Life of an Entrepreneur- Clique Interviews!

Founder at All Things Luxury India - Dheeraj Dhawan is a Global Real Estate advisor, who has been in the Real Estate industry for over 2 decades and a member at The Clique Club for the past 9 months.?

His vast experience covers all domains of luxury sales, marketing, branding, business development, collaborations and coaching. He has worked with marquee brands such as Lodha Group, India Sotheby’s International Realty, Raheja Universal, Cushman & Wakefield, etc.?

His strong belief in collaboration and partnerships lead him to start his own business which is effectively going to be a Community for “All Things Luxury”.

Our team at The Clique Club had an inspiring and heartfelt conversation with him about his journey into the life of an entrepreneur. Read on!

Your Career Trajectory is quite interesting and diverse, why don't we start with that!?

I was never afraid of trying new stuff, from Photography, DJíng (deejaying), bartending, etc. and also being a Menswear retail store salesman, I’ve done it all. I was one of the first few guys that started selling mobiles when they were first launched in India and had the luxury of carrying and trying each new model when it was launched.??

There was always this eagerness to be my own Boss and work on my own terms. I always had worked for others for most of my life, and some stints in between when I actually did try to do something different but those businesses subsided in 2 years. However, never let that stop me from trying. The lockdown and the whole Pandemic actually showed me that I had to fend for myself rather than having someone else exploit my skills, network and business reach.?

I’m a late bloomer when it comes to being a full-fledged entrepreneur when I was 43 years old, but then again age is just a number.

How do you think Bombay shaped you into an entrepreneur?

I always had a niche and a knack for trying to do multiple things at a time. Even when I was in school or college, I was trying to create or innovate to get some sort of business ideas started up.?

We’ve probably all done the raffle ticket sales, the pitch for donations, door to door sales, we all have probably tried to do lemonade jars and that Sunday car wash businesses, and I did thoroughly enjoy them as well.

I remember when I was playing junior level basketball, I used to travel to a store all the way from Colaba to Bandra and try and source as many orders there were for friends and teammates buying the same pairs to actually try and get a volume discount and try and bring these all back to sell at a mark-up.?

It seems cliché now but we actually traded branded sneakers, jerseys, etc. back then whilst it’s become a business and a fad now.?

What motivated you to embark into the journey of an entrepreneur?

I wanted to actually prove to myself and my peers that whilst there is always a top brand that has more avenues of revenue etc., to me individually I was that Brand. Having been in the business working for others though, I knew that the respect, acknowledgement and support I had from the industry was immense and I wanted to make this MY Business and have my name behind creating an identity and a brand.??

Tell us more about ‘All Things Luxury’.?

So it all started with a problem!

The problem was that a customer experience on one single platform did not exist for Luxury goods and items; If they needed to buy real estate they went to brokers, if they wanted a car they had to find dealers, if they wanted art, unlike a few who attended auctions, the others did not know much, similarly for watches and jewelry they had to use multiple searches or people.?

Our vision to cater to “All Things Luxury” in a platform that helps you find your Luxury Property, Holiday Homes, Overseas Homes, Hi-end Cars, Yachts, Charter Planes, Collector Watches, Bespoke Jewelry, Impressionable Art and a whole lot more !! We fulfill all your Aspirations when it comes to Luxury Buying. We have brought on board multiple partners and agencies who are providing that one stop shop solution to these luxury buyers and clients.?

What’s Next?

I am hopeful that this venture will be long term and will keep building from y.o.y. We want to be known as a Luxury Services company; we will hopefully have many more tie ups and many more collaborations; we all want to see how the economy plays out post the total unlock and I believe that there will be a lot of revenge spending on luxury goods and services.

With All Things Luxury India, from the time we started and made some noise about it, we managed to sell a few High End Luxury cars in the first 2 months. We sold a few Bespoke Luxury Watches as well. We had a lot of real estate interest too, which is on-going both in India and Overseas. So yes, the start is a win in itself, but then doing significant deals, making money, and creating value is the best outcome.?

Few people shape the person you become, who are those in your life who you will give this credit to?

For me my Dad has always been a blinding inspiration. He is simple, down to earth, humble, quiet but ever so sharp. He is a true gentleman. So I think the mannerism in which I conducted myself with clients, employers, employees, peers, colleagues, friends and family was a true reflection of the same. Needless to say they came to this city with nothing and he too became a businessman and a successful one.?

I also see a lot of my ex colleagues, peers, new generation, etc. from whom there is so much to learn and absorb. They also inspire me a great deal.?

My critics and those that have / had written me off are a big inspiration to what I intend to become.?

Lastly my two wonderful daughters are always inspiring me to be a better man for me and a better Dad to them each day.?

Any learnings you would like to share with upcoming entrepreneurs?

My learnings are drawn from all my past experiences of 24-25 years.?Client servicing, Ethics, Honesty, Humility and Clarity are your best tools.

Your Network is your Networth – that’s a motto I always follow.

Since my friends call me DD in short – I have a longer line of “D’s” I apply - Determination, Deliverance, Decision Making, Dedication and Diligence;

Collaboration is a successful mantra when you can spread your scope of services.?

Always remember, You are your biggest supporter!

A few closing lines about your personal life and the business!

I’m 44 years old, based in Mumbai. I’m always called a misfit for my age as I am quite youthful with my taste in music, food, dressing, partying, lifestyle, etc.

I’m the “Make you Feel Good” about yourself, kinda Guy.?

I am also the co-founder and Director of another start-up called Ampersand Beverages, where last November we launched our Cocktail Mixers range called “EK AUR”; that’s a whole new dynamic and business.?

Presently running 2 diverse businesses, completely poles apart, but with one common and crazy Founder. Whilst All Things Luxury India is a platform for Opulence and Luxury, EK AUR (Ampersand Beverages) is a passion project for my inroads to the NightLife and F&B Industry in this country.?

I hope your readers and other audiences take notice of us and start following our journey; our goal is to make “All Things Luxury India” as the preferred marketplace for all our clients for fulfillment of their Lifestyle acquisitions.

Please follow @allthingsluxuryindia on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn ; or you can reach us on [email protected]