Sachin Katira The Entrepreneur Behind ZoomIn’s Transformation into a Profitable Personalized Gifting Venture

Personalized gifting has become a ubiquitous way to convey affection and thoughtfulness, whether it’s a custom mug, keychain, photo frame, or poster. This industry, which gained momentum in the mid-2000s, has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global phenomenon. In India, the trend has surged in recent years, driven by increased internet access in tier 2 and 3 cities and rising disposable incomes.

When Mumbai-based Company ZoomIn embarked on its journey in 2009, the personalized gifting landscape in India was nascent and showed slow growth compared to Western markets. Sachin Katira, who initially joined ZoomIn as Head of Customer Service and later assumed control of operations, witnessed the potential but also the mounting losses. In 2018, ZoomIn‘s founder, whose name remains undisclosed, made the tough decision to sell the business to focus on other ventures abroad. However, Sachin chose to stay, believing in the business’s long-term prospects.

In 2018, Sachin, in partnership with a friend, acquired ZoomIn, determined to turn the company’s fortunes around. He shifted the focus to the online business model, harnessing the potential of ZoomIn‘s website and mobile application. Under Sachin’s leadership, the company claims to have achieved a remarkable 60 percent year-on-year growth and successfully weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reviving and Thriving: The ZoomIn Turnaround:

Sachin acknowledges that the appeal of personalized gifting remains strong, but he recognized the need to diversify beyond the conventional photos on mugs and frames. When Sachin assumed control of ZoomIn, he expanded the product categories to include calendars, magnets, photo books, planners, and more, available in a variety of base materials. According to data from detained, the global personalized gifts market was valued at $26.3 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $41.3 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5 percent during the forecast period 2020-2026.

Capitalizing on this growth, Sachin initiated backward integration to control the entire value chain. Today, all raw materials are locally sourced, and design and printing are handled in-house. ZoomIn boasts around 20 stock keeping units (SKUs), each available in multiple variants, providing customers with a wide array of choices.

Under Sachin’s stewardship, ZoomIn’s customer base has grown from eight lakh in 2018 to 21 lakh today, with app users increasing from seven lakh in 2018 to 17 lakhs. Impressively, half of ZoomIn’s orders are repeat customers, indicating a high level of customer retention. The company now receives approximately 25,000 orders per month, a number that continues to rise.

Navigating Challenges and Competition:

Sachin acknowledges that customer acquisition has been one of the primary challenges. “Competition is intense, but it’s healthy as it expands the market. However, like any direct-to-consumer brand, acquiring customers is demanding, and we are also investing significantly in marketing.”

In terms of competition, Sachin notes a proliferation of players in the market, both organized and unorganized. What sets ZoomIn apart is its penetration into tier 2 and 3 cities. The company has even successfully delivered products to remote locations like Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, covering a total of 18,000 pin codes. Sachin’s vision is to further expand ZoomIn’s reach and increase this number.

The Road Ahead: Embracing Technology and Expansion:

Looking forward, Sachin has ambitious plans to incorporate emerging technologies into ZoomIn’s website and app. Augmented Reality (AR) will enhance the user experience, allowing customers to preview personalized products virtually. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will assist users in selecting the best photos for their customized gifts.

Sachin is also exploring strategic partnerships to accelerate ZoomIn’s growth and expand its footprint into untapped regions of the country. As the personalized gifting industry continues to thrive and evolve, Sachin Katira’s leadership has positioned ZoomIn as a resilient and promising player in this dynamic landscape.