Interview: Karan Sehdev, founder of Merch Matters – a leading corporate gifting company

An interview with Karan Sehdev, founder of Merch Matters – a leading corporate gifting company

In our recent interview with Karan Sehdev, founder of Merch Matters, we delved into the world of corporate gifting and its transformative impact on business relationships.

Karan shared insights on how his company has evolved to meet the dynamic needs of clients, emphasizing creativity and personalization in every gift.

His vision for Merch Matters reflects a commitment to quality and innovation, positioning the brand as a leader in the corporate gifting sector.

What inspired you to start Merch Matters, and what gap in the corporate gifting market did you aim to fill?

Karan Sehdev: We started Flint Merchandising LLP 6 years ago and last year we started our online presence this brand Merch Matters to be more relevant in the industry.

I was an engineering student in the last year, I used to do small events, as the events requires manpower, I used to go there for some pocket money. I started noticing all the merch they use in the events to make it special and unique from there it caught my interest.

We want to be the gifting company with the fastest delivery, we are already offering 5-7 days PAN India delivery up to 100 gift boxes, I want to make gifting a enjoyable experience for HRs, Admins and Procurement department instead of the hassle.

How does Merch Matters differentiate itself from other corporate gifting companies in the industry?

Karan Sehdev: At Merch Matters we are not just selling what we have, we offer you what you want. Basically we do not identify as a Product based company we are a service based company in which first we understand what is the purpose, occasion budget and all other factors related to the gifts you are wanting to purchase, then our ideation team sit on the information and create the best combination possible out of all the possibilities, and we make sure that your gifts are delivered at the door step, with in the timeline.

Can you elaborate on the customization options you offer and how they enhance the gifting experience for clients?

Karan Sehdev: When we talk about Gifting and Merchandising, it is all about the customization, nobody is interested in just a bottle but when there is his Name printed on the bottle it is special for the person.

At Merch Matters we have all kind of customization and personalization, all kinds of printing be it Screen printing, Digital printing, Metal Marking, Embossing, Engraving, Embroidery, D2F etc. We can get your brand name on any item you wish from a pen to the billboard of your company.

What current trends are you seeing in the corporate gifting sector, and how is Merch Matters adapting to these trends?

Karan Sehdev: Gifting is all about making everyone happy and motivated. Now a days it is the time for Brands as you have seen now we have plethora of brands around us for each and every thing there are brands so people have shifted toward this thing they want the renowned brand, they understand the brand value.

At Merch Matters we have collaborated with over 150 brands to provide the customer with the best service of picking the best brand for them, and we also have made some amazing hampers which are already curated for the occasion.

As Diwali is around the corner, we have made some amazing Diwali hamper which are ready to buy; you can see them on merchmatters.in/Diwali.

What challenges have you encountered in scaling your business, and how have you overcome them?

Karan Sehdev: We are a bootstrapped startup and the industry we are in runs only on money, because the big corporates have long payment periods like 45 days, 30 days etc. So the biggest problem for us has been the capital, the more we want to scale the business the more capital we need, as bigger the client bigger the payment cycle.

So in the starting we were not familiar with the concept of Bank Overdraft but with the time we got to know and now it is working fine. The other problem we face is building a good team which we are still facing.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the corporate gifting or retail space?

Karan Sehdev: If I have to give advice I would like to tell the person that this is not an easy line of business, if you want to be something in this business you have to be consistent, you have to show up daily, you have do the work of all your team members, you have to be ready for 24/7 availability for the client and you have to be ready for the rejections, a lot of rejections, you have to be sorry for the client’s mistakes and you have to do all this with a big smile on the face.

Karan’s passion for elevating corporate gifting is evident, and his forward-thinking approach continues to inspire businesses.

As Merch Matters expands its offerings, it remains dedicated to enhancing client connections through thoughtful and impactful gifts. With Karan at the helm, the future looks bright for both the company and the corporate gifting landscape.

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