Interview: Vaibhav Goel, Entrepreneur & Founder of The White Pole

With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing footwear and trading, Vaibhav Goel is an entrepreneur paving his way through the industry to bring quality footwear with affordable price tags which can be worn by every person no matter what the pocket range is!

TheWhitePole is not a brand but a dream which has been made through years of discipline, practice, experience, sweat, and love with the motto of providing fine quality footwear range.

Vaibhav Goel: After completing my BBA, I pursued MBA in Finance and Marketing from Narsee Monjee and embarked upon my entrepreneurial journey right from there.

I joined my family business (shoe manufacturing), which was started by my father 25 years ago. I decided to pursue it because I’ve been fascinated by shoes, their designs, and functionality since I was in my teens.

Vaibhav Goel: My entrepreneurial journey has been a rollercoaster ride and I feel pride in saying that each and every moment has taught me something or other about the business.

I have learned from my mistakes, evolved from my failures, and never lost the opportunity to teach myself something new about this business every day.

It has been a difficult but memorable journey, and I hope to shape the future of The White Pole exactly as we have planned.

Vaibhav Goel: The White Pole is a brand that offers fine-quality and trendy women’s footwear that is available at affordable prices.

We will soon be launching our first ever men’s collection and are hoping that it will receive the same love as our women collections.

We are a brand for the people and by the people. You can visit our collection here https://www.thewhitepole.com/

Vaibhav Goel: In my opinion, we are the only shoe brand in the market that offers footwear that is both stylish, comfortable, and at the same time, affordable.

This is our USP that has made us what we are. Today, we have a loyal customer base from different cities in India. From tier 1 to tier 2 and tier 3, people from different demographics are loving our products.

Vaibhav Goel: Given that I was born and raised in a shoe manufacturing family, I was always interested in starting my own business. This is why I didn’t waste time and joined the company while still pursuing my MBA.

Vaibhav Goel: I feel immense pride in sharing that The White Pole has grown multifold within a short span of two years since its launch.

We started this company during the COVID era when we realised that selling shoes online was the way to go.

Our company has grown in such large numbers because of our consistency and loyalty to our customers.

We are for the customers and by the customers. We were a fleet of two when we started, and today The White Pole has 100 family members!

Vaibhav Goel: I have faced several challenges as a business owner. The key challenge was the competition. The shoe industry is highly competitive, and it can be difficult to differentiate your products and stand out in the market.

Cost control and supply chain management have been another big challenge. Ensuring a reliable and cost-effective supply chain for materials and components can be a challenge for any business, especially in the Indian market.

Keeping up with fashion trends is also a bit complex. The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and as a shoe business owner, you need to be able to keep up with the latest trends and styles to stay relevant.

Vaibhav Goel: The future of the shoe industry in India is likely to be positive, with opportunities for growth and expansion.

India has a large population, a growing middle class, and a rapidly developing economy, all of which are factors that are expected to contribute to the growth of the shoe industry.

Additionally, there is a growing demand for quality footwear, both domestically and globally, which presents opportunities for Indian manufacturers to increase exports.

However, the industry may also face challenges such as competition from imported products, changing consumer preferences, and pressure to reduce costs, so it will be important for companies to stay innovative and adapt to the changing market conditions.

Vaibhav Goel: I became an entrepreneur to make a difference. I often saw a gap in the shoe market where people did not have easy access to affordable, fine quality footwear and this is why I wanted to be the problem solver.

Creating The White Pole is that solution that will help to fill market gaps while also positively impacting our community or the world at large.

Vaibhav Goel: There have been many ups and downs in my journey and one of them was not knowing the market well.

At first, women’s footwear was relatively new to us, so some designs didn’t turn out well. Even the planning and execution wasn’t good and we faced a couple of challenges.

However, once I slowly started understanding my audience and the market, we started delivering exactly what our audience loved.

Vaibhav Goel: From my personal experience, I feel that one should consider several key factors before starting a business.

These include market research, business plan, legal and regulatory requirements, financing, marketing, operations and logistics, staffing, amongst others that increase the chances of success.

One should always take time to carefully consider these and other factors before starting a business to esnure a strong foundation and increase the chances of success in the long run.

Vaibhav Goel: The current state of the shoe industry is affected by several factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing consumer preferences, and the increasing focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing.

Consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases and are looking for shoes that are sustainably produced and ethically sourced.

Also, The growth of e-commerce has changed the way consumers shop for shoes, with many choosing to purchase online instead of in-store.

Vaibhav Goel: Starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.

Always be prepared for hard work. Starting a business requires a significant investment of time and effort, so be prepared to work hard and stay dedicated to your goals.

Vaibhav Goel: Starting a business can be challenging, but with the right mindset and strategies, young and aspiring entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success.

In my opinion, one should always be willing to learn. Stay curious and continue to learn about your industry, market, and customers.

Also, what I have learned from my entrepreneurial journey is that building a strong network and collaborating with other entrepreneurs and experts can bring new ideas and opportunities.

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