bare minimum capital of 10 lakhs in the pocket. Today, we have progressed with a turnover of 4 crores in four years. With this unprecedented situation of Covid-19, our plans have taken a setback. However, we stay optimistic as the business will slowly return to track. We strive to come under the top 10 advertising agencies in Delhi within a few years.

<b>Kajal Agarwal, Founder, Helvetica Advertising</b>

Kajal Agarwal is an MBA graduate and has acquired a certificate in marketing from UCLA. She has a deep understanding of, and reverence for, different cultures and working environments. Kajal currently serves as the Founder of Helvetica Advertising.

To The Budding Entrepreneurs:

“The advertising and marketing field is volatile and keeps you on your toes. Try to maintain your perseverance and patience. Do not give up”